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).]

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by 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).]

I know that this is a rather old thread just brought to back to life.
That said, SNL did a sketches with SAE in it. And the way it portrayed both SAE and GLO's made me call NBC that night.

Later found out that the actor is a Brother

[tallgreekalum]

If any of you watched "Mad Men" the episode called "Shoot" one of the main characters talks about being in Alpha Delta Phi in college

[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.

[nicddild]

Originally Posted by 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 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)

Originally Posted by 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.

I'm a Sigma Chi from the University of Tennessee at Martin, one of the newest Sigma Chi chapters around. We got initiated in January 27, 2007. I'm kind of a junkie for Sigma Chi knowledge and reading this thread bothered me so I made an account so I could clear everyone up. I am not sure of any of the legalities regarding the usage of an organization's letters but I know that Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons and Futurama) is my brother in Sigma Chi, so that would make sense for him to put Dr. Nick Riviera's med school flashback (Season 4: Homer's Triple Bypass) in the setting of a Sigma Chi Fraternity party.

Also, for more useless trivial fraternity related knowledge, Matt Groening himself has been quoted saying that Mr. Burn's character was created in homage to past Grand Consul of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Dick Hester (yea, Sigs Dick Hester lol). Groening says that after a speech of Hester's he made the decision to create Burns' character in Hester's likeness. Hope this was helpful to everyone.

To my brothers: In Hoc Signo Vinces; Guard well the Honor

[bellwisdom]

Originally Posted by nicddild

I'm a Sigma Chi from the University of Tennessee at Martin, one of the newest Sigma Chi chapters around. We got initiated in January 27, 2007. I'm kind of a junkie for Sigma Chi knowledge and reading this thread bothered me so I made an account so I could clear everyone up. I am not sure of any of the legalities regarding the usage of an organization's letters but I know that Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons and Futurama) is my brother in Sigma Chi, so that would make sense for him to put Dr. Nick Riviera's med school flashback (Season 4: Homer's Triple Bypass) in the setting of a Sigma Chi Fraternity party.

Also, for more useless trivial fraternity related knowledge, Matt Groening himself has been quoted saying that Mr. Burn's character was created in homage to past Grand Consul of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Dick Hester (yea, Sigs Dick Hester lol). Groening says that after a speech of Hester's he made the decision to create Burns' character in Hester's likeness. Hope this was helpful to everyone.

To my brothers: In Hoc Signo Vinces; Guard well the Honor

Good Job bro. Just wanted to know where you got the Hester/Burns info cause I havent heard that one yet.

[TSteven]

Hi Dr. Nick!

[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.