Voice of Bart Simpson pimps Scientology

[HarryKeogh]

I wonder if Nancy Cartwright got permission to do this from the people at Fox?



I was sad when Bart sold out and was the pitchman for Butterfinger candy bars but Scientology? Say it ain't so, Moe!

 

[Donal]

Hank Azaria is a Scientologist, too. The two of them pretty much make up half of Springfield.

I think the bigger question is, what will FOX do about it?

 

[bokonon]

I live in one of the neighborhoods that was blanketed with her "Happy House" brochure, but she wasn't appropriating the Bart Simpson persona to make that pitch. I think the best way to repudiate it would be to write an episode skewering Scientology in which Bart plays a prominent role.

 

[Lonewulf]

I live in one of the neighborhoods that was blanketed with her "Happy House" brochure, but she wasn't appropriating the Bart Simpson persona to make that pitch. I think the best way to repudiate it would be to write an episode skewering Scientology in which Bart plays a prominent role.

The Chef from South Park was pressured to quit the show by Scientology thanks to Scientology for something very similar...

I say great. Gets people to realize just how tight-fisted the Church tends to be.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

I live in one of the neighborhoods that was blanketed with her "Happy House" brochure, but she wasn't appropriating the Bart Simpson persona to make that pitch. I think the best way to repudiate it would be to write an episode skewering Scientology in which Bart plays a prominent role.

I thought they did that in the cult episode (with the giant spaceship that will take them all away).

 

[Ocelot]

Hank Azaria is a Scientologist, too. The two of them pretty much make up half of Springfield.

I think the bigger question is, what will FOX do about it?

Sweet Fox All

 

[bokonon]

I thought they did that in the cult episode (with the giant spaceship that will take them all away).

The Joy of Sect had elements of Scientology (chiefly, teams of lawyers), but was diluted by mishmashing in a bunch of other cults - Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, Rajneesh, EST, etc. The Wikipedia article says "In Pinsky's The Gospel According to the Simpsons, one of the show's writers recounted to the author that the producers of The Simpsons had vetoed a planned episode on Scientology in fear of the Church's "reputation for suing and harassing opponents," so maybe they're afraid to spoof them directly.

OTOH, if Cartwright is free to use Bart as a shill, maybe the character is now public domain.

 

[slingblade]

OTOH, if Cartwright is free to use Bart as a shill, maybe the character is now public domain.

I seriously doubt it. Public domain doesn't occur until some 70+ years after the copyright holder's death.

 

[EvilDeadite]

That's really, really, really sad. And it continues to reaffirm my belief that you should never, ever learn anything about the personal life or beliefs of people in the popular culture that produce something you enjoy.

 

[jadebox]

Nancy Cartwright also pushes her Scientology beliefs in her email and print newsletters she sends in response to fan mail. She does support some good organizations, such as Make-A-Wish, though.

-- Roger

 

[HarryKeogh]

Nancy Cartwright also pushes her Scientology beliefs in her email and print newsletters she sends in response to fan mail. She does support some good organizations, such as Make-A-Wish, though.

-- Roger

I just checked her website and here's her volunteer page.

Four of the eight organizations on it are affiliated with Scientology.

-Happy House

-The Way to Happiness Foundation

-Citizen's Commission on Human Rights

-Scientology Volunteer Ministers

It's a shame. She seems like a really nice, giving person. Too bad her religion is a load of crap that rips people off.

 

[bokonon]

I seriously doubt it. Public domain doesn't occur until some 70+ years after the copyright holder's death.

Yeah, the way the U.S. law's "evolving" it seems to be that nothing created after 1924 will ever become public domain again. I was probably being too veiled in my suggestion that, if the Simpsons' producers are too cowed to spoof Scientology directly, some viral video animator might (citing Cartwright's use) take the bull and run with it.

I'm sensing that in a galaxy far, far away, a short laconic spiky-haired animated child, possibly named Noncey Curtrunt, is being forced to shill unwillingly for the Cult of the Clam...

 

[fishbob]

. . . . Too bad her religion is a load of crap that rips people off. . . .

[aside] Too bad they all are.

 

[Ocelot]

Noncey Curtrunt...

I had to read that three times before figuring out why the auto filter had left it unmolested.

 

[a_unique_person]

The video is gone, Fox has claimed copyright.

 

[bokonon]

There is still a sound clip available here.

Bart voice: Hey, what's happening man? This is Bart Simpson (Bart evil laugh)
Cartwright (still sounds like Bart to me, though): Just kidding, don't hang up, this is Nancy Cartwright, and this is a very special phone call to you. I'm now auditing on OT7, and have been asked to speak at the Flag World Tour event on January 31st, in the Grand Ballroom, at the Hollywood and Highland center, at 6:30 PM.
Bart voice: It's gonna be a BLAST man! (Bart evil laugh)
Cartwright: I will be there to share my many wins as a Solo NOTs auditor and to see the Golden Era film presentation of FLAG: The Mecca of Technical Perfection.
Bart voice: I hope you can make it, man!
Cartwright: To confirm for the Flag event, please call us back at 888 841-7131. That's 888 841-7131.
Bart voice: See you there, man! (Bart evil laugh)

 

[Bristow42]

What I don't get if Scientology is a religion, then why do you have to pay money, to do courses how to worship or practice it. I watch a fellow get himself audited then they told him, they wanted money to attend other courses. Thats not a religion in my book, its a con.

 

[slingblade]

What I don't get if Scientology is a religion, then why do you have to pay money, to do courses how to worship or practice it. I watch a fellow get himself audited then they told him, they wanted money to attend other courses. Thats not a religion in my book, its a con.

http://www.xenu-directory.net/opinions/lindsay-19990117.html

L. Ron Hubbard is widely rumored to have said "The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion." There are also variant rumors. For some reason, this is often mentioned on Usenet. Evidence is discussed below, but the short answer is that it's almost certainly true.

[...]

To summarize: we have nine witnesses: Neison Himmel, Sam Merwin, Sam Moskowitz, Theodore Sturgeon, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, Harlan Ellison, and the three unnamed witnesses of Robert Vaughn Young. There is some confusion and doubt about one of them (Sam Moskowitz). Two are reported via Russel Miller: one is reported via Mike Jittlov: one reported in his autobiography; one reported in an affidavit; and one reported to me in person. The reports describe different events, meaning that Hubbard said it at perhaps six times, in six different venues — definitely not just once. And the Church's official disclaimer is now reportedly a flat lie.

Conclusion: He definitely said it more than once.

 

[Ron_Tomkins]

Eat my shorts!

 

[korenyx]

I've read that Second City founder Del Close also heard Hubbard make the comment about making a million by starting a church.