In New ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Marge Becomes the Face of a Ghost Kitchen Union

Marge Simpsons admits to Lisa, after three beers after a grueling shift at the ghost kitchen/delivery app Gimme Chow, that her “belief in millionaires has been shaken a little bit.” In the latest episode of her simpsons, In “Living Wage Night”, Marge accepts a job that pays for an unexpected medical bill (for someone else’s “emotional support chicken”). There, she is exposed to dangerous working conditions in a desperate bid for minimum wage and is denied overtime pay, only to find out that the app’s founder, billionaire Finn Von Iddie, has given her more than anyone else in the company a lifetime offer. All I heard was people claiming that they had built their wealth because they worked hard. At that moment, she decides to form a union.

This is an excerpt from the headline. The gig economy ignores labor laws by classifying workers as “contractors.” to deny their interestsOr pile more jobs onto already taxed line cooks so their millionaire and billionaire owners can reap maximum profits while saying they’ve “destroyed” the industry. Terrence Doyle wrote in Eater in 2021 that “ghost kitchens put another barrier between customers and the people preparing the food, in this case a smartphone screen.” Ghost kitchens are kitchens that have historically endured exploitation in the form of low wages, long hours, and various forms of abuse. ”

But for whatever purpose, food service workers have been organizing in the face of poor working conditions. good salary or Guaranteed hourly rate. In “Night of the Living Wage,” Marge becomes the face of the union, while Homer, who has been relying on Gimme Chow for takeout dinners since Marge took the job, sides with the billionaire. temporarily. Because he is ignorant.

we talked simpsons About the author Cesar Mazariegos simpsonsHe shares his long history of tackling social issues, packed with background gags, and what he wants viewers to think about the next time they use DoorDash.

Eater: Why did you think ghost kitchens and the gig economy were good themes for the episode?

Cesar Mazariegos: My Favorites simpsons Episodes were always about something – whether it was about something or not. homophobiagun control, etc. in a really interesting and subversive way. [Showrunner Matt] Selman asks us: “What are you angry about?” What bothers you or what do you like? ” and try to find episodes in it.

What was irritating me was prop 22.it’s the worst these commercials They’re clearly lying to you and acting like, “Hey, we just want to make sure you can take an Uber without stressing about taxes.” When really all these companies are coming together to screw us over and prevent workers from forming unions.It was just infuriating to know that they would rather spend hundreds of millions of dollars Rather than paying people what they’re worth.

At the time, we were still on Zoom due to COVID-19, and we saw the rise of ghost kitchens and everyone ordering food. But all the articles are like, I thought a couple was buying pizza from a local store. It was Chuck E Cheese. It literally tricks you into thinking it must be a real place. It just degrades the workforce, the food, and even the customers. In many cases, the company is saying, “We don’t really care about you. We think you’re going to pay $68 for three hamburgers.” not so good”

That’s what inspired me to write this episode.after that [I looked] Back to another great episode.”Last exit to Springfield” [where Homer forms a union].It’s a home run that still resonates with me today, and it’s one of the funniest home runs ever. simpsons Episodes so far. I thought that must be a good thing. I’m sure it’ll be interesting. And since so many people are experiencing it right now, it should also be a little bit realistic.

Issues aside, this episode is chock-full of jokes and sight gags. Do you have a favorite?

There was a Chiron that we finished a few days ago that I suggested a while ago that said, “Do unions have a negative effect on gay sex?” There are so many little things here that I love.

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There are also scenes in the episode that are clearly homages. A really stressful takeout scene bear. This scene has my favorite gag. Marge brings it to a tub of mayonnaise that says “Mayoe Debilli.”What made her decide to introduce it? bear Any riffs on that?

bear It was right in the zeitgeist.This amazing show and that scene, I thought it was one shot thing Until after the fact. Usually when you see a one-shot scene in a live-action drama, there is an action scene. But I think so many people can relate to doing that in this stressful job.

we were talking with [episode director] Chris Clements told the sound designer that he wanted the sound to sound like kitchen noises, panic, and a musician hitting a ticking clock on a hi-hat. The team that created the animation is amazing. They’re all IATSEs, contracts are coming up, and of course they’re not going to stay low. Studios need to realize that everyone else still supports each other.

When it comes to the gig economy, ghost kitchens, and Prop 22, are there any things you wanted to incorporate that ultimately didn’t work out or didn’t come to fruition?

Honestly, my cup is a little overflowing. We could attack the Jim Cramers of the world. You can follow this Amazon union busting video, which is trueand get our little reference material bear, and peck at the technology douche. I understand that it is a 20 and a half minute program. You can’t understand everything. I really wanted an ending for the union team, but I felt it was more important for Marge and Homer to repair their relationship. Instead, they put in some random, unexplained narration while food falls from the sky. I think viewers will find it interesting and that’s good enough.

We obviously have to fast-forward because there are a lot of things that are very complicated, like the formation of unions and the NLRB and the idea of ​​bringing back cards and votes. But overall I’m really happy with the result.

your average simpsons Your audience has probably used a third-party food delivery service. After watching this episode, do you wish they would go back?

I think it’s just solidarity. One of the things I really took away from this summer’s writers’ strike was how the teachers’ unions work with us, how hotel workers work with us, and we work together. The UPS guys didn’t cross our house. picket line. Some people even brought donuts. My father was a Teamster, but he never had to go on strike, so I didn’t really know what that was when I was a kid. But growing up and seeing how everyone could come together like this was something completely different.

This is a raw deal for this driver, so just the idea is to be more conscious and chip a little better. Or why not make sure this is an actual mom-and-pop place that needs my money? It’s so easy to pick up your phone and order anything. But sometimes it comes at the cost of human unhappiness. It’s just the awareness that we can stand up for each other, fight for each other, and back each other up.