Dear friends in the future,
I've only seen half of the episode wherein they went to the Moon
and last night's episode, with the introduction of Captain Zap
Brannigan, but I want to comment on the whole Phil Hartman issue, which
didn't even occur to me until I picked up the latest *SPIN* magasine
this afternoon, with Bender on the cover. All it said was that the
Captain was "originally written to be voiced by Phil Hartman", but when
I read that I got a chill and said "Of course." It is obvious that he
would've been magnificent as Brannigan, that it was perfectly suited for
his talents, and that his genius and feeling for such a character will
be sorely missed; but the reason I'm writing this message is to say that
whenver I see Zap Brannigan again, my enjoyment of him will be
*enhanced* by imaging Phil Hartman saying his lines instead of whomever
is doing them, because I really loved him as an actor and as a comedian,
and I was truly shocked and saddened greatly by his death last year in
the worst of untimely manners.
I hope that, in tribute to him, that all those who loved him will
remember him fondly whenver Zap appears, but also that they will go
easily on his replacement in his memory, because undoubtedly Phil would
want us all to give the guy a break--it must be hard having to fill (no
pun intended) Hartman's shoes, no matter how much the man voicing
Brannigan might like to claim complete bliss. He knows we're all out
here crucifying him and poring over the merits of even Brannigan's
continued existence--but how could they jettison such a character? The
show must go on, friends.Robert Peate, who loves the new show, and who hopes it won't be canceled as all too many good shows are