Michael Jackson and the Simpsons

In 1991, Michael Jackson appeared instead of a cartoon character in the Simpsons family series (The Simpsons) in an episode titled “Stark Raving Dad.” This episode, which was the first installment of the third season of the cartoon, was written exclusively for Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson voiced the cartoon character “Leon Kompowsky.” Homer Simpson, the father of the Simpson family, meets Kompowsky in a mental institution. Kompowsky introduces himself as Michael Jackson, and Homer brings him home. At home, Bart Simpson forgets his sister Lisa’s birthday and promises her the best gift for her. Kompowsky helps Bart celebrate his sister’s birthday by making a song to congratulate her.

The songs related to this episode were performed by someone named Kipp Lennon, who imitated Michael’s voice, because Michael wanted his brothers to be teased.

Michael, who was a fan of this cartoon series, had suggested to its creator, Matt Groening, that he play the voice of an important guest character in the series. The idea of creating a character of a fat white man hospitalized in a mental institution who thinks he is Michael Jackson came to executive producer James L. Brooks. He then asked the writers, Al Jean and Mike Reiss, to write the episode’s script.

Al Jean, the writer, recalls:

“It was like the other things related to Michael—mysterious and it sparked curiosity. He was a music genius, and I’m not the first person to say that. But this was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever done.”

Michael did not commit to it until the full script of the episode was read to him, and according to Jean, “This had no precedent in the history of The Simpsons.”

The script-reading session took place at Sandy Gallin’s home, who was Michael’s team manager. Michael was there, but the voice actor for Homer Simpson was half an hour late.

“No one said anything. We sat there in silence and great anxiety, waiting. When everyone arrived, we started reading and we reached the part related to Michael. And thank God, he laughed.”

Michael also had ideas for the series—for example, that Bart should tell everyone that Michael Jackson is coming to his house, and that his character and Bart would write a song together with help. Michael also wanted a joke about Prince (the Black singer) to be changed into another joke about Elvis Presley.

Michael also told them that he wanted someone with a similar voice to sing the songs in this episode. He wanted his brothers to be teased and to think that Michael was singing in this cartoon. To Jean, this was “a little strange, but hey, it’s Michael Jackson. So you adapt.”

The vocal pieces were assigned to Kipp Lennon, the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Venice. Michael thought it was very funny that Lennon could imitate his voice.

On the day of voice recording, Michael came to the studio but did not use the special wagon prepared for him. Michael also recorded the vocal parts for the cartoon, but in the cartoon, Lennon’s vocals were used.

In this cartoon, there are many references to different aspects of Michael Jackson’s life and career. Kompowsky sings parts of Billie Jean and Bad, and he references the Motown celebration, Beat It, and Thriller. Munowak dances. When Homer talks in his sleep, Kompowsky tells his puppet monkey named Bubbles that a long night is ahead. Bubbles was Michael’s chimpanzee. Kompowsky also says that when in 1979 the album Off the Wall was nominated for only one Grammy, he was very upset—an emotion that was real for Michael.

After Michael’s death, the Fox network aired this episode again without any changes. Only one phone number—which is now a real number—had to be removed from the episode.

Jean: “He was clever and talented. His behavior with us was very good. He was a genius. But he clearly looked worried and distressed. His death is upsetting and difficult. It’s hard that he isn’t with us today.”

Because of his contract conditions with Sony, Michael used the alias “John Jay Smith” in this cartoon. The Simpsons cartoon was produced by Fox.

Episode feedback

The episode “Stark Raving Dad” was met with great reception from the public and critics, and the story and MJ’s voice acting were praised. After the comedy series Married with Children, this episode achieved the highest rating of the week on Fox, and Kompowsky’s guest character was called the smartest character in the series. Michael’s voice acting in this series, which turned his own character into humor, was also described as sincere and unpretentious.

One year after this episode, its writers came up with the idea that Kompowsky should return and this time tell everyone that Prince is the singer. Prince didn’t like the text written by the writers, and this collaboration was never realized.

Happy Birthday Lisa

Michael wrote the song “Happy Birthday Lisa,” which was performed in the episode. In this episode, Bart gives the song to his sister on her birthday. Jean explains: “Michael wrote the song and Lennon sang it—you got it?”

The song was later released in March 1997 on the series’ song album (Songs in the Key of Springfield).

Michael also sang this song, and his version is performed far more beautifully than Lennon’s. Listen here: here.

Do the Bartman

Michael also wrote and produced, along with Brian Loren, the song “Do the Bartman,” which was released in November 1990 on the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues. He himself sings in the background of this song. The song, which was pop/rap, was performed by the voice double of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright. Michael’s name was not published on this album released by Geffen Records because he had a contract with Sony.

Finally, in 1998, Matt Groening, the creator of the cartoon, revealed that Michael had a hand in the album, and that it was surprising to him that no one realized that the Bartman song was Michael’s. He also said that Michael was a fan of this cartoon. It is said that Bart was Michael’s favorite character.

Source: eMJey.com / Canwest News Service & vancouversun.com