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"Instead of a handout, Lisa gets a job. How un-American."

10 times more edgy (and 10X more truth) in 10 words than the entire "The Simpsons" clip.

I take myself, and my obsession with Apple, way too seriously to find this amusing.

Dec 01, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: Connor MacBook

It's been a long time since "Eat up Martha"!

Before anyone gets too bent out of shape over the suggestion that Apple makes a lot of money off of its customers remember:
1) It's a parody.
2) The Simpsons used to parody Microsoft, now it picks on Apple.
3) Nobody bothers to parody anything that isn't relevant.

Any questions?

Dec 01, 08 - 10:42 am Comment from: R

They've always had a thing for ripping on Apple. Lisa and her Newton, Homer with his beige G3 desktop.

This is pretty lengthy. They must have run out of shows to do.

Dec 01, 08 - 10:45 am Comment from: jarrettdailynews

How cool, that cartoon looks just like the guy that played steve jobs on mad tv when they did the "iRaq". Great stuff.

I hope nobody takes it too hard, because that was pretty funny stuff. The Simpsons isn't what it used to be, but it's still waayyyy better than most network tv.

Simpsons stopped being funny 10 years ago... this is no different. Parody or stereotyping, however you wanna tag it, it's just sad in it's length and obscure references.

"I hope nobody takes it too hard, because that was pretty funny stuff. The Simpsons isn't what it used to be, but it's still waayyyy better than most network tv." Maybe so, but that doesn't mean it can't still be rubbish, I don't remember the last time I laughed at a new The Simpsons. These sort of references are obvious, lazy and have been done to death either by other people or by themselves in relation to other companies.

Ever notice how most liberal people can't take getting ripped on? I think this show was great. I love my Mac(s) but won't be part of the religious following crap. I think Steve Jobs is cool and most likely an huge ahole, Woz is cool and has turned out to be a 50 year old fat kid. Anyway, These guys changed the world in a positive way and showed us all that capitalism really is the best way to make change.

Dec 01, 08 - 11:11 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

"MacDailyNews Take: How un-American."

Yeah, a nice little Nazi Twist™, eh MDN?

I'm not much of a Simpson's fan, but pretty funny.

Dec 01, 08 - 11:12 am Comment from: MaLvado

Checks are for workers!

Dec 01, 08 - 11:16 am Comment from: appaulmac

I think that was great! Very funny and packed with lots of Apple-isms.

"Think differently".
The biggest inside joke.

Great satire!
Loved Bart speaking over the Steve Mobs speech.

(And does the real Steve Jobs have a lisp like the Steve Mobs character???)

M.X.N...., I laugh at The Simpsons every week.

Ripping people is just what these shows DO. Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, it's all the same. I'm not saying it's the funniest thing I've ever seen. It's just something to loosen you up on a Sunday night before you start your week.

ZachCube, amen, I'm with you.

Dec 01, 08 - 11:18 am Comment from: Predrag

In my opinion, this is more satire than parody. It is not just making fun of Apple, it is also trying to expose seemingly blind, unflinching devotion of its followers and the rock-star arrogance of its leader, as well as its almost cult status of unattainable perfection.

It is still quite amusing. And let's never forget: "There's no such thing as bad publicity (as long as they spell your name correctly)".

During the broadcast, there were at least two Apple ads that I caught -- one for iPhone and one for Macbook, and Apple is a regular advertiser on The Simpsons. In that context, The Simpsons was, in essence, biting the hand that feeds it which, for my money, is what satire is all about. The show also took a pretty pointed swipe at "24" -- another case of holding no cow sacred. Like all comedy, sometimes it's funny and sometimes it's not. There were parts that hit a little too close, but I loved the riff on the "1984" ad and there were some other inside tidbits for the geek crowd. But if advertising spending is any indication, Apple doesn't seem to take it personally, so why should anybody else?

I love how Randiandian encompassed almost all following comments. Nicely done! :D

It was a typical stereotype of what most PC users think Apple is and the way the customers are. All of it is NOT TRUE!
I hope that anyone who watched this episode has the brains to realize this. Other than that from what I saw of it, it was pretty entertaining.

Now! that is what I call a good joke!!!! Loved the itchy & scratchy show skit as well.

The robustness of a product lies in its durability under any scenario, I think & this is only my personal opinion that Apple came through pretty clean through that.

Will we see an underwater infinity loop HQ? or an underwater Apple store? who knows.....It is a nice thought to contemplate though!!!

The Simpsons is a classic example of not knowing when to leave the stage. It used to be the most hilarious show on TV, now it's just going through the motions.

I would *love* it if the Simpsons did a funny take on Apple and Apple-users. Last nights "show" was not it. I feel embarrassed to even watch the new Simpsons shows lately, they are about as funny and relevant as "Hi and Lois."

I haven't watched the simpsons for quite a few years. When did it stop being funny?

-jcr

I actually thought it was just toooo late to be very funny. The Simpsons should have tackled this a few seasons ago. It just seemed dated.

@MDN: "Instead of a handout, Lisa gets a job. How un-American."
What????? There is no logic there.

Lisa wanted a handout.
Mapple gave her a job.
If Mapple would have given Lisa a "handout" they would be American???

MDN -What companies in America offer handouts? Are Coca-Cola, IBM, Caterpillar, Boeing and other companies offering handouts to customer?
And do non (un-) American compaines offer handouts? I have yet to see any European or Asian companies offering handouts to any of their customers.

So, MDN, your "How un-American." makes no sense, it is un-Smart.

To all you people saying the Simpsons are not funny anymore. Could it be you are all older and have a different sense of funnyness. In other words, you take things tooooo seriously now that you are adults?

Look back at the re-runs (or DVD) collections of cartoons you watched when you were age 6-10; I bet they are not funny to watch anymore either, but you used to spend hour after hour watching them when you were young.

And when Disney announced a new animation film, as a child you could hardly wait to go see it, as an adult you will not go see it unless you have to take a child.

Over-Familiarity plus changing age and lifestyle of the viewer impacts on viewer likeability of a TV show.

And thanks, MDN, for turning it political.

Dec 01, 08 - 12:00 pm Comment from: Islandgirl

Instead of a handout, Lisa gets a job. How un-American.

Someone missed the entire premise of this episode, which was Satire.

If you're not blinded by right-wing ideology, it's pretty clear.

Dec 01, 08 - 12:14 pm Comment from: Predrag

And to make it absolutely clear to Madein:

MDN take (How un-American) was an attempt at sarcasm, slightly coloured by right-wing conservativism.

I thought it contained some pretty funny stuff. It made for a good Monday morning laugh.
Now, back to my un-American job that uses programmers outsourced from India to do work at 1/3 the price of Indian programmers here in this country.

Someone needs to unclench their arse cheeks and relax!!!

This episode was essentially a 30-minute Apple infomercial. Right in the middle were even a couple of real Apple commercials. Regardless of whether it was funny or not, or satire or parody, it was free publicity for Apple. And that is always a good thing for any company.

I kept wondering though why the gave Steve a lisp. And why they didn't get the real Steve for the part. I wonder if they even asked him.

Dec 01, 08 - 12:21 pm Comment from: Renderdog

I recently re-watched the first seven seasons of the Simpsons and they were indeed much funnier (in my opinion), with more character/relationship humor and less satire and outlandish plots. Could be different taste but it's certainly not as hugely popular as it once was.

Still, nice to have Apple reach this level of public consciousness.

Right Wing, Left Wing- both bad! Both are extremes- but most people live a conserative life- never spending more than they can pay. When a person spends too much in a "liberial" spending spree they go bankrupt. A person too "conservative" banks a lot of money but does nothing but save. So most say within their budget with a conservative/liberal balance.

Balance is obtained with competeing forces as does the market.

Dec 01, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: qka

@ Cartoon Philosopher

Well said!

If this episode is an example, The Simpsons has yet to "jump the shark". I loved how, after "Mobs" was set to announce news that will "completely change the way you look at everything" the faithful took out their cash! All in good fun.

OK, maybe it's not the "insanely great" humor of earlier seasons, but it's still pretty good. Still The SImpsons take on "The Raven" in an early Halloween Special, or the one where Marge plays in "Streetcar" with the sub-plot parody of "The Great Escape" with Maggie as "prisoner" are hard acts to follow.

Dec 01, 08 - 12:39 pm Comment from: rdbvideo

This show works on so many levels, I don't have time to comment on all.

A big parallel I see is Lisa and our present economic problems.
Someone is given something they didn't earn. They abuse it. They get in trouble. They ask for a bailout, and resent the solution.

The Simpson's may have a stinker episode from time to time, but it's the best thing going on Sunday night.

If this had been tried on Family Guy, it would have been nothing more than Peter playing with the new Fart app on his phone while a couple of iShag computers copulated in the background.

MacFarlane must have had something on FOX to get them to keep pushing his crap until they found enough teenage boys to watch it. No multilevel messages here. Just sophomoric or smutty one liners.

I love my iPhone, iPod, MacBook Pro, and Apple, but this was hilarious. It's an honor to be spoofed by The Simpsons. This was tame compared to what South Park would do to them.

Definite elements of truth in this cut, I was in effect
laughing at myself watching this.

Just imagine if South Park ripped on Apple.

I liked the clip, and it was apparent the writers know their Apple. The thing that I didn't get was the song that came on when Bart asked the Cube for help against the earbud flaying mobs. What about the Jobs under the ocean though? I know, Gates took a bunch a of journalists on a submarine trip in Poland to experience "A world without Windows" for the launch of Windows 95. Big gala event that was, worth billions of dollars in sales since and a decade of false hype. Who says Apple is the lord of the hype machine? It's only hype when you don't deliver in my book.

But I agree with one of the previous comments regarding the Simpsons. I agree that the show has stopped being funny a long, long time ago. I think he mentioned 10 years, but I'd go back to season 3 (1990 was it?) and end the series right there. After that, they became the joke they were making fun of. My favourite animated (or otherwise as well) show remains The King of the Hill. Very, very subtle. Mike Judge is so underrated and under appreciated still. King of the hill indeed.

This episode was hilariously dead on – and remember it was probably scripted 16 months ago. Most people on this blog stopped being funny 10 seasons ago. "That light confirms that it's off." Classic.

@MDN: "Instead of a handout, Lisa gets a job. How un-American."

Sometimes there's a clash between MDN's love of all that's Apple and its love of all that's conservative.

I have found that in the past I dont agree with the simpson's underlying message.. this just reenforces the fact that my stance on most things are not that with the simpsons..

Burn windows burn

Einstein, Time Machine. But Studio 54??

And yes, dropping references does not make a show universally funny. Just like familiarity doesn't make great music, as many suspect is the case with quite a few Beatles' tunes. A few of the voice actors in Simpson never clicked with me from day one, most notably Bart Simpson's. Having a middle aged female do a teen aged boy and his 'angst' somehow does not ring authentic to me. Same way I feel about Conan O'Brien and his blend of over-used self decimating humour which he used in the Simpsons as well. Letterman brought acerbity in his self loathing if not contempt, Conan's is just trying and therefore less than authentic, in my view. Anyway, it was a spin-off that have made a lot of people wealthy, including Mr. Murdoch whom it has made fun of on numerous occasions. I suspect, it's the economics mostly that keeps the series floating the air-waves rather than any thirst for real creativity. Something I associate with many things Apple from day one.

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me ... Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me." ~ Jobs.

Since when does getting a job instead of a handout make one "conservative?"

Strong identification with "conservative" or "liberal" (whatever those terms happen to mean) is a trap.

This was hysterical, you folks really need to stop taking yourselves so seriously! I'm a huge Apple fanatic, but c'mon, this stuff was right on. So funny. Light confirms that it's off. Great line.

Good stuff, shame they couldn't get the real Steve to do the voiceover.

@ those who think the Simpsons is still funny ...

- Apple headquarters is under the ocean? Why? (and why is this "funny"?)

- Calling modern design "sterile"? (welcome to the 1960's everyone!)

- "That light confirms that it's off." (the opposite of an Apple design) This is funny because it's the *reverse* of what Apple does?

The main point of the segment (humour-wise), seems to be Barts "rant" which is full of so many re-cycled "truisms" about Apple (Apple users are gay, Apple is ripping you off, etc.).

There is a running joke in the Simpsons that goes through many many episodes. It's about Mad Magazine and how they lost their way in terms of satire. This is exactly where the Simpsons finds themselves today. Tired gain-saying of new trends, and stolen jokes from the mainstream re-cycled as their own.

One last sad point... complete continuity error when Bart plugs in his handheld microphone. Shabby and shameless, that's what the Simpsons are today.

Steve Mobs about to make an announcement, then the lemmings pull their cash out before hearing what he has to say.....priceless and right on the money...hahahahaha!!!

Dec 01, 08 - 02:08 pm Comment from: theloniousMac

Absolutely brilliant.

Apple should pay attention to the sarcasm in this episode. The "holier-than-thou, we are God's gift to you all" attitude is more than just a bit stale.

No longer is it cool to purchase Apple products. It has become cool to be an Apple critic.

The level of pretentiousness coming from Apple and Apple fans hit a crescendo with the introduction of the iPhone.

Apple needs to come back down to Earth. The press conferences just to introduce a product need to stop. Hold a press conference if you cure heart disease, or cancer, or AIDS. We don't need a press conference to let us know that iPods come in different colors. We don't need press conferences for new products at all quite frankly. Such behavior is at best unwarranted. In the end, the Macintosh is just a computer. The iPhone is just a phone.

Jobs and his cadre of followers such as Jonathan Ives have become caricatures of themselves. Their own perception of themselves as being "uber cool" comes out in their wholly affected public appearances and statements.

Apple once screwed up by resting on their laurels and allowing the Macintosh OS to languish for years before doing anything about what became a bloated morass of undecipherable code.

Now they are in danger of turning people off with their arrogance and pompousness. Apple has become the brand for the "Chads" and "Brittneys" of the world.

Time to rethink differently.

Good Job Simpsons.