Difference between revisions of "Fat Tony"

Revision as of 09:49, May 22, 2010

Marian Anthony "Fat Tony" D'Amico/William 'Fat Tony' Williams is the leader of the Springfield Mafia. He has been behind several of Springfield's criminal enterprises. His rackets include illegal gambling, cigarette smuggling, and bootlegging.

Fat Tony also has a teenage son, Michael, who he drives to school. He is a widower and refers to his wife's death as; "She was whacked, by natural causes". Fat Tony and his associates meet in what is known as the "Legitimate Businessman's Social Club".

Biography

An Italian American mobster in his early sixties, "Fat Tony" is the head of the D'Amico Crime Family, the prime family in the Springfield Mafia. His fellow mobsters include Joey, Legs and Louie, and occasionally Johnny Tightlips. Tony's schemes have ranged from supplying rat's milk to the school cafeteria to dabbling in the illegal fireworks racket. His gang also attempts to monopolize various legitimate business. Fat Tony is also a very competent violinist. Fat Tony lives in his mansion, which strongly resembles that of Tony Montana from the movie Scarface, in the upscale residential area of "Springfield Heights", which is also resided by the Jewish entertainer Krusty The Clown and actor Troy McClure. D'Amico has owned several cars such as a white Dodge Caravan and an Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8B.

"Business" dealings

Fat Tony has been behind most, if not all of, Springfield's criminal enterprises. He and his associates meet in what is known as the "Legitimate Businessmen's Social Club." Tony's rackets include the usual organized crime activities such as illegal gambling (most notably in the episode "Homie the Clown"), cigarette trafficking, and rum running, but he will sometimes branch out into more unusual activities.

Homer Simpson once entered a deal with the Springfield Mafia to help Marge's pretzel franchise by driving out rival snack food distributors. Fat Tony demanded 100% of the profits from the business in exchange, only to be stopped by the local Yakuza (brought in by Marge's rivals). The two gangs then started a mob war (which continued off-screen), with Fat Tony and his gangsters displaying very impressive fighting skills, rather than just pulling out their guns as usual ^[1]. Krusty the Clown pays the Mafia to keep McDonald's and Burger King out of Springfield, so that Krusty Burger can have a monopoly.

Much of Springfield's municipal government is involved with the Mafia. Chief Wiggum has been seen taking bribes from Fat Tony, and in retaliation for a raid on their rat milk facility Fat Tony attempted to take out a hit on Mayor Quimby. Tony once put out a contract on Homer after his private security business interfered with the mob's interests. Homer would have been executed gangland-style if not for Maggie coming to the rescue with her rifle^[2]. Marge usually has a more peaceful relationship with Fat Tony, even driving his son Michael home from school. She mentions that the Mafia frequently congregates outside her house, and that she often brings them lemonade^[3].

Family

Fat Tony has a son named Michael, who Fat Tony planned to have follow his footsteps as the leader of the Springfield Mob. Fat Tony had a wife who died of natural causes^[4].

Behind the Scenes

Originally, Tony was going to be voiced by Hank Azaria. However, since Fat Tony wasn't a very good drawing, Groening decided to make a Special Guest Voice do him. Groening chose Joe Mantegna. In one DVD commentary it is stated that Mr. Mantegna is so enamored with the character that he has forbidden to allow anyone else to voice Fat Tony; he even voiced him when the script only called for a couple of grunts ("Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes"). However, this didn't stop Phil Hartman filling in for him on one occasion ("A Fish Called Selma").

Inspiration

Fat Tony is a pastiche of Mafia characters from movies and dramas, especially The Godfather franchise (and in later seasons The Sopranos). His nickname may be a reference to "Black Tony", the Don of the fictional Stracci family in The Godfather. After 1999 Fat Tony is clearly based on Tony Sopranos of The Sopranos. In several episodes the Sopranos intro theme is played in scenes with Fat Tony.

"Moe Baby Blues" featured several interesting references relating to Fat Tony. To entertain his subordinates, Fat Tony puts an orange slice in his mouth in imitation of Don Corleone from The Godfather. Minutes later, Fat Tony responds to an emotional scene by saying "I haven't cried this much since I paid to see Godfather III" (in which Mantegna played the character Joey Zasa, one of the inspirations for Fat Tony). His son's name is a reference to Michael Corleone.

On several occasions Fat Tony's has said something that begins as ominous gang language, only to be proven innocent; one example is "We are going for a ride... By which I mean the carpool". His house also strongly resembles that of Tony Montana's in the movie Scarface.

Appearances

* Episode – "Bart the Murderer" Episode – "Rosebud" Episode – "Homie the Clown" Episode – "A Fish Called Selma" Episode – "Much Apu About Nothing" Episode – "The Twisted World of Marge Simpson" Episode – "The Blunder Years" Episode – "The Homer They Fall" Episode – "Trilogy of Error" Episode – "Insane Clown Poppy" Episode – "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" Episode – "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge" Episode – "Moe Baby Blues" Episode – "The Seven-Beer Snitch" Episode – "Grift of the Magi" Episode – "Faith Off" Episode – "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer" – The Simpsons Movie Episode – "Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes" Episode – "Springfield Up" Episode – "Bonfire of the Manatees" Episode – "Mayored to the Mob" Episode – "The Haw-Hawed Couple" THOH – "Treehouse of Horror XIII" Episode – "Mom and Pop Art" Episode – "Strong Arms of The Ma" Episode – "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" Episode – "King of the Hill" Episode – "E. Pluribus Wiggum" Episode – "Radioactive Man (episode)"

es:Anthony D'Amico pt:Tony Gordo