The story behind the creation of Futurama's legendary Nixon impression, according to Billy West

With only two episodes left in the TV schedule 2024It’s almost time to say goodbye to a popular cartoon series. FuturamaThe fate after season 12 None of us should worry in advance that the TV child of creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen is going anywhere anytime soon.

Now that we all know that we are investing even more in one of the best animated tv shows of all time, let’s dig a little deeper into the historically hysterical bank of supporting characters. More specifically, I want to talk about the story of how series star Billy West came to do his legendary impersonation of former US President Richard Nixon.

It’s a story about both creative parenting and childhood memories, and the result is so artful that it could be used to stage the moon landing… ON VENUS! Arooo!

(Image credit: 20th Century Animation)

The part of Matt Groening’s approach that shaped Billy West’s Nixon impersonation for Futurama

As Hardcore Futurama As a fan, I couldn’t resist the invitation to attend the press days for the debut of Season 12. Since I had access to a room where Billy West and Lauren Tom were sitting, I had to ask a few things when it came to my Futurama fan base, which led to our conversation about his unique portrayal of a certain Richard Milhouse Nixon.

As part of his revelations to CinemaBlend, West told me the following story about how he came to be so crazy about the ex-president in the first place:

That doesn’t sound like him at all. … You know, what I wanted to do is [take] a keyword from Matt [Groening]. He inspires me to put a twist on things. You don’t have to just get everything the way it’s supposed to be. You have to put something in there that makes people ask, “Why the hell would someone do that?” And I like that factor. … That became his trademark because, as I told you, Matt’s ideas inspire me. He just never runs out of ideas for characters or hooks or anything. So I was inspired.
Billy West – CinemaBlend

A disembodied exaggeration of the 37th President of the United States, Futurama’s Nixon is a paranoid leader who will do anything to seize power. This drive has led to his inclusion in some of Futurama’s most rewatched episodessuch as “A Head in the Polls,” as well as the recent resurrections in “The Impossible Stream” and Season 11’s “Rage Against the Vaccine.”

Although he is not a core member of the Planet Express crew, Richard Nixon is outrageous enough to make an unforgettable impression on the world(s) of FuturamaAnd why shouldn’t it be, considering The How did the episode that introduced the happy boy end?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this clip since it first aired nearly 25 years ago. What I may I have to say that I absolutely had to watch this episode again when I was getting ready for the Futurama Interviews in general. And yes, it does actually hold up under the lens of modern scrutiny.

Since these Is a series co-created by Matt Groening, and a memorable core of recurring characters could most likely be the key to the oft-cancelled series’ longevity with fans. And anyone who questions that claim can always check out this list of The Simpsons popular characters after season 1with the opportunity to correct their opinion.

Groening’s madness and the fact that he gave his characters hooks were only the beginning of Richard Nixon’s comedic resurrection. For the rest of this story, we must go back to Billy West’s childhood, as a historic first led to a lasting impression of the Californian politician that would become a classic. Futurama character trait.

In Futurama, Richard Nixon's head howls as it is placed on a desk.

(Image credit: 20th Century Animation)

How Billy West’s childhood memories of Richard Nixon inspired his character in Futurama

It would not be Futurama Story without a little childhood trauma, right? That point definitely stands as themes like grim dystopian capitalism and abandonment issues keep cropping up throughout Season 12. However, these are the ongoing adventures of the Planet Express, which means humor needs to be injected into the serious stuff.

This is entirely in keeping with the Hulu original’s recurring portrayal of this controversial political figure. Even Richard Nixon’s fiercest critics probably couldn’t have predicted how Billy West would turn to the world of monster movies for his take on Nixon.

And as he told CinemaBlend, the kind of “hook” that this voice-acting legend used to spice up his performance came from that fateful night. But first, let’s hear what Mr. West had to say about the Nixon/Kennedy debate in general:

When I was a boy, I watched the Nixon-Kennedy debate on TV. It was the first televised debate. And Kennedy looked like a game show host, and Nixon just looked like a sweaty pig. He fit [the backdrop]he was sweating and his beard was growing. Everyone who saw it at the time thought, “Too bad,” because the people who listened to the audio recording thought he had won the debate. But the people who saw it thought, “Yuck,” myself included.
Billy West – CinemaBlend

To be fair, the Nixon/Kennedy debate of 1960 is one of those famous events that has made its way into pop culture. Even the first season of mad Men The good people at Sterling Cooper tried to make Dick Nixon president, with disastrous results, but to really feel what a great moment it was, you have to actually see it.

In the name of cultural history education and improving the enjoyment of FuturamaYou are welcome to watch the first televised debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy:

Kennedy vs. Nixon: The first presidential debate 1960 – YouTube

Watch on

So what does a historically poor debate performance have to do with the “Aroo” of it all? Well, Futurama’s The future voice actor had some very timely concerns about the appearance of then-Vice President Richard Nixon. The whole thing can be summed up by this final part of Billy West’s crucial memory:

I said to my mother, “Mom, he looks like he’s turning into a werewolf.” And that was the whole thing [concept]. The writers ask me, “Why are you doing this ‘Aroo’ with Nixon?” And I say, “What? You don’t like it?” And they say, “No, we love it. We just don’t know why you’re doing it.” And I say, “Because he was on TV and said, ‘I want… I want to be President of the United States because Aroo. Arooo.'”
Billy West – CinemaBlend

Knowing this, the fact that Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew was portrayed as a sort of headless Frankenstein monster makes even more sense for classic Universal monsters. It also helps me appreciate Billy West’s efforts to create this groundbreaking addition to his stable of Futurama characters, as the emphasis on fun over historical accuracy helps to further sharpen the very pointed dialogue he delivers.

Similar to Darryl Hammond’s Sean Connery imitation from Saturday Night Live Celebrity Jeopardy Sketches, Mr. West’s Richard Nixon will always have a place in my dark and comedic heart. I dare say that the cast and writing team of Futurama I feel the same way, especially when Nixon made its way into the streaming age when Hulu premiered in 2023.

At this point, I’m curious to see what kind of nonsense the ex-president will get up to in his next appearance. In fact, I wonder if he is behind the recent trend of unsolved, world-ending disasters that have been introduced in recent years. Futurama Follow? I guess I’ll just have to follow the money to find out.

Futurama’s The entire back catalogue is currently available to anyone with access to a Hulu Subscriptionso there’s still plenty of time to catch up on Season 12 before the finale airs on September 16. And if you want to dive into the classics, the rest of the series is also available for those looking to turn up the nostalgia and shake things up.

topicnews · September 18, 2024

The story behind the creation of Futurama’s legendary Nixon impression, according to Billy West

The part of Matt Groening’s approach that shaped Billy West’s Nixon impersonation for Futurama

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