Current Events > The Simpsons REPLACES Dr. Hibbert's VOICE ACTOR!! Do you agree with this?

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-simpsons-replaces-dr-hibberts-voice-actor/1100-6487915/

The Simpsons announced last summer that the show was in for a casting shakeup, as white actors would no longer be voicing characters of color on the show, including characters like Apu, Carl, and Dr. Hibbert. The new Dr. Julius Hibbert has been cast, according to Deadline; Kevin Michael Richardson will play the character moving forward, replacing actor Harry Shearer for the role. He'll take over the role starting with the episode scheduled to air on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Richardson is a veteran voice actor with over 30 years and over 500 credits to his name. He's voiced characters in the DC and Marvel universes, as well as Star Wars, Transformers, Mortal Kombat, Family Guy, and many others. He also has 76 episodes of the Simpsons under his belt, going back as far as 2009.
Actor Harry Shearer began voicing Dr. Hibbert when he debuted over 30 years ago, and also plays--and will continue to play--other primary characters including Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Mr. Burns. Shearer's last episode voicing Hibbert aired last night, February 21.

Representation in the casting of voice actors, especially on the Simpsons, began receiving more attention at least as far back as 2017, with the release of the documentary "The Problem with Apu." Though creator Matt Groening was initially dismissive of the criticism--the Simpsons even stoked the flames of the controversy with an episode poking fun at it in 2018--the movement began to pick up steam. Since then, white actors have stepped away from playing characters of color in animated shows from Family Guy's Cleveland Brown to characters on more recent shows, like Big Mouth character Missy.

On the Simpsons in particular, Hank Azaria has already stepped down from voicing Indian character Apu, though Fox has not yet announced new casting for the role. Another Azaria-voiced character, Carl, is now voiced by Alex Dsert. Azaria also continues to voice characters like Moe, Chief W, and Super Nintendo Chalmers.

Actor Harry Shearer voiced dissent last August, stating that "the job of the actor is to play someone who they're not," but added that "people from all backgrounds should be represented in the writing and producing ends of the business so they help decide what stories to tell and with what knowledge. The job is playing someone I'm not."

Apparently "Chief W's" name is not allowed >_>

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Good. Simpsons was a product of its era and has not aged well.
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the beginning of the end

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Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Good. Simpsons was a product of its era and has not aged well.

Shut the fuck up

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All I care about is Asian Americans getting more roles in front of and behind the camera, including, but not limited to, voice acting.

lol

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I don't care about the pandering or The Simpsons (modern age) in general, but I am curious if Dr. Hibbert starts sounding like he could whip someone's ass in seconds lol

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The Simpsons should have died many seasons ago.

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This is pandering of the stupidest kind

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"Super Nintendo Chalmers"

Terrible.

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Damn_Underscore posted...

Kevin Michael Richardson will play the character moving forward

Yeah this is fine. Kevin Michael Richardson is always a good thing.

Chief Wiggum


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Where's the "lol modern Simpsons who cares" option?

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It's yet another case of creating a problem to "fix" so someone can pretend they righted the world in some way without actually having done a thing.

_GET_OVER_HERE_ posted...

All I care about is Asian Americans getting more roles in front of and behind the camera, including, but not limited to, voice acting.

Well, here's the newest SMAL alt. Will he ever get tired of shitting up a dying gaming site?

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Is Kevin Michael Richardson also a republican doctor in real life?

if the character itself didn't change, then it's fine.

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Way too late in the game to get woke

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Robot2600 posted...

"Super Nintendo Chalmers"

I did a double take when I saw that, lol

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It's a pointless change, but also harmless (unless the new VA is terrible).

There's not really anything to agree or disagree with here.

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Damn_Underscore posted...

Super Nintendo Chalmers.

Lol

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Dumb

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Kastrada posted...

Chief Piggum

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I don't mind.

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Just another form of reverse racism. The only qualification for voice acting should be your voice. If skin influences your decision on who to cast, your racist. Simple as that.

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Damn_Underscore posted...

and Super Nintendo Chalmers.

And the best part is, it actually says this in the original article.

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Damn_Underscore posted...

Kevin Michael Richardson will play the character moving forward

He's actually been a regular cast member for the last 10 years or so. He's been in most episodes voicing random unnamed/one-shot characters.

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He'll probably just impersonate the old Hibbert, making the whole thing mostly pointless. Like, the actual character probably isn't going to change at all

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I think this is an unnecessary change. Even if Kevin Richardson is a great voice actor, it will be a noticeable change in voice for a character that has been on the show since the beginning. Why change it after 30 years, just for political correctness?

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Thank God

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If only the rest of the show would be replaced with something else.

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On top of the progressive angle, it's important to note that the Simpsons cast is in their 70's right now. People like Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer can't keep 20+ voices up forever, and the more voices they replace going forward, the more well equipped the show is gonna be in the unfortunate event of one of the main cast members dying.

You can hear it in their voices. A little less stress going forward is a good thing.

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MrMallard posted...

On top of the progressive angle, it's important to note that the Simpsons cast is in their 70's right now. People like Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer can't keep 20+ voices up forever, and the more voices they replace going forward, the more well equipped the show is gonna be in the unfortunate event of one of the main cast members dying.

You can hear it in their voices. A little less stress going forward is a good thing.

If Dan, Harry, Hank, Nancy, Yeardley or Julie die, they really need to just end the show.

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Bleh. Dont like this at all. Mainly because Ive ALWAYS hated recasts.

Even the guy who voices Carl now actually does a pretty good impression. But STILL.

A cynical part of me wonders if this is also testing the waters for recasting these characters at all to see if people will be ok with it going forward when the main actors retire or pass away.

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Who the hell is so dependent upon keeping The Simpsons alive? Just let it die.

They've had three media plugs in recent history over characters being discontinued or recast. Bumblebee Man is next. These aren't PR moves - they're publicity stunts. What's next after that? Daisy Ridley teaches Lisa to be a Jedi? One of the Avengers stops by? Bart's teased bisexuality is made canon in a coming of age special?

If they feel the need to recast characters to keep with the times, that's fine. But just make a statement that all ethnic minorities / people of color voiced by white actors will be recast and be done with it. There's no need to drag it out in the hopes of getting a ratings boost out of people checking out Dr. Hibbert's new voice. He wasn't that funny of a character anyway.

Back_Stabbath posted...

the beginning of the end

The quality of the show ended a long time ago

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rexcrk posted...

Bleh. Dont like this at all. Mainly because Ive ALWAYS hated recasts.

Even the guy who voices Carl now actually does a pretty good impression. But STILL.

A cynical part of me wonders if this is also testing the waters for recasting these characters at all to see if people will be ok with it going forward when the main actors retire or pass away.

Watch them do an episode where Homer gets replaced by himself from another dimension and everyone just shrugs their shoulders at it.

They should do a DNA test to see if the voice actors match the specific ethnicity of their characters, plus match their place of birth as well. Might want to check for blood type and gender also.

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Harry Shearer is 77 years old, he's likely super stoked that he can finally start easing into retirement now.

Honestly I don't care one way or the other. Good for them I guess? I haven't watched Simpsons since I saw the 24 minutes episode.

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I honestly don't care since I think the Simpsons should have ended 20+ years ago, but I think it's pretty ridiculous. Shearer said it best last year, the job of the actor is to play someone who they are not."


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FortuneCookie posted...

What's next after that? Daisy Ridley teaches Lisa to be a Jedi? One of the Avengers stops by?

Christ, you're cynical. I could see something like this happening in a Treehouse of Horror, admittedly, but this is just pissy.

FortuneCookie posted...

Watch them do an episode where Homer gets replaced by himself from another dimension and everyone just shrugs their shoulders at it.

Speaking of Treehouse of Horror - there's a segment in one of the later ones where the original 80's Simpsons designs come back, and they're treated like two individual beings.

There's also the end of Send in the Clones, lol

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I mean, it's pretty obviously pandering, but I can't really be bothered to get upset.

I'm fine with it. Having a black guy voice a black character may actually work well.

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As black guy who talks about racism I don't care about this. However I do care about all the white people are getting upset with this change. I mean I can understand apathy but getting upset about what the hell. Why are you so invested in white people doing voices for black characters .

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YellowSUV posted...

Where's the "lol modern Simpsons who cares" option?

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LinkFanatic posted...

I mean, it's pretty obviously pandering, but I can't really be bothered to get upset.

I'm fine with it. Having a black guy voice a black character may actually work well.

The guy voicing Carl is doing fine. Then later in the episode he debuted, I heard Julie Kavner's voice, and that honestly sounded worse. And I've seen literally every episode, and it's gotten so significantly worse in just the last few seasons.

I would rather hear someone's voice that isn't completely shot.

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cjsdowg posted...

Why are you so invested in white people doing voices for black characters .

New guy will have to grow into the role...that's my quibble anyway.

It does come off as pandering, though...although I really don't think I care enough to get upset about it, but i feel like this is also probably why some people are bothered by it.

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Hayame Zero posted...

I would rather hear someone's voice that isn't completely shot.

The show somehow brought back Marcia Wallace, after being dead for seven or eight years.
Maybe there's just no escape from the Simpsons, at all.

I dont believe in pandering. Makes people weak

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Wiggum

Why are you saying his name is not allowed?

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