Simpsons takes jabs at Apple cult, costs
updated 10:05 am EST, Mon December 1, 2008
Simpsons parodies Apple
In its most recent episode, popular animated sitcom The Simpsons has parodied a variety of aspects of Apple culture, including its marketing, high prices and cult-like following. The plot sees the opening of the first Springfield Mapple store, stocked with products such as MyPhones and MyPods, and services such as the Brainiac Bar. Though Lisa finds she cannot afford even MyPhonies earbuds, by fluke circumstance she ends up with a MyPod, which in turn leads to her buying more music than she has the money for.
The episode takes special aim at Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who becomes Mapple boss Steve Mobs. Mobs is adorned in a black turtleneck, and is portrayed as an eccentric executive more concerned with profits than his public persona suggests. To pay off her debt, Lisa is made to stand on a street corner in a MyPod costume, telling people to "Think differently." Apple once used the phrase "think different" as its slogan.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
"Think Differently"
Actually, Lisa was hired to say "Think Differently", which was a great reference to the grammatical criticisms of the Think Different slogan. I was surprised at some of the Apple trivia gags in the episode that would've been lost on most people. Their presence made it that much better for me.