Honestly I miss that Bart and Otto used to be buddies. Bart used to lookup to Otto as a adult role model but now these modern Simpsons episodes they aren't even friends anymore.
@Earth Eh, it just seems to be since the show doesn’t really have too many uses for Otto anymore, especially since Harry Shearer doesn’t like voicing him.
Because Otto was a product/representation of Gen Xers. They used to be viewed as the lazy, drug taking, sponges that made their parents look bad. The cool kids that children would look up to. Now it is the millenials turn to be unfairly stereotyped.
I agree wholeheartedly that I hate the Flanderization of Otto as a drug addict. I see him as a pothead/alcoholic sure, stuff that makes him a burnout. Just not that hard stuff. Save that for Cletus and his apparent meth habit that he shares with his kids. But what I REALLY hated was that scene where he spanks Bart. Not just on Otto's part being wildly out of character, but Bart's actions that lead to it. It's a betrayal of the dynamic. Bart looks up to Otto for being the cool adult, Otto relishes being looked up to by a kid because so many look down upon him. In short, they're friends if not right out kindred spirits. Bart sees his future self in Otto (not so much the job part), Otto sees his childhood in Bart. For Bart to turn on Otto and for Otto to retaliate so they can make another "the teacher's union is broken" joke, it's just character killing.
@Roderick storey by 90s standards he was a loser but today even having a crap job is seen as fortunate. The idea today that you could live in a two story 4 bedroom hoise on a single salary is pretty much impossible today.
I think he has done that hard stuff, maybe still does do it on rare occasions, but in the earlier Simpson's episodes he struck me as the kind of guy to tell you "Yeah don't ever do that shit man, I had a really bad trip on it once and woke up covered in blood." and you'd have trouble telling whether he was serious or not. Either way, he scared you out of doing something you'd regret.
It's something that worked better as subtext. We know he's a stoner, probably did some hard stuff he got at a concert, he's also supposedly an alcoholic. He's someone who's life never came together and has done some hard living to end up in his position, yet he's not the least bit bitter about it. I see him as someone who's directionless but doesn't care to find one. Then, the Simpsons writers being the Simpsons writers said "naw" and just threw all these drug jokes on him and now it's all he's about. Barely even about Rock Music anymore. I really wish the writers would give him another spotlight episode or major role somehow.
I think his big brother relationship with Bart completely vanished because of how much his (and Lisa's) portrayals changes over the years. They used to be treated as actual children and it made sense that a child like Bart would think Otto is cool as he's basically a tall child with a driver's license, but in the newer season the kids have practically become teenagers in their attitudes and interests because they realized that's their demographic or something. Nothing cool about someone like Otto when you're that much older.
I've never really thought much about Otto before this video, but he was a fun character to do research for. He seems like one of the very few people in Springfield who is actually happy most of the time, actually seems to enjoy the life he lives. His enthusiasm and his refusal to pass judgment on stuff is pretty endearing. He reminds me of some people I used to hang out with in high school sometimes.
I agree. I think it's kinda weird that the writers made him such a target for their attacks. I always thought that the Simpsons was about nonconformity and the victory of passion and enthusiasm over apathetic cynicism. Cynical characters aren't generally the ones who prosper. And people like Skinner, who blindly conform to other people's ideas of what they should be, are also often targeted. I think they should have portrayed him a bit better. If Otto is happy with his own life, whose to say it's a bad life? Seems to be a bit too "punching down" for the Simpsons.
With regard to the voice: Harry Shearer has said he hates doing the Otto voice and it really hurts him. So I bet that factors into it (and maybe his more limited screentime).
The best Otto moment for me was his storytelling. Otto: "She thought that she was safe, but what she didn't know was that there was a maniac behind her in the car" Lisa: "Was she killed?" Otto: "Nah she was fine in the end, do you want to know how I know that?" Lisa: "How do you know?" Otto: "Because I was the maniac." Lisa: "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Otto is probably the best example of Flanderization in the Simpsons. He started as a chill laid back dude who was implied to be stoned all the time then became a DUDE WEED HE'S HIGH GET IT????????? reference later on as the show got worse
i wouldnt go that far, otto has always kinda been a little shallow as a character. not that its a bad thing but since day one he's been the energetic stoner who's chill with everything, they just hammered it in harder instead of adding onto him.
I disagree. Otto was already a somewhat secondary character, so flanderizing him ism't that big of a deal. And if he were to get an episode dedicated to himself, chances are he'd probably atleast regain some of his original character. Compare that to Ned. He's a minor protagonist which, unlike Otto, lost ALL of his personality to flanderization. Even in Flander-centric episodes he still is a religious wreck. Otto may have been turned into a joke, but atleast he wasn't killed like OG Ned was.
Otto is the sort of character that you're iffy on at first, but they handle him in such a likeable way that he becomes more like that friend you want to see do well, but they have a different definition of "success" than you do. So you just chill with him. So long as he's having a good time, you are too. His mellowness is infectious. And thats not a bad thing.
Back in about 2003 I was driving the band Blues Traveler in a shuttle van. They asked me my name, I replied "Otto." They, in turn, all said in unison, "My name is Otto, I love to get Blotto!" That was pretty damn awesome.
@@FrancisR420 I doubt this was his mother. It was probably the new wife of his dad. His mom and dad probably got divorced shortly after Otto's birth and his mom raised him by herself probably. Look at it. Otto's biological mother looks a lot more like him.
Seamonkey Beats, the episode is called ‘Walking Big and Tall’, 13th episode of Season 26. The rest of the story after the anthem point isn’t the greatest, but the opening is quite fun.
@lookoutforchris, what color could they use? Like the show did color shifts for Dr. Nick or in the Mr. Sparkle episode but Carl's still black and Apu's still Indian. So, what color could they use?
The episode I think does otto the best and shows off what I love best about his character is actually A Streetcar named marge. I love how he fails the audition for the male lead because of his extreme chest tattoo commenting: "you should see the one on my butt". Classic otto joke there but then we get his iconic: "My name is Ot-to I'm playing Pab-lo" line AND he even gets a hilarious moment at the end of the episode where he is now in the audience after being kicked out of the show and the director says: "You people out there are the real stars" And it cuts to otto: "cool!". Just this sort of mellow enthusiasm for life and in a weird way how things sort of just work out for him against all odds cracks me up. The audience moment here especially I think is a really funny otto moment since he still comes out feeling like a winner.
I also appreciate how Otto still uses those 80's headphones and a tape deck, even though modern technology is used throughout the show. No rounded-at-all-edges Bluetooth headphones and a smartphone for him. edit: Otto, not Carl, derp
i wish they had explored ottos art skills more. hes obviously pretty good at drawing, between "busman" in three men and a comic book and his ed roth-style sketch in old money.
I definitely agree that the show dumps on Otto a bit too much, but my point of view on the situation is also significantly biased, considering that I'm also a burnout loser who likes heavy metal. Regardless, great video as always. I'd love to see an episode about Lenny, and his weirdly expansive portfolio of achievements and accolades.
I think Otto is meant to be a stereotype Generation X person who doesn't care how society views him. They got the reputation of being slackers but are generally more happy with their life when reaching their midlife years.
Yeah, they kinda forgot about Otto in the later seasons. How about a Histories segment on Lenny and Carl? Dr. Hibbert would also be an interesting choice to make a video about.
Otto has always been a favorite secondary character of mine, mainly because I’m a metalhead. Given how much the metal community loves Metalocalypse, giving Otto some more depth could have drawn in more viewers of the rock/metal demographic
I would be down for a Lenny and Carl episode. Great vid, BTW. While I like Otto, I don't think I've ever sat down and mulled over his appearances before
@@fenhen ye, not to be a bummer but I think a lot of people DO know which is which. In any case, these two characters are well overdue a spotlight on this channel.
For some reason, I really like that Otto is okay with being called a bum and will readily admit that as a failing of his, but to hear that he's thought of as a sponge is what infuriates him and gets him motivated. Maybe there's some form of honour and pride that Otto keeps in that he at least won't settle for mooching off other people and be a drain on them. Maybe he prides that while he didn't have the most luxurious lifestyle (after all, he was surprised he actually had mustard in his apartment when he was evicted, and he admits that windows put the Simpsons' house out of his price range), it's at least a lifestyle he sustained on his own, without having to be a burden on people. He may be just a loser bum bus driver man, but dammit, he's at least an independent, self-supporting loser bum bus driver man.
There is also something genuinely sweet about how good he can be with the kids (the occasional bus crashing, death-defying-gorge-jump-encouraging and bloodcurdling-scream-worthy scary story telling aside, anyway...), with how Bart clearly looks up to Otto as a cool older friend, maybe even a big brother, and while Otto is clearly not the best role model, you can't deny that he evidently enjoys their company as well. Certainly, he at least appreciates Bart's company, and likes to indulge the little guy that looks up to him so.
My favorite otto scene was the treehouse of horror scene where he runs moleman off the road, and i think Carl and Lenny would be a great Simpsons Histories episode
Yeah didn’t he do it because Bart thought there was a gremlin on the side of the bus and tells Otto to get it off and Hans Moleman is driving a Gremlin and seemingly out of perhaps hate for the car just side swipes Moleman.
You forgot his never spoken of super strength, at one point he punches cracks into the side of a building without even seemingly harming himself and then effortlessly knocks out a character played by a heavyweight champion boxer with one lackadaisical punch.
Otto's age leaving him out of place makes a surprisingly compelling argument that Oakley and Weinstein should have tried to steal him for Mission Hill...
My favorite Otto moment is in the season two episode “Bart Gets an F.” I feel like Otto works best when he’s giving Bart advice/making Bart feel better.
Gurasola this is the history of background character number:253 We only see 253 is 1 episode in season 1, Lisa and her magical vegan fun Lisa episode. He is seen is the 4 second scene where Lisa says “is that a potato?” That’s the history of 253
Considering how prominent a character he is and how you mentioned him at the beginning, I'm genuinely surprised you haven't done a Histories episode on Moe yet. He's one of the most developed characters IMO.
I love Otto. I think his character has developed. About as much as people like him in real life develop. And I don't agree that he is portrayed as a loser. I see him as a sort of Taoist, who rolls with all the punches. Nothing gets him down. He is a stoic. He doesn't change, because he doesn't need to. "Oh...the Admiral and I don't get along."
I think Otto could've pulled in more of a stoner crowd for the show. He's very relatable in how mellow and music-loving he is, and anyone who's not a child totally knows what's up, which makes you feel let in on a secret. The Stoner's Pot Palace gag is something I can laugh at as an adult because I know it went over my head as a kid.
I kinda wanna see a history of Professor Fink. He's this character who has been around for a long time, but they always keep him at arms reach, as he's the type who could've easily broken the down-to-earth nature of the series, and yet despite that, he's responsible for numerous classic moments.
In an episode Bart says to Otto "you can't run away" and Otto replies "that's what the army said". So maybe he tried following in his father's footsteps and turned to drugs after experiencing some PTSD or just not being able to hack it.
Otto was a hilarious character in the early seasons. I loved his easy-going attitude, positive outlook and adoration for rock 'n roll music. But while I think he's funny in the episode Weekend At Burnsie's itself, it's definitely the point on from where they start using him only for unsubtle drug jokes. Instead of now being this cool and friendly bus driver, he became nothing more than a one-note stoner stereotype. You don't even see him be friends with Bart anymore, hence that terrible moment where he starts spanking him for no reason. I think it would be cool to see you tackle Dolph next, given that he seems to be the least established of the typical bully gang.
I like to imagine that Otto wearing a top hat in the wedding is a reference to Slash in November Rain. Those two always felt extremely similar to me lol
I just love him saying that one line to Ralph in the Space Coyote episode as Homer runs off into the distance screaming. "Let him go, Ralph. He KNOWS what he's doing." It implies that Otto is the only one aware of Homer's need for a spiritual journey and the only one who has been there himself. But as a child I also thought this was funny for a different reason, because I saw the episode long before I was really aware of any aspects of psychedelia culture. Because it was so clear that Homer did NOT, in fact, know what he was doing. So it works on multiple levels.
otto is in the background as he is a background character/ a bus driver/ a happy-go-luck-stoner/ unsung hero/idiot. his voice alone is hilarious enough to merit his constant role
Otto is like the Black guy of Springfield. He works a monotonous day job that is often looked down upon in the middle and upper class of American society. He has potential and could be doing much more with his life under better circumstances. The children love and look up to him, but most importantly they TRUST him. He is the underdog of their society and does more in the hearts of the children than any other citizen of Springfield. Otto is the antihero, the underdog, an overlooked lovable loser who has probably never had someone to look after him, i.e. a healthy relationship with a parent or guardian. Otto is the forgotten hero of Springfield, he is the divider between chaos and order in the lives of the children. There is Treehouse of Horror episode where Bart sees a gremlin on the side of the bus. Bart tells Otto and swerves to hit an actual Gremlin, an old car model, and Bart is left fighting it on his own. This was one of the few episodes were Otto was not able to support Bart and it was actually scary for me to watch, realizing that there will not always be an Otto looking out for us. Sometimes we are on our own and we should apprediate those who go along with us for a time.
I had never noticed that Otto is not used much in comparison to other characters, but as you mention, you are right, the character does not need more than he already has. For an upcoming Histories, I would recommend Barney, there was a time when he was a fairly recurrent character, it was even said that he was Homer's best friend, but now he is lucky to have dialogues.
You used my favorite Otto line at the end. My second favorite is early Otto when Bart asks him to crash the bus and he says something like, "I cant do it on purpose, but maybe you'll get lucky." Best stoner Otto line has to be "They call them fingers, but I never see 'em fing! Oh, there the go."
Part of me wishes we saw more of Otto because I like Bart having someone he can bounce ideas off of like you said. Sure, he can do that with Milhouse but Milhouse will sometimes be against the idea whereas Otto will encourage Bart. I could see him being used to move a plot along a bit from act 1 to act 2 and maybe showing up again for a quick line in act 3. There isn't a ton the writers can do with him, but there's more than what they're currently doing.
I could definitely sit though a Lindsay Neagle history. She's such an odd character if only in how she's assumed at least three identities over the course of the show, before her current character was established.
His basic function was just driving the bus so I can see how he never becomes that much bigger as without the school being a main point of the episode he wouldn't be in it.
Please make a history video of comic book guy. He is my all time favorite character. I love his appearances and all of the jokes they make about pop culture nerds like myself.
Otto has always been one of my favorite side characters. I always loved the little stoner jokes he got and he is always the most chilled and laid back adult there is on the show. and I must say to be 100% honest one of my all time favorite Otto moments has to be the Simpsons Movie when he is hitting the bong and has not Idea whats going on. Loved this Simpsons Histories great character to do one on
My favorite Otto scene would be either him beating a concrete wall after being called a "sponge" or him finally getting that lobster harmonica. Are those things a "sponge" could do?
![[ไฮไลต์] แบดมินตันชาย วิว กุลวุฒิ(ไทย) vs Kenta Nishimoto(ญี่ปุ่น) รอบ 16 คน | โอลิมปิก 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kaQRLljJkSI/mqdefault.jpg)
Honestly I miss that Bart and Otto used to be buddies. Bart used to lookup to Otto as a adult role model but now these modern Simpsons episodes they aren't even friends anymore.
@Earth
Eh, it just seems to be since the show doesn’t really have too many uses for Otto anymore, especially since Harry Shearer doesn’t like voicing him.
Because Otto was a product/representation of Gen Xers. They used to be viewed as the lazy, drug taking, sponges that made their parents look bad. The cool kids that children would look up to.
Now it is the millenials turn to be unfairly stereotyped.
@Earth projecting much? You’re sus af
@Earth Lie to yourself all you want. You know what you are and you know it’s wrong
@Earth Adult role models are kind of sus, what are you hiding eh?
"wow windows, I don't think I can afford this place"
Welcome to San Francisco/New York/Vancouver/Melbourne real estate.
@@Belgand That is true!
My Minecraft house no windows
Renegades Electricscooby My Minecraft Fight Club no windows
"I had mustard?!"
"But what about my suff?"
"All I found were a jar of mustard and some magazines."
"Wow. I had mustard?"
Yes! I have been dropping that line for 20 years!
I agree wholeheartedly that I hate the Flanderization of Otto as a drug addict. I see him as a pothead/alcoholic sure, stuff that makes him a burnout. Just not that hard stuff. Save that for Cletus and his apparent meth habit that he shares with his kids. But what I REALLY hated was that scene where he spanks Bart. Not just on Otto's part being wildly out of character, but Bart's actions that lead to it. It's a betrayal of the dynamic. Bart looks up to Otto for being the cool adult, Otto relishes being looked up to by a kid because so many look down upon him. In short, they're friends if not right out kindred spirits. Bart sees his future self in Otto (not so much the job part), Otto sees his childhood in Bart. For Bart to turn on Otto and for Otto to retaliate so they can make another "the teacher's union is broken" joke, it's just character killing.
Modern Simpsons makes big sacrifices for jokes that aren’t even funny.
You could do an episode were Bart realises Otto is a looser and a failure.
@Roderick storey by 90s standards he was a loser but today even having a crap job is seen as fortunate. The idea today that you could live in a two story 4 bedroom hoise on a single salary is pretty much impossible today.
I think he has done that hard stuff, maybe still does do it on rare occasions, but in the earlier Simpson's episodes he struck me as the kind of guy to tell you "Yeah don't ever do that shit man, I had a really bad trip on it once and woke up covered in blood." and you'd have trouble telling whether he was serious or not. Either way, he scared you out of doing something you'd regret.
It's something that worked better as subtext. We know he's a stoner, probably did some hard stuff he got at a concert, he's also supposedly an alcoholic. He's someone who's life never came together and has done some hard living to end up in his position, yet he's not the least bit bitter about it. I see him as someone who's directionless but doesn't care to find one. Then, the Simpsons writers being the Simpsons writers said "naw" and just threw all these drug jokes on him and now it's all he's about. Barely even about Rock Music anymore. I really wish the writers would give him another spotlight episode or major role somehow.
"Alcohol increases your ability to drive... FALSE?! Aw, Man."
TRUE*
"Sponge!!!?"
"...I guess Otto is good with needles"
Oh my.
WoodzTheWall I laughed out loud at that
And not just with blood collecting!!! 💉
Drugs and needles go we I suppose
Just drink the heroin
WoodzTheWall this made me snicker so badly
I think his big brother relationship with Bart completely vanished because of how much his (and Lisa's) portrayals changes over the years. They used to be treated as actual children and it made sense that a child like Bart would think Otto is cool as he's basically a tall child with a driver's license, but in the newer season the kids have practically become teenagers in their attitudes and interests because they realized that's their demographic or something. Nothing cool about someone like Otto when you're that much older.
Yeah, good point I hadn't considered. That childish mystique doesn't make sense anymore if Bart is acting like a middle schooler
I've never really thought much about Otto before this video, but he was a fun character to do research for. He seems like one of the very few people in Springfield who is actually happy most of the time, actually seems to enjoy the life he lives. His enthusiasm and his refusal to pass judgment on stuff is pretty endearing. He reminds me of some people I used to hang out with in high school sometimes.
How do you move and flip those images just like that?
TheRealJims would love to see one on maggie or mona Simpson
I agree. I think it's kinda weird that the writers made him such a target for their attacks. I always thought that the Simpsons was about nonconformity and the victory of passion and enthusiasm over apathetic cynicism. Cynical characters aren't generally the ones who prosper. And people like Skinner, who blindly conform to other people's ideas of what they should be, are also often targeted. I think they should have portrayed him a bit better. If Otto is happy with his own life, whose to say it's a bad life? Seems to be a bit too "punching down" for the Simpsons.
@@lynnblaircurrens9097 There's a Mona Simpson? Probably Lisa's lost twin sister because it's a reference to Da Vinci's painting.
A Random Internet User yeah homers mother
With regard to the voice: Harry Shearer has said he hates doing the Otto voice and it really hurts him. So I bet that factors into it (and maybe his more limited screentime).
Personally I'm disappointed that they never show Otto with the lobster harmonica outside of when he finally gets his hands on it.
Whatever I got a hold of it's big.
I wonder if he has a lobster bong
With his Ramones hair I always felt like Otto was a fixture of the 80's that stuck with the Simpsons, especially as the show went on and got older
Yeah hes very gen x
I ways thought it was meant to look like Slash.
The best Otto moment for me was his storytelling.
Otto: "She thought that she was safe, but what she didn't know was that there was a maniac behind her in the car"
Lisa: "Was she killed?"
Otto: "Nah she was fine in the end, do you want to know how I know that?"
Lisa: "How do you know?"
Otto: "Because I was the maniac."
Lisa: "AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Otto: “just kidding”
Ya know they call em fingers, but you never see em fing
HDD and TheRealJims? What is this a crossover episode?
Oh there they go
I’d love to see a Simpsons history on Groundskeeper Willie.
Yea, thought the same thing as soon as he mentioned his name
Within like an hour we got 4 people wanting it, lets see it!!
I just want to know which part of fucking Scotland he's meant to be from since he's claimed to have been from everywhere
nicnevin north kilttown, duh
You want to bully minorities then bully Willy!
Otto is probably the best example of Flanderization in the Simpsons. He started as a chill laid back dude who was implied to be stoned all the time then became a DUDE WEED HE'S HIGH GET IT????????? reference later on as the show got worse
i wouldnt go that far, otto has always kinda been a little shallow as a character. not that its a bad thing but since day one he's been the energetic stoner who's chill with everything, they just hammered it in harder instead of adding onto him.
D even more than flanders himself?
I disagree. Otto was already a somewhat secondary character, so flanderizing him ism't that big of a deal. And if he were to get an episode dedicated to himself, chances are he'd probably atleast regain some of his original character.
Compare that to Ned. He's a minor protagonist which, unlike Otto, lost ALL of his personality to flanderization. Even in Flander-centric episodes he still is a religious wreck. Otto may have been turned into a joke, but atleast he wasn't killed like OG Ned was.
@@tragedyplustime8271 I mean there's a reason he's the namesake of flanderization lol.
Crude Carl flander-ization
Otto Mann: the coolest bus driver in the world.
What a strange channel to be watching therealjims. Too strange
@@bearcatben4762 You’re right. Totally random
Lol @@bearcatben4762
My favorite otto quote "i dont need drugs to enjoy this, just to enhance it."
4:37
"It's just *baked* into his character"
pun intended?
2:45 "I guess Otto is good with needles."
3:48 "There's just kind of a haze around him."
“They call them fingers but they never fing...oh there they go” Otto
Otto is the sort of character that you're iffy on at first, but they handle him in such a likeable way that he becomes more like that friend you want to see do well, but they have a different definition of "success" than you do. So you just chill with him. So long as he's having a good time, you are too. His mellowness is infectious. And thats not a bad thing.
Back in about 2003 I was driving the band Blues Traveler in a shuttle van. They asked me my name, I replied "Otto."
They, in turn, all said in unison, "My name is Otto, I love to get Blotto!"
That was pretty damn awesome.
Nice
It's a cute little detail to see Otto growing up next to his mom, in the church scenes. A sweet little moment they snug in. (9:50)
That sequence is always so fun to revisit for these videos. Love seeing the young versions singing with their parents and stuff, it's super charming
Did you guys know this the mom was different than the mom who shows up to his wedding
@@FrancisR420 I doubt this was his mother. It was probably the new wife of his dad. His mom and dad probably got divorced shortly after Otto's birth and his mom raised him by herself probably. Look at it. Otto's biological mother looks a lot more like him.
what episode is that ?
Seamonkey Beats, the episode is called ‘Walking Big and Tall’, 13th episode of Season 26. The rest of the story after the anthem point isn’t the greatest, but the opening is quite fun.
Aw man, please do Lewis! There HAS to be more to him than just “Bart’s black friend.” ... Right?
Lucky he had that part
Milhouse: White
Lewis: Black
Strange how white peoples are yellow and black people are still black.
@@lookoutforchris Any other color they could’ve used would’ve been kind of offensive.
@lookoutforchris, what color could they use? Like the show did color shifts for Dr. Nick or in the Mr. Sparkle episode but Carl's still black and Apu's still Indian. So, what color could they use?
The episode I think does otto the best and shows off what I love best about his character is actually A Streetcar named marge. I love how he fails the audition for the male lead because of his extreme chest tattoo commenting: "you should see the one on my butt". Classic otto joke there but then we get his iconic: "My name is Ot-to I'm playing Pab-lo" line AND he even gets a hilarious moment at the end of the episode where he is now in the audience after being kicked out of the show and the director says: "You people out there are the real stars" And it cuts to otto: "cool!". Just this sort of mellow enthusiasm for life and in a weird way how things sort of just work out for him against all odds cracks me up. The audience moment here especially I think is a really funny otto moment since he still comes out feeling like a winner.
I also appreciate how Otto still uses those 80's headphones and a tape deck, even though modern technology is used throughout the show. No rounded-at-all-edges Bluetooth headphones and a smartphone for him.
edit: Otto, not Carl, derp
Makes me wonder if Otto's really just an especially avant-garde hipster.
@@Anthropomorphic How dare you. Hipsters emulate Otto, not the other way around ;)
Otto isn't a hipster. Otto is actually cool.
@@TheRealJims proto-hipster? Lol
But it fits. A lot of old school metalheads still listen to music in physical versions. Even Tapes are still common in the metal scene
I remember the first time I saw Otto, it was on season 1. Not knowing anyone between my age (7) and my dad's (35), I assumed Otto was like 17.
i wish they had explored ottos art skills more. hes obviously pretty good at drawing, between "busman" in three men and a comic book and his ed roth-style sketch in old money.
Otto is one of my favourite side characters.
Hail to the bus driver
bus driver
bus driver
Hail to the bus driver
Bus driver man!
"He drinks and he cusses
He stinks up the buses."
Yes, Hail to the Bus Driver.
Bus Driver, man.
Hail to th- SHUT UP
Yesss.... Haillll to the bus driver... Bus Driver Man..."
I definitely agree that the show dumps on Otto a bit too much, but my point of view on the situation is also significantly biased, considering that I'm also a burnout loser who likes heavy metal. Regardless, great video as always. I'd love to see an episode about Lenny, and his weirdly expansive portfolio of achievements and accolades.
It's not just accolades it's also Crime, punishments, transgressions and shames
I think Otto is meant to be a stereotype Generation X person who doesn't care how society views him. They got the reputation of being slackers but are generally more happy with their life when reaching their midlife years.
Yeah, they kinda forgot about Otto in the later seasons.
How about a Histories segment on Lenny and Carl? Dr. Hibbert would also be an interesting choice to make a video about.
@whatever 111 Me too!
Hibbert would be good. He seems like a one-note character so I'd like to see if there's more to him
I second Dr. Hibbert
@whatever 111 newest episode has him as a major player
lenny= white
carl = black
Otto has always been a favorite secondary character of mine, mainly because I’m a metalhead. Given how much the metal community loves Metalocalypse, giving Otto some more depth could have drawn in more viewers of the rock/metal demographic
Otto should have made a cameo in Metalocalypse
I'd gladly smoke a bowl and chill to some Metallica records with Otto.
Otto doesn’t have much but he has what makes him happy. He’s got his pot,his tunes,and a good amount of talent. Man doesn’t need much
I would be down for a Lenny and Carl episode.
Great vid, BTW. While I like Otto, I don't think I've ever sat down and mulled over his appearances before
Nobody knows which one is which.
@@fenhen Lenny=White
Carl=Black
@@fenhen ye, not to be a bummer but I think a lot of people DO know which is which. In any case, these two characters are well overdue a spotlight on this channel.
Matt Lipton same here
Lenny & Carl episode.
For some reason, I really like that Otto is okay with being called a bum and will readily admit that as a failing of his, but to hear that he's thought of as a sponge is what infuriates him and gets him motivated. Maybe there's some form of honour and pride that Otto keeps in that he at least won't settle for mooching off other people and be a drain on them. Maybe he prides that while he didn't have the most luxurious lifestyle (after all, he was surprised he actually had mustard in his apartment when he was evicted, and he admits that windows put the Simpsons' house out of his price range), it's at least a lifestyle he sustained on his own, without having to be a burden on people. He may be just a loser bum bus driver man, but dammit, he's at least an independent, self-supporting loser bum bus driver man.
There is also something genuinely sweet about how good he can be with the kids (the occasional bus crashing, death-defying-gorge-jump-encouraging and bloodcurdling-scream-worthy scary story telling aside, anyway...), with how Bart clearly looks up to Otto as a cool older friend, maybe even a big brother, and while Otto is clearly not the best role model, you can't deny that he evidently enjoys their company as well. Certainly, he at least appreciates Bart's company, and likes to indulge the little guy that looks up to him so.
My favorite otto scene was the treehouse of horror scene where he runs moleman off the road, and i think Carl and Lenny would be a great Simpsons Histories episode
I did research :
Lenny=White
Carl= black
Carl is Norwegian.
The end.
Yeah didn’t he do it because Bart thought there was a gremlin on the side of the bus and tells Otto to get it off and Hans Moleman is driving a Gremlin and seemingly out of perhaps hate for the car just side swipes Moleman.
I like when Otto is telling Lisa a horror story before bed
You forgot his never spoken of super strength, at one point he punches cracks into the side of a building without even seemingly harming himself and then effortlessly knocks out a character played by a heavyweight champion boxer with one lackadaisical punch.
What character next?
Not Lenny!
Oh wait, yes Lenny.
I think he would cover Lenny and Carl together like he did with Rod and Todd
It'll probably be the same with Patty and Selma Bouvier too. 🚭
How about Mindy or Herb Powell?
Ḉąp̃tǻĭñ Ẽnçhilâdă Not Lenny
Otto's age leaving him out of place makes a surprisingly compelling argument that Oakley and Weinstein should have tried to steal him for Mission Hill...
I feel like Goat (from MTV's Downtown and Megas) XLR kinda did that even though he's based on someone.
"Sit down. Sit down! You're ruining it for everyone!"
My favorite Otto moment is in the season two episode “Bart Gets an F.” I feel like Otto works best when he’s giving Bart advice/making Bart feel better.
Otto is also incredibly strong, knocking out a heavyweight in one punch without even trying and putting cracks in a concrete wall
maybe he’s got some form of crackhead strength going on …
How about a history of all of the hideous blob people from the backgrounds in Season 1?
Gurasola this is the history of background character number:253
We only see 253 is 1 episode in season 1, Lisa and her magical vegan fun Lisa episode. He is seen is the 4 second scene where Lisa says “is that a potato?”
That’s the history of 253
nuclear waste disaster
I take comfort that in the end it worked out well for him. He (by now) has the cab company, as seen in s6 e19 "Lisa's Wedding"
i feel like otto could easily be one of those characters who semi-regularly does outrageously incredible hero things, even if its half by accident
Considering how prominent a character he is and how you mentioned him at the beginning, I'm genuinely surprised you haven't done a Histories episode on Moe yet. He's one of the most developed characters IMO.
i liked otto’s characterization as barts mentor. it makes sense bart would look up to this guy, made him more plot relevant
I love Otto. I think his character has developed. About as much as people like him in real life develop. And I don't agree that he is portrayed as a loser. I see him as a sort of Taoist, who rolls with all the punches. Nothing gets him down. He is a stoic. He doesn't change, because he doesn't need to. "Oh...the Admiral and I don't get along."
You know how I know?
Because....... I WAS THAT MANIAC!!!!
I think Otto could've pulled in more of a stoner crowd for the show. He's very relatable in how mellow and music-loving he is, and anyone who's not a child totally knows what's up, which makes you feel let in on a secret. The Stoner's Pot Palace gag is something I can laugh at as an adult because I know it went over my head as a kid.
I kinda wanna see a history of Professor Fink. He's this character who has been around for a long time, but they always keep him at arms reach, as he's the type who could've easily broken the down-to-earth nature of the series, and yet despite that, he's responsible for numerous classic moments.
Other characters stealing parts of what makes his character work.
Oh God, they're Herman-ing him.
Poor Otto.
Do Kent brockman and his rarely appearing daughter!
aka Kenny Brockelstein.
Fritz, you idiot, I didn’t order a bologna sandwich. I ordered an Abalone sandwich!
@@gokinsmen oy vey
In an episode Bart says to Otto "you can't run away" and Otto replies "that's what the army said". So maybe he tried following in his father's footsteps and turned to drugs after experiencing some PTSD or just not being able to hack it.
simpsons histories: the teenager who does every minimum wage job
Jeremy Freedman is his name according to Google
Otto shouting "Zeppelin rule!" as he's swept out to sea is one of my favourite Simpsons moments 😆
Otto was a hilarious character in the early seasons. I loved his easy-going attitude, positive outlook and adoration for rock 'n roll music. But while I think he's funny in the episode Weekend At Burnsie's itself, it's definitely the point on from where they start using him only for unsubtle drug jokes. Instead of now being this cool and friendly bus driver, he became nothing more than a one-note stoner stereotype. You don't even see him be friends with Bart anymore, hence that terrible moment where he starts spanking him for no reason.
I think it would be cool to see you tackle Dolph next, given that he seems to be the least established of the typical bully gang.
A school episode with Otto and Willie could’ve been really good I think
i always got the feeling they became kinda like work friends. kinda sad there was nothing they did with it
"I feel he's more fun when it's just baked into his character*
Hehe, baked!
Ruby West Ay! I saw that too!😎😎😎
Wow!! I had mustard?
If bart stopped me from hanging with metallica he would have to worry about more than just a spanking
"Baked into his character"...that is champion-level dry punnery. Well done, Sir. A+ channel!
This episode makes me realise that if someone asked me to draw Otto, I would have no idea how to do that without reference.
I like to imagine that Otto wearing a top hat in the wedding is a reference to Slash in November Rain. Those two always felt extremely similar to me lol
I just love him saying that one line to Ralph in the Space Coyote episode as Homer runs off into the distance screaming.
"Let him go, Ralph. He KNOWS what he's doing."
It implies that Otto is the only one aware of Homer's need for a spiritual journey and the only one who has been there himself.
But as a child I also thought this was funny for a different reason, because I saw the episode long before I was really aware of any aspects of psychedelia culture.
Because it was so clear that Homer did NOT, in fact, know what he was doing.
So it works on multiple levels.
otto is in the background as he is a background character/ a bus driver/ a happy-go-luck-stoner/ unsung hero/idiot. his voice alone is hilarious enough to merit his constant role
We all need a relaxed friend like Otto.
"Otto, here's the 'credit card' and a mint for afterwards"
A stoned friend?
His name is Otto, he loves to get blotto!
I love this channel; it’s like listening to Tina Belcher talk about The Simpsons!
I'm probably in the minority with this, but "The Otto Show" is one of my top 5 favorite Simpsons episodes of all time.
"Damn, shouldn't have ate the mint first."
"I don't care, this is not Happy Days and he is not The Fonz!"
"Heeey! Mr S!"
Otto is like the Black guy of Springfield. He works a monotonous day job that is often looked down upon in the middle and upper class of American society. He has potential and could be doing much more with his life under better circumstances. The children love and look up to him, but most importantly they TRUST him. He is the underdog of their society and does more in the hearts of the children than any other citizen of Springfield. Otto is the antihero, the underdog, an overlooked lovable loser who has probably never had someone to look after him, i.e. a healthy relationship with a parent or guardian. Otto is the forgotten hero of Springfield, he is the divider between chaos and order in the lives of the children. There is Treehouse of Horror episode where Bart sees a gremlin on the side of the bus. Bart tells Otto and swerves to hit an actual Gremlin, an old car model, and Bart is left fighting it on his own. This was one of the few episodes were Otto was not able to support Bart and it was actually scary for me to watch, realizing that there will not always be an Otto looking out for us. Sometimes we are on our own and we should apprediate those who go along with us for a time.
“Roundabout through Springfield”
* shows the jojo “to be continued” arrow *
This is part of the reason I love this channel.
that clip with Bart in the coffin, was used for creepypasta, "Dead" Bart" a lost simpson episode.
Its from Bart the general season 1
Jim Morrison's Father was also an Admiral. So that means Otto is the Jim Morrison of the Simpsons.
They call them fingers, but I've never seen them fing before
I had never noticed that Otto is not used much in comparison to other characters, but as you mention, you are right, the character does not need more than he already has.
For an upcoming Histories, I would recommend Barney, there was a time when he was a fairly recurrent character, it was even said that he was Homer's best friend, but now he is lucky to have dialogues.
Fun Fact:
Every Rose Has It's Thorn is actually a breakup song.
Brett Micheals wrote it about an ex he caught cheating on him.
You used my favorite Otto line at the end. My second favorite is early Otto when Bart asks him to crash the bus and he says something like, "I cant do it on purpose, but maybe you'll get lucky." Best stoner Otto line has to be "They call them fingers, but I never see 'em fing! Oh, there the go."
OMG zelda music you got me. The full blown 90's nostalgia, i gonna listen to cypress hill and cry myself to sleep because everything used to be better
I thought that was Zelda music.
Part of me wishes we saw more of Otto because I like Bart having someone he can bounce ideas off of like you said. Sure, he can do that with Milhouse but Milhouse will sometimes be against the idea whereas Otto will encourage Bart. I could see him being used to move a plot along a bit from act 1 to act 2 and maybe showing up again for a quick line in act 3. There isn't a ton the writers can do with him, but there's more than what they're currently doing.
Yeah, Otto brings a different flavor than Milhouse. Honestly Homer kinda took over some of that stuff too, as he became more wacky and irresponsible
Hail to the bus driver...the bus driver man!
I like Otto. He’s one of my favorite side characters in the series.
Whenever Otto speaks a word even if he’s entering Marge territory (sounding more like Jasper a little bit), it just brings a big smile on my face.
"Wow windows, I don't think I can afford this place."
Trying to rent or buy houses in my home city made Otto so damn relatable
I could definitely sit though a Lindsay Neagle history. She's such an odd character if only in how she's assumed at least three identities over the course of the show, before her current character was established.
Familiar Faces did a video on Lindsey Neagle a few years ago: th-cam.com/video/xWSj3KdMQeo/w-d-xo.html
"Sit down. Sit down, you're ruining it for everyone"
His basic function was just driving the bus so I can see how he never becomes that much bigger as without the school being a main point of the episode he wouldn't be in it.
Otto is like my favorite character, he's a metalhead and he goes with the flow.
Kinda like me, except the drug part.
Please make a history video of comic book guy. He is my all time favorite character. I love his appearances and all of the jokes they make about pop culture nerds like myself.
Otto was my hero. He was the seed that grow my love for metal.
Otto has always been one of my favorite side characters. I always loved the little stoner jokes he got and he is always the most chilled and laid back adult there is on the show. and I must say to be 100% honest one of my all time favorite Otto moments has to be the Simpsons Movie when he is hitting the bong and has not Idea whats going on. Loved this Simpsons Histories great character to do one on
My favorite Otto scene would be either him beating a concrete wall after being called a "sponge" or him finally getting that lobster harmonica. Are those things a "sponge" could do?
This guy has the power to make you feel bad about fictional characters in a comedy cartoon
Otto's voice is really grating to listen to for long periods of time, like in "The Otto Show".
Dude, you put so much thought in this. I've always loved Otto mann
"Well, it hurt, but here it is a month later, and I'm sleeping on their couch."