Latest news with #politicalhumor
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
From AI parodies to environmental disasters, ‘The Simpsons' keeps evolving — just don't expect political jokes
ANNECY, June 14 — Like many American families struggling for unity in the polarised United States, The Simpsons have decided to avoid political jokes, the creator of the series Matt Groening told AFP. Despite the potential for storylines and humour, Groening ruled out venturing into America's toxic politics for laughs. 'We don't do political humour because political humour is very limited. It dates very quickly,' he said during an interview at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps. A Simpsons season takes at least six to nine months to produce, raising the risk of gags turning stale, Groening explained. The show — broadcast on US network Fox TV and on Disney Plus, which now owns the series — has sometimes appeared to predict real events, such as Donald Trump's election, which was first referenced in an episode in 2000. It has also featured parodies in the past of a host of politicians from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 'We just have to stay true to our characters, their spirit and their relationships. And when they face the sadness of the world, people feel briefly connected to them,' writer-producer Matt Selman told AFP. Despite Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie remaining frozen in time since their debut in 1989, the writers have ensured the story lines move with the times. A recent episode parodied artificial intelligence when a chatbot was asked to write the finale. 'In the plot of that episode, AI was given the job of writing the perfect finale. And of course, it just regurgitated and spat out all the other finales from all the other shows in very unoriginal and silly ways that of course would be terrible,' said Selman. 'It was our attempt to push back at AI, push back at ever ending the show.' The natural environment remains a rich source of inspiration, including in The Simpsons Movie in 2007 which featured a disaster caused by Homer that leads to Springfield being sealed under a giant dome. 'The environment's not going to get cleaned up anytime soon,' Groening added. The Simpsons Movie grossed US$536.4 million worldwide, but the creators ruled out making a sequel — for the moment. (Left to right): Cartoonist and creator of the TV series 'The Simpsons' Matt Groening, screenwriter Matt Selman and producer and director David Silverman pose during a photo session on the sidelines of the 49th Annecy International Film Festival in Annecy on June 11, 2025. — AFP pic 'We are still recovering from the first movie,' joked Groening. 'And the sad truth is we don't have enough time to do both the show and the movie unless we decide we want to work really, really hard.' The Simpsons has been translated into 26 languages and broadcast in around 100 countries. The 800th episode is set to air in early 2026. — AFP
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
No political jokes in Springfield, says Simpsons creator Groening
This undated frame from 'The Simpsons,' shows the popular cartoon family posing in front of their home, from left, Lisa , Marge , Maggie, Homer and Bart Simpson. (AP Photo/Fox Broacasting Co.) Annecy, France — Like many American families struggling for unity in the polarized United States, The Simpsons have decided to avoid political jokes, the creator of the series Matt Groening told AFP. Despite the potential for storylines and humour, Groening ruled out venturing into America's toxic politics for laughs. 'We don't do political humour because political humour is very limited. It dates very quickly,' he said during an interview at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the French Alps. A Simpsons season takes at least six to nine months to produce, raising the risk of gags turning stale, Groening explained. The show - broadcast on U.S. network Fox TV and on Disney Plus, which now owns the series - has sometimes appeared to predict real events, such as Donald Trump's election, which was first referenced in an episode in 2000. It has also featured parodies in the past of a host of politicians from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 'We just have to stay true to our characters, their spirit and their relationships. And when they face the sadness of the world, people feel briefly connected to them,' writer-producer Matt Selman told AFP. Despite Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie remaining frozen in time since their debut in 1989, the writers have ensured the story lines move with the times. A recent episode parodied artificial intelligence when a chatbot was asked to write the finale. 'In the plot of that episode, AI was given the job of writing the perfect finale. And of course, it just regurgitated and spat out all the other finales from all the other shows in very unoriginal and silly ways that of course would be terrible,' said Selman. 'It was our attempt to push back at AI, push back at ever ending the show.' The natural environment remains a rich source of inspiration, including in 'The Simpsons Movie' in 2007 which featured a disaster caused by Homer that leads to Springfield being sealed under a giant dome. 'The environment's not going to get cleaned up anytime soon,' Groening added. The Simpsons Movie grossed US$536.4 million worldwide, but the creators ruled out making a sequel - for the moment. 'We are still recovering from the first movie,' joked Groening. 'And the sad truth is we don't have enough time to do both the show and the movie unless we decide we want to work really, really hard.' The Simpsons has been translated into 26 languages and broadcast in around 100 countries. The 800th episode is set to air in early 2026. Article by Maëlle Lions-Geollot.
Free Malaysia Today
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Free Malaysia Today
DAP right to urge PAS not to take itself so seriously
From Terence Netto DAP should be lauded for urging PAS to cultivate a sense of humour. For what is seen as an excess of this humour, DAP Youth chief Wong Kah Leong is being investigated by police for being responsible for a caricature of PAS Perak chief Razman Zakaria that is viewed by some quarters as offensive. This would be stretching things somewhat because caricatures are part of the rigamarole of cartoons which have long been recognised as part and parcel of political commentary. In fact, Perikatan Nasional – of which PAS is a component – has resorted to comic imagery during one of its election campaigns recently by depicting in cartoon form an image of DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook as a figure with sealed lips and bloated face. In tandem with this image of Loke, PN campaigners carried images of a mentally harassed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim plagued by a host of pressing issues. While the cartoonish images of Loke and Anwar were not really caustic – as was the depiction of Razman in the DAP caricature of him – it was within the range of what could be viewed in democratic discourse as fair comment. Democratic discourse is enhanced, not devalued, by the latitude it provides for this type of political commentary. Political discourse must not become so solemn that it does not allow resort to humour, either spoken or conveyed in cartoons. Humour and its superior mode, wit, helps its practitioners hold people and problems in balance. It can be a source of refreshment and perspective, and when employed well, becomes an essential part of the practitioner's apparatus of self-criticism. Because PAS takes its religious mission in deadly earnest, the party is averse to anything that is redolent of human comedy. Come to think of it, human comedy begins in the soul. Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
