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‘The Simpsons’ Surprise: Apu Is Heard for the First Time in Nearly a Decade, as Sunil Malhotra Takes Over for Hank Azaria (variety.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by to c/television@piefed.social
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[–] 33 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

The original voice actors were (and are) crazy-talented. I think most of Apu's portrayals were positive and handled well. The only problem is that it's an Indian man being voiced by a white dude. Despite not watching The Simpsons for well over a decade now, I think this is a positive change, and I might even try to figure out how to watch this episode!

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  • [–] 13 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

    It seems a little discriminatory to say only some people can play some characters.

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  • [–] 24 points 2 weeks ago* (4 children)

    I can understand the sentiment. It seems weird. Though it's far less about doing art "correctly" and more about actually hiring minorities for roles that are aping off of their uniqueness. Similar to how Warwick Davis was complaining about Disney not using real little people for the real life Snow White. A lot of people misconstrued his complaints, but he just wants little people actors to have jobs and not have to scrounge around and struggle for work and end up exploited.

    Also similar to people complaining about Tom Cruise starring in Digger. Piles of makeup just to make him look old and frumpy. They could've saved millions and not paid scientology and had an actual old frumpy actor do the role, which would've been infinitely better than Cruise.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

    So I'm not sure the Digger argument really makes sense.

    Without spoiling the film any actor who played the role of Digger was going to have to wear a bunch of makeup to look old and frumpy. The makeup is important to the film, so even someone who was old and frumpy would still wear makeup to look different. It's not a hard requirement, but it would definitely change the film without it.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago* (2 children)

    Are you claiming there are no old and frumpy actors in Hollywood? Really?

    The point is they wouldn't have had to go as far and spend as much and gotten a better result. Both on and off screen.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    No, not at all. My point is that even if the film had starred an old and frumpy actor, then would have still needed to apply a bunch of makeup. The character being in makeup is part of the character.

    Spoilers for DiggerTom Cruise is playing a character named "Curtis Markson" in the film. That character is in a satirical stage play where he plays "Digger Rockwell". The reveal that the film is actually a stage play is a surprise that occurs about 20 minutes into the film.

    There are a number of hints in the first 20 minutes. For example the opening of the film has a "curtains rise" that in the moment feels like a stylistic choice. Another is an obviously robotic cat. Another is when we're seeing characters move about the house and enter the scene the building layout doesn't really make sense with characters playing with doorways. And finally the fact that Tom Cruise is heavily done up in makeup.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 weeks ago

    OK? That's still only one of three points. Do you think it's totally fine to pay a scientologist? Do you think it's totally fine to give even more money to an extremely popular and wealthy star instead of literally anyone else capable of the job?

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago

    That's not how discrimination works. Anyone can play Apu (it's obviously not illegal or banned by the company or anything), but it could be problematic. Think of an impressionable young South Asian kid watching the Simpsons and listening to a white dude with a thick fake accent pretending to "represent" him. And if you're okay with that, what's wrong with looking the part in filmed TV/movies? Then it's blackface again with white men used to exclude and stereotype other races and nationalities...

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