Simpsons

Appearance in an episode of the famous US cartoon series (15 November 2009)

Woody Allen is not the only one in America to have Carly Bruni-Sarkozy in his sights.  Two months after she and her husband paid a much-publicised visit to New York,  Matt Groening decided to give France’s First Lady a part in his cult series The Simpsons. In the episode The Devil wears Nada (a play on The Devil wears Prada) broadcast on November 15 2009,   Groening portrays his heroine with the sexy, rebellious allure of the quintessential French femme fatale. Wearing a dress not unlike the Hermès purple sheath she had on during Israeli president Simon Peres’ visit to the Elysée in March 2008  and with cigarette and glass of wine in hand, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy  approaches Carl Carlson – Homer Simpson’s new employer – during a soirée at the Ritz.   Carlson falls head over heels in love and follows her back to Paris. Once there Homer Simpson reveals Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s true identity, and after threatening to call her husband does so.  At the Elysée palace, Nicolas Sarkozy has a piece of Camembert on his desk and a gorgeous Bond girl at his side.  « Hello, you are getting cosy with Sarkozy, » he says as he picks up the phone.   Thus the Sarkozys have become part of the celebrated American cartoon series – the best ever according to Time magazine – alongside the likes of George Bush, Tony Blair, JFK, Mick Jagger and George Clooney.  Indeed apart from a brief appearance by General de Gaulle, they are first French public figures to be honoured with a role.  In 1998 Time described Bart Simpson as one of the most influential personalities on the planet.  By a reverse process, it seems the world’s genuinely most influential personalities are now also becoming cartoon characters !