The Simpsons include the first deaf actor and the use of ASL in upcoming episodes.
Actor John Autry II will be the first deaf voice actor to appear in an upcoming episode of The Simpsons titled The Sound of Bleeding Gums.
The Simpsons will be making history this weekend as they prepare to welcome the series' first deaf voice actor, John Autry II, and the first use of American Sign Language to appear on the show.
Following Sunday's episode of the animated film The Sound of Bleeding Gums will follow Lisa Simpson as she hunts down her favorite saxophonist's deaf son, Bleeding Gums Murphy, to help him get a cochlear implant.
The ASL sequence will be featured throughout the episode, and Audrey will voice the character Monk, the first time in her nearly 33-year history that a deaf actor has spoken a symbol on the show.
"It's been so amazing," Autry told Variety about her experience. "This is equality and inclusion that changes lives. It can make a difference for all of us. It's about bringing people with hearing and hearing impairments together. It's part of history."
Written by Loni Steele So stand, the episode touches on the writer's homeland, who grew up listening to jazz for most of his childhood, and his brother, who was born deaf.
"I am mixed race; Black jazz and my dad was great in our house," Posted, who joined The Simpsons in 2020, told Variety. "We grew up in the suburbs, and my dad was able to bring that aspect of our culture to life. But when I think of music, I also think of my brother, who was born deaf. So when we first brainstormed about the hero of bleeding gums, we wondered if it wouldn't be great for Lisa to discover this completely different side of her life. That led to her having a son, and then we based that character on my brother at least in part. And the story developed from that." The debut episode comes after deaf actor Troy Kotsur's historic performance last month when he won the good Supporting Actor trophy for his work at CODA – the film that ultimately won the Oscar.
"I was an early CODA viewer and admired this film," said Stand. "There is a topic reflected here, which stems from sibling relationships. In addition, CODA has a tension between music and the deaf experience. I think it's good because the experience of the deaf is not just one story; there are so many stories to tell."
The Simpsons episode of "The Sound of Bleeding Gums" premieres on Sunday, March 10.