There’s something about the opening to FOX’s “The Simpsons” that still makes me smile.
From the days I would watch the poorly-drawn shorts on “The Tracy Ullman Show” to the controversial gay marriage episode, the cooks and crackpots of Springfield have filled my days with their perfected mix of lowbrow humor and sharp social commentary.
Now, after 17 seasons, 12 Emmy awards and classic episodes like “Mr. Plow,” the four-fingered clan has seemingly done it all. The yellow-skinned bunch have jammed with U2, ventured into the fourth dimension and celebrated their own holidays (Whacking Day). They’ve traveled to Tokyo, England and even outer space. Now, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and company are leaving Evergreen Terrace for the Middle East.
But “Al Shamshoons” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Hoping to capitalize on increased ratings during Ramadan, Arab satellite television network MBC is now airing re-dubbed episodes of the show with a few changes to make America’s favorite dysfunctional family more palatable for Arab audiences. Homer is now Omar, Bart is Badr and the beer, doughnuts and hot dogs we’re accustomed to are replaced by soda, kahk cookies and Egyptian beef sausages.
The Homer Simpson I grew up watching – the one who once ate 64 individual slices of American cheese – is almost synonymous with booze, baked goods and Ball Park franks.
Without these accessories, is Omar really Homer at all? Even “Simpsons” producer Al Jean said a Homer who doesn’t drink, swear and eat (and behave like a) pig is no Homer at all.
But it doesn’t stop at nominal and dietary changes. The Arab versions of the show have also smoothed over some of the religious references in hopes of wooing Middle Eastern viewers. Still, not everyone is laughing.
As’ad AbuKhalil, a blogger known as “The Angry Arab” and a fan of the original “Simpsons,” was so disappointed with the “unfunny” Egyptian actors doing the voice-overs and watered-down plots he suggested the network “just drop the project, and air reruns of Tony Danza’s show instead. It is less painful.”
If Tony Danza is considered viable alternative viewing, this must be bad.
The show’s modifications to better suit Arab audiences only serve to underscore our shifting international climate. Have we become so far removed from our counterparts in the Middle East we can’t share a laugh at Krusty’s expense?
One of the most beautiful things about “The Simpsons” is its ability to offer something to everyone. They mock liberals and conservatives and serve up an equal amount of fart jokes for every scathing political critique. So if frat boys and philosophy majors alike can sit down together Sunday nights at 8 p.m. for a laugh, why can’t Iowans and Iraqis?
Moreover, for a show that has drawn the ire of the American politicians it satirizes (George H. W. Bush once suggested Americans should act more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons and was later parodied as the Simpsons’ new neighbor), couldn’t this be our chance to bridge part of the gap between the Middle East and the Midwest?
Perhaps one of the biggest problems in U.S.-Arab relations is the two sides don’t really understand one another. Oftentimes Americans are lumped in with our president and treated as if we share his views and morals. Maybe if Arab people could see not all Americans are gun-toting, warmongering, culturally conservative yahoos, the dialogues we’ve awaited for so long could become a reality.
It would at least be comforting to know some Americans are just as critical of their leader. Just as Americans ought to know not all Arabs are fundamentalist terrorists, Arabs should know not all Americans are preemptive-striking “freedom” fighters.
And if Arab people are worried about Americans accepting their culture, Homer Simpson could be no better diplomat.
As he said in the “Screaming Yellow Honkers” episode: “Jesus, Allah, Buddha – I love you all!”
Sounds like a message we should all share.
– Bobby Hankinson can be reached at [email protected].
