Homer Simpson is a ripoff

Johnny Storm

I really like Homer (see my sig) but the other day I was reading one of my old Fat Freddy's Cat comics (published 1978) when I had a sudden flash and it all became clear to me.
Maybe he didn't start out that way but Homer has evolved into a (very slightly) straighter verion of Fat Freddy. He's fat, stupid, helpless, hilarious and drinks lots of beer. 'Nuff said?
Anyone agree or disagree?
Also anyone know if the Simpsons have ever name-checked or acknowledged Fat Freddy or the Furry Freaks in any way?

aidan_walsh

Yeah, because fat, stupid, beer swilling, comical characters are not at all a mainstay of television.

Mossy Monk

Johnny Storm wrote:

I really like Homer (see my sig) but the other day I was reading one of my old Fat Freddy's Cat comics (published 1978) when I had a sudden flash and it all became clear to me.
Maybe he didn't start out that way but Homer has evolved into a (very slightly) straighter verion of Fat Freddy. He's fat, stupid, helpless, hilarious and drinks lots of beer. 'Nuff said?
Anyone agree or disagree?
Also anyone know if the Simpsons have ever name-checked or acknowledged Fat Freddy or the Furry Freaks in any way?

you think too much

flogen

I'm sure The Simpsons crew would admit to Homer and co. being the bastard children of a number of different comicbook and tv creations. The 'Doh' comes from Laurel and Hardy (I think, either that or something like The Three Stooges).
At the same time you could say that Hal from Malcom in the Middle and Peter from Family Guy are ripoffs, but while they have their similarities they also have huge differences.

DublinWriter

Johnny Storm wrote:

I really like Homer (see my sig) but the other day I was reading one of my old Fat Freddy's Cat comics (published 1978)

BS. You could say the same of Fred Flintsone, Oliver Hardy, etc, etc, the fat-middle aged male character is a comedy staple.

Plus Gilbert Sheldon's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers first started in the late 60's.

Johnny Storm

Mossy Monk wrote:

you think too much

Thanks. Can I use you as a reference?

flogen

DublinWriter wrote:

Plus Gilbert Sheldon's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers first started in the late 60's.

You know too much

pickarooney

Aart from one episode involving 'medicinal' marijuana, Homer hasn't show much of a tendency to spend his entire existence on some sort of high.
If you'd compared him to the cat himself you might have had a point.

Johnny Storm

pickarooney wrote:

Aart from one episode involving 'medicinal' marijuana, Homer hasn't show much of a tendency to spend his entire existence on some sort of high.
If you'd compared him to the cat himself you might have had a point.

Well there was the ep with the magic chilli peppers....