After 1 Simpsons Episode, Angry Viewers in 2 Countries

Show skewers upstate New York, and then Canada
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 30, 2019 7:10 AM CDT
The Simpsons Manages to Tick Off 2 Countries
In this image released by Fox, Homer and his clan have a barbecue.   (Fox via AP)

The Simpsons are not big favorites in Canada at the moment, judging from the online reaction to the cartoon family's visit in their most recent episode. For that matter, the show probably hasn't won the hearts of many in upstate New York either, thanks to the same episode. The most heat is in Canada, particularly Newfoundland. As the CBC recounts, one joke in particular hit hard: When Lisa tells a group of Canadians that "I'm sure you treat all peoples equally," one replies, "Except the Québécois. And the Newfies. Stupid Newfies." Then Ralph Wiggum is seen saying, "I'm a Newfie!" and clubbing a stuffed seal. The first offense is the use of "Newfie," widely seen as derogatory. The second is the seal-hunting dig, called a cheap shot and "false information" by the owner of a clothing store that sells sealskin clothing.

Another response, from Canadian comic Mark Critch: "(I'm) not upset about the ‘newfie’ joke ... so much as surprised that in all my 45 years, the lamest, least-interesting ‘Newfie’ joke I’ve heard was on @thesimpsons," he wrote. Still, the joke was nothing compared to the scathing treatment of Buffalo, Rochester, and other upstate New York cities, which the Simpsons traveled through on their way to Canada. It's "the one place that can never decline because it was never that great," declares Homer, who sings a mocking ode, per CNN. Included: "The Kodak plant's closed, but I'm a-longin' to stay/And go on disability in upstate New York/Can't make it anywhere but I can make it there." In response, the state fair wants the show's writing staff to visit, reports WIVB, and the governor's office wants people to know that "unemployment is down" and "millennials are coming back." (More The Simpsons stories.)

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