The 'Irish' Simpsons episode aired last night to much fanfare and anticipation. Sky One bagged the rights to air the episode some months back. The episode, the first to premier outside the US, saw the Simpson family take Grampa back to Ireland for a drink in O'Flanagan's pub. Set in the fictional village of Dunkilderry, the Simpsons are shocked to see how forward and modern Ireland has become and end up buying O'Flanagan's pub.
I had very much looked forward to seeing this episode, but like many others I suspect, was left disappointed by the inaccuracy of it all. It seemed that the episode, despite being screened in Europe first, was made completely for American audiences. If Obama is going to attempt to open up America to the rest of the world, this episode didn't help increase the knowledge factor whatsoever.
Some of the major gaffes which stand out as irritating, if not completely inaccurate are:
- Red double decker buses- since we're not in London, surely green or white buses could have been used?
- 'Police' vans- I know Americans wouldn't know what Gardai were but it hardly would have done them any harm to Wikipedia what Gardai are after watching the episode!
- Taco Bell and Bed, Bath and Beyond lookalike stores... we have enough American chains like Starbucks without insinuating others are on our shores too.
Overall, the episode was a disappointment. The effect of inaccuracies like those above were made all the more clear listening to four Americans conversing on the bus last night. The woman in her fifties, appearing well educated, uttered the words 'I was afraid they would all be speaking Gaelic here' to which her younger companion replied ' yeah me too, I think they might teach Gaelic in schools here'.... Ya think?!?
The following conversation in which the younger man attempted to guess what our emergency number was was even more disappointing! Guesses included 911, 987, 932 and 8532.... Oh dear.
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