#simpsons travel #

The Simpsons guide to the world

We're used to seeing TV's favourite dysfunctional family taking jabs at their home country, but what happens when the Simpsons head, literally, into foreign territory? Here's a look at this legendary show's take on some of the world's top travel destinations.

Beijing, China

Selma heads to China in order to adopt a baby, with Homer posing as her husband.

China Simpsonised! The Simpsons visit the Great Wall of China (with Mongolian barbarians trying to get over using pogo sticks) and attend an acrobatics show in which the main performer had a sudden attack of "outspokenness" and suffered a "bullet-related death".

Tiananmen Square (where, according to the Chinese in the episode, "nothing happened" in 1989), Tank man. Chinese acupuncture, feng shui, a traditional junk boat, flying dragons and the musical instrument erhu also feature.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Lisa has been donating to an orphanage in the slums of Rio de Janeiro but becomes concerned when one orphan, Ronaldo, goes missing. The family head to Brazil in search of him.

Brazil Simpsonised! On the plane to Rio, Bart listens to a Spanish tape until Marge informs him Brazilians speak Portuguese. In this version of Rio de Janeiro, monkeys, rat-infested slums, thieving children, kidnappers, soccer-mad hotel staff, over-sexed children's show presenters and dance instructors, and conga lines abound.

Also see Bart and Homer (in perpetually-disappearing budgie smugglers) strut down Copacabana Beach, attend the famous Carnival, visit the Amazon rainforest, and the episode's dramatic conclusion held on a cable car of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Reaction in Brazil: Not happy Jan(eriro)! The Rio Tourist Board, which had recently spent US$18 million ($20 million) on promoting their city, were so angry with the send-up they threatened to take legal action against Fox, claiming the episode would have "drastic consequences" on the city's tourism industry.

A spokesman said, "what really hurt was the idea of the monkeys the image that Rio de Janeiro was a jungle". Even then President Fernando Henrique Cardoso weighed in on the matter, claiming it "brought a distorted vision of Brazilian reality".

London, UK

Grampa and the family head to London in search of his long-lost former flame, Edwina.

The UK Simpsonised! Upon landing in London, the family quickly meet then Prime Minister Tony Blair (whom Homer confuses with Mr Bean), writer JK Rowling, actor Sir Ian McKellen and Homer heckles Led Zepplin's Jimmy Page from the London Eye.

Homer and Marge also crash their rented Mini Cooper through the gates of Buckingham Palace, slamming into Queen Elizabeth II's horse-drawn carriage. Homer is thrown into the Tower of London for his troubles. Other sly British references include: James Bond, British tabloid newspapers, Shakespeare, Harrods, the film Trainspotting. Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs, Dame Edna and the River Thames.

Reaction in the UK: While some viewers complained the nation came off as quaint and horribly outdated, media commentators focused mainly on Tony Blair's appearance with a mixture of approval and disapproval. It was the first and only time a head of state has done a guest appearance on the show.

Japan

The Simpsons nab mega-saver flights from the Flanders family and find themselves in Tokyo, Japan.

Japan Simpsonised! Homer throws the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, into a dumpster of dirty mawashi (the belts sumo wrestlers wear), landing himself along with Bart in jail. After paying bail, the family only have a 1 million bill left, which Homer loses after using it to make an origami crane.

The famous five are forced to find work fish-gutting in Osaka, but then decide to compete on a humiliating game show called The Happy Smile Super Challenge Family Wish Show in order to win flights back home.

There are loads of other wonderful Japanese references in this episode: wasabi, Godzilla, Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon. a sign on the Japanese Royal Hotel which says: "Now with 20 percent more bowing," the Imperial Gardens, the Meiji Shrine, the Hello Kitty factory, kabuki, flower arranging, haiku, fusuma doors, square watermelons, geishas, water spraying toilets and seizure-inducing anime cartoons.

Australia

When Bart makes a collect call to Australia that ends up costing 900 "dollareydoos", the Simpsons head Down Under in order to make an official apology.

Australia Simpsonised! Like almost all the "Simpsons abroad" episodes, taking a dig at well-worn stereotypes and cliches is the go. Unsurprisingly in this episode the outback, corporal punishment in the form of a boot up the bum, bullfrogs (a cane toad stand-in), Crocodile Dundee, koalas, Azaria Chamberlain, Yahoo Serious, Mad Max and horrible Aussie accents feature heavily.

Reaction in Australia: In an interview with the Age. show writer Mike Reiss named this episode as Australia's least favourite. "Whenever we have the Simpsons visit another country, that country gets furious, including Australia," Reiss said. "We were condemned in the Australian Parliament after the episode."

Despite the serious mocking, many Australians also see the episode as a compliment, especially considering this was the first time the entire family had headed to another country for a whole episode.

Tanzania

When Homer finds a solid gold giraffe in a 30-year-old box of animal crackers, he wins a trip to Africa.

Africa Simpsonised! The Simpsons fit in the Maasai Mara, Olduvai Gorge, Mount Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls during their visit. They're also saved by a scientist called Dr Joan Bushwell (a parody of primatologist Dame Jane Goodall) who turns out to be a chimp slave master, exploiting the primates as diamond miners.

Other inclusions: The Lion King. Shaka Zulu, poachers (who actually turn out to be Greenpeace members attempting to liberate the enslaved chimpanzees), a revolving door of new presidents, plus loads and loads of safari animals.

Ireland

To make up for some recent neglect, Homer and the family decide to treat Grampa, taking him to a pub in Ireland where he once had the best night of his life.

Ireland Simpsonised! The family arrive, surprised to discover Ireland has become a commercialised, hi-tech country of consumers, workaholics and yuppies who have far less interest in beer-swilling than generations of old. Hence "O'Flanagan's", the pub Grampa is hoping to reconnect with (and Colm Meaney guest starring as the owner), is now a dying breed. It's an episode that for once well and truly moves beyond cultural stereotypes.

In the meantime Marge, Bart and Lisa visit the Giant's Causeway, Blarney Castle, the Guinness brewery and Dublin. There are also references to the film Once (with the film leads Glen Hansard and Mark ta Irglov guest starring), James Joyce, Bloomsday, yuppie leprechauns (described by Grampa as "yuprechauns", Riverdance. U2 and Angela's Ashes .

Reaction in Ireland: With their legendary sense of humour, few Irish commentators took offence. In fact their only complaint was that the episode just wasn't hugely funny.

Did The Simpsons get these places right? And where do you think the famous five should head next? Leave your comments below.

Related: RALPH's Simpson interview