Quilloughby and Morrissey — Break My Heart

So — I recently watched the “Panic on the Streets of Springfield” episode of “The Simpsons” and I absolutely loved it. I can say this, full stop, as a life long fan of both of The Smiths and Morrissey (or “Moz” as he is often referred to). Of course, rather predictably, Moz has reacted in anger and disgust, two compelling emotions which seem to have sadly defined him in the last decade.

I understand why Moz is upset — the episode is an absolutely brilliant “spot on” take of both his ideals and the sheer unrivalled mastery of The Smiths songwriting abilities (oops, I meant “The Snuffs” which is the name of the band that is used in the episode). I’ve read the articles and reviews and the writers say that it’s a combination of 80’s “doom and gloom” bands such as The Cure and Joy Division but any true hardcore fan of both The Smiths and Morrissey knows that it’s about…The Smiths and Morrissey, or rather, Morrissey himself, which is, of course, just as Moz himself would prefer it.

This was completely evident to me in the scene where Lisa and her “imaginary friend” Quilloughby (given voice by my not so secret boyfriend, Benedict Cumberbatch and who is represented as a stand in for Morrissey) are envisioned in her bedroom, and within that brief frame, if one looks closely (as I did)…