Honey Boo Boo’s reach spreads to NBC’s ‘The New Normal’

The reach of Go-Go Juice-drinking Alana Thompson continues to permeate the universe: “The New Normal” will pay homage to Honey Boo Boo -- and her family, too -- in its upcoming Halloween episode.

Ryan Murphy, co-creator of the NBC comedy, told reporters Tuesday that the reality phenomenon gets a hat tip in the episode when Bryan (Andrew Rannells) decides, because of Shania’s love for “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” that the family should go in mask as the TLC brethren. Shania (Bebe Wood) already proved capable of impersonating Little Edie from “Grey Gardens” -- but can she master the art of stomach-talking?

“It’s a really fun episode,” Murphy said. It has to be, right? We’re still rewinding that ‘Grey Gardens’ bit -- which Murphy said has had a lasting impression on folks.

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“I’m stopped every day and hear about that every day,” he said. “We came up with that whole idea because Bebe is such an eccentric, exotic child and she was doing that imitation while we were shooting the pilot, so of course I had to take that and run with it.”

As for the Halloween/Honey Boo Boo episode, Murphy said it also will explore the gay male stereotype, particularly through the eyes of David (Justin Bartha).

“If a gay guy is sort of drawn to anything fashion or feminine, why is that considered a stereotype?” Murphy said. “Why is that considered controversial? What way does the gay community look at them, in what way does the straight community look at them? It’s a ... fun, interesting episode to write about.”

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Follow Yvonne Villarreal on Twitter: @villarrealy

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