‘It’s not a joke’: ‘The Simpsons’ writer holds his first presidential campaign rally

On sunny On Friday afternoon in a park overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir in Los Angeles, about 30 people — including three dressed as Uncle Sam, Darth Vader, and Elsa from… Frozen– They gathered to hear the first official speech of Dan Greaney, candidate for the 2028 US presidential election.

“My fellow Americans,” Greaney began, standing on a podium in front of a row of American flags fluttering in the light breeze. After that opening, he added, “Yes, let’s go with that. It’s a classic.”

This little bit of self-awareness is the kind of thing you’d expect from a veteran TV writer who worked on it The Simpsons Since its golden age in the 1990s. Aside from writing classic episodes like “Summer of 4 Ft. 2” and “King-Size Homer,” Greaney is also known for writing “Bart to the Future,” a quick-fire episode that originally aired in 2000, in which Lisa Simpson is the newly inaugurated President of the United States and struggles with the financial mess left by her predecessor. “As you know, we inherited a major budget crisis from President Trump,” she explains.

Because of that joke, Greeney is often credited with predicting Trump’s unexpected real rise to the White House. “It was a warning to America,” he told The Hollywood Reporter early in the 2016 election cycle. “It was brought up because it was consistent with a vision of America going mad.”

For months, Greeney has been tending to his “prophet” alter ego, posting Instagram videos of himself predicting the downfall of Trump and his allies with a gray beard and Old Testament-style wig. But on Friday, he wore the traditional suit and tie worn by a politician running for president. His message was serious.

“It’s ridiculous for me to run for president,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing a cartoon father would do — someone like, you know, Peter Griffin,” he said with a smile, referring to the church patriarch. Family man Instead of Homer Simpson. However, Greaney went on to say that he was moved to stand up for the values ​​he believes most Americans still share. I think democracy is under attack, in many ways [has] “It has been torn down by a rogue Supreme Court, by a lawless president, and by the billionaire cliques that work for them.”

“It’s no joke,” Greaney said of his campaign, despite his long career in comedy dating back to his time as head of the Harvard Lampoon. (He has also worked as a journalist and practiced law.) He continued: “Comedy is not limited to laughter.” “Comedy is about truth. And in The Simpsons“One of the things we all tried to do was to tell the truth about American life, to look past the bullshit and the hoopla and tell the truth about America with love and humor in a way that people saw and connected with, and that’s what I hope to do here.”

“So, yeah, it’s a little silly, but it’s no joke,” he repeated. “Indeed, it is an act of conscience.”

Greaney concluded his remarks by saying, “I invite you all to join my movement and create an America that works for everyone, including Darth Vader.”

Greene speaks to the crowd.

Photo: Miles Klee

A colorful group of supporters.

Photo: Miles Klee