In The Problem With Apu, it’s unclear whether The Simpsons’ “most embarrassing"...

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character should be rehabilitated, recast or eliminated

https://www.theringer.com/movies/201...hari-kondabolu

Comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 50-minute documentary, airing Sunday on truTV, scrutinizes the Apu character and the way it has come to represent stereotypes of Indian-Americans. Yet the documentary is thrown off course a bit by his obsessive pursuit of Hank Azaria, the voice of Apu, who sends an encouraging letter but declines to speak on behalf of the show. ALSO: It sometimes feels like an in-depth Daily Show field piece.

[king of comedy]

I think the character should be recast with a real Indian American.

[tlc38tlc38]

Just cancel the show then they won't have to worry about this crap. Two birds, one stone.

[mets82]

I never had a problem with Apu. I'm not Indian but they have Luigi, who is Italian. I'm Italian as well and I don't have a problem with it.

[Retro4Life]

Apu is one of the most, if not THE most, moral character on the show. So there's that...

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

Just cancel the show then they won't have to worry about this crap. Two birds, one stone.

Agree!

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Apu is one of the most, if not THE most, moral character on the show. So there's that...

That is true. So was Ned Flanders but they messed up his character a bit.

[JamesG]

Hank Azaria Responds to The Problem with Apu
by Kat Rosenfield
Dec. 4, 2017


Things got a little tense in Springfield earlier this year when comedian Hari Kondabolu's documentary The Problem with Apu levied a series of scathing critiques of the long-standing eponymous character from "The Simpsons".

Hank Azaria, who voices Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, declined at the time to participate in Kondabolu's project, but now Azaria says that he and the rest of the crew on "The Simpsons" are considering its message.




In a brief interview with TMZ, Azaria said, "I think the documentary made some really interesting points and gave us a lot to think about and we really are thinking about it. Definitely anybody that was hurt or offended by it, or by any character or vocal performance, it's really upsetting that it was offensive or hurtful to anybody."

Kondabolu's film addressed a variety of issues, from Apu's stereotypical portrayal in general to Azaria's performance in particular, which the comedian described as "a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father."




Azaria's comments made clear that "The Simpsons'" creators are taking the criticisms to heart, but it remains to be seen whether Apu will transform (or vanish from the show) as a result.

The actor's final words on the subject: "I think it's an important conversation worth having. We're still thinking about it. It's a lot to digest."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/the-prob...s-hank-azaria/

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Originally Posted by JamesG

Hank Azaria Responds to The Problem with Apu
by Kat Rosenfield
Dec. 4, 2017


Things got a little tense in Springfield earlier this year when comedian Hari Kondabolu's documentary The Problem with Apu levied a series of scathing critiques of the long-standing eponymous character from "The Simpsons".

Hank Azaria, who voices Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, declined at the time to participate in Kondabolu's project, but now Azaria says that he and the rest of the crew on "The Simpsons" are considering its message.




In a brief interview with TMZ, Azaria said, "I think the documentary made some really interesting points and gave us a lot to think about and we really are thinking about it. Definitely anybody that was hurt or offended by it, or by any character or vocal performance, it's really upsetting that it was offensive or hurtful to anybody."

Kondabolu's film addressed a variety of issues, from Apu's stereotypical portrayal in general to Azaria's performance in particular, which the comedian described as "a white guy doing an impression of a white guy making fun of my father."




Azaria's comments made clear that "The Simpsons'" creators are taking the criticisms to heart, but it remains to be seen whether Apu will transform (or vanish from the show) as a result.

The actor's final words on the subject: "I think it's an important conversation worth having. We're still thinking about it. It's a lot to digest."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/the-prob...s-hank-azaria/

Hank Azaria: The Problem with Apu “gave us a lot of things to think about and we really are thinking about it”
TMZ asked The Simpsons star about Hari Kondabolu’s recent documentary. Azaria responded that “I think it’s an important conversation worth having. We’re still thinking about it. It’s a lot to digest.” He also said: “Definitely anybody that was hurt or offended by it, or by any character or vocal performance, it’s really upsetting that it was offensive or hurtful to anybody.” After TMZ posted its video, Kondabolu tweeted: “Apu doesn’t ‘offend’ me, he ‘insults’ me...and my community. I’m an adult with bigger things to deal with. My film was meant to tell you to go f*ck yourself & discuss why I want you to go **** yourself & how we can prevent future incidents of people wishing others ‘self-f*ckery.’”

[Amanda Hugnkiss]

I thought the episode where Homer accompanies him to the Himalayas to ask that guy some questions was really good. I laughed when Homer blew it by asking those questions as only he could do.
Take care and God bless

[JamesG]

Hank Azaria Says "The Simpsons" Will Address Apu in Wake of Documentary
by Dan Snierson and Natalie Abrams
Jan. 12, 2018


The producers of "The Simpsons" have been mum on The Problem with Apu, a recent truTV documentary from comedian (and Simpsons fan) Hari Kondabolu that asserts that the Indian Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a problematic stereotype of South Asian people. But Hank Azaria, who voices the character, is indicating that the matter will be addressed, with possible changes to Apu.

“The idea that anybody, young or old, past or present, was bullied or teased or worse based on the character of Apu on The Simpsons, or the voice or any other tropes of the character is distressing, especially in post-9/11 America,” Azaria told reporters at the Television Critics Association in Pasadena during a panel for his IFC comedy "Brockmire".

“The idea that anybody was marginalized based on it or had a hard time was very upsetting to me personally and professionally. It’s a character I’ve done for 29 years now, and I’ve done it with a lot of love, and joy, and pride. That certainly wasn’t the intent. The intent was to make people laugh and bring joy. For it to cause suffering or pain in any way, it’s disturbing, actually.”





What is the future of the character, who stands one of the most recognizable tertiary characters on the long-running animated Fox comedy? Azaria stresses that the decision is not just up to him.

“I think it’s really important when people express themselves about racial issues, what they feel is unfair or upsetting or distressing or makes them angry, sad or hurt,” he says.

“The most important thing to do is listen, try to understand, try to sympathize, which is what I’m doing. I know that The Simpsons guys are doing that too; they’re giving it a lot of thought, and we’ve discussed a little bit. They will definitely address — maybe publicly, certainly creatively within the context of the show — what they want to do, if anything, with the character.”





For the record, Azaria does not view Apu as a “one-dimensional” character. “I see him as having a lot of wonderful qualities and great assets,” said the actor, who spoke briefly about the documentary last month, “As far as The Simpsons is concerned, it’s often a fine line between what’s comedy and what’s offensive and insulting and upsetting.

The Simpsons over the years have been pretty humorously offensive to all manner of people — Republicans, Brazilians, presidents, high school principals, Italians — and they take a lot of pride over there in not apologizing for any of that. I think they’ve done a really good job of being, shall we say, uniformly offensive without being outright hurtful.”

http://ew.com/tv/2018/01/12/simpsons...u-documentary/

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The Problem with Apu will be re-aired on TruTV following The Simpsons' "response" to the documentary
Hari Kondabolu's one-hour documentary on the controversial Simpsons character originally aired last November and is available to stream on TruTV's website. But following this week's uproar over The Simpsons' response, TruTV has announced plans to re-air the documentary this Sunday at 7 p.m.