Doughnuts often find their way into the news, sometimes in unexpected ways, such as when they involve a celebrity. There's a certain irony in the wholesome image of doughnuts being juxtaposed with celebrity controversies. In one instance, sports celebrity Golden Tate, a former Notre Dame wide receiver, was involved in a doughnut-related incident. According to TMZ, Tate "was not arrested," but the reasons for his presence inside a closed Top Pot shop were not disclosed. The manager of the shop declined to comment on the matter.
Doughnuts in Pop Culture
Doughnuts have made numerous appearances in pop culture, including in films and television shows. Randy's Donuts in Los Angeles, with its iconic giant doughnut replica, has been featured in movies like Iron Man 2 and 2012. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark even sits inside the giant doughnut. In 2012, the giant doughnut miraculously survives the destruction of Los Angeles.
The Simpsons is also known for its doughnut references, particularly in the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes.
"Treehouse of Horror IV"
"Treehouse of Horror IV" is the fourth Halloween episode of The Simpsons, aired as part of the show's fifth season. Like other Halloween specials, the episode is non-canon and features parodies of horror and science fiction themes. Conan O'Brien co-wrote the episode, which includes references to The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and The Lost Boys.
This episode is divided into three segments:
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- "The Devil and Homer Simpson"
- "Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet"
- "Bart Simpson's Dracula"
The episode makes cultural references to television series such as The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and Peanuts, as well as films such as The Devil and Daniel Webster, Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Lost Boys. Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics.
"The Devil and Homer Simpson"In "The Devil and Homer Simpson," Homer sells his soul to the Devil (in the form of Ned Flanders) for a doughnut. Homer finds a loophole by not finishing the doughnut, but eventually eats the last crumb and is dragged to Hell. Lisa asks the Devil to hold a trial, and Homer is defended by Lionel Hutz. Marge saves Homer by presenting a wedding photo with a pledge from Homer stating that he pledged his soul to her forever. The Devil, however, transforms Homer's head into a doughnut as a final act.
The first time Devil Flanders appears, he resembles the devil Chernabog from Fantasia (1940); Silverman particularly admired the animation in that sequence. Oakley loved the idea of Flanders being the Devil because he was the character whom viewers would least expect. He also thought Harry Shearer did a good job of playing Flanders in a much darker way, while remaining very true to the character.
The segment includes a scene where Homer is force-fed doughnuts in Hell, a parody of the cartoon Pigs is Pigs. The demon feeding Homer says, "I don't understand it. James Coco went mad in fifteen minutes!"
"Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet""Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet" is a parody of The Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". Bart tries to warn the passengers on the school bus about a gremlin attacking the bus, but no one believes him. Bart eventually uses a flare to scare off the gremlin, but is sent to a psychiatric hospital for his behavior.
Oakley said there was a lot of work put into the design of the gremlin in "Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet" to make him scary "within The Simpsons universe". Silverman designed the gremlin based on The Grinch.
"Bart Simpson's Dracula"In "Bart Simpson's Dracula," the Simpson family is invited to Mr. Burns' castle, where they discover that Burns is a vampire. Bart is bitten and becomes a vampire himself. Lisa tries to warn her parents, but they don't believe her until it's too late. The family discovers that Marge is the head vampire. This segment is a parody of Francis Ford Coppola's film Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Mirkin was a big fan of the film and pushed for a segment inspired by it. He liked the final result and felt Mr. Burns was perfect in the role of Dracula. Dracula and his castle were designed by Silverman.
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The wrap-around segments are a reference to Rod Serling's Night Gallery. The paintings seen in these segments are parodies of well-known works, including van Gogh's Self-Portrait, September 1889, Munch's The Scream, Magritte's The Son of Man, David's The Death of Marat, Dalí's The Persistence of Memory, Picasso's Three Musicians, and Escher's Ascending and Descending, all featuring members of the Simpson family.
Reception
Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics.
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, said the episode included many notable sequences and was "probably the best" Treehouses of Horror episode. They particularly liked the scenes in Hell where Homer is punished by the Devil, and Chief Wiggum's attempts to deal with Dracula (whom he thinks is a mummy) in the "Bart Simpson's Dracula" segment by ordering the Egyptian wing of the Springfield museum to be destroyed.
DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson thought "Terror at 5½ Feet" was the best segment of the episode. Jacobson praised "The Devil and Homer Simpson" as clever funny, and described "Bart Simpson's Dracula" as "easily the least effective", claiming it, "presents some good moments but never quite takes flight".
Patrick Bromley of DVD Verdict gave the episode an A grade and called it "one of the very best" Halloween specials, although said "Treehouse of Horror V" was better.
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Central Michigan Life's John Thorpe named it the tenth best episode of the series, and wrote: "The best part comes when Homer decides not to eat the last part of the doughnut, thus saving him from hell.
Kim Nowacki of Yakima Herald-Republic named "Treehouse of Horror IV" her "all-time favorite" episode. She praised the parodies of The Twilight Zone and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
James Coco: Actor, Author, and Food Enthusiast
James Coco (1930-1987) was an American stage and screen actor known for his rotund stature and comedic roles. He parodied Hercule Poirot in the spoof Murder By Death and often played characters with "extreme food issues." Coco received a Primetime Emmy Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Cable ACE Award and three Obie Awards, as well as nominations for a Tony Award, an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
In his later years, Coco gained recognition for his culinary talents and cookbooks. The James Coco Diet, released on February 1, 1983, documented his experience with the Structure House Weight Loss Plan. The book included chapters on menu planning, behavior modification, and recipes.
The James Coco Diet
The James Coco Diet was an educational book which included chapters on menu planning and behavior modification as well as choice recipes.
Coco, a veteran of many failed diets, was the author of the bestselling book The James Coco Diet, released on February 1, 1983, which documented his successful experience of the Structure House Weight Loss Plan, developed by Gerard Musante.
Coco's Career
James began acting straight out of high school. He received his acting training at HB Studio in New York City. As an overweight and prematurely balding adult, he found himself relegated to character roles.
Coco's first modern collaboration with playwright Terrence McNally was a 1968 Off-Broadway double-bill of the one-act plays Sweet Eros and Witness, followed by Here's Where I Belong, a disastrous Broadway musical adaptation of East of Eden that closed on opening night. They had far greater success with their next project, Next, a two-character play with Elaine Shore, which ran for more than 700 performances and won Coco the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance.
Coco also achieved success with Neil Simon, who wrote The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1969) specifically for him. It earned him a Tony Award nomination as Best Actor in a Play.
Coco's additional film credits include Ensign Pulver (1964), The Patty Duke Show (1965). End of the Road (1970), The Strawberry Statement (1970), Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970), A New Leaf (1971), Such Good Friends (1971), Man of La Mancha (1972), The Wild Party (1975), Charleston (1977), Scavenger Hunt (1979), Wholly Moses!
On television, Coco starred on two unsuccessful 1970s series, Calucci's Department and The Dumplings, and made guest appearances on many series, including ABC Stage 67, NBC Children's Theater, The Edge of Night, Marcus Welby, M.D., Trapper John, M.D., Medical Center, Maude, Fantasy Island, Alice, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Murder, She Wrote, The Muppet Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Love Boat, $weepstake$, and St. Elsewhere, for which he won an Emmy Award. One of his later television assignments was a recurring role as Nick Milano on the sitcom Who's the Boss?.
One of his later television assignments was a recurring role as Nick Milano on the sitcom Who's the Boss?. Coco died exactly one day after what was his final appearance on Who's the Boss?
Death
Coco died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan, on February 25, 1987, at age 56 after suffering a heart attack at his Greenwich Village home. He is buried in St.