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{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox Simpsons episode {{Infobox Simpsons episode
| image = | image =
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| season = 17 | season = 17
| episode = 8 | episode = 8
| director = Mark Kirkland | director = ]
| writer = John Frink | writer = ]
| production = HABF02 | production = HABF02
| airdate = {{Start date|2005|12|11}} | airdate = {{Start date|2005|12|11}}
| guests = ] as ]<br>] as ]<br>] as himself | guests = ] as ]<br />] as ]
| blackboard = "That one's more jazzy" | blackboard = "That one's more jazzy"
| couch_gag = A pair of cartoon hands deal out a wild royal flush, consisting of the jack of diamonds (Bart), the queen of diamonds (Marge), the king of diamonds (Homer), the ace of diamonds (Lisa), and the joker (Maggie), which Maggie sucks her pacifier. | couch_gag = A pair of cartoon hands deal out a wild royal flush, consisting of the jack of diamonds (]), the queen of diamonds (]), the king of diamonds (]), the ace of diamonds (]), and the joker (]).
| commentary = {{Plainlist| | commentary = {{Plainlist|
* ] * ]
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}} }}


"'''The Italian Bob'''" is the eighth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It first aired on the ] in the United States on December 11, 2005. Serving as a sequel to "]", it features ] in his ninth appearance as ] and is the first time the Simpsons visit ]. "'''The Italian Bob'''" is the eighth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It first aired on the ] in the United States on December 11, 2005. The episode was written by ] and directed by ].


In this episode, the Simpsons go to Italy to pick up Mr. Burns' new car and encounter Sideshow Bob after the car is involved in a collision. Serving as a sequel to "]", it features ] in his ninth appearance as ] and is the first time the Simpsons visit ]. ] also guest starred. The episode received mixed reviews. Grammer won the ] for his performance in this episode. Frink won the ] for his script to this episode.
⚫ The episode is a reference to the 1969 British caper film '']''. Among the locations the Simpsons visit in this episode are ], ], ], ] and ].


⚫ The episode's title is a reference to the 1969 British caper film '']''. Among the locations the Simpsons visit in this episode are ], ], ], ] and ].
In this episode Homer is chastised by Lisa for imitating fascist dictator Benito Mussolini on Bob's balcony. As mayor of the small town where the Simpsons accidentally discover him, Bob makes a truce with the Simpsons and invites the citizens to greet his friends. Homer, predicting America's political future in this 2005 episode, replies, "Oh, I thought I was doing Donald Trump," and then folds his arms and swivels his outstretched chin.


==Plot== ==Plot==
After ] gets teased about his old car by the kids at ], he sends ] to pick up a brand new '']] ]]'' car (a parody of the Lamborghini Gallardo) in ]. The family flies over on ], and have a great time touring the country, despite Homer and ]'s mockery of the culture and ]. ] tries to pass the family off as ] to avoid potential ridicule from Europeans who believe Americans make stupid choices, though this backfires when Homer brings in an American flag to smooch off the other passengers. After one huge food wheel made of ] lands on their car and crush the hood, they slowly push it into a small (fictional) ] village nearby called Salsiccia (]), and are told that the mayor speaks English. After ] gets teased about his old car by the kids at ], he sends ] to pick up a brand new ''Lamborgotti Fasterossa'' car in ]. The Simpsons fly over on ], and tour the country. After a huge wheel of ] lands on their car and crushes the hood, they push it into a small fictional ] village called Salsiccia (]), and are told that the mayor speaks English.


The Simpsons are shocked to find out that the mayor is none other than ], who is equally shocked to see them. He explains that after he ], he wanted a new life away from Springfield. Bob decided to get a fresh start elsewhere by using a knife and globe to "randomly" settle on a new destination, eventually choosing Italy (but only after passing over ], ], ] and, ironically, "Bartovia"). After a rough start, the Italians warmed up to him when he helped them crush their ]s into ] using his enormous feet. After that, they elected him as mayor of their tiny village. As a result, Bob has resisted all intentions of killing Bart, and he reveals that he has a family. He introduces them to his wife, ] and his son, ]. They know nothing about his past life in America, and Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone in order to have the car fixed, which they agree to. The Simpsons visit the mayor, who turns out to be ]. He explains that after he last attempted to kill ], he decided to get a fresh start in Italy. He helped the villagers crush ]s into ] using his enormous feet, and they elected him mayor. Bob has resisted all intention of killing Bart, and introduces the Simpsons to his wife, ], and his son, ]. Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone about his past crimes and arranges to have the car fixed.


One month later, Bob hosts a farewell party in the village for the Simpson family. However, that goes awry when Lisa gets drunk on ] and starts to spout off about him being an attempted murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit to reveal his prison uniform. The village finds out that Bob is a robber and attempted killer, and they sack him as Mayor. Bob is so angry at this that he has had enough with the rest of the family, and decides to kill not just Bart, but ''all'' of the Simpsons, swearing a ] on them upon deciding so. The family flees in the fixed car, but Bob follows them on a motorcycle (a ]). This leads into a high-speed chase in a highway until Homer drives into a ditch and onto a Roman aqueduct, eventually landing on top of ] in the ]. Bob's wife and son catch up with him, and Bob, fearing her disappointment, tries promising to give up his new vendetta. Francesca professes her love and loyalty to Bob and offers to help him take revenge ''as a family''. One month later, Bob hosts a farewell party for the Simpson family. ] gets drunk on ] and spouts off about Bob being an attempted murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit to reveal his prison uniform. Upon this revelation, the village sacks Bob as Mayor. Bob swears a murderous ] on the Simpsons. The family flees in the fixed car, but Bob follows on a motorcycle. Homer drives into a ditch and onto a Roman aqueduct, landing on top of ] in the ]. Bob's wife and son catch up with him. Francesca professes her love and loyalty to Bob and offers to help him take revenge.


Meanwhile, the Simpsons are wondering what they should do next, since they are in a foreign country with no car and no money whatsoever. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising ]'s performance in the opera '']''. They meet up with him at the ], and he puts them in as unnoticed extras. However, Bob, Francesca, and Gino find them and corner them on the stage while Krusty, who went through a trap door, flees the stage. Lisa warns the audience that the Terwilligers are about to actually kill her and the family, but Bob tricks the audience by performing the climax of '']''. Before Bob and his family can finish off the Simpsons though, Krusty's ] picks them up; Krusty needs them to smuggle an ancient artefact back to America. The Terwilligers are disappointed at first, but then walk away ], with Gino chasing a ] and Bob grinning maliciously with Francesca. The Simpsons are left with no car and no money. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising ]'s performance in the opera '']''. They meet up with him at the ], and he puts them in as extras. Bob, Francesca, and Gino find them and corner them on the stage while Krusty flees through a trap door. Lisa warns the audience that the Terwilligers are about to actually kill her and the family, but Bob tricks the audience by performing the climax of '']''. Before Bob and his family can kill the Simpsons, Krusty's limousine picks them up; Krusty needs them to smuggle an ancient artefact back to America. The Terwilligers are disappointed at first, but then walk away plotting revenge together.

==Production==
] guest starred as Sideshow Bob's wife Francesca. ] voiced the role of Bob's son Gino.<ref name="Farley"/>


==Reception== ==Reception==
===Viewing figures===
] won the ] for ] for his voice portrayal of ] in this episode. This marks the third time a credited guest star for the show has won an Emmy, the other two being ] and ] although Wallace and Mason both won theirs as a joint win with the rest of the main cast the first time the category was awarded in 1992.
The episode earned a 3.7 rating and was watched by 10.30 million viewers, the 28th most-watched show that week.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=] Medianet|date=December 13, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=121305_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 5-11)|access-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221202525/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=121305_04|archive-date=December 21, 2008}}</ref>


===Critical response===
⚫ ] won the ] at the ] for his script to this episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/departed-shines-at-wga-kudos-1117959264/|title='Departed' shines at WGA kudos|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=11 February 2007|website=Variety|accessdate=23 February 2019}}</ref>
Ryan J. Budke of '']'' said the episode was funny but did not like the abrupt ending with Sideshow Bob singing. He highlighted the joke of ] from the television series '']'' being accused of plagiarism and ] from the television series '']'' being accused of plagiarizing plagiarism.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan J.|last=Budke|date=December 12, 2005|title=The Simpsons: The Italian Bob|url=http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2005/12/12/the-simpsons-the-italian-bob/|website=]|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203023149/http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2005/12/12/the-simpsons-the-italian-bob/|archive-date=February 3, 2006}}</ref>


Colin Jacobson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' said while Sideshow Bob episodes are usually good, this episode "doesn't live up to those heights, but it manages to mostly work well."<ref>{{cite web|first=Colin|last=Jacobson|date=December 10, 2017|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Seventeenth Season (2005-06)|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonss17.shtml|website=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=August 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818182606/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonss17.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫ In 2009, ]'s Robert Canning placed "The Italian Bob" last on his list of the "Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes" (at that time, ten episodes revolving around the character had aired). Canning wrote that the episode "falls lowest in the ranking for a few reasons, but the biggest of these is the fact that Bob had no intention of killing Bart. Plus we're in Italy. Plus Bob is married and has a son. All the things we love about a Sideshow Bob episode—the vengeance, the familiar settings and characters, the elaborate scheming—were missing from this half-hour. Without it, Bob wasn't nearly as entertaining, and the episode didn't result in a whole lot of laughs."<ref>{{cite web|last=Canning|first=Robert|title=The Simpsons: Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/03/the-simpsons-top-10-sideshow-bob-episodes|publisher=]|accessdate=2012-08-23|date=2012-12-09}}</ref>

On ''Four Finger Discount'', Brendan Dando and Guy Davis enjoyed the episode, saying the episode with the Simpsons traveling abroad had a story that made sense and liked that it "poked fun" of the Italian stereotypes.<ref>{{cite podcast|first1=Guy|last1=Davis|first2=Brendan|last2=Dando|title="The Italian Bob" Podcast Review (S17E08)|work=Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast)|date=April 20, 2023|url=https://www.fourfingerdiscount.com.au/episodes/the-italian-bob-simpsons-podcast-review|time=10:05|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007020746/https://www.fourfingerdiscount.com.au/episodes/the-italian-bob-simpsons-podcast-review|url-status=live}}</ref>

⚫ In 2009, Robert Canning of '']'' placed "The Italian Bob" last on his list of the "Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes". At that time, ten episodes revolving around the character had aired. Canning wrote that the episode "falls lowest in the ranking for a few reasons, but the biggest of these is the fact that Bob had no intention of killing Bart. Plus we're in Italy. Plus Bob is married and has a son. All the things we love about a Sideshow Bob episode—the vengeance, the familiar settings and characters, the elaborate scheming—were missing from this half-hour. Without it, Bob wasn't nearly as entertaining, and the episode didn't result in a whole lot of laughs."<ref>{{cite web|last=Canning|first=Robert|title=The Simpsons: Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/03/the-simpsons-top-10-sideshow-bob-episodes|website=]|accessdate=2012-08-23|date=2012-12-09}}</ref>

In 2022, Lloyd Farley of '']'' ranked the episode last out of 15 Sideshow Bob episodes. He said that it lacked Bob's schemes and intentions to kill Bart, which what makes Sideshow Bob's episodes special.<ref name="Farley">{{cite web|first=Lloyd|last=Farley|date=March 17, 2022|title=Hello, Bart: 'The Simpsons' Sideshow Bob Episodes, Ranked|url=https://collider.com/simpsons-sideshow-bob-episodes-ranked/|website=]|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007020831/https://collider.com/simpsons-sideshow-bob-episodes-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
] won the ] at the ] for his voice portrayal of ] in this episode.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lynn|last=Elber|date=August 28, 2006|title='24' captures best drama; 'The Office' wins best comedy|url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2006/08/28/24-captures-best-drama-the-office-wins-best-comedy/31168409007/|website=]|agency=]|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007020747/https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2006/08/28/24-captures-best-drama-the-office-wins-best-comedy/31168409007/|url-status=live}}</ref> This marks the third time a credited guest star for the show has won an Emmy, the other two being ] and ] although Wallace and Mason both won theirs as a joint win with the rest of the main cast the first time the category was awarded in 1992.<ref name="44th">{{cite news|title=Briefing–'Simpsons' score big in Prime-Time Emmys|date=1992-08-03|page=L20|newspaper=]}}</ref>

⚫ ] won the ] at the ] for his script to this episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/departed-shines-at-wga-kudos-1117959264/|title='Departed' shines at WGA kudos|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=11 February 2007|website=]|accessdate=23 February 2019|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015713/https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/departed-shines-at-wga-kudos-1117959264/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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== External links == == External links ==
⚫ {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_17#The_Italian_Bob|"The Italian Bob"}}
{{Portal|The Simpsons}}
* {{IMDb episode|0701244}} * {{IMDb episode|0701244}}

⚫ {{wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_17#The_Italian_Bob|"The Italian Bob"}}
{{Simpsons Sideshow Bob}} {{Simpsons Sideshow Bob}}
{{The Simpsons episodes|17}} {{The Simpsons episodes|17}}
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Latest revision as of 22:45, 26 December 2024

8th episode of the 17th season of The Simpsons
"The Italian Bob"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 17
Episode 8
Directed byMark Kirkland
Written byJohn Frink
Production codeHABF02
Original air dateDecember 11, 2005 (2005-12-11)
Guest appearances
Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Francesca
Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob
Episode features
Chalkboard gag"That one's more jazzy"
Couch gagA pair of cartoon hands deal out a wild royal flush, consisting of the jack of diamonds (Bart), the queen of diamonds (Marge), the king of diamonds (Homer), the ace of diamonds (Lisa), and the joker (Maggie).
Commentary
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Last of the Red Hat Mamas" 		Next →
"Simpsons Christmas Stories"
The Simpsons season 17
List of episodes

"The Italian Bob" is the eighth episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 11, 2005. The episode was written by John Frink and directed by Mark Kirkland.

In this episode, the Simpsons go to Italy to pick up Mr. Burns' new car and encounter Sideshow Bob after the car is involved in a collision. Serving as a sequel to "The Great Louse Detective", it features Kelsey Grammer in his ninth appearance as Sideshow Bob and is the first time the Simpsons visit Italy. Maria Grazia Cucinotta also guest starred. The episode received mixed reviews. Grammer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for his performance in this episode. Frink won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation for his script to this episode.

The episode's title is a reference to the 1969 British caper film The Italian Job. Among the locations the Simpsons visit in this episode are Pisa, Pompeii, Tuscany, Rome and Venice.

Plot

After Mr. Burns gets teased about his old car by the kids at Springfield Elementary School, he sends Homer Simpson to pick up a brand new Lamborgotti Fasterossa car in Italy. The Simpsons fly over on Alitalia, and tour the country. After a huge wheel of mortadella lands on their car and crushes the hood, they push it into a small fictional Tuscan village called Salsiccia (sausage), and are told that the mayor speaks English.

The Simpsons visit the mayor, who turns out to be Sideshow Bob. He explains that after he last attempted to kill Bart, he decided to get a fresh start in Italy. He helped the villagers crush grapes into wine using his enormous feet, and they elected him mayor. Bob has resisted all intention of killing Bart, and introduces the Simpsons to his wife, Francesca Terwilliger, and his son, Gino. Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone about his past crimes and arranges to have the car fixed.

One month later, Bob hosts a farewell party for the Simpson family. Lisa gets drunk on wine and spouts off about Bob being an attempted murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit to reveal his prison uniform. Upon this revelation, the village sacks Bob as Mayor. Bob swears a murderous vendetta on the Simpsons. The family flees in the fixed car, but Bob follows on a motorcycle. Homer drives into a ditch and onto a Roman aqueduct, landing on top of Trajan's Column in the Roman Forum. Bob's wife and son catch up with him. Francesca professes her love and loyalty to Bob and offers to help him take revenge.

The Simpsons are left with no car and no money. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising Krusty the Clown's performance in the opera Pagliacci. They meet up with him at the Colosseum in Rome, and he puts them in as extras. Bob, Francesca, and Gino find them and corner them on the stage while Krusty flees through a trap door. Lisa warns the audience that the Terwilligers are about to actually kill her and the family, but Bob tricks the audience by performing the climax of Vesti la giubba. Before Bob and his family can kill the Simpsons, Krusty's limousine picks them up; Krusty needs them to smuggle an ancient artefact back to America. The Terwilligers are disappointed at first, but then walk away plotting revenge together.

Production

Maria Grazia Cucinotta guest starred as Sideshow Bob's wife Francesca. Tress MacNeille voiced the role of Bob's son Gino.

Reception

Viewing figures

The episode earned a 3.7 rating and was watched by 10.30 million viewers, the 28th most-watched show that week.

Critical response

Ryan J. Budke of TV Squad said the episode was funny but did not like the abrupt ending with Sideshow Bob singing. He highlighted the joke of Peter Griffin from the television series Family Guy being accused of plagiarism and Stan Smith from the television series American Dad! being accused of plagiarizing plagiarism.

Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide said while Sideshow Bob episodes are usually good, this episode "doesn't live up to those heights, but it manages to mostly work well."

On Four Finger Discount, Brendan Dando and Guy Davis enjoyed the episode, saying the episode with the Simpsons traveling abroad had a story that made sense and liked that it "poked fun" of the Italian stereotypes.

In 2009, Robert Canning of IGN placed "The Italian Bob" last on his list of the "Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes". At that time, ten episodes revolving around the character had aired. Canning wrote that the episode "falls lowest in the ranking for a few reasons, but the biggest of these is the fact that Bob had no intention of killing Bart. Plus we're in Italy. Plus Bob is married and has a son. All the things we love about a Sideshow Bob episode—the vengeance, the familiar settings and characters, the elaborate scheming—were missing from this half-hour. Without it, Bob wasn't nearly as entertaining, and the episode didn't result in a whole lot of laughs."

In 2022, Lloyd Farley of Collider ranked the episode last out of 15 Sideshow Bob episodes. He said that it lacked Bob's schemes and intentions to kill Bart, which what makes Sideshow Bob's episodes special.

Awards and nominations

Kelsey Grammer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance at the 58th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his voice portrayal of Sideshow Bob in this episode. This marks the third time a credited guest star for the show has won an Emmy, the other two being Marcia Wallace and Jackie Mason although Wallace and Mason both won theirs as a joint win with the rest of the main cast the first time the category was awarded in 1992.

John Frink won the Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Writing in Animation at the 59th Writers Guild of America Awards for his script to this episode.

References

  1. ^ Farley, Lloyd (March 17, 2022). "Hello, Bart: 'The Simpsons' Sideshow Bob Episodes, Ranked". Collider. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  2. "Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 5-11)". ABC Medianet. December 13, 2005. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. Budke, Ryan J. (December 12, 2005). "The Simpsons: The Italian Bob". TV Squad. Archived from the original on February 3, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  4. Jacobson, Colin (December 10, 2017). "The Simpsons: The Complete Seventeenth Season [Blu-Ray] (2005-06)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on August 18, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  5. Davis, Guy; Dando, Brendan (April 20, 2023). ""The Italian Bob" Podcast Review (S17E08)". Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast) (Podcast). Event occurs at 10:05. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. Canning, Robert (December 9, 2012). "The Simpsons: Top 10 Sideshow Bob Episodes". IGN. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  7. Elber, Lynn (August 28, 2006). "'24' captures best drama; 'The Office' wins best comedy". Ocala StarBanner. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. "Briefing–'Simpsons' score big in Prime-Time Emmys". Daily News of Los Angeles. August 3, 1992. p. L20.
  9. McNary, Dave (February 11, 2007). "'Departed' shines at WGA kudos". Variety. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.

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