The Simpsonsproducer reflects on the depiction of Mary Poppins in the series. Mary Poppins firstappeared on the show in the form of her parody character, Shari Bobbins, in season 8, episode 13, “Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious.” Shari attempts to improve the family’s relationship and work ethic by singing songs and teaching them cleaning strategies. The episode was a success, and asThe Simpsonsawaits its season 37 renewal, its producers have been considering its long history.
In an exclusive interview withScreen Rantabout season 36, producer and writer Al Jean opened up about his favorite songs from the show’s run. In particular, he cited the “Feed the Birds” parody, “A Boozehound Named Barney”. While he was proud of the song, he reflected thatthey easily could have been sued, if not for Richard Sherman’s love for the episode and the song. Check out his full quote below:
One of the episodes Mike Reese and I wrote was the Mary Poppins one, and when we had Barney—Dan Castellaneta—singing the “Feed the Birds” song, that blew me away at the read. I heard thatRichard Sherman (co-writer of the Mary Poppins song) thought it was a great episode, which is good because he probably could have sued us. But he loved it, and that really blew me away because I love the songs from Mary Poppins so much.
The Simpsons Could Have Been Sued
The Lawsuits Would Not Have Gone Anywhere
Realistically, there was no great threat that could have come from a lawsuit. As an obvious parody, the songs would have most likely fallen underthe protection of the Fair Use doctrine. That is why the episode was allowed to air in the first place. If there were concerns that would cause an immediate lawsuit, it is unlikely that the network’s lawyers would have approved its release. Had there been a case, Disney could have potentially sued without Sherman’s consent. Thankfully, far from serving asthe end ofThe Simpsons, the episode never drew a lawsuit.
Another cartoon,South Park, was sued for a song parody in 2008, but the lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
There would still be dangers from a suit even if meritless. While it would have been a clear dismissal, any lawsuit would still have been a costly endeavor. Court cases are extremely expensive, so the network would have been displeased if the show brought a lawsuit to its door.The show was sued several times, including by Frank Sivero (Goodfellas) and producer Alf Clausen. Even Tracey Ullman sued for merchandising fees afterThe Simpsonsspun off from her show, but they all ended in dismissals. All the same, it took ample resources to fight those cases.
Our Take On The Legality Of The Simpsons' Mary Poppins Songs
Fair Use Protects Parodies
Anyone can file a lawsuit, but few have any merit. Sherman could have sued, but his case would have been dismissed, as the legal protections exist for cases like these. As a cartoon parodying a classic movie,The Simpsonshas a long-standing right to portray those characters in ridiculous scenarios. That is why parodies can exist at all, and that is the reason comedy is even possible in the United States. While it is good that Sherman enjoyed the episode, it is unlikely that the show would have seen any real consequences for the songs.
The Simpsons
“The Simpsons” is a legendary American animated franchise that debuted in 1987 as short segments onThe Tracey Ullman Showbefore becoming a standalone series in 1989. The show follows the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—who live in the fictional town of Springfield. The franchise is renowned for its satirical and humorous take on various aspects of American culture, society, and the human condition. Over the years, “The Simpsons” has expanded into films, video games, comic books, and theme park attractions, becoming a cornerstone of popular culture.
