Üter
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Üter (Ueter) is a fictional foreign exchange student on The Simpsons, voiced by Russi Taylor. His name is presumably German, though no such name actually exists. It resembles the actual name Uther, but with different pronunciation.
Üter is portrayed as being the generic 'foreign kid' at Springfield Elementary, although he is often called upon to serve specifically as a stereotypical German. In particular, he is pudgy and obsessed with candy, specifically chocolate and a few other, more unusual candies that Americans might regard as humorously foreign. He has odd habits, such as offering his half-eaten 'flavorstick' to others as a sign of friendship and eating marzipan candies fortified with iodine.
He disappeared for a period of time after a field trip to the local Civil War site (as seen in The PTA Disbands). When the actors taking part in a re-enactment of the Battle of Springfield noticed that the students were attempting to 'learn for free', they gave chase. As the students attempted to run to the bus, Üter suffered a cramp and was left behind to be clubbed with the butts of the faux rifles that the angry 'soldiers' were wielding. Although a joke was made concerning this event in a later episode, with Üter's parents asking Skinner where their missing son was (Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?), in the same episode Skinner denied any knowledge of Üter.
He has since reappeared, alive and plump.
In 22 Short Films About Springfield he stated that his father was the foreman of 'The Düsseldorf Gumworks'.
He was killed in a Treehouse of Horror episode, in which his teachers became cannibals. They cooked his flesh, and served a 'delicious' dish called Üterbraten to the other children during an impromptu Oktoberfest celebration.
Üter's most embarrassing moment came when he ate his own diorama of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which was made entirely of chocolate) before it could be judged -- "I begged you to look at mine first! I begged you!". (Well, that and when he was forced to run like the little Butterball that he is.)
Interestingly, in the dubbed German version of the show, Üter is portrayed as a Swiss boy and not a German one; for the German audience, Üter's frequent references to chocolate correspond better to stereotypes that the Germans have of the Swiss and not themselves. For most Americans, however, the character corresponds closely to popular clichés about the Germans, such as their 'habit' of wearing Lederhosen, something that is (or was) typical of Bavarian folk-culture, (Bavaria being the southernmost German state, located in the extreme south-east of Germany).
Düsseldorf, the location of his father's employment, is the capital city of the state North Rhine-Westphalia about 500km north of Bavaria, in the west of Germany and rather closer to the Netherlands, but off course, there is the possibility that his family comes from Bavaria, but moved for a better job. However, nobody would ever wear Lederhosen in that area of Germany.
In its summary of Treehouse of Horror IV, incorrectly states that Üter 'is not mentioned by name', when, in fact, Bart and Principal Skinner clearly (if a little hesitantly) address him as such.
Quotes
- "Don't make me run! I'm full of chocolate!" - running from a towel-snapping Homer.
- "I feel like I'm in Fitzcarraldo!" - while pulling the bus up a mountain. Nelson then says "That movie was flawed!" and punches Üter. ('Fitzcarraldo' being the 1982 film by Werner Herzog, a German director).
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