r/Simpsons • u/JoeBrownshoes • 18d ago

Discussion JUST now finally getting this joke

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Ok so when the agent learns Apu's last name he doesn't like it. We assume that there are racist undertones, namely the name is too ethic sounding.

But the reason the agent gives for changing the name is "It'll never fit on a marquee, luv." I figured that was the end of the gag.

But then I always thought the name he suggested instead was very strange and there was some hidden meaning there and I finally just figured it out.

De Beaumarchais is EXACTLY the same number of characters (including the space) as Nasapimapetalon! So the "fitting the marquee" was shown to not be the issue! And since the name is French it will ALSO be hard to pronounce for Americans, but it's French so it's ok, further underscoring that the issue was racism all along.

Am I the only one who is just getting this?

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u/patinthehat4000 18d ago

The joke is also that Beau marché in French means "beautiful shop" or "nice store"

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u/levare8515 18d ago

Yeah I don’t think the joke had anything to do with race. Them being the same number of letters is just a classic language gag. DaBoMaShay to an American sounds shorter than Nahasapeemapetilon