I haven’t seen the new episode yet and stopped reading the article once it got into spoiler territory, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Apu is played going forward.
In season 32 Carl (of Lenny and Carl fame) changed voice actors and while it took a little while for the new voice actor (Alex Désert) to figure out the voice and the character nowadays he does a solid job of playing Carl.
Also in season 32 Dr. Hibbert changed voice actors and while the new voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson is an excellent voice actor, he is a terrible Dr. Hibbert. But, he’s made the character his own. He’s a sillier character. Honestly if he were a new character he’d fit in well, but after 30+ seasons of Dr. Hibbert the new Hibbert just feels odd.
While on the subject, in season 32 Megan Mullally began to voice Sarah Wiggum and portrayed her wildly different from her previous appearances. She didn’t have as much of a character historically, but the shift was still odd.
Also in season 36 Pamela Hayden retired and her characters, Milhouse, Jimbo & Rod Flanders all got new voice actors while keeping the same basic character.
The article discusses not wanting Apu to be a stereotype, but I hope he’s still Apu. The same Apu we’ve known for 30+ years. (Same for his wife Manjula.)
Edit: Having seen the episode I would say Apu is still Apu. He sounds different and it’s definitely an adjustment, but the character seems to remain true to themselves.
Yea, Apu’s character was only sorta’ using the classic stereotypes to provide ground for them to work with. IMO, they did a good job making him more than the stereotypes, and did well to make him far more than a punching bag for those stereotypes. That’s a pretty good job for a ‘raunchy’ (remember how churchy types viewed it in the 90s? ha) funny cartoon.
I haven’t seen the new episode yet and stopped reading the article once it got into spoiler territory, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Apu is played going forward.
In season 32 Carl (of Lenny and Carl fame) changed voice actors and while it took a little while for the new voice actor (Alex Désert) to figure out the voice and the character nowadays he does a solid job of playing Carl.
Also in season 32 Dr. Hibbert changed voice actors and while the new voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson is an excellent voice actor, he is a terrible Dr. Hibbert. But, he’s made the character his own. He’s a sillier character. Honestly if he were a new character he’d fit in well, but after 30+ seasons of Dr. Hibbert the new Hibbert just feels odd.
While on the subject, in season 32 Megan Mullally began to voice Sarah Wiggum and portrayed her wildly different from her previous appearances. She didn’t have as much of a character historically, but the shift was still odd.
Also in season 36 Pamela Hayden retired and her characters, Milhouse, Jimbo & Rod Flanders all got new voice actors while keeping the same basic character.
The article discusses not wanting Apu to be a stereotype, but I hope he’s still Apu. The same Apu we’ve known for 30+ years. (Same for his wife Manjula.)
Edit: Having seen the episode I would say Apu is still Apu. He sounds different and it’s definitely an adjustment, but the character seems to remain true to themselves.
Holy shit, I thought it was on like 28 or something.
And that was two seasons ago, we’re on 38 now.
Yea, Apu’s character was only sorta’ using the classic stereotypes to provide ground for them to work with. IMO, they did a good job making him more than the stereotypes, and did well to make him far more than a punching bag for those stereotypes. That’s a pretty good job for a ‘raunchy’ (remember how churchy types viewed it in the 90s? ha) funny cartoon.