Weird Al Yankovic, talk-show host Conan O’Brien, and actors Jon Lovitz and Hank Azaria were among the high-profile guests who performed at The Simpsons Take the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend. The celebration of the cartoon’s 25th anniversary included a performance of The Monorail Song by O’Brien.
A former Simpsons writer, O’Brien wore a replica of the red suit worn by Lyle Lanley (originally voiced by the late Phil Hartman) in the 1993 episode Marge vs. the Monorail, which O’Brien penned. The talk-show host opened his performance by jokingly explaining that the popular episode continues to “haunt” him.
Meanwhile, beloved parodist Yankovic performed a rendition of his song Homer and Marge — a parody of John Mellencamp’s 1982 hit Jack and Diane, which Yankovic originally wrote for his appearance in the series’ 2003 episode Three Gays of the Condo — though with several lyrics changed (see below).
As Billboard reports, Azaria — who voices numerous characters on the show, including Apu and Moe Szyslak — acted as emcee, in addition to singing Apu’s signature tune, Who Need the Kwik-E Mart?, accompanied, as all the evening’s performances were, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
Meanwhile, series creator Matt Groening was in attendance to discuss the show’s origins, and voice actors Yeardley Smith, who provides the voice of Lia Simpson, and Nancy Cartwright, who does the voice of Bart, sang the tune Minimum Wage Nanny from the show’s famous Mary Poppins parody episode.
