'The Simpsons' to completely drop the Apu character from series
- Thread starter ZeoVGM
- Start date
not the best move by the staffers to talk to anyone about this if they wanted it to happen quietly
This is my first thought. A little tone deaf and stupid to cancel the character. Just respectfully upgrade him lol.
Hmm. While it's disappointing that they're doing this instead of just changing the voice actor, I also feel that this is better than keeping the character around as is. Bad representation is worse than no representation.
Throwing the baby out with the bath water here. Just update him.
I disagree, he was very funny when making fun of lazy Americans stereotypes.
Not surprised. This is the easiest solution, just stop using the character and act like he was never there. Not saying it's the right thing, but it's definitely easier and cheaper than hiring a new voice actor, recreating a character that's been on screen for decades, and finding a way to do it that makes sense. I think it could be for the best, too. This allows them to create an entirely new character, whether or not they do it... who knows? Again, it'll be easiest for them to just pretend he was never there.
Kind of the laziest way to do it. "We're not talented enough to deal with the subject directly, and we're not willing to work with the community he's a caricatures of, so let's just pretend he never existed so no one complains."
Spoiler: People will complain anyways.
Spoiler: People will complain anyways.
Not sure why they needed to completely get rid of a minority character instead of gradually updating him and giving the role to an Indian actor, but ok...
I always liked Apu. I understand people's frustration with the character, but he always seemed like one of the more decent characters in the show outside of some unsavory business with the hotdogs he sells.
I would have preferred him getting a new actor and being written more responsibly, but whatever. Groening dug this hole by responding so poorly to the criticism on the first place.
There was a ton of salvageable traits about the Apu character, the main problem was the accent, the person who played him and why said person chose said accent, shelving Apu instead of just updating the character to not be offensive is kind of a cop out.
Same. Just have an actual Indian play him and update the character. I enjoyed Apu, and there were some truly GREAT episodes focusing on him and his family. Truly some touching moments and he was generally the smartest guy in the room.
I haven't watched the Simpsons in a long time... but I've always liked Apu.
Even if people did imitate him when talking to me when I was a kid.
Even if people did imitate him when talking to me when I was a kid.
He was a great, surprisingly well-rounded character, and had some really fantastic moments (in the classic seasons).
Highest rated episode last season got 8 million viewers IIRC
I loved Apu, but can't help but feel they mishandled this step by step. Ideally I would have liked him to just remain a background character.
Guess the writers and producers aren't smart enough to know how to deal with the situation. Fine then. Take the lazy way out.
I worry about Hari Kondabolu getting (more racist) shit on social media now...but all that's going to do is prove his point more.
I worry about Hari Kondabolu getting (more racist) shit on social media now...but all that's going to do is prove his point more.
That sucks. The poor representation aside, he was one of the more dimensional, intelligent characters on the show. The solution should always be "let's do better" not "ah fuck it". Now we have one less PoC on the most popular animated sitcom in the world. Great.
So the poochie died on the way to his home planet joke became a real thing in the same show eh.
What does everyone think about them adding a new Indian character (if they do). I'd prefer that over Apu being updated. Just seems cleaner to me, but it seems a lot of people want the character updated
With the temper tantrums they were throwing, surprise Jean and Groening are just going to quietly shelve him than do something stupider.
