The Simpsons......and Sigma Chi

[USFSDTAlum]

The other night I was watching the Simpsons, and the doctors had a flashback to his days in college and his fraternity. In the scene he was shown drinking a beer, and Sigma Chi in greek letters was drawn on a paddle behind him. Now, I know in order to have known it was a Sigma Chi you would have to know the greek alphabet, But I was under the belief that a TV show can not use the names of established organizations, unless documenting something (as in the news). Or is it just a general practice to assign false names when in a TV show (ie. Mu Pi on Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

[soror6]

I was actually under the impression that you could not use letters of GLO's in existence, unless the person in question is actually a member, or the show paid for its use. Since I do not believe that Homer is a Sigma Chi , maybe it was either paid for, or the paddle said something else. I saw that episode a while ago, and I thought it said either Alpha Sigma Chi or Sigma Sigma Chi. Do you think maybe you just did not see the top of the paddle? I could be the one that is incorrect, because I haven't seen that episode in a while.
Let me know

Originally posted by USFstudent:
The other night I was watching the Simpsons, and the doctors had a flashback to his days in college and his fraternity. In the scene he was shown drinking a beer, and Sigma Chi in greek letters was drawn on a paddle behind him. Now, I know in order to have known it was a Sigma Chi you would have to know the greek alphabet, But I was under the belief that a TV show can not use the names of established organizations, unless documenting something (as in the news). Or is it just a general practice to assign false names when in a TV show (ie. Mu Pi on Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

[ZTAngel]

I was actually wondering the same thing. I don't think that there's anything wrong with using an already established greek organization's letters. Just look at a few of the sketches on Saturday Night Live (in the early 90's) where they had a Tri-Delta (she was actually wearing the letters on a shirt). And, on Sex in the City, there was a scene where one of the girls was meeting her old sorority sisters from Kappa Kappa Gamma.

[This message has been edited by ZTAngel (edited December 13, 2000).]

[prettypoodle6]

someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge most greek letter orgs have had their greek letters and/or their crest (or shield - whatever you may call it!) copyrighted so that it cannot be used without permission.....

Does anyone remember the extras on A Different World? Did the show get approval from our nationals to have extras wearing our letters in the background?

[33girl]

Originally posted by prettypoodle6:
Does anyone remember the extras on A Different World? Did the show get approval from our nationals to have extras wearing our letters in the background?

As soon as I read that I had a flashback of Ron Johnson sitting there in the student center and a heck of a lot of familiar looking letter sweatshirts behind him...

Speaking of Sigma Chi, the next time you watch Animal House check out the Omegas'(aka the snobby guys) crest on the wall at the rush party. It is shaped EXACTLY like a Sigma Chi crest!!

[PiPhiAngel]

if you go to blockbuster you can find a "sorority" animal house--it has KD, Theta, and Pi Phi in the movie

[UNFSigmaChi]

Ya the simpsons thing is actually cause one of the writers is a sig so thats why he used the letters. We have that scene on our rush video and its a banner not a paddle. Ya i saw that sorority movie...its called sorority house party and its pretty lame...definatly wasted my $3.50 at blockbuster on that one! They couldn't even get the stereotypes right...they were saying that the pledges were going to have sex with a cow.....i mean comon, every person knows fraternities make the pledges have sex with goats! LOL.

[kmullini]

If you watch reruns of "Coach" you'll often notice a Beta Theta Pi Paddle in the background. Craig Nelson isnt a Beta but I think the producer might be.

[DeltAlum]

As a Broadcaster I guess I never gave this much thought. Obviously, if the organization has a copyright or service mark registration on it's letters (as well as its' crest or coat of arms) then they could most likely enforce non-use of the letters on the air.

The exception would be in newscasts where the story is about the GLO, or the showing of the letters is incidental -- that is that they just happen to be in the shot. I think that would fall under what is called "fair use."

I kind of suspect that in some (certainly not all) of the cases noted above, the GLO probably enjoys the publicity and overlooks the use.

As an aside, one of the funnier uses of alleged letters is in one of those insipid Geek vs. Greek spring break movies. There is a big crowd scene and some guy in the background has a sweat shirt with "PPP" on it. Think about it.

DeltAlum

[SoCalGirl]

prettypoodle6--I noticed all the sweatshirts on A Different World while watching re-runs this summer. I just figured that the extras wearing them are members. I somehow don't think that a show with so many successful African Americans behind and in front of the camera would risk upsetting such prominent organizations of the community.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by prettypoodle6:
Does anyone remember the extras on A Different World? Did the show get approval from our nationals to have extras wearing our letters in the background?

prettypoodle6, I remember that show "A Different World", but I believe they were using fictious names. I remember in the opening credits, men were wearing sweatshirts that were from "Lambda Something Something" (I don't remember all 3 letters, but there was definitely a Lambda as the first letter). I'm not sure if there was a women's sorority in the show (don't remember).

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by prettypoodle6:

Does anyone remember the extras on A Different World? Did the show get approval from our nationals to have extras wearing our letters in the background?

prettypoodle, I don't know if they got approval from the national offices of the NPHC organizations, but if you recall, the members of 'real organizations' were never the main characters, only extras, so there was no real fear of the people doing harm to the rep of the organization. This does remind me of a story...A college friend's cousin was a producer for that show. He told her of a story where they were using the extras to protray greek members and one guy who was in one frat did not want to wear the shirt/letters of the other frat. Thad (the producer) was like "wear it or leave" so the guy put on the shirt! So, the extras could have been greek members, but not necessarily members of the organizations that they portrayed.

[PiPhiAngel]

on designing women, they talk about pi phi a lot

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000:
prettypoodle6, I remember that show "A Different World", but I believe they were using fictious names. I remember in the opening credits, men were wearing sweatshirts that were from "Lambda Something Something" (I don't remember all 3 letters, but there was definitely a Lambda as the first letter). I'm not sure if there was a women's sorority in the show (don't remember).

The fraternity on "A Different World" that you are referring to was called Kappa Lambda Nu and their colors were purple & gold. Interestingly enough, actor Darryl Bell was a KLN on that show and a Gamma Phi Gamma in the movie "School Daze". Do I sense a perp in the midst?

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by DeltAlum:
As a Broadcaster I guess I never gave this much thought. Obviously, if the organization has a copyright or service mark registration on it's letters (as well as its' crest or coat of arms) then they could most likely enforce non-use of the letters on the air.

The exception would be in newscasts where the story is about the GLO, or the showing of the letters is incidental -- that is that they just happen to be in the shot. I think that would fall under what is called "fair use."

I kind of suspect that in some (certainly not all) of the cases noted above, the GLO probably enjoys the publicity and overlooks the use.

As an aside, one of the funnier uses of alleged letters is in one of those insipid Geek vs. Greek spring break movies. There is a big crowd scene and some guy in the background has a sweat shirt with "PPP" on it. Think about it.

DeltAlum

If you watch "Revenge of the Nerds II", in the scenes which involve the room where the fraternity delegates met, you will see modified coats of arms for various NIC and NPHC organizations (different colors and/or letters). Of which I have seen modified Sigma Chi, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Delta Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha (which is in the foreground behind the speaker podium and displayed as Delta Pi Fraternity), and Omega Psi Phi modified as Orange and Blue? and displayed as Alpha Nu Fraternity.

So this is nothing new.

Rain Man