Your morning dose of cute, and other links

[yendi]

mactavish pointed out the baaaaabyanimals community, where you can see things like baby otters.

More info on that column of Ann Coulter's that USA Today spiked, from a USA Today intern.

The MTV Video Music Awards nominations have been announced. This is the famed tradition in which MTV presents awards for items that can actually only be seen on Fuse. I have no idea if Fuse will have an award show for The Simpson Sisters and Punk'd, but it would be the right thing to do.

For the Pratchett fans who may be wondering just how often one-in-a-million chances occur, Scientific American has the answer: 295 times a day in America.

The Simpsons are planning a gay marriage episode which will also out a character. I honestly think that Smithers would be a disappointment -- he's out, as far as I'm concerned, and there wouldn't be any need for a buildup. Some of the choices that are mentioned strike me as a bit odd -- Comic Book Guy comes to mind -- unless they're planning on essentially having a character realize that he's gay (as opposed to simply coming out). Certainly, the Lenny/Karl thing has been tossed around a lot, but I dunno. Something I find interesting in all the speculation is that no one suggests any of the female characters, even though there are certainly some possibilities (Patty, Mrs. Krabapple now that she's sworn off men, the lunchlady, although she'd be at the stereotypical extreme).

Of course, the last time they had a big build-up, with everone wondering who it would be ("Who Shot Mr. Burns"), they kinda gave us a let-down, so who knows?

Comments

[amokk]

Yeah, man. It's Bart. That whole camp episode with John Waters as the guest voice, it was all right there.



If they make it Moe.... I think that might be time to stop watching. Shark-jumping comes to mind, but I think they did that with "Who Shot Mr. Burns" anyway...

[yendi]

I actually like the recent years, but it's a different kind of show. And there are certainly more duds now than before. But they still have enough really good episodes (like the John Waters one) that I still watch, and even the bad ones have good moments.

[amokk]

True. I just haven't really had time to watch in a while, I've been working so many Sundays...

[alladinsane.livejournal.com]

Havent caught it myself either...the big change was in 1997 when they dropped Groening's rule of the Simpsons acting like a normal loving family to matter how wacky things around them got and Homer became a sick psychopath(Jerkoff Homer)...they seem to have reversed that a bit from the eps I've caught this year though...Season before last the plot recycling(Moe making the bar a fru-fru place and kicking out the regs, Lisa the Buddhist, etc.) was WAY too obvious and a major peeve of mine...excessive self-referentialness...

Still better than most TV though..

As far as the new outed char, Waylon's way too obvious...Lunchlady's too minor a char...Comic Book Guy likes Momma Skinner and Janeway nudity, so odd one there...Krabapple is a likely candidate, Patty maybe though the MacGyver(not exactly a lesbian icon) thing would have to be accounted for...Lenny/Carl is a step less obvious than Waylon...Moe seems to be one everyone's figuring on; I wouldnt rule out Sideshow Mel or Sea Captain(that might be too obvious)...just please dont let it be the already married Cletus(they seem to have a Cletus appearance quota for each ep)...

ok spent a lot more time on this comment than I should have...

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

Certainly, the Lenny/Karl thing has been tossed around a lot

Lenny's best friend is Carl, just for the record. Karl was Homer's probably-gay assistant, voiced by Harvey Fierstein, in the episode where Homer briefly became an executive at the power plant.

I've read the outed character will be Patty, who marries a tennis pro.

It would be an utter snooze for Smithers to be outed. He's much more funny marginally-in.

[alladinsane.livejournal.com]

Where'd you read that Patty's it?...not doubting you but curious as to source...

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

I read it here (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5110647#post5110647). Not terribly authoritative, of course, but it makes sense anyway.

[yendi]

Ack! Good point. Don't know why I spelled it that way.

Patty would make sense, given her "celebate by choice" history. Her only dating experience that I can recall was her relationship with Skinner, and she never seemed enthused, to say the least.

[tablesaw]

I'll put my money on Miss Hoover, actually.

[yendi]

With a name like that, it'd be a surprise.

We know little enough about her that it's a possibility, but we also know so little about her, that I'd doubt anyone would give a damn.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

What's-his-name, the ultra-Christian neighbor (I'm blanking on his name) would be quite a shocker.

One of Marge's sisters getting married to *anyone* would be a shock.

[yendi]

Heh. On an episode with an imaginary future, Bart blackmailed Flanders over the homosexuality of Rod and Todd (his kids).

Marge's other sister has been married at least twice -- once to Sideshow Bob, and once to Troy McClure.

[wikkidpixie.livejournal.com]

What about Groundeskeeper Willeh? ;)

[yendi]

Heh. Now that would be interesting. :-)

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

Lunchlady Doris wouldn't work because *sniff* Doris Grau (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336064/) died nine years ago. Lunchlady Doris hasn't been featured since the mid-1990s as a result.

I'm rooting for Bart to come out. He hangs around Milhouse a lot whose "obvious homosexual tendencies" were part of a throwaway line in an early episode. We all know how recruitment is part of the Gay Agenda! Additionally, Bart crossdresses way too comfortably not to have at least a passing interest in nonheterosexual ways. In spite of earlier crushes on Samantha Stanky (Milhouse) and the Lovejoy girl (Bart), I look forward to Bart and Milhouse proclaiming their love.

Besides, Bart would look simply smashing in a big tulle gown.

(Hi, mactavish linked to you!)

[yendi]

I'd forgotten that she played the lunchlady (I remember her from The Critic much better).

I doubt they'll do it with Bart (especially since he's underage), but it would be interesting.

Funny thing is, on a recent episode in which Milhouse accidentally kissed Homer, they conveniently forgot about Milhouse's one hetero relationship (he claimed it was his first kiss ever).

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is, on a recent episode in which Milhouse accidentally kissed Homer, they conveniently forgot about Milhouse's one hetero relationship (he claimed it was his first kiss ever).

Aha! Freudian slip! It could be that Homer awakened stirrings in Milhouse, causing him to forget all about that harlot, Samantha Stanky.

Yeah, I agree that they'll likely avoid underage sexuality, but I still hope in my fevered brain for a Bart/Milhouse union.

Smithers is out to anyone whose business it is. Lenny and Carl would be obvious, but sweet. Moe wishes for a girlfriend very hard (perhaps too hard? hmm). I'm going with Patty, the Bouvier sister who has not been married to a murderer and later, to a sem-closeted fish perv trying to restore his acting career. I choose her for the practical reason that television has an easier time with female bisexuality and homosexuality than with male, in spite of shows like Will and Grace.

[yendi]

That's a good point -- Ellen controversy aside, there's generally a tendency to accept female bi/homosexuality.

And Patty's name comes up elsewhere in this thread, too. Given her "willingly celebate" state, I'd buy that one.

[wakingdreaming.livejournal.com]

I have a strange feeling it's Mr. Burns. No one else even seems to be considering him an option.

[yendi]

An interesting possibility, although I shudder at the thought of him getting married.

He's also had his share of hetero obsessions (including Marge!).

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

Ooh. It would be just too ironic if he married a guy other than Smithers, wouldn't it?

[copycatjsh.livejournal.com]

I would figure it is Patty.

Recall the Gay Pride Parade with the two people "in the closet" just showing their arms. First person said "we're gay, we're glad", second person says "just don't tell mom and dad". The voice was either Selma or Patty... had to be.

-jsh

Everyone's talking Simpsons!

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

I wanna thank you for pointing the point out of the baby animals... So cute... just what I needed.

speaking of MTV Video awards... I will try and use psychic powers to catch the "rock threesome of Jet, Hoobastank and Yellowcard."

and miss the rest of the entire show...