LOL: You'll never believe who is suing "The Simpsons"
04-08-02 | 12:55 PM
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LOL: You'll never believe who is suing "The Simpsons"
Rio officials irked at "Simpsons" episode
Sat Apr 6, 1:49 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Rio is having a cow over The Simpsons (news - Y! TV).
The city tourism board Riotur plans to sue Fox Cable International for an episode of "The Simpsons" that allegedly denigrates the city's image, Brazilian (news - web sites) media reported Saturday.
The episode is entitled "Blame it on Lisa," a reference to the 1984 movie "Blame it on Rio." It shows the Simpson family flying to Brazil, after an orphan that Lisa has secretly been supporting disappears.
In Rio, the orphanage is threatened by an invasion of monkeys. Homer gets kidnapped and Bart is swallowed by a boa constrictor. Police are portrayed as lazy and unhelpful, and slums as dirty and dangerous.
The O Globo newspaper reported Saturday that Riotur's president, Jose Eduardo Guinle, had instructed lawyers to sue Fox for detriment to the city's image abroad. Riotur spent some dlrs 18 million last year in overseas promotion of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's main tourist gateway.
Sat Apr 6, 1:49 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Rio is having a cow over The Simpsons (news - Y! TV).
The city tourism board Riotur plans to sue Fox Cable International for an episode of "The Simpsons" that allegedly denigrates the city's image, Brazilian (news - web sites) media reported Saturday.
The episode is entitled "Blame it on Lisa," a reference to the 1984 movie "Blame it on Rio." It shows the Simpson family flying to Brazil, after an orphan that Lisa has secretly been supporting disappears.
In Rio, the orphanage is threatened by an invasion of monkeys. Homer gets kidnapped and Bart is swallowed by a boa constrictor. Police are portrayed as lazy and unhelpful, and slums as dirty and dangerous.
The O Globo newspaper reported Saturday that Riotur's president, Jose Eduardo Guinle, had instructed lawyers to sue Fox for detriment to the city's image abroad. Riotur spent some dlrs 18 million last year in overseas promotion of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's main tourist gateway.
Now this is just silly. The "lazy and unhelpful" police chief was a parody of Chief Wiggum. And since when are slums clean and friendly?
04-08-02 | 01:12 PM
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From: Right of Atilla The Hun
And foreign media outlets never parody the US.
Why don't they sue Bill Clinton, instead, since he identified Hernando de Soto as a Brasilian, in a Gore-like effort to look smart. He is Peruvian.
Why don't they sue Bill Clinton, instead, since he identified Hernando de Soto as a Brasilian, in a Gore-like effort to look smart. He is Peruvian.
04-08-02 | 02:03 PM
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Perhaps we Torontonians can turn this into a class-action suit. Certainly if the Brazilians felt that "the use of cliches and stereotypes" was a problem then we have a case.
Get us a law-talkin' guy!
Get us a law-talkin' guy!
04-08-02 | 02:22 PM
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[comic book guy] Worst Lawsuit Ever [/comic book guy]
My antropology professor once told us that before Carnival` the police go through Rio and sytematically kill all the homeless and beggers so that tourists will not be bothered. Not sure if its true, but this story reminded me of that lecture.
"Your honor, I'm Lionel Hutts, I represent the country of Brazil. I'd like to make a motion for a case-thrown-out dealy."
My antropology professor once told us that before Carnival` the police go through Rio and sytematically kill all the homeless and beggers so that tourists will not be bothered. Not sure if its true, but this story reminded me of that lecture.
"Your honor, I'm Lionel Hutts, I represent the country of Brazil. I'd like to make a motion for a case-thrown-out dealy."
Last edited by ClarkKentKY; 04-08-02 at 02:24 PM.
04-08-02 | 02:54 PM
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Hey wait a minute! I live in Knoxville, which the Simpsons made jokes about when Bart got an ID and he and Nelson, Milhouse, and Martin drove here. We should sue!!!!!
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
Last edited by Slumbering Fist; 04-08-02 at 02:56 PM.
04-08-02 | 03:33 PM
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If anything they should be bringing as little attention to this episode as possible, being that many of the social aspects parodied in the episode are sad, but true.
How they think this is going to help tourism is beyond me.
How they think this is going to help tourism is beyond me.
04-08-02 | 03:56 PM
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From: Virginia
Remember when the city of New Orleans was horribly offended by the episode where they performed the musical version of Streetcar Named Desire??
They later had Bart writing something on the chalkboard about New Orleans - but I don't remember what he wrote.
". . . Sodom and Gommorah on the Mississip, New Orleans!!!"
They later had Bart writing something on the chalkboard about New Orleans - but I don't remember what he wrote.
". . . Sodom and Gommorah on the Mississip, New Orleans!!!"
04-08-02 | 05:39 PM
#11
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Originally posted by Fanboy
Perhaps we Torontonians can turn this into a class-action suit. Certainly if the Brazilians felt that "the use of cliches and stereotypes" was a problem then we have a case.
Get us a law-talkin' guy!
Perhaps we Torontonians can turn this into a class-action suit. Certainly if the Brazilians felt that "the use of cliches and stereotypes" was a problem then we have a case.
Get us a law-talkin' guy!
04-08-02 | 06:32 PM
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From: Beaumont, TX.
These people are crazy. It's just a cartoon. Who in there right mind would cancel travel plans because of the Simpsons. And just what do they expect to get out of it?
I was proud as ever when my home town was mentioned on the Simpsons. I think it was in the "Curse of the flying Hellfish" episode. Millhouse's Dad is at the school looking out of the window at his RV. He tells the kids "We won that at a chili cookoff in Beaumont, TX." I think it is great to have my town forever rememberd on the Simpsons.
I was proud as ever when my home town was mentioned on the Simpsons. I think it was in the "Curse of the flying Hellfish" episode. Millhouse's Dad is at the school looking out of the window at his RV. He tells the kids "We won that at a chili cookoff in Beaumont, TX." I think it is great to have my town forever rememberd on the Simpsons.
04-08-02 | 10:08 PM
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From: Formerly known as Darrin Garrison
Originally posted by Slumbering Fist
Hey wait a minute! I live in Knoxville, which the Simpsons made jokes about when Bart got an ID and he and Nelson, Milhouse, and Martin drove here. We should sue!!!!!
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
Hey wait a minute! I live in Knoxville, which the Simpsons made jokes about when Bart got an ID and he and Nelson, Milhouse, and Martin drove here. We should sue!!!!!
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
04-08-02 | 10:49 PM
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I was proud as ever when my home town was mentioned on the Simpsons.
04-08-02 | 11:16 PM
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From: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Am I the only one who read the article and thought:
"Yeah, I can see that happening in Brazil"
"Yeah, I can see that happening in Brazil"
04-09-02 | 12:00 AM
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Originally posted by Slumbering Fist
Hey wait a minute! I live in Knoxville, which the Simpsons made jokes about when Bart got an ID and he and Nelson, Milhouse, and Martin drove here. We should sue!!!!!
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
Hey wait a minute! I live in Knoxville, which the Simpsons made jokes about when Bart got an ID and he and Nelson, Milhouse, and Martin drove here. We should sue!!!!!
They made fun of the sunsphere, saying it ws full of wigs. Milhouse bought a talking Al Gore doll (pull the string and he says, "You are hearing me talk...")... They have made numerous little referaces to Knoxville's 1982 Worlds Fair.
04-09-02 | 03:49 AM
#17
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Originally posted by bhk
Maybe they do, and that is why they are suing.
Maybe they do, and that is why they are suing.
They must have heard that suing can bring you publicity - but seriously, how are they going to prove that they lost business because of this one episode? Also, everyone knows that the Simpsons is satire - take a joke people!
04-09-02 | 02:48 PM
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From: Right of Atilla The Hun
They must have heard that suing can bring you publicity - but seriously, how are they going to prove that they lost business because of this one episode?
04-09-02 | 03:17 PM
#20
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Originally posted by Eric F
If anything they should be bringing as little attention to this episode as possible, being that many of the social aspects parodied in the episode are sad, but true.
How they think this is going to help tourism is beyond me.
If anything they should be bringing as little attention to this episode as possible, being that many of the social aspects parodied in the episode are sad, but true.
How they think this is going to help tourism is beyond me.
Just look at this Brazilian site
04-09-02 | 11:09 PM
#22
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Originally posted by wm lopez
Only in America do you have a chance on winning a lawsuit like that. Remember the one where they sued McDonld's for serving the hot cup of coffee?
I wonder if other countries are like that?
Only in America do you have a chance on winning a lawsuit like that. Remember the one where they sued McDonld's for serving the hot cup of coffee?
I wonder if other countries are like that?
Also, the amount she got from the lawsuit was like 10 minutes worth of profits from McDonald's on coffee alone. A few hundred thousand means nothing to a multi-billion dollar company.
04-09-02 | 11:14 PM
#23
Originally posted by The Bus
That older woman got third degree burns from the coffee, if I recall correctly. That means bone was exposed.
Also, the amount she got from the lawsuit was like 10 minutes worth of profits from McDonald's on coffee alone. A few hundred thousand means nothing to a multi-billion dollar company.
That older woman got third degree burns from the coffee, if I recall correctly. That means bone was exposed.
Also, the amount she got from the lawsuit was like 10 minutes worth of profits from McDonald's on coffee alone. A few hundred thousand means nothing to a multi-billion dollar company.
- The 79 year old woman had 3rd degree burns on 6% of her body, including her genitals, groin, and buttocks.
- The coffee wasn't merely 'hot'; it was scalding, to the point where it could instantly destroy muscle and flesh
- She wasn't driving the car; she was in the passenger seat, trying to take the lid off when it spilled
- She tried to settle with them while in the hospital for $20,000. McDonald's refused,
- They showed that in a ten year period, they'd had 700 more similar injuries at McDonald's, and McDonald's was aware of it.
- McDonald's admitted that its coffee wasn't fit for consumption at the temperature they sold it... 180 degrees
The jury awarded her punitive damages of $2.7 million as well as compensatory damages of $200,000. The damages were reduced later on, so she ended up getting $160,000 compensatory and $480,000 punitive.
The $2.7 million punitive damages award was 2 days worth of coffee sales for McDonalds, so the $480,000 is like a third of a day's worth of coffee sales.
Last edited by CaptainMarvel, Esq.; 04-09-02 at 11:28 PM.
04-09-02 | 11:34 PM
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Originally posted by CaptainMarvel
Thank you. I'm tired of people citing that case as an example of how flawed our system is. There are plenty of GOOD examples of that, but the McDonald's-Coffee case isn't one of them. Anybody at all familiar with the facts of the case realizes that.
The jury awarded her punitive damages of $2.7 million as well as compensatory damages of $200,000. The damages were reduced later on, so she ended up getting $160,000 compensatory and $480,000 punitive.
The $2.7 million punitive damages award was 2 days worth of coffee sales for McDonalds, so the $480,000 is like a third of a day's worth of coffee sales.
Thank you. I'm tired of people citing that case as an example of how flawed our system is. There are plenty of GOOD examples of that, but the McDonald's-Coffee case isn't one of them. Anybody at all familiar with the facts of the case realizes that.
- The 79 year old woman had 3rd degree burns on 6% of her body, including her genitals, groin, and buttocks.
- The coffee wasn't merely 'hot'; it was scalding, to the point where it could instantly destroy muscle and flesh
- She wasn't driving the car; she was in the passenger seat, trying to take the lid off when it spilled
- She tried to settle with them while in the hospital for $20,000. McDonald's refused,
- They showed that in a ten year period, they'd had 700 more similar injuries at McDonald's, and McDonald's was aware of it.
- McDonald's admitted that its coffee wasn't fit for consumption at the temperature they sold it... 180 degrees
The jury awarded her punitive damages of $2.7 million as well as compensatory damages of $200,000. The damages were reduced later on, so she ended up getting $160,000 compensatory and $480,000 punitive.
The $2.7 million punitive damages award was 2 days worth of coffee sales for McDonalds, so the $480,000 is like a third of a day's worth of coffee sales.
04-09-02 | 11:37 PM
#25
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Originally posted by CaptainMarvel
Thank you. I'm tired of people citing that case as an example of how flawed our system is. There are plenty of GOOD examples of that, but the McDonald's-Coffee case isn't one of them. Anybody at all familiar with the facts of the case realizes that.
The jury awarded her punitive damages of $2.7 million as well as compensatory damages of $200,000. The damages were reduced later on, so she ended up getting $160,000 compensatory and $480,000 punitive.
The $2.7 million punitive damages award was 2 days worth of coffee sales for McDonalds, so the $480,000 is like a third of a day's worth of coffee sales.
Thank you. I'm tired of people citing that case as an example of how flawed our system is. There are plenty of GOOD examples of that, but the McDonald's-Coffee case isn't one of them. Anybody at all familiar with the facts of the case realizes that.
- The 79 year old woman had 3rd degree burns on 6% of her body, including her genitals, groin, and buttocks.
- The coffee wasn't merely 'hot'; it was scalding, to the point where it could instantly destroy muscle and flesh
- She wasn't driving the car; she was in the passenger seat, trying to take the lid off when it spilled
- She tried to settle with them while in the hospital for $20,000. McDonald's refused,
- They showed that in a ten year period, they'd had 700 more similar injuries at McDonald's, and McDonald's was aware of it.
- McDonald's admitted that its coffee wasn't fit for consumption at the temperature they sold it... 180 degrees
The jury awarded her punitive damages of $2.7 million as well as compensatory damages of $200,000. The damages were reduced later on, so she ended up getting $160,000 compensatory and $480,000 punitive.
The $2.7 million punitive damages award was 2 days worth of coffee sales for McDonalds, so the $480,000 is like a third of a day's worth of coffee sales.