The Simpsons

[caucasianheat]

Why didnt Michael Jackson credit himself as Michael Jackson? That episode was on today and it says John Jay Smith. I know Dustin Hoffman had a weird credit too. Why would they do that?

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As I recall from an episode of Inside the Actor's Studio with the whole Simpsons gang, Jackson did very little of the actual voicing for his cameo. He brought in someone to do all of the singing and some of the talking as well, so it's likely that the actor (John Jay Smith, as it were) was the one credited.

Edited October 12, 2004 by caucasianheat

[Your Mom]

It wasnt him singing? That kills some of my love for the song at the end. And I loved that song

[thuganomic]

It wasnt him singing? That kills some of my love for the song at the end. And I loved that song 

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[Guest fultie]

i sang that song for days

[Evil Chase K]

Back when he did the show, it wasn't as highly praised as it is now, it wasn't mainstream. So some stars didn't want to be associated with it. Hence the psuedonyms.

As for him singing, the commentary on the Simpsons Season DVD, they claimed that he sung them, but they had a sound-a-like come in and sing too, but sort of hinted that the sound engineer used Michael's actual voice and not the sound-a-like.

[Godfatha]

That and there were a number of jokes with Michael in the show with him not being black. I can see him not wanting to be associated with it.

[Lord Nibbler]

Jackson wrote "Lisa, It's Your Birthday", but an impersonator called Kipp Lennon (who also did "Flaming Moe's," "The Sound of Grandpa" and "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" in other episodes) sang it. He also wrote the music to "Do The Bartman. John Jay Smith is just a pseudonym.

[Mick]

Happy Birthday Lisa wasn't the musical highlight of the show....

This was:

Lisa, her teeth are big and green,

Lisa, she smell's like gasoline....

[Benji]

Happy Birthday Lisa wasn't the musical highlight of the show....

This was:

Lisa, her teeth are big and green,

Lisa, she smell's like gasoline....

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Lisa, ba-da-da-disa,

She is my sister...

Her birthday...

I missed 'er!

[Boulder]

Man, that episode had so many great lines:

"'Do you ever hear voices?'"

"I'm hearing one right now!"

[Corizzle]

"C'mon, Wash off! I'm sane now!"

I just watched the commentary on my Season 3 DVD, awesome stuff

[Lowerdeck]

That episode is one of the few I can actually hate and refuse to watch. Thankfully, I never see it on TV much anymore.

[Enter Blue Guy]

Jackson wrote "Lisa, It's Your Birthday", but an impersonator called Kipp Lennon (who also did "Flaming Moe's," "The Sound of Grandpa" and "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" in other episodes) sang it. He also wrote the music to "Do The Bartman. John Jay Smith is just a pseudonym.

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[VinceMcMahonForPresident]

"LIsa Its Your Birthday" is my favorite Simpsons song ever. Its stuck in my head now cuz of this thread

[Reflecto Is My Favorite Poster]

According to The Simpsons Exposed book on this episode, the reason Jackson wasn't credited was that Jackson's record label didn't approve of it.

[FLiam]

I got the Series One DVD for Xmas and watched the first few episodes and Waylon Smithers was black and had blue hair, in the 3rd episode I think, he changed to what he is today, yelow and greyish hair.

Why was he originally black and have weird coloured hair? Does anoyne know?

[Guest ryan_the_canuck]

He was on vacation and got sunburned.

(That's the official FOX explanation)

[public enemy]

They probably just changed their minds on the character models. Quite a few of the characters in the original episodes are alot different than those today.

[Guest The Real Deal]

I read somewhere that it was because he was going to be portrayed as a black gay guy. And as the only black guy in the series and he was gay they would get complaints.

Well I was told by someone online but I don't believe that at all.

[FLiam]

Well that does kind of make sense, because he is supposed to be gay isn't he?