Ukraine: President <PERSON> in The Simpsons? · Global Voices
The twenty-third season of the famous television cartoon series The Simpsons premiered in the United States on September 25, 2011. The first episode of the season immediately became popular with Ukrainian netizens, as it humorously portrayed Ukraine and a Kiev mafioso called <PERSON>. The most intriguing part of the episode, however, were the similarities between the character <PERSON> and the Ukrainian President <PERSON>, pointed out [uk] by many journalists and bloggers.
For instance, apart from the quashed criminal record of <PERSON>, media representatives pointed out The Simpsons character’s strong figure, his luxurious office in the center of Kiev and numerous guards. 880
Other details of the episode discussed online included <PERSON>’s treatment of his wife, who is sent “back to her room” (Ukraine’s First Lady is known for leading a rather reclusive lifestyle and spending most of her time away from Kiev) and <PERSON>'s planned concert in Ukraine (the singer performed in Donetsk in 2009).
<PERSON>, a screenshot from The Simpsons episode set in Kiev
In Ukraine, the episode went viral and was shared by numerous Facebook, Twitter and LiveJournal users. Many found it quite funny, while others were upset by such grim portrayal of the country.
MP and blogger <PERSON> (@LesyaOrobets) tweeted [uk]:
Хто б сказав, що сьогодні робочий день почнеться з перегляду мультика про Сімпсонів:(
Who could have predicted that the working day today would begin with watching The Simpsons :(
Twitter user <PERSON> (@Adamnet21) shared the link and wrote [uk]:
“Сімпсони” зняли серію про Україну. Ба! Знайомі обличчя!http://bit.ly/oa7Gft
The Simpsons have made an episode about Ukraine. Wow! Familiar faces! http://bit.ly/oa7Gft
Tweeter user @dark_vesta shared the link and asked [uk]:
Сімпсони і бандит Вітя http://life.pravda.com.ua/culture/2011/09/27/86240/ і кого мені так нагадує цей Віктор?)))
The Simpsons and a criminal named <PERSON> http://life.pravda.com.ua/culture/2011/09/27/86240/ and who does this <PERSON> remind me of so much? )))
Dnipropetrovsk-based civic information website Dniprograd.org also shared the link on its Twitter account (@Dniprograd) and noted ironically [uk]:
ДНІПРОГРАД Янукович – всесвітньо популярний, про нього зняли “Сімпсони” http://bit.ly/qwGvUT #news #Dnepr
<PERSON> is world-famous, [they] made a Simpsons [episode] about him http://bit.ly/qwGvUT #news #Dnepr
Ukraine-based Twitter user @idioteque_2017 also shared the link and wondered [uk]:
Напевно тепер Мета Грюнінга чекають трабли???))) http://bit.ly/rhvA2A #Сімпсони #Янукович
Perhaps now <PERSON> [the creator of the Simpsons – GV] should expect [troubles]? 880