Yianni on The Simpsons: Comedy Spotlight
Yianni returns to the Fringe with a tribute to his favourite show, The Simpsons. Knowing a thing or two ourselves about the generation-bridging sitcom, we pit his wits against one of its younger fans – young writer Lauren Hunter, aged 10.
Have you ever had to deal with a love rival as irritating as Artie Ziff, and did love win the day?
Well, at my high school prom (or ‘formal’ as we called them in Australia) I asked a lovely lady to come with me and she accepted, but between when I asked her and the formal, she started dating my friend David Lynch (no relation). So while I ended up alone, no doubt his ‘busy hands’ were all over her ‘twin peaks’. So that’s a ‘no’ to love winning the day but as it goes it’s a fairly typical comedian story.
Would you rather have someone who is stupid and loves you, or Mr Bergstrom?
If the question is someone stupid who loves me and stays, or someone clever who loves me and leaves, then I think I’ll have to take someone clever who loves me and leaves. But I do have deep seated commitment issues. So that’s a ‘yes’ to Mr Bergstrom... but as it goes it’s a fairly typical comedian story.
Explain why people should come to a Free Fringe show when there are monorails to ride?
Well I hear those things are awfully loud. But seriously, if the monorail episode didn’t show you the folly of light rail projects in towns and cities with centralised populations, then surely Princes Street between 2010 and 2014 did.
'Dental Plan! Lisa needs braces! Dental Plan! Lisa needs braces!' Why does it take us so long to find out what to stand up for?
Because concern usually only rolls up to the party after its crazy cousin crisis has arrived. Homer didn’t care about losing the dental plan until he was going to have to pay for Lisa’s braces. It’d be a better world if only we were better at seeing more than an inch in front of our faces.
It's like when Homer’s buying the Canyonero SUV.
Salesman: Oh, then after your final monthly payment there’s your routine CBP or (mumbles) ‘crippling balloon payment’.
Homer: But that’s not for a while right?
Salesman: Right!
Homer: Sweet! (signs the contract).
I don't like the episode Bart vs Australia and I'm not Australian. As an Australian did this episode make you cringe?
I hated it when I first saw it (I was 17), but then I was a bit of an angsty, squeaky-voiced teen at that point. With the benefit of 20 years' life experience, and living abroad's mellowing effect on my patriotism, I think it’s great now. I even signed a petition to get our currency name changed to Dollarydoos (True story!).
Lemonade is Springfield's most important drink. If you had to make an Edinburgh drink, what would it be and why?
A lovely tipple comprised of single malt scotch aged exactly 18 years and Irn-Bru. It’s imperative that you pour the whisky ‘on its birthday’ so to speak. I call it a 'Clockwork Orange'. Or, if you light it, a 'Flaming Yianni'.
What was worse: changing the fans' idea of Principal Skinner's entire history or killing off Maude Flanders?
Oh Skinner definitely, that whole episode was terrible! Changing an entire character’s timeline for one episode’s worth of larks is sitcom suicide. Interestingly, the reason they killed Maude Flanders was because of a pay dispute with Maggie Roswell who voices her. If you’re going to bluff Fox for a pay rise, I say you need to be holding better cards than the voice of Maude Flanders.
More on the Edinburgh Fringe:
Festival guide: Five great Northern comedians
Does the city's population double over August?
Yianni: The Simpsons Taught me Everything I Know, Voodoo Rooms, 6-28 Aug (Not 16), 1.30pm, PBH Free Fringe