Will Scientology Kill The Simpsons?

Will the straw that breaks Homer Simpson’s back be Scientology, it’s more likely than you think.

We all know The Simpsons jumped the shark around season 8, but I’m not sure anyone expected this.

D’OH!

Scientologist Nancy Cartwright, who does the voice of Bart Simpson on “The Simpsons,” has recorded a message in the voice of the iconic animated character promoting the controversial quasi-religious organization.

Cartwright recorded the pitch (audio below) for a robocall to boost turn-out for a Scientology event at the organization’s Hollywood center. Though she takes care to identify herself by her real name and not her character, she uses the Bart voice at a few points in the recording.

“This is not authorized by us,” said “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean. “‘The Simpsons’ does not, and never has, endorsed any religion, philosophy or system of beliefs any more profound than Butterfinger bars.” (Okay, it’s not Jean’s wittiest line).

The move is not only unauthorized, of course, but almost certainly violates Cartwright’s contract. Though Fox is remaining mum on the subject, and their legal department is very much looking into the matter, the “Simpsons” characters are owned by Fox. Sure, Scientology is a non-profit group (ahem), but it doesn’t matter (a Fox vs. the Church of Scientology lawsuit over the misuse of Bart Simpson? Oh-please, oh-please, oh-please…). (via THRFeed)

If god-damned Scientology get’s Cartwright fired, and era will certainly come to an end.  I ‘d be saddened because the Simpsons has such a big place in my heart, but kind of relieved we won’t be seeing any more of this:

20 Worst Simpsons Episodes

1. New Kids on the Blecch (12): NSYNC? No.
2. The Lastest Gun in the West (13): Where were all the jokes?
3. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge (11): I’d expect something like this from a CBS sitcom, Not The Simpsons
4. Helter Shelter (14): An 1895 House? Boring. And the dreadful ending really sucked.
5. Saddlesore Gallactica (11): This belongs in a Saturday morning cartoon.
6. Bart to the Future (11): Lisa is the President? Bart is a bum? They all have kid voices in their 30’s? Blehh.
7. Gump Roast (13): A Clip show is fine if it makes sense? This episode is essentially a Roast for Homer where Kang and Kodos show up… Clip shows are still continuity, so why does this make Zero sense? The only things good here are the Austin Powers/ Darth Vader jokes at the beginning and the song at the end.
8. The Blunder Years (13): The scenes of them as children were good, but what was the point fo all the other crap? Nothing else about it was funny, it felt like a good flashback ep with a bunch of really bad deleted scenes or crappy subplot added to ruin it. Yuck.
9. The Principal & The Pauper (9): Funny episode… Terrible Plot. Seymour Skinner was fine being himself. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
10. Pokey Mom (12): Bland, Boring, Unfunny, a HORRIBLE One-Time character, actually possibly the worst one they’ve ever had, The Prisoner was just unbearably annoying. The Cyropracter sub-plot provided a few laughs, but that was also weak. Also Marge was way too Naive and Skinner was a jackass, they both felt so different here.

Read the last 10 worst simpsons episodes according to listology here.

UPDATE: The Simpsons creator Matt Groening commented that the issue had been “blown up beyond what was intended” (via Wikipedia)

So, Nancy isn’t getting fired and The Simpsons will live on.  Also, this story was old. I know I didn’t know… did you? That’s right, the wool has been pulled over our eyes by Scientologist cover ups!

Thanks Natalie!

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