Birch Barlow
Birch Barlow
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Character Information
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Birchibald "Birch" T. Barlow (voiced by Harry Shearer) has been featured prominently only in the episode Sideshow Bob Roberts, appearing from time to time in the background of subsequent episodes. He is a right-wing conservative talk show host on the radio station KBBL, who in voice and appearance is obviously modeled after Rush Limbaugh. As of You Kent Always Say What You Want, he also has a show on Fox News, and serves as a parody of Fox News' conservative bias.
On his radio show, he declares himself to be "the fourth branch of government" and "the fifty-first state". He is also the author of the book "Only Turkeys Have Left Wings". Barlow played an important part in the episode Sideshow Bob Roberts, in which Sideshow Bob, while jailed, calls up Barlow on his radio show, giving him an outlet to voice how the prison treats him unfairly. Barlow, knowing Bob is a fellow Republican, sympathizes with his complaints, and influences the rest of Springfield to as well. This leads to Bob's prompt release and ensuing mayoral election-rigging.
In the book The Simpsons Guide To Springfield, Barlow is pictured enjoying a "festive meal with a group of close personal friends" — Waylon Smithers, John (from the episode "Homer's Phobia") and Buddy "Fallout Boy" Hodges — at the flamboyantly decorated Sha-Boom Ka-Boom Cafe. Typical of The Simpsons, this is meant to humorously imply that he may be homosexual. Barlow also appeared in the episode "We're on the Road to D'ohwhere" as a customer at Marge's prescription drug-laden "yard sale", a reference to Limbaugh's Oxycontin addiction scandal.
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