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Difference between revisions of "Michael Jackson"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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'''Michael Jackson''' (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was a singer who guest starred on The Simpsons in the episode "[[Stark Raving Dad]]". He performed the speaking voice of [[Leon Kompowsky]] under the pseudonym John Jay Smith. Jackson was a fan of the show,<ref name="fan">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117467944.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|title=Gloved One secret 'Simpsons' fan|author=Ray Richmond|accessdate=2008-08-27|date=1998-20-20|publisher=''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''}}</ref> and called [[Matt Groening]] one night and offered to do a guest spot.<ref name="Groening">Groening, Matt. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The idea for the episode was pitched by [[James L. Brooks]] and the script was written by [[Al Jean]] and [[Mike Reiss]].<ref name="Reiss"/> In an early version of script, Homer decided to take [[Barney Gumble]] in for rehab, but whilst there Homer began acting crazily so the doctors assumed he was the one to be committed.<ref name="Groening"/> Jackson pitched several story ideas for the episode, including Bart telling everyone in town that Michael Jackson was coming to his house.<ref name="Reiss"/> He also requested several script changes, including that he wanted to have a scene in which he and Bart wrote a song and asked that a joke about Prince be changed to one about Elvis Presley.<ref name="Jean">Jean, Al. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>  
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'''Michael Jackson''' (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was a singer who guest starred on The Simpsons in the episode "[[Stark Raving Dad]]". He performed the speaking voice of [[Leon Kompowsky]] under the pseudonym John Jay Smith. Jackson was a fan of the show,<ref name="fan">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117467944.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|title=Gloved One secret 'Simpsons' fan|author=Ray Richmond|accessdate=2008-08-27|date=1998-20-20|publisher=''Variety''}}</ref> and called [[Matt Groening]] one night and offered to do a guest spot.<ref name="Groening">Groening, Matt. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The idea for the episode was pitched by [[James L. Brooks]] and the script was written by [[Al Jean]] and [[Mike Reiss]].<ref name="Reiss"/> In an early version of script, Homer decided to take [[Barney Gumble]] in for rehab, but whilst there Homer began acting crazily so the doctors assumed he was the one to be committed.<ref name="Groening"/> Jackson pitched several story ideas for the episode, including Bart telling everyone in town that Michael Jackson was coming to his house.<ref name="Reiss"/> He also requested several script changes, including that he wanted to have a scene in which he and Bart wrote a song and asked that a joke about Prince be changed to one about Elvis Presley.<ref name="Jean">Jean, Al. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>  
  
 
Jackson especially liked Bart and wanted to give him a number one single, so he wrote much of the song "[[Do the Bartman]]" although he did not receive credit for it.<ref name="Brooks">Brooks, James L. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Jackson also wrote the song "Happy Birthday Lisa" for the episode, which was later included in the album ''[[Songs in the Key of Springfield]]''.<ref name="Jean"/>  
 
Jackson especially liked Bart and wanted to give him a number one single, so he wrote much of the song "[[Do the Bartman]]" although he did not receive credit for it.<ref name="Brooks">Brooks, James L. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Jackson also wrote the song "Happy Birthday Lisa" for the episode, which was later included in the album ''[[Songs in the Key of Springfield]]''.<ref name="Jean"/>  
  
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One of Michael Jackson's conditions for guest starring was that he voiced himself, but a sound-alike would receive credit.<ref name="Brooks"/> While he recorded the voice work for the character, all of his singing was performed by [[Kipp Lennon]],<ref name="Reiss"/> because Jackson wanted to play a joke on his brothers and fool them into thinking the impersonator was him.<ref name="Brooks"/> Michael Jackson's lines were recorded at a second session by Brooks.<ref name="Jean"/> Jackson showed up for the recording session alone and did not use the special trailer that was set up for him.<ref name="Reiss"/> Lennon and Jackson recorded their parts at the same time, and Jackson found Lennon's impersonations hilarious.<ref name="Reiss"/> Jackson actually did record versions of the songs, and while there have been rumors that those tracks were the ones used in the final episode, ''Simpsons'' music editor [[Chris Ledesma]] says the Lennon versions were used.<ref name="Jean"/> Leon Kompowsky's normal speaking voice was recorded by [[Hank Azaria]].<ref name="Castellaneta">Castellaneta, Dan. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>  
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One of Michael Jackson's conditions for guest starring was that he voiced himself, but a sound-alike would receive credit.<ref name="Brooks"/> While he recorded the voice work for the character, all of his singing was performed by [[Kipp Lennon]],<ref name="Reiss"/> because Jackson wanted to play a joke on his brothers and fool them into thinking the impersonator was him.<ref name="Brooks"/> Michael Jackson's lines were recorded at a second session by Brooks.<ref name="Jean"/> Jackson showed up for the recording session alone and did not use the special trailer that was set up for him.<ref name="Reiss"/> Lennon and Jackson recorded their parts at the same time, and Jackson found Lennon's impersonations hilarious.<ref name="Reiss">Reiss, Mike. (2003). Easter Egg Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Jackson actually did record versions of the songs, and while there have been rumors that those tracks were the ones used in the final episode, ''Simpsons'' music editor [[Chris Ledesma]] says the Lennon versions were used.<ref name="Jean"/> Leon Kompowsky's normal speaking voice was recorded by [[Hank Azaria]].<ref name="Castellaneta">Castellaneta, Dan. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>  
  
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The producers of the show were legally prevented from confirming Jackson guest starred at the time, although many media sources assumed it was really him.<ref>{{cite news|title='Simpsons' Returns with a Big White Michael Jackson|date=[[1991-09-19]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[Press of Atlantic City]]''|author=Jay Sharbutt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Simpsons Plays Name That Voice|date=[[1991-09-19]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]''|author=Virginia Mann}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TV Previews - Simpsons: A Surprise Thriller|date=[[1991-09-19]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[Washington Post]]''|author=Tom Shales}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Some Clues as to why 'The Simpsons' is Simply the Best|date=[[1991-09-18]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]''|author=Phil Rosenthal}}</ref> After this episode the producers decided that if a celebrity wished to guest star on the show, they had to be willing to be credited under their real name and not a pseudonym.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DD1338F936A35751C1A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|title=The Voice Is Familiar but I Can't Place the Overbite |author=Anita Gates|accessdate=2008-09-04|date=1994-12-05|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''}}</ref>
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The producers of the show were legally prevented from confirming Jackson guest starred at the time, although many media sources assumed it was really him.<ref>{{cite news|title='Simpsons' Returns with a Big White Michael Jackson|date=[[1991-09-19]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[Press of Atlantic City]]''|author=Jay Sharbutt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Simpsons Plays Name That Voice|date=1991-09-19|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''[[Wikipedia:The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]''|author=Virginia Mann}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TV Previews - Simpsons: A Surprise Thriller|date=[[1991-09-19]]|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''Washington Post''|author=Tom Shales}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Some Clues as to why 'The Simpsons' is Simply the Best|date=1991-09-18|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=''Daily News of Los Angeles''|author=Phil Rosenthal}}</ref> After this episode the producers decided that if a celebrity wished to guest star on the show, they had to be willing to be credited under their real name and not a pseudonym.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DD1338F936A35751C1A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|title=The Voice Is Familiar but I Can't Place the Overbite |author=Anita Gates|accessdate=2008-09-04|date=1994-12-05|publisher=''The New York Times''}}</ref>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 10:53, June 26, 2009

Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was a singer who guest starred on The Simpsons in the episode "Stark Raving Dad". He performed the speaking voice of Leon Kompowsky under the pseudonym John Jay Smith. Jackson was a fan of the show,[1] and called Matt Groening one night and offered to do a guest spot.[2] The idea for the episode was pitched by James L. Brooks and the script was written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss.[3] In an early version of script, Homer decided to take Barney Gumble in for rehab, but whilst there Homer began acting crazily so the doctors assumed he was the one to be committed.[2] Jackson pitched several story ideas for the episode, including Bart telling everyone in town that Michael Jackson was coming to his house.[3] He also requested several script changes, including that he wanted to have a scene in which he and Bart wrote a song and asked that a joke about Prince be changed to one about Elvis Presley.[4]

Jackson especially liked Bart and wanted to give him a number one single, so he wrote much of the song "Do the Bartman" although he did not receive credit for it.[5] Jackson also wrote the song "Happy Birthday Lisa" for the episode, which was later included in the album Songs in the Key of Springfield.[4]

One of Michael Jackson's conditions for guest starring was that he voiced himself, but a sound-alike would receive credit.[5] While he recorded the voice work for the character, all of his singing was performed by Kipp Lennon,[3] because Jackson wanted to play a joke on his brothers and fool them into thinking the impersonator was him.[5] Michael Jackson's lines were recorded at a second session by Brooks.[4] Jackson showed up for the recording session alone and did not use the special trailer that was set up for him.[3] Lennon and Jackson recorded their parts at the same time, and Jackson found Lennon's impersonations hilarious.[3] Jackson actually did record versions of the songs, and while there have been rumors that those tracks were the ones used in the final episode, Simpsons music editor Chris Ledesma says the Lennon versions were used.[4] Leon Kompowsky's normal speaking voice was recorded by Hank Azaria.[6]

The producers of the show were legally prevented from confirming Jackson guest starred at the time, although many media sources assumed it was really him.[7][8][9][10] After this episode the producers decided that if a celebrity wished to guest star on the show, they had to be willing to be credited under their real name and not a pseudonym.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Ray Richmond. "Gloved One secret 'Simpsons' fan"Variety. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Groening, Matt. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Reiss, Mike. (2003). Easter Egg Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Jean, Al. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Brooks, James L. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  6. ↑ Castellaneta, Dan. (2003). Commentary for "Stark Raving Dad", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
  7. ↑ Jay Sharbutt. "'Simpsons' Returns with a Big White Michael Jackson"Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  8. ↑ Virginia Mann. "Simpsons Plays Name That Voice"The Record. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  9. ↑ Tom Shales. "TV Previews - Simpsons: A Surprise Thriller"Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  10. ↑ Phil Rosenthal. "Some Clues as to why 'The Simpsons' is Simply the Best"Daily News of Los Angeles. Retrieved on 2008-08-27. 
  11. ↑ Anita Gates. "The Voice Is Familiar but I Can't Place the Overbite"The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-09-04. 


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