Caricature goes mainstream: Homer's neighbor, Ned Flanders

NEW YORK -- Good heavens! Ned Flanders has come into his own.

A zealous instrument of God, Ned has long been instrumental to "The Simpsons" as it lampoons organized religion (that is, when not mocking virtually every other human institution, from business to democracy to its own TV network).

But lately the ground has shifted beneath the Simpsons' hometown of Springfield, U.S.A., along with the rest of the nation. The new term has begun for a president whose re-election was clinched by the "moral values" ballyhoo. The current climate finds faith synonymous with patriotism, while "secular" is code for un-American.

Before on "The Simpsons," Ned was a secondary figure -- Homer's cloyingly pious next-door neighbor. But the values he embodies in exaggerated form now monopolize the political scene. In fact, one might say that Homer is Ned's next-door neighbor, not the other way around, so clearly does Ned bask in the mainstream.

"The values he represents have become more visible in American life," agrees "Simpsons" executive producer Al Jean, "as people who maybe are outward advocates of Ned's values have come into positions of power. We always satirize who's in power and what the cultural zeitgeist is, so currently the point of view Ned has is a little more ripe for satire."

Ned has been a holier-than-thou thorn in Homer's side since the very first episode of "The Simpsons" in 1989. Homer still feels bedeviled by Ned's goody-two-shoes style, his glossy cheer, his habit of injecting "diddly" into things he says, like his chipper greeting, "Hi-diddly-do!"

But Ned's faith-based deficiencies serve "The Simpsons" well as a Homer counterbalance. Spiritually in bondage, Ned is a model of righteousness gone wrong.

These days, Ned represents the nation's ruling point of view. And what of citizens who beg to differ with it? Thank heaven "The Simpsons," at least, still guarantees them a laugh.

ON THE NET

* www.thesimpsons.com