Rick and Morty, both voiced by Justin Roiland. Author: Adult Swim. this is where one passing joke can lead to both a massive fan movement and a large corporation going out of its way to accommodate that fan movement. The Rick and Morty adult animation is an exception to this rule.
In the season three opener episode «Rickshank Rickdemption», the protagonist, misanthropic mad scientist Rick Sanchez, makes a passing remark while trying to find «Szechuan Sauce»; nothing authentically Chinese, but a limited edition that McDonald's created in 1998 to tie in with the release of the Disney cartoon Mulan. Such promotional products are hardly unknown and mostly forgotten only a few weeks after they run out, but show co-creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland thought it was worth joking about. It was intended as a light-hearted nod to Roiland's obsession with the condiment.
What even they couldn't foresee was the reaction of the fans. McDonald's, in an attempt to polish its pop culture in good faith, brought back Szechuan sauce in honor of the show's allusion, but did so for one day at a limited number of locations. Consequently, Rick and Morty's reference that the sauce was «fucking awesome» led to hungry fans bidding over $15,000 for a 64-ounce can of dark nectate. It was eventually purchased by DJ Deadmau5 who tweeted «I'm getting this fucking Szechuan sauce.»
Eventually, McDonald’s gave in to the pressure and brought it back in 2017 as a permanent addition to its menu, and in February 2018 shipped 20 million packages of the sauce to restaurants. As Harmon sardonically commented, «It's really funny, because if you get robbed, let McDonald's rob you.»
The story itself is funny, but seemingly irrelevant. However, it demonstrates how this show clings to popular culture, and why it's a bad idea to annoy its fans. For example, the firing of the show's co-creator amid allegations of domestic violence, false imprisonment, and predatory behavior, and the announcement that he will be recast despite having voiced two lead roles and is generally seen as an integral part of the show.
When Rick and Morty premiered in December 2013, Roiland was significantly less known than Harmon, who had already achieved significant success on the NBC sitcom. However, the two men adapted Roiland's idea — a foul-mouthed spoof of Back to the Future that started out as a featurette for a film festival hosted by Harmon — and turned it into a highly acclaimed show revolving around the relationship between Sanchez and his kind-hearted but limited Morty's grandson who travel the universe on hilarious and apparently non-computer adventures.
Roiland openly admitted that his comedic sensibilities were «sick and twisted», but the show, which aired on Cartoon Network's adult-themed Adult Swim block, quickly became not just a cult hit, but a mainstream hit. It won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and spawned spin-off shows, video games and merchandising valued at approximately $100 million.
Elon Musk called it his favorite TV show, tweeting «It's a bit disgusting but the boys and I love it» and made a cameo appearance as Morty in the episode «One Crew Over the Crewcoo's Morty» » in 2019. Elon Tusk. In other words, it is a profitable, well-loved brand that cannot be tarnished by association if it is to continue to exist.
Rick and Morty co-creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland in happy times. Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
What a pity then that the «rather disgusting» and «sick and twisted» feelings of one of its creators seemed to find a real counterpoint when it was revealed in January of this year that Roiland had been charged with serious domestic violence and false imprisonment in Orange County, California following an incident in 2020. In February 2023, an article in The Hollywood Reporter also claimed that Roiland cultivated a «toxic» work environment and accused him of sending offensive messages via Twitter. His involvement with Rick and Morty continued until the sixth season, which aired from September 2022.
However, once word got out that Roiland would be facing trial, Adult Swim (who presumably weren't informed of the upcoming allegations against their star) issued a brief statement saying that Adult Swim had «ended its partnership with Justin.» Roiland» and that the roles of Rick and Morty would be recast. In the meantime, Roiland's attorney pleaded not guilty, stating that «we also have good reason to expect this case to be closed as soon as the DA completes a methodical analysis of the evidence.»
He turned out to be right. In March, the charges were dropped and Roiland issued a statement saying, «I am grateful that this case has been dropped, but at the same time, I am still deeply shocked by the terrible lies that have been told about me.» during this process… I’m disappointed that so many people rushed to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of an embittered ex trying to bypass due process and get me “cancelled.” Unfortunately for Roiland, this cancellation, as far as his involvement with Rick and Morty is concerned, seems to be permanent.
Cartoon Network president Michael Ouvelin recently confirmed that Roiland would not be returning for Rick and Morty, and while discussing «a rather unique situation», suggested that Roiland could, in fact, be replaced. “There were some great Bugs Bunny voice actors and I love what Jeff Bennett did with them,” he said. “But this is not Mel Blanc! And yet we recognize the character. I even think that for Rick and Morty we will do even better… Everything will be fine. It will be great».
This opinion is apparently not shared by Roiland himself, but fans of the show are outraged by the change even more than you can imagine. The tone of Roiland's voice, which somehow makes the burp funny, would be difficult for another actor to replicate. A typical comment on Reddit, where the show is very popular, suggested, “Oh man, this is going to be so bad, IMAO. You can't change characters like Cartman, Homer or Rick/Morty into a different voice, the voice is part of their personality.»
Another beloved animated show, The Simpsons, faced a similar dilemma in 2015 when co-star Harry Shearer announced he was leaving and would no longer be voicing iconic characters such as Mr. Burns and Smithers . by sliding your finger across the screen to decrease the quality of the program. (It didn't help that he and his colleagues were told he would have to accept a 30 percent pay cut.)
Rick & Morty Credit: Adult Swim
Eventually, Shearer was persuaded to stay, but not before producer Al Jean ominously announced that «the show would go on» if the actor left. (Shearer himself was a replacement actor who was brought in after original voice actor Christopher Collins was fired for being «too difficult» to work with.) The message was clear: anyone is a one-off, and a profitable brand will continue at all costs. .
On June 14, Rick and Morty producer Steve Levy confirmed that Roiland «will be replaced in the dub» and that no one will «blink an eye» when they see the new season. It's unclear at this time who will replace Roiland, or whether his creative input will prove vital to the show or not. And yet, in the brave new world of AI, it's entirely possible that deepfakes that can imitate the signature voices of Roiland or Shearer — or anyone else, for that matter — are so convincing that it no longer matters whether a potentially controversial actor can be cast into the role. . Their replacement will be convincing, there will be no need to pay — no more contract disputes — and this ensures that the shows can go on forever. No doubt their dialogue will end up being AI-generated too, meaning that eventually characters like Rick and Morty won't need any human intervention at all.
Regardless of what you think of the modern cancellation culture system that led to Roiland's defenestration — and his fans are certainly unhappy about it — an even bigger problem could arise. Very soon there will be no debate about the potential replacement of the performer: he will simply continue in computer form both as a screenwriter and as an actor.
It's no exaggeration to suggest that the implications of Roiland's firing—both in terms of what it says about an industry that anticipates guilt even when cases are closed, and in terms of whether he can be fired—are replaced by AI—should touch everyone, even those who have never watched a single episode of the show.
Roiland can now regret a line of dialogue he uttered that causes unintended additional resonance: «I invent, transform, create and destroy to make a living, and when I don't like something in the world, . I am changing». The joke turned out to be too successful, and now she is not laughing.
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