Posted on 10/22/2014 3:01:30 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
Twenty-three years after "The Simpsons" introduced the Springfield Mafia, actor Frank Sivero has filed a $250 million lawsuit against Fox Television Studios for basing one of the three animated "wiseguys" on his "Goodfellas" character Frankie Carbone.
Silvero claims in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that in 1989 he lived in a Sherman Oaks apartment next door to "The Simpsons" writers and that "Simpsons" producer James L. Brooks was “highly aware of who Sivero was, the fact that he created the role of Frankie Carbone, and that 'The Simpsons' character Louie would be based on this character.”
"During this time, both writers knew who Sivero was, and they saw each other almost every day," the complaint alleges. "They knew he was developing the character he was to play in the movie 'Goodfellas,' a movie Sivero did in 1989. In fact, they were aware the entire character of 'Frankie Carbone' was created and developed by Sivero, who based this character on his own personality."
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
this title is what happens when English/grammar is no longer taught
Isn’t this the guy that was in the freezer and it took 2 days for the body to thaw out?
Ha! My question has been answered. FReepers rock!
That character has bee on the Simpsons for decades. Did he just start watching?
Fagiddaboutit!
Looks like Fat Tony is going to make 'em an offer they can't refuse.
Frivolous lawsuits...Somebody is out of cash.
Simpsons guy has no eyebrows.
And only 3 fingers. Case dismissed.
How much do I get for looking like Comic Book Guy?
He has no ownership interest in the character, and in any event it’s parody. If he was that upset, he should have sued fifteen years ago.
Or capitalization of the first word in a sentence
That's a distinct possibility. His last film credit was six years ago. Probably looking for cash, and some publicity to get his career back on track.
“What the f... you looking at? Come on. Make that coffee to go. Let’s go......What the f.... are you doing? It’s a joke! A joke! Put the f...ing pot down!”
does he own the rights to Goodfella’s?
Since it is parody it is legal
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