"Simpsons" to reveal gay character

[Guest]

I hope it's one of Marge's sisters, or else Moe the bartender (remember how good he was with Maggie?). - Perdita
---------------

A character from The Simpsons is to be revealed as gay, sparking a mystery among fans over who it will be.

"We have a show where, to raise money, Springfield legalises gay marriage," producer Al Jean told fans at a comic book convention. "Homer becomes a minister by going on the internet and filling out a form. A long-time character comes out of the closet, but I'm not saying who."

The last mystery Simpsons storyline involved killing off a character. After weeks of speculation it was revealed Maude, the wife of Homer Simpson's neighbour Ned Flanders, was the unlucky victim of the cull.

Speculation is already running rife across fan websites about who will be the mystery gay character, ranging from Mr Burns' devoted sidekick Waylon Smithers to one or both of Homer's sisters-in-law. Simpsons creator Matt Groening joked to Comic-Con San Diego convention-goers "it's Homer".

In the episode, set to be broadcast in the US in January, Homer's hometown Springfield licenses gay marriage - a particularly hot topic in the US at the moment during election campaigning.

Published: 2004/07/28 © BBC MMIV Full story

 

[CharleyH]

Saw an episode the other day. Simpsons were watching various pride parade floats. One float, the 'in the closet' float, had two hidden characters, one which spoke. I think it was Selma

Will this be the new 'who shot JR?'

LOL, place your bets.

 

[alyxen]

I think the best choice would be to have it be Lisa...but I guess she might be a bit young for a marriage..so maybe Barney!!

 

[SnoopDog]

I hope they don't make Wayland Smithers official because everyone knows already.

Hmmmm, it's a tough guess.

I'd say it might be Moe (could be better for him anyways, considering the luck with women he's got) or maybe one of the cops. (Wiggum is married with kid but hey, so what?)

But I think the best guess is Petty or Selma.

Snoopy

 

[Clare Quilty]

Smithers is just a tad too obvious. I'm hoping that Lenny and Carl will come out of the closet and publically profess their life-long devotion each other and to the love that dare not speak its name.

 

[Seattle Zack]

Ned Flanders

the next door neighbor.

Wait til he hits on Homer.

 

[SnoopDog]

Smithers is just a tad too obvious. I'm hoping that Lenny and Carl will come out of the closet and publically profess their life-long devotion each other and to the love that dare not speak its name.

That's just brilliant. Now I hope this will be it. It makes perfect sense.

Snoopy

 

[sincerely_helene]

I can't even fathom a guess as to who it might be, but rest assured that the Simpsons writers will find a way to work it into the script in such a way to taunt us about the obvious assumption that it is in fact Smithers... I can almost see Homer glancing at the cam with a raised brow at the very mention of the idea following a passing comment hinting towards it.

Apu might make a least likely candidate, or Auto. The robber guy seems like he might have "tendancies".

 

[boxofrocks]

If it's not Smithers or Flanders (Hididdley ho neighbour),


I has to be Barney!! *burp*

All his drunken fantasies become reality when Ned bends over at the Quickie Mart for those damn pretzels he dropped...

 

[Liar]

Reverend Lovejoy or that Captain type.

Or the mayor. Or is he married?

 

[sirhugs]

Reverend Lovejoy or that Captain type.

Or the mayor. Or is he married?

since when aren't gay guys married, esp of the over 40 generation?

says I who never have watched the Simpsons.

nor am I gay. At least as far as I know so far.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I'm going with Moe, he'll come out and then open a gay bar.

 

[boxofrocks]

since when aren't gay guys married, esp of the over 40 generation?

says I who never have watched the Simpsons.

nor am I gay. At least as far as I know so far.

]
Get back in my bed!!!!!!!!!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I stand by my vote.

 

[Vincent E]

It is going to be Waylon Smithers. The issue in the show is probably going to be directed at a character "coming out." And since he is officially in the closet, he stands to be the only logical character. We, the viewers, know that Smithers bats from the other side of the plate, but the other characters in the show don't.

It won't be Lenny or Carl. The Simpsons creators will only create a gay-friendly character. To that end they will only reveal Smithers because he is an intelligent, kind, loyal, friendly, and harmelss person. Lenny and Carl are both just too dopey for that. Chief Wiggum is an incompetent buffon. Comicbook guy, Dr. Hibert, the sea captain, and Duffman are not prominent enough characters.

The creators would not cross loyal Christian viewers by outing either Reverend Lovejoy or Ned Flanders. Theirs will be a delicate balancing act: how to out a prominent character without pissing off other viewers.

The Simpsons creators have always been smart enough to dance around certain issues without becoming too controversial. They realize that they have an audience that crosses many demographics, and the idea of outing a character has to fit into this history.

What can you say about a cartoon that has become America's longest running sit-som?

 

[Guest]

Vincenzo, bello! Good to see you. P.

 

[killallhippies]

Saw an episode the other day. Simpsons were watching various pride parade floats. One float, the 'in the closet' float, had two hidden characters, one which spoke. I think it was Selma

Will this be the new 'who shot JR?'

LOL, place your bets.

i thought of that episode before i even opened this thread. don't know why.

 

[MaxSebastian]

I think it'll be Santa's Little Helper, he'll become a big gay dog and he'll elope with Sparky from South Park.

 

[Clare Quilty]

Vincent E wrote:

It won't be Lenny or Carl. The Simpsons creators will only create a gay-friendly character. To that end they will only reveal Smithers because he is an intelligent, kind, loyal, friendly, and harmelss person. Lenny and Carl are both just too dopey for that.

Lenny and Carl both have masters’ degrees in some unspecified field relating to nuclear engineering. So, their intelligence isn't at issue. If by dopey you referred to social ineptitude instead of intelligence, then I think Smithers is considerably more "dopey" than L&C. Still, I'm not saying that the gay character(s) will turn out to be L&C. I am merely saying that there would be a certain narrative symmetry inherent in that choice. Also, I think a public declaration of gayness by two professionally employed, kind ,friendly and loyal characters like L&C--who just happen to be long-term monogamous life partners--would be "gay-friendly." (Admittedly, I’m not gay. So, someone who is could speak to this issue more authoritatively than I)

I agree that Smithers is the obvious choice--but when have the writers of The Simpsons ever gone for the obvious choice in a situation like this one? The "who shot Mr. Burns" cliffhanger leaps immediately to mind.

Therefore, while I am not saying that it will happen, I think it would be brilliant if Lenny and Carl were to come out of the closet, get married at Reverend Lovejoy's church and subsequently adopt a child. In any event, I will be mildly disillusioned if the writing staff of The Simpsons--educated as they were in that axis of irony, the Ivy League--dumb-down and/or censor their narrative choices so as not to challenge the dogmatic metanarratives of an increasingly reactionary element within American society.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Milhouse's dad is single now, isn't he?

I could see him hookin up with Smithers.

 

[Clare Quilty]

i thought of that episode before i even opened this thread. don't know why.

You should start some threads of your own here in AH. I always enjoy your pop culture threads elsewhere, especially the ones about the cinema and music--as your tastes seem not to be far afield from my own.

 

[Guest]

Q., your 06:38 PM post is brilliant, always enjoy your style. P.

 

[wishfulthinking]

For some strange reason as soon as I heard the news I thought it would be william or willie [I think his name is] the bare under the kilt scotsman who works as the school janitor.

But after reading other views, carl and lenny have a good chance. Logically you would think it would be smithers, but since his undying devotion is for Mr Burns, I can't see him marrying anyone else.

If it was one of marge's sisters, I would probably see it only as a short term fling. Did one or both marry either barnie, macguiver, nearly skinner, and the one always trying to kill bart [there were probably others, but I can't remember them all].

Hmmm...

 

[Clare Quilty]

Q., your 06:38 PM post is brilliant, always enjoy your style. P.

Thank you Perdita. That is high praise coming from you.

 

[Vincent E]

Therefore, while I am not saying that it will happen, I think it would be brilliant if Lenny and Carl were to come out of the closet, get married at Reverend Lovejoy's church and subsequently adopt a child. In any event, I will be mildly disillusioned if the writing staff of The Simpsons--educated as they were in that axis of irony, the Ivy League--dumb-down and/or censor their narrative choices so as not to challenge the dogmatic metanarratives of an increasingly reactionary element within American society.

Perhaps not dumbed down to placate the sensibilities of traditionalsts or even reactionaries, but the episode itself will be intended as a sop to the radical element of our society that demands change without forethought of results.

Lenny and Carl are indeed highly educated nuclear specialists- "that's nu-cu-lar" to quote Homer. They are also a couple of "get-a-lifers" who spend hour upon hour drinking away their days. In the episode where Marge becomes a real estate agent the wall of Lenny's house falls down to reveal him eating a bowl of cereal in his shorts in a room devoid of furniture. "Please don't tell people how I live," is his response to the situation.

Also, Carl is one of the few black characters on the show, and I don't think the creators would double-up on a minority. in fact Carl, Dr. Hibert, and Dredrick Tatum are the only regular black characters I can think of off hand. Eveyone else in town is yellow; and I don't mean Chinese.

At this point I would say that the strong money is on Smithers to come out, with Lenny and Carl not so distant seconds. The Simpsons are never averse to introducing new characters, so I would imagine Smithers mate being introduced. Imagine a Monty Burns stand-in.

Moreover, so thorough a makeover of two established characters is, I believe, too radical a move all for the benefit of a half-hour episode. Keep in mind that very few permanent changes ever take place on The Simpsons. Apart from Maude Flanders' untimely demise at a NASCAR event - getting bombarded with t-shirts is no way to die - I can think of no other permanent alterations to the lineup of characters. Certainly, none of Homer's misadventures seem to stick except when the creators need to take a moment to refresh people's memories all for the ake of nostalgia. Keep in mind, Bart would be about 25-years old if cartoon characters aged.