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Premiere: “Simpsons” characters use sign language – and a deaf speaker is also included
“The Simpsons”: The deaf Monk (right) has to read lips at Lisa Simpson
©Fox
This has never happened before in the “Simpsons”: For the first time, sign language appears in an episode. In addition, a deaf actor may lend his voice to a character who cannot hear.
The series “The Simpsons” has been running on television screens since 1989, with well over 700 episodes. And yet, after all this time, the creators managed to ensure a first: In an episode that aired on Fox on Sunday, the series features a deaf character and the famous yellow cartoon characters use American Sign Language.
Also, John Autry is the first deaf voice actor to lend his voice to a Simpsons character. In the episode, Lisa Simpson wants to help deaf Monk, son of a deceased jazz musician, hear his father’s music for the first time. Monk has a cochlear implant that allows him to actually hear music.
Deaf voice actor on “The Simpsons”
Author Loni Steele Sosthand, who was responsible for the episode, was inspired by her brother’s story. Her father loved jazz music, but her brother was born deaf. Voice actor Autry also brought in his personal experience as a deaf person. “The character has little personal moments from growing up with my brother, but is also very influenced by John,” Sosthand told Vanity Fair.
The fact that the “Simpsons” characters only have four fingers presented a challenge when using sign language, but Sosthand is satisfied with the result. “It was a bit tricky, especially since we’re only translating Shakespeare,” she said. “But I think we made it.”
Did the Simpsons steal from Coda?
Actor and voice actor John Autry praised the team behind The Simpsons for raising awareness of the deaf through the show: “It’s life-changing equality and inclusion. It can make a difference for all of us. It’s about the hard of hearing and the hearing People come together. It’s part of the story.”
However, some fans were also irritated: After all, “Coda” was just awarded a film at the Oscars that tells a very similar story. It is about a young woman who is the only one in her family who can hear and who discovers her passion for singing. Did the “Simsons” authors learn something from that? However, showrunner Al Jean clarified before it aired that the episode was already in the works before “Coda” was released last year.
Sources: “Variety” / The Simpsons on Twitter / Al Jean on Twitter