Bart Simpson used by Nancy Cartwright to promote Scientology

[Cronopio]

http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2009/01/29/Bart_Simpson_used_by_Cartwright_to_promote_Scientology

Nancy Cartwright, the woman famous for being the voice of Bart Simpson, could find herself eating her shorts for using the character to promote her religion – the controversial Church Of Scientology.

Audio has emerged of Cartwright’s voice in a robocall campaign promoting a Scientology event at the Church’s Hollywood center. The problem is, she has also thrown in the mix the voice of her most popular character, Bart Simpson, but without the permission of Fox, creators of The Simpsons.

“Hey what’s happening man this is Bart Simpson….hahaha…. just kidding don’t hang up this is Nancy Cartwright. And this is a very special phone call to you. I’m now auditing on new OT (Operating Thetan Level) Seven.” the message said. ...

Her choice to do this could put the 51-year-old in serious violation of her contract with Fox, as the intellectual property of Bart Simpson is owned by them, not by her.

“This is not authorized by us," said Al Jean, executive producer of the Simpsons. "'The Simpsons' does not, and never has, endorsed any religion, philosophy or system of beliefs any more profound than Butterfinger bars."

[BlooInBloo]

1. Well that's right shitty of her.

[Divine Discontent]

2. I'd heard that, but didn't know the context. that's pretty bizarre of her, but well, you can

understand why she'd do something like that... being that she's auditing on OT Seven nowadays! :eyes:

[MADem]

3. It's a unique voice, but I'm betting they could find someone else to do it if they had to.

Bart Simpson as a Scientologist is about as likely as Mother Theresa as a stripper.

One of these things doesn't go with the other, now, does it? :rofl:

[cherish44]

4. The Simpsons have made fun of just about every religion except Scientology

I'm sure that's because of Nancy Cartwright...
"Please do not feed my god a peanut." ~Apu

[AsahinaKimi]

5. "Why you little..."

[greyl]

6. She has earned the right to work someplace else. nt

[MrSlayer]

7. Well what are they going to do? Fire her and ruin one of their biggest cash cows?

There's probably someone else out there that can do a dead-on Bart Simpson but I doubt they will take that stance.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. FOX can sue Cartright for copyright infringment.

Which, considering the cult she belongs to and their history of doing the same, would be kinda ironic.

D'oh!

[MrSlayer]

11. Yeah but do they want to alienate one of their major stars?

I don't see it. This will go away quietly.

[tblue37]

13. She isn't a "star." I doubt that most Simpsons fans even know who she is.

Bart is the star, and it would be easy to find someone to replicate the voice.

BTW, Nancy Cartright got her start as the young daughter on The Danny Thomas Show. Man, I am old!

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Simpson fans do know who she is.

Simpson fans know everything about the show.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

19. I think they'll try their best to be amicable towards eachother.

The Simpsons voice actors earn obscene amounts of money to do very little. The Simpsons is still one of the top rated shows on FOX. It's a win win plan for both sides.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. I don't see how it's win-win, unless the cult backs down and pays FOX. n/t

[TheTimmer]

25. Angela Cartwright

was on "make Room For Daddy", not Nancy. She was also on "Lost In Space".

[sweetpotato]

27. Angela Cartwright was on Make Room for Daddy

She was also on Lost in Space. Her older sister is Veronica Cartwright who did a stint on X-Files. They were born in England.

Nancy, from Ohio, is no relation to them.

I see Timmer has a good memory for 1960s shows!

[TheTimmer]

29. I'm not sure

whether it's a testament to my age or the fact that my mind is a vast warehouse of pointless information, probably both.

Veronica Cartwright was also in "Alien". Nancy Cartwright was in the "Twilight Zone" movie.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Alienate?

Pfft.

You must not be familiar with Disney and Winnie the Pooh^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie_the_Pooh#Ownership_controversy_and_drastic_changes">1} or Clayton Moore and his fight to wear the mask of the Lone Ranger^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Moore#Lawsuit_over_public_appearances">2}.

This is Hollywood baby.

Oh and here's two more maybe you've heard about: Mickey Mouse and public domain^{http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20020305_sprigman.html">3} and Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie and that magazine^{http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E7D81F30F930A15752C0A96F958260">4}.

The moral of this story: if it ain't yours, don't try to pass it off as if it is; Cartwright doesn't own the voice, but she's trying to use it as if it is.

If I were her, I'd lawyer up. (But, since she's in that cult, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't have one already)

[ColbertWatcher]

8. I wonder if FOX will sue the cult?

If so, it will be tough to decide who to root for.

[greyl]

10. I'll root for Matt. (plus, it ain't fox news) nt

[ColbertWatcher]

16. I don't know if Groening owns the copyright or if it's FOX's. n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

20. FOX are the enforcers. I remember about ten years ago they came down hard on fansites.

And I don't think Groening would have done that.

[gratuitous]

17. There's a big rooting interest

For a long, drawn-out, financially ruinous back-and-forth that leaves both the network and the church as wholly owned subsidiaries of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe, attorneys at law.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. As long as the cult doesn't have them on retainer. n/t

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. Maybe they'll sue, she'll walk and they'll finally give the show the mercy killing it deserves

The show was damn near perfect up til about 1999. Everything since then has been destroying the legacy of that

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Agreed about when it started to take a dump. n/t

[spoony]

21. Agreed.

Seems every episode now is a parade of guest stars and self-parody, which can be fun to a point but it's...well past that point.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. One would hope.

But South Park is still dragging on after Chef left under scientological circumstances.

[rug]

23. Bad

[Johonny]

26. compared to the Scientologists fake

free stress tests. This isn't so horrible from them.