SciCast Notes:

Interesting film, this. Not least because the team have done a cracking job of learning their lines (I was trying to work out if they could have written them inside their masks, but I doubt that would work…).

It’s interesting in part because publishing it may raise some eyebrows. We generally try to discourage using other peoples’ characters; there are all sorts of thorny legal issues. This film may not entirely dodge them, to be honest, but you’d have to be stretching things somewhat to claim that anyone would mistake this for a real episode of The Simpsons.

There there are safety issues. Inhaling helium is one of those things that loads of people have done, and that most people assume is ‘safe.’ But there are risks, and they’re not always what you’d expect. There are even reported fatalities from inhaling helium.

However, in this film they (a.) Don’t inhale helium, (b.) show metal foil balloons, which are arguably safer than latex ones, and (c.) portray unexpected and unpleasant consequences. Plus, the film’s clearly in a school, rather than domestic, setting; supervision is implied.

So to my mind, this is a pretty good example of how to get things right. Besides, the line “Homer, that’s the most intelligent thing you ever said!” cracks me up.

— Jonathan.