‘Simpsons’ Co-Creator Sam Simon Had an Interesting Relationship with Nuclear Power
Sam Simon – the writer, producer, director, Simpsons co-creator, and philanthropist who passed away on Monday at age 59 – had an interesting & complicated relationship when it came to nuclear energy, no surprise considering his eco-friendly advocacy and regular skewering of the power source on the animated series.
In the show, Homer plays a bumbling safety inspector in Sector 7G of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and this provided plenty of opportunities to piss off the industry.
“The nuclear power industry is having a meltdown over The Simpsons,” the Associated Press stated back in December of 1990, only a year after the show’s debut. In response, the U.S. Council for Energy Awareness sent the Simpsons producers a letter expressing their horror at watching plant workers presented as “bungling idiots.”
“Could Homer Simpson derail the nuclear renaissance?” The Wall Street Journal asked, referring to the negative nuclear aspects highlighted on the series. The plant produces acid rain, contaminates its workers with radiation, and creates three-eyed fish. And of course the facility’s owner, Mr. Burns, is the most evil man in town. (Yes, even more so than the maniacal Sideshow Bob.)
In response, Simon said, “I am sorry that the Simpsons have offended a lot of people in the energy industry. I agree with you that in real life Homer Simpson would not be employed at a nuclear power plant. On the other hand, he probably wouldn’t be employed anywhere.”
There was a back-and-forth for some time, eventually resulting in Simon and other producers and writers touring the San Onofre nuclear plant in San Clemente, California.
Although Simon reported that the show had been fairly accurate when it came to worker conditions and terminology, he conceded that the tour changed minds on his staff regarding the power source in general. In response, the Simpsons team announced they would tone down their industry jabs beginning with the third season.
“I think the facts are pretty powerful that it’s a clean and safe and important source of energy,” Simon said. “While some of the [episodes] were in the works before [the tour], we really backed off that as a source of comedy. No more three-eyed fish.”
Of course old Blinky would still get some future cameos, and this wouldn’t spell a complete end to nuclear-based jokes, as the show still needed to remain satirical and topical. In fact, during Simon’s announcement he was quick to point out that another one was already on the way. In an upcoming episode at the time, Homer would begin saying grace at the dinner table with: “Thank you for nuclear power, which has yet to cause a single fatality… at least in this country.”
[via The Daily Beast]
