For decades “The Simpsons” has been a staple of American television.
Episode after episode, viewers have watched as the show’s patriarch, Homer Simpson, encountered new and sometimes baffling political and social issues and subsequently learned and grew because of them and, as a result, many watching the show learned and grew too. In a recent HuffPost Live segment, David Mirkin, an executive producer for “The Simpsons,” opened up about the show’s legendary gay episode and the audience’s ability to connect with Homer.
In the episode, Homer worries that the influence of a new openly gay family friend will have a negative influence on his son, Bart. In order to reinforce his son’s heterosexuality, he takes him hunting.
“Because there’s so much humor and because it’s a cartoon, people are more accepting [of the subjects]. It seems less dire — it seems less intense. And so it sneaks up on you, which is the greatest way to change minds and make people realize things. And they’re connected to Homer so in going through his experience of learning and having that personal connection with someone is the greatest change.”
