Amy's Robot

What Thomas Pynchon Sounds Like

After much anticipation, Thomas Pynchon appeared on The Simpsons earlier tonight, with a paper bag over his animated head. The set-up: Marge writes a book and needs celebrity author endorsements of it. Pynchon gives her one, of sorts. Here's the mp3 and some screen captures:

• Thomas Pynchon (and Tom Clancy) on The Simpsons [726 kb, 45 secs]
• Screen captures of Pynchon on The Simpsons

He's speaking as he's standing in front of a house with a flashing sign reading "Thomas Pynchon's House -- Come On In." The paper bag has a question mark painted on the forehead. He says, "Here's your quote: Thomas Pynchon loved this book...almost as much as he loves cameras." As a car drives by he yells, "Hey, over here! Have your picture taken with a reclusive author! Today only, we'll throw in a free autograph! But wait! There's more!" The voice after his is Tom Clancy's.

ps. In case you were wondering, Pynchon says his own name "Pinch-On," not "Pinch-un." That settles that. Maybe John Le Carre will show up on The Simpsons next week, so we can solve that mystery, too.

categories: Books, TV
posted by adm at 11:22 PM | #