"I'm the real Principal Skinner" says the man with the voice of Martin Sheen. That just wasn't necessary. Not then, not now, not ever. The Simpsons, you sure blew it with Armin Tamzarian. In season nine's "The Principal and the Pauper" a non-nonsensical plotline has Principal Skinner turn out to be an imposter named Armin Tamzarian, who took over the real Seymour Skinner's identity after the Vietnam war, believing Skinner to be dead. Supposedly, Mrs. Skinner accepts this (she knew, but just wanted a son and didn't want to believe her own to be dead). When the real Skinner turns up, not dead at all but a decorated veteran, the "fake" Skinner (that we all know and love) is outed. Just what the point of all this was, we'll never know. Matt Groening has called the episode a mistake, and the man who voices Skinner, Harry Shearer, couldn't stand it. Most fans despise it, and the only positive of the show is that it reminds us how much we dislike change, and how much we care about the show at its core. The show itself has poked fun at the plot a couple of times, and for good reason: The Armin Tamzarian fiasco will forever remain the single biggest time the show ever blew it.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
