Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is apparently working on a backup plan if his presidential hopes don't pan out.
The Republican filmed a pseudo-audition to replace longtime "Simpsons" voice actor Harry Shearer, who serves as the voice of Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, and several other characters on the popular animated show that has been on the air for 26 seasons. Shearer is retiring, and
reportedly turned down millions to come back for the 27th season of the show.
"With Harry Shearer retiring, I'm auditioning for any part I can get," Cruz said at the start of the video, posted onto YouTube by BuzzFeed.
Cruz then broke into impersonations of Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Lisa Simpson, Homer Simpson, and Kang, a space alien that has appeared in 25 Simpsons episodes.
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"I have been told many times I have a face for radio and I have a face for animation," Cruz said at the end of the video.
In April, Cruz appeared on
The Federalist Radio Hour and talked about, among other things, "The Simpsons."
Cruz said his favorite episodes of the show are "Round Springfield" (1995), in which a popular jazz musician passed away, and "Treehouse of Horror VII" (1996), which depicted a presidential debate between two space aliens — Kodos and the aforementioned Kang. The aliens were impersonating presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.
A new version of "Treehouse of Horror" airs every year for Halloween.
It was
recently reported that Marge and Homer Simpson will divorce during the upcoming season of the show, a claim that has since been refuted.
Cruz was the first candidate to join the presidential race, choosing to enter in late March via
a speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Liberty is the largest Christian college in the world; Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also visited the institution in May
to give the commencement address for the graduating class of 2015.
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