macnn
12/01/2008, 10:05am, EST
Monday, December 1st
Simpsons takes jabs at Apple cult, costs
In its most recent episode, popular animated sitcom The Simpsons has parodied a variety of aspects of Apple culture, including its marketing, high prices and cult-like following. The plot sees the opening of the first Springfield Mapple store, stocked with products such as MyPhones and MyPods, and services such as the Brainiac Bar. Though Lisa finds she cannot afford even MyPhonies earbuds, by fluke circumstance she ends up with a MyPod, which in turn leads to her buying more music than she has the money for.
The episode takes special aim at Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who becomes Mapple boss Steve Mobs. Mobs is adorned in a black turtleneck, and is portrayed as an eccentric executive more concerned with profits than his public persona suggests. To pay off her debt, Lisa is made to stand on a street corner in a MyPod costume, telling people to "Think differently." Apple once used the phrase "think different" as its slogan.
Filed under: Apple
Other story tags: TV, Steve Jobs
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"Think Differently"
Actually, Lisa was hired to say "Think Differently", which was a great reference to the grammatical criticisms of the Think Different slogan. I was surprised at some of the Apple trivia gags in the episode that would've been lost on most people. Their presence made it that much better for me.
what???
Must've been Black Friday. Otherwise, myPhonies headphones would go for $50.
But I bet those Simpsons writers were paid by M$ to mock Apple and its faithful followers. No one would do that otherwise.
other zealots
I can't login to the news section although I can at the forums. Please fix this. My login is bhuot.
I have found that there are as many Windows and Linux zealots that feel as strongly about their platform as Mac users feel about theirs. This "Apple cult" myth is just perpetuated by the media because some big companies are losing money to Apple and the bigger the company the more they whine.
Very funny.
I thought the parody is excellent! :) Good chuckle stuff.
Loved it!
However, one would have to be following Apple news over the past 5 years or so to understand all the idiosyncrasies for all "the Simpsons" jib-jabin' on everything Apple in order to truly appreciate!
Great parody...
The Simpsons hit the nail on the head. It's just that they gave that "Steve Jobs" to much hair and too much weight. One of the worst mistakes they made was that there were no lines of people waiting to get in and the store wasn't "packed." If this was a new store there'd be dozens of concierges clapping people into the store. There's nothing like feeling like a celebrity. Very funny that the Mapple Cube glows to indicate it's off.
I'd buy a pair of Myphonies if they weren't so darned expensive. I'll get another brand and just paint 'em white.
Superb!
That episode was truly inspired!
"Err, that light confirms that it's off" - brilliant!
Liberace...
Many years ago Liberace (the pianist/entertainer) was made fun of often because of his outlandish costumes, his effeminate mannerisms, and such. When asked if these criticisms and the cruel humor had any effect on him he replied, "Yes, I cry all the way to the bank."
As an incorrigible Apple fanboy/apologist I see this sort of thing in the same way. The more the Windows crowd makes fun of the "Apple Cult" , the "Mac Tax" and the likes, the more money Apple puts in the bank, laughing hysterically I would hope. Apple is in the public conscience now and this Simpsons episode proves it. It's a great time to be an Apple fanboy these days.
hulu
I missed this seeing as how the Simpsons have pretty much sucked for the last 3-4 years, but I'll have to catch it. Luckily, you can get full episodes on hulu.com. wooo hoooo!
Watch the Whole Episode
The whole episode is available to view here
http://www.hulu.com/watch/46689/the-simpsons-mypods-and-boomsticks