# Fox News threatened to sue 'The Simpsons' over their Fox News Parody **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696 "2003-10-26T19:15:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/1 "2003-10-26T19:15:28Z")
> **[Fox News Threatened to Sue The Simpsons](https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/3745/fox-news-threatened-sue-the-simpsons)** > > Over a Parody Segment “During an interview broadcast today on NPR’s Fresh Air, Simpsons creator Matt Groening revealed that the Fox News Network had threatened to sue The Simpsons over a parody of the right-leaning news channel.” Wee bit sensitive, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/2 "2003-10-26T19:25:15Z")
You can hear the interview here: > **['Simpsons' Creator Matt Groening](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1476480)** > > Earlier this year The Simpsons celebrated its 300th episode, making it the longest-running animated series on TV. Groening mentions the lawsuit threat about 6 minutes into it. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/3 "2003-10-26T19:25:59Z")
I never saw the episode in question, but still it’s pretty funny. Didn’t a tourism office in Brazil also once threaten to sue the show, claiming that the experience American tourists would have had been misrepresented? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/4 "2003-10-26T19:30:53Z")
Yup > **[Doh! Rio blames it on The Simpsons](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/09/broadcasting.internationalnews)** > > The Rio tourist board is preparing to sue the producers of The Simpsons for damage to its international image and loss of revenue, writes Alex Bellos. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/5 "2003-10-26T19:33:48Z")
Isn’t this the corporate version of someone with multiple personalities disorder suing themself over what one of their other personalities said about them? ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/6 "2003-10-26T21:45:33Z")
This is what you get when you put crazy people in charge of large organizations. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/7 "2003-10-26T21:53:16Z")
Isn’t this the sort of lawsuit that Rupert Murdoch used to get in England in the 1960’s? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/8 "2003-10-27T01:04:47Z")
Can arms of the same corporation sue one another? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/9 "2003-10-27T01:15:36Z")
This sounds so familiar (Simpson mocking FoxNews) but I can’t quite remember the episode. Did it actually air? Seems pretty silly considering they’ve made fun of Murdoch himself several times and yet he did a cameo in the Superbowl episode calling himself, “the billionaire tyrant”. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/10 "2003-10-27T01:38:48Z")
Um, considering how big _The Simpsons_ is, and that it’s one of Fox’s cash cows, isn’t this like shooting themselves in the foot? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/11 "2003-10-27T01:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hail Ants \* > \*\*This sounds so familiar (Simpson mocking FoxNews) but I can’t quite remember the episode. Did it actually air? \*\* Yes. The gag appeared in the episode _Mr. Spritz Goes To Washington_, in which Krusty ran for Congress to get planes diverted away from the Simpson house. Fox News Channel (“Your Source For Evil”) features Krusty and his Democratic rival, vilifying the Democrat, of course. Not only do they bad-mouth him, they superimpose devil horns and a communist flag on him. As all this goes on, the pro-Republican news ticker marches on with blurbs such as “JFK posthumously joins Republican Party” and “Do Democrats cause cancer? Find out at [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com).” (I think Groening said in the _Fresh Air_ interview that Fox wouldn’t want to waste money on suing itself, or some funny line like that.) ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/12 "2003-10-27T02:31:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Um, considering how big _The Simpsons_ is, and that it’s one of Fox’s cash cows, isn’t this like shooting themselves in the foot? \*\* Perhaps, but if they manage to lose the suit, it’ll end up creating some publicity, so then maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/13 "2003-10-27T03:57:41Z")
They could, possibly, sue Groening and not be suing themselves. But that would still be shooting themselves in the foot: Groening would leave, taking _The Simpsons_ with him, and FOX would have one less reason to exist. Any person who shoots himself in the foot that badly could be involuntarily committed as a danger to himself. That assumes that Groening hasn’t given the show to FOX via murderous licensing. But as Groening would have had to have been an idiot to do that, I doubt he’d have done that. Really, really doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/14 "2003-10-27T06:39:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TJdude825 \* > \*\*Perhaps, but if they manage to lose the suit, it’ll end up creating some publicity, so then maybe not. \*\* And the following day’s headline would read like this : > [@](#): > > **FOX LOSES SUIT… AGAINST ITSELF ! 😃** ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/15 "2003-10-27T06:43:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*That assumes that Groening hasn’t given the show to FOX via murderous licensing. But as Groening would have had to have been an idiot to do that, I doubt he’d have done that. Really, really doubt it. \*\* Even if he _had_ done that, Fox would still be shooting themselves in the foot. If Groening leaves, you can bet the rest of the gang would follow shortly thereafter. Fox would no doubt try to foist an imitation _Simpsons_ on us, which would promptly die the miserable death it deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/16 "2003-10-27T07:05:09Z")
But it would feature Jon Lovitz! How could it fail? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/17 "2003-10-27T07:22:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mobo85 \* > \*\*As all this goes on, the pro-Republican news ticker marches on with blurbs such as “JFK posthumously joins Republican Party” and “Do Democrats cause cancer? Find out at [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com).” > > \*\* The article says they’vebacked down on the suit. But they’re refusing to let the show carry their news crawls. Keep in mind the above is the parady news crawl they’re afraid will be confused with their “real” one. Come to think of it they have a point… ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/18 "2003-10-27T07:56:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*But it would feature Jon Lovitz! How could it fail? \*\* Hachi Machi! The faster Fox collapses in on itself the better the world will be. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/19 "2003-10-27T08:03:21Z")
If Groening and Crew leave FOX and go someplace sane, imagine what they could do. Especially since FOX most likely owns enough of _The Simpsons_ to prevent them from just re-establishing the series. Groening wasn’t a one-idea guy. He’s created very funny, very watchable shows FOX later crushed under their own monstrous ignorance (_Futurama_ and _Family Guy_). I think it could be a good thing if Groening was forced out of FOX. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696/20 "2003-10-27T08:52:14Z")
_Family Guy_ wasn’t created by Groening. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-threatened-to-sue-the-simpsons-over-their-fox-news-parody/209696.md?page=2)