Popcorn With Peter Travers Season 10 Episode 33 Hank Azaria On the Inspiration for the Voices of His 'Simpsons' Characters

Hank Azaria, voice actor extraordinaire and Emmy winner, is Peter Travers' guest on this episode of Popcorn. Over the past three decades, Azaria has voiced an impressive range of characters on The Simpsons, including beloved fan favorites like Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. In this candid interview, Azaria shares the inspiration behind each of these iconic characters, revealing the personal experiences and creative processes that fueled his performances.

Travers begins the conversation by asking Azaria about his early career and how he first got involved with The Simpsons. Azaria recalls auditioning for the show's creators, Matt Groening and Sam Simon, and being invited to join the cast in 1989. He says he originally tried out for the role of Moe but was ultimately cast as a variety of characters due to his versatile voice. Azaria also shares that he initially had doubts about the show's longevity but credits the writing and the passionate fan base for its continued success.

The bulk of the episode explores Azaria's process for creating his Simpsons voices. He explains that his impersonations are often drawn from real-life encounters or impressions he's picked up from others. For example, he modeled Moe's voice after Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon and Chief Wiggum after a cop he once met who spoke in a nasally tone. Azaria also reveals that Apu's accent was inspired by a convenience store owner he encountered in Los Angeles who spoke with a thick Indian accent.

Travers and Azaria dive deeper into each character, discussing specific episodes and the challenges of voicing multiple roles in the same scene. Azaria shares that Moe is his favorite character to play because of his darker humor and tragic backstory. He also reveals that he originally voiced Apu for a single episode but was asked to continue the character due to its positive reception.

Towards the end of the interview, Travers and Azaria touch on the controversy surrounding Apu and allegations of racial stereotyping. Azaria acknowledges that the character can be problematic and that he wished he had handled the situation differently when it first arose. He also shares that he has stepped down from voicing Apu and that he hopes the character will be voiced by a South Asian performer moving forward.

Overall, this episode provides an in-depth look into the creative process behind some of The Simpsons' most beloved characters. Azaria's stories are funny, heartwarming, and occasionally reflective, offering a glimpse into the mind of a talented actor and comedian. Whether you're a die-hard Simpsons fan or simply interested in the art of voice acting, this episode of Popcorn is definitely worth watching.