In the October 15th episode of Fox’s The Simpsons titled “Whistler’s Father,” the show chooses to use a generic president instead of criticizing the current one, as most shows clamor to do these days. Then a zinger about Fox News popped up, so everything is back to normal.
During the opening, as Bart writes on the chalkboard as punishment, the camera focuses in on his words. He is writing, “It’s unfair to judge a president on his first 300 days.” Clearly, opinionated Bart has let loose with some unfair criticism of President Trump and his teacher is punishing him for the classroom disruption.
In this episode, Homer, Grandpa, Bart and Maggie go to the zoo where Bart laments that he has no special talent as the visit a birds exhibit. Homer tells him the birds like him but Bart notes that the birds also like Grandpa. Several buzzards are circling Grandpa and as one lands on his shoulder, he tells it to go ahead, that his “blood has turned to bile from watching Fox News.” The buzzard pecks at his ear and then drops dead.
Grandpa: Okay, Maggie. Time to learn a happy tune from these imprisoned birds.
Bart: Man, Maggie's talented, Lisa's talented. What am I good at?
Homer: The birds love ya.
Bart: Well, yeah, but they also love Grampa.
Grandpa: Go ahead, but my blood's turned to bile from watching Fox News.
Meanwhile, baby Maggie discovers a talent for whistling. Homer is excited and sees an opportunity for some glory of his own by using Maggie behind the curtain as he whistles on stage before audiences. With much applause and appreciation of his talent, as Homer whistles patriotic tunes, Homer conjures up a scene where the president awards him with the Presidential Medal of Honor. Maggie gets the Vice-Presidential Medal of Envy in this scenario. The president is an ordinary looking man. Patting themselves on the backs for the inclusion of a non-descriptive president, Homer wonders out loud who the president is – he looks so generic. Lame, to be sure.
Homer: Marge! Are you making tea?
Marge: Yes.
Homer: Whew.
Marge: Iced tea.
Homer: What the hell?
Radio announcer: This is his. Whistling at you all day and night. WHIS, The Whistle.
Homer: Ah. Whistling format radio.
Homer: Huh? Where is that whistling coming from? Maggie? It is you! It's so odd-- I'm a terrible whistler. Always have been. There must be a reason you were given this gift. It's to make people think I can whistle.
Audience (chanting): Homer! Homer! Homer!Homer: And now I will perform "Flight of the Bumblebee." Who was that president? He looked pretty generic.
When Lisa realizes Maggie has the gift of being able to whistle, she jealously guards her position as the talented kid in the family. Working on her emotions, though, she tells Maggie they can both be good. This is where the random reference to South Park comes in. Lisa says “both of the South Park guys are good” but that Trey does everything. Oh brother. An animated show referencing another animated show.
This was a fairly tame episode but not so bland as to leave out a bit of conservative bashing. It speaks volumes that we live in such a polarized political world that the writers felt the need to point out that the presidential reference was a generic one in that one scene. The opening scene was not so subtle, though. We are approaching President Trump’s 300th day in office, after all.
