Rio Blames It On The Simpsons.

April 9, 2002 10:50 AM

Rio Blames It On The Simpsons. 'The Simpsons...visited Brazil last week (and) made some offbeat observations. (They) found that Rio de Janeiro is a city where all men are bisexual, where fearsome monkeys roam the streets, and tourists are kidnapped by taxi drivers and mugged by children. Unfortunately, the Rio tourist board did not see the funny side and is preparing to sue the producers, Fox, for damage to its international image and loss of revenue. The issue threatens to become a diplomatic incident.'.

How something so obviously ripping the shit out of stereotyping can be so misinterpreted is beyond me, but now 'The Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, has entered the fray claiming that the cartoon "brought a distorted vision of Brazilian reality."' Surely the shows makers were trying to do a service to Rio by rubbishing the stereotypes? Apologies, I ain't seen the show, but if you did, what did you think?
posted by boneybaloney (38 comments total)

It looks like maybe the taxes just ain't bringing the dosh in in Rio, so it's lawsuit time! 'In January, the mayor of Rio threatened to sue a weather forecaster who predicted, wrongly, that there would be storms on New Year's Eve. The weather forecast kept crowds away from one of the biggest festivals of the year.' Hell, that's a damn good way of instituting tax cuts. Spread the word!
posted by boneybaloney at 10:52 AM on April 9, 2002

boneybaloney - that's kinda how I took it. Just some good-natured ribbing, really. Didn't they go through this with New Orleans a few years back?
posted by GriffX at 10:53 AM on April 9, 2002

Fox should just take the ten dollars the Brazilian cable companies paid for the Simpsons, and give it back to them. If they don't like the show, they can go to a gay bar, hunt down some wild monkies, and/or kidnap/mug some tourists.
posted by uftheory at 10:53 AM on April 9, 2002

In other news, comic book store owners are preparing to sue as well.

Worst. Lawsuit. Ever.
posted by bondcliff at 10:54 AM on April 9, 2002

The Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso..

Any relation, Miguel?

In other news, comic book store owners are preparing to sue as well.

Not to mention clowns, slack-jawed-yokels, convenience store owners and men with bones in their hair. Sheesh.

Actually, if the Simpsons went to Rio, does that mean we get to see Marge in one of those Brazillian thongs? {va-va-voom!}
posted by jonmc at 11:01 AM on April 9, 2002

jonmc, you're a sick, sick man.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:03 AM on April 9, 2002

If everyone the simpsons sued took offence...it would be UGLY.
I remember an episode when they visited Japan and played a horrible, mean Japanese game show. That was a riot. They had to win to get home. So funny.

I really hope FOX does nothing about it, apologizes in any way, or changes anything. Although I doubt they will. That would set a bad precedence and bring the wrath of the world down on them.
posted by aacheson at 11:05 AM on April 9, 2002

the brazilian president roams the streets - obviously said stereotypes have a basis in reality.
posted by quonsar at 11:06 AM on April 9, 2002

Actually, if the Simpsons went to Rio, does that mean we get to see Marge in one of those Brazillian thongs? {va-va-voom!}

No, it means we got to see Homer in a thong. (Well, 2 thongs if we're keeping track.)

[The Brazilian President claimed] the cartoon brought a distorted vision of Brazilian reality.

Imagine, a cartoon (especially the dignified Simpsons) presenting a distorted view of reality. Just shameless.
posted by ahughey at 11:16 AM on April 9, 2002

Actually, if the Simpsons went to Rio, does that mean we get to see Marge in one of those Brazillian thongs? {va-va-voom!}


actually homer put 3 on...but they kept getting lost in his crack
posted by Mick at 11:18 AM on April 9, 2002

Didn't the mayor of Rio have a weatherman prosecuted because of innacurate predictions?
posted by ph00dz at 11:19 AM on April 9, 2002

ph00dz : Yes.
posted by boneybaloney at 11:24 AM on April 9, 2002

Sadly, that episode sucked!
posted by bob bisquick at 11:28 AM on April 9, 2002

I saw the episode. Brazil got off pretty mildly compared to how the U.S. gets portrayed regularly.

Do you think that Brazil could start a class-action lawsuit, joining together with Japan, Australia, France & any other country the Simpsons have visited?
posted by tdismukes at 11:33 AM on April 9, 2002

That is just stupid.

What did they expect from a cartoon?! I'm sure the number of completely factual cartoons ever made could be counted on one hand.

If Brazil doesn't want to look bad, they shouldn't be threatening to sue over a cartoon. 'Sides, France gets a regular pasting, unlike Brazil's one-off jab--and I don't see them threatening to sue!
posted by Dark Messiah at 11:43 AM on April 9, 2002

jonmc: {va-va-voom!}

I misread this as {va-va-vomit}
posted by mkelley at 11:49 AM on April 9, 2002

Although I didn't see it yet (it will get here in Brazil only in September, I guess - but I've just finished downloading it and I'll see it later), speaking as a Brazilian and a huge Simpson's fan, I'm amused to see all this controversy.

Those news got a huge midia here, mentioning the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, president FHC, the secretary of the tourism bureau of Rio and any one else in desperate need of midia.

A friend of mine was kind of pissed with the 'stereotypes' presented (he's usually pissed, he's a extreme lefty). Although we don't have monkeys attacking in Rio de Janeiro anymore (though it wouldn't amaze me at all - unless they were flying monkeys), we do have a lot of violence. And we are kind of cheesy. And we do have a sad reputation of being a sexual tourism country (and the same tourism bureau that says that will sue because of the bad image once had some ad material for Rio de Janeiro displaying young women in the mentioned thongs printed and sent to many travel agencies in Europe).

I live in the south region. We don't have urban war like the one in Rio, although violence is increasing quite a lot. My brother went to Rio last week in a 2-days business appointment. Two blocks away from his hotel, there were drug dealers fighting against rivals, using heavy guns such as AR-15 machine guns and granades.

My point is: LET THEM SUE. It will be dismissed before our president gets a chance to say "Duh".
posted by rexgregbr at 11:56 AM on April 9, 2002

dumb. (obviously) the simpsons is satire, designed to step on a few toes in order to portray social defencies in a comical manner. If everyone the simpsons sued took offence...it would be UGLY. damn straight. the simpsons has poked fun at just about every major social and politcal issue in the world and definatley in the US. whatever they havent covered yet, is probably on a list that Matt Groening is constantly adding to. best. show. ever. in my opinion
posted by sixtwenty3dc at 12:06 PM on April 9, 2002

I saw the episode, and it actually made me want to go to Rio. Maybe Fox will let me testify for them in the lawsuit...
posted by spilon at 12:25 PM on April 9, 2002

If everyone the simpsons sued took offence...it would be UGLY.
I wasn't aware of the Simpsons suing anyone, especially since Lionel Hutz is no more. If they did sue me though, why shouldn't I take offence?
posted by BenNewman at 12:29 PM on April 9, 2002

The Simpsons should be sued for not making fun of Toronto enough. They were there for like two minutes... what's up with that, eh? Buncha hosers.

The Simpsons makes more fun of itself and of Fox than it does of Brazil. Does that mean the producers should sue themselves??
posted by mkn at 12:37 PM on April 9, 2002

The Simpsons also depicted Rio as two-dimensional.
posted by kindall at 12:45 PM on April 9, 2002

Worst. Episode. Ever.
posted by crunchland at 12:52 PM on April 9, 2002

So... I'm looking at the date line and it's not April 1st.

Was that the joke?
posted by jedrek at 1:13 PM on April 9, 2002

the cartoon "brought a distorted vision of Brazilian reality"

A cartoon with a distorted take on reality? What is the world coming to? What next?
posted by holycola at 1:20 PM on April 9, 2002

Although I don't know the details of the law, there are allowances for satire (otherwise a few sites would have lawsuits up the wazoo)

I don't see how this could even make it to court.
posted by jaden at 1:28 PM on April 9, 2002

Do not taunt Happy-Fun Brazilian.
posted by tommasz at 1:35 PM on April 9, 2002

I think the Simpsons were also speaking Spanish in the episode, which didn't make much sense...

In any case, THIS WEEK's episode was HIGH-LARIOUS! The Dubya barb was off the hook (monkey-faced president)!
posted by aeiou at 1:40 PM on April 9, 2002

"I think the Simpsons were also speaking Spanish in the episode, which didn't make much sense..."

Bart learned Spanish on the plane, Marge told him they speak Portuguese in Brazil, and he banged his head a couple of times to forget the Spanish.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:00 PM on April 9, 2002

Do I sense a trend? First Korea goes after Jay Leno for his jokes, now this.

Perhaps other countries, unable to take our elected politicians seriously anymore, have decided to deal directly with those who REALLY set policy in our culture--our comedy writers.
posted by rushmc at 4:36 PM on April 9, 2002

Actually, Miguel is related to this guy.
posted by ParisParamus at 4:44 PM on April 9, 2002

Stupid moronic foreign legal systems.
posted by ParisParamus at 4:45 PM on April 9, 2002

If Rio wins I'd say Australia has a good case. Even Yardley Smith wanted to be out of the country before that episode aired.
posted by krisjohn at 4:45 PM on April 9, 2002

OK, this thread has been over for some time, but I can't resist:

No, it means we got to see Homer in a thong. (Well, 2 thongs if we're keeping track.)

Gawd, like that would make it any better. Don't you know that two thongs don't make a right?

Thank you. Carry on.
posted by diddlegnome at 12:07 AM on April 10, 2002

Paris: Never heard of him. I can tell by the glasses he's no kin of mine. But this guy is my great-great uncle's second cousin on my father's side and he rocks, right? :)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:43 AM on April 10, 2002

How do you say "recount" in Portugese?
posted by ParisParamus at 1:45 AM on April 10, 2002

Sorry, Paris - if you continue to leave out the U in Portuguese, I'm afraid I'll have to use the U in recount to make up and take out the O as revenge, leaving me to read your query as recunt. Which after your Regina-rhymin' comment in the Bellegarde thread - and my own little recent post - must put as down as two raving sex maniacs on the lam. ;)
posted by MiguelCardoso at 4:38 AM on April 10, 2002

Sorry. I took Spanish in high school. Portuguese, Portuguese, Portuguese!
posted by ParisParamus at 5:08 AM on April 10, 2002