Hank Azaria channels ‘Simpsons’ character for special Yankees fan
Moe the Bartender had a message for Yankees fans on Monday.
Well, noted Mets fan Hank Azaria, the voice of the notorious “Simpsons” character, did when he appeared on “NFL Live” to promote the Simpsons-themed alt-cast for “Monday Night Football.”
Host Laura Rutledge asked Azaria to channel his inner Moe and describe to the viewers what the character might tell Yankees fans who stopped into Moe’s Tavern to drown their sorrows over losing Juan Soto to the Mets.
“Now you know what it’s like to be the little brother that nobody cares about,” Azaria said in the Moe voice. “Let me tell what yous Yankee fans with all your condescending big brotha stuff. Like, ‘Oh I like the Mets. Oh we root for the Mets. We like the Mets.’ Yeah! Well how you like us now? We took Soto from yous.”
Azaria’s response had Dan Orlovsky leaning over the studio desk and laughing.
Soto agreed to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets on Sunday night, marking a massive moment for the Amazin’s as they topped their crosstown rival for a big-name free agent.
The slugger had been with the Yankees last season, posting a .989 OPS and hitting a career-best 41 home runs while helping the Bombers reach the World Series.
Azaria, who voices several characters on “The Simpsons,” was born in Queens and has been a lifelong Mets fan, throwing out a first pitch in 2017 and being seen at Citi Field over the years.
He was there during the Mets’ playoff run this season, which saw the Amazins’ fall to the Dodgers in the NLCS in six games.
Azaria has never been one to hide his New York fandom and described his passion for the Mets in an interview with the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I loved all sports, but really, as long as I can remember, I’ve been a huge Mets fan. I’m a Mets fan, not a baseball fan. There’s a difference,” Azaria said.
“I guess there are a few people who adopt the Mets but I don’t understand why anybody would do this unless you’re born into it,” he added. “And I certainly was. I grew up in Forest Hills, maybe 15 minutes from Shea Stadium. And my dad was not a huge sports guy but he still kind of dutifully saw that I liked it and took me to the games. I really will never forget the first time you walked through that breezeway and you see the field in front of you.”