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| {{Infobox Simpsons episode | {{Infobox Simpsons episode | ||
| | image = | |||
| | episode_name = The Last Temptation of Krust | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | image = ] | |||
| | |
| season = 9 | ||
| | episode = 15 | |||
| | image_caption = ] and ] bathing ] | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| | prod_code = 5F10 | |||
| | |
| writer = ] | ||
| | production = 5F10 | |||
| | show runner = ] | |||
| | |
| airdate = {{Start date|1998|02|22}} | ||
| | guests = * ], ], ], ], ] and ] as themselves | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| | blackboard |
| blackboard = "Pain is not the cleanser" | ||
| | couch_gag |
| couch_gag = The family run in, with their behinds on fire and douse themselves on the waterlogged couch.<ref name="BBC" /> | ||
| | commentary = ]<br>Mike Scully<br>]<br>Donick Cary<br>]<br>Mike B. Anderson<br>Jay Leno | |||
| | guest_star = ], Bruce Baum, ], ], ] and ] as themselves | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | commentary = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />] | |||
| | |
| next = ] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''The Last Temptation of Krust'''" is the fifteenth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It first aired on ] in the United States on February 22, 1998. It was written by ] and directed by ]. Comedian ] makes a guest appearance.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Another ''Simpsons'' season hits DVD |work=] |date=December 22, 2006}}</ref> In the episode, ] convinces ] to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno, but Krusty's old material does not go over well with the audience and he receives bad reviews. He briefly retires from comedy but returns with a new, better-received gimmick. He soon returns to his old ways, selling out to a motor-vehicle company. | |||
| The production team's decision to write an episode about ] was influenced by comedy festivals. The writing staff initially had trouble getting Krusty's offensive bad jokes through network censors, but convinced them this was simply a way to emphasize his old and dated comedic material. The "Canyonero" sequence was modeled after ] commercials and was given its own segment at the end of the episode because the production staff liked it so much. | |||
| "'''The Last Temptation of Krust'''" is the fifteenth episode of '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ]. The episode first aired on ], ]. The title is a reference to the controversial novel and film '']'', whose title was previously spoofed in "]".<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =Movie connections for The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) | work =] | publisher =IMDb.com, Inc. An ] company. | date = | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095497/movieconnections | accessdate = 2008-01-22 }}</ref> The episode includes a ] appearance by ] ].<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =Another Simpsons season hits DVD | work =] | date =], ] | }}</ref> | |||
| The episode was highlighted by '']'' in a review of ] and received positive reviews in '']'', the '']'', and in books on ''The Simpsons''. | |||
| ] convinces ] to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno, but Krusty's old material does not go over well with the audience and he receives bad reviews. After going on a drinking binge, Bart and Jay Leno bathe Krusty in the Simpsons' house, and he decides to announce his retirement. At his retirement press conference his tirade against modern comedy is seen by the audience as hysterical, and he returns to comedy with a new style and appearance and complains about ]. He later agrees to a deal with marketing executives in return for a new "Canyonero" ], and markets products during his next comedy appearance. The episode received favorable mention in reviews of ''The Simpsons'' season 9 DVD boxed set and in books on the television series. | |||
| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| ] is persuaded by ] to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno. Krusty's outdated and offensive material fails to impress the audience when compared with the trendier ]s also appearing. Discouraged by a negative review of his act, Krusty goes on a bender and passes out on ]' lawn. While recovering in Bart's memorabilia-covered room, Krusty realizes that he should have spent more time honing his act rather than ], and he enlists Bart and Leno's aid. However, his attempts at observational humor fall flat with the Simpson family. Krusty holds a press conference to announce his retirement and in short order launches into a bitter tirade against modern-day comedians. The audience finds Krusty's rant hysterically funny and he subsequently announces his return to comedy. | |||
| Krusty is inspired to return to doing low-key events, where he structures a new |
Krusty is inspired to return to doing low-key events, where he structures a new image for himself as a ] who tells the truth, criticizes commercialism, and refuses to sell out to corporate America. He also changes his appearance, sporting a dark sweater and tying his hair in a ponytail. Observing his newfound popularity, two marketing executives try to persuade Krusty to endorse a new ] called the Canyonero. Although he tries to resist, he eventually succumbs to the lure of money. After promoting the Canyonero at a comedy performance in ], he is booed off stage by the patrons. He finally admits to himself that comedy is not in his blood and selling out is. The episode ends with an extended advertisement for the Canyonero, as Krusty and Bart leave ]'s tavern in Krusty's new SUV. | ||
| ==Production== | |||
| Two marketing executives try to persuade Krusty to advertise a new sport utility vehicle called the Canyonero, and he initially resists before succumbing to the lure of money and commercialism. After promoting the Canyonero at a comedy performance at ], he is booed offstage by the patrons. He finally admits to himself that it is not comedy that is in his blood; it is ]. The episode ends with an extended sequence of the song "Canyonero", as Krusty and Bart leave ]'s bar in Krusty's new SUV. | |||
| ] | |||
| In the ] commentary for ''The Simpsons''{{'}} ninth season, writer ] stated that the inspiration for the idea of an episode about stand-up comedy came out of comedy festivals at the time.<ref name="cary">{{cite video |people=] |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Executive producer ] said that the writers had difficulty getting Krusty's offensive bad jokes through the network censors. The stereotypical jokes were allowed because the writers convinced the network censors that viewers would understand it was simply emphasizing Krusty's dated comedic material.<ref name="scully">{{cite video |people=] |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> | |||
| ] stated that at least three different acts of material were written and animated for Krusty's comeback stand-up appearance at Moe's Tavern. It was not until the editing process that the material used was decided upon. The episode was still being animated three weeks before it was due to air and the production process moved frantically shortly before completion.<ref name="anderson">{{cite video |people=] |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The Canyonero sequence was originally planned to be displayed during the closing credits. The production team liked the scene so much that they did not want it to be obscured by the credits and gave it its own segment at the end of the episode.<ref name="scully" /> | |||
| == Production == | |||
| In the ] commentary for the 2006 DVD release of ''The Simpsons''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ninth season, writer ] stated that the inspiration for the idea of a ''Simpsons'' episode about stand-up comedy came out of rock and comedy festivals at the time.<ref name="cary">{{cite video | people=] |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Executive producer ] commented that the writers had some difficulty getting Krusty's offensive bad jokes through the network censors.<ref name="scully">{{cite video | people=] |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In the end, the stereotypical jokes were allowed because the writers convinced the network censors that viewers would understand this was simply emphasizing Krusty's old and dated comedic material.<ref name="scully" /> During Krusty's "bender to end all benders", there is a drinking ] where Krusty is seen drinking out of a ], and then vomiting back into it later.<ref name="scully" /> Scully noted that the ] sent a letter which he described as a "kind of a cease and desist", but the production staff decided not to cut the scene from the episode.<ref name="scully" /> Before the scene where Jay Leno and Bart wash Krusty's hair in the bathtub, there was going to be a scene where Bart sought Leno to ask for help, but the writing staff thought viewers would understand if Leno simply appeared helping Krusty later on.<ref name="scully" /> | |||
| ==Cultural references== | |||
| ] stated that at least three acts of material were written and animated for Krusty's comeback stand-up appearance at Moe's Tavern, and it was not until the editing process that the actual material used by Krusty was decided upon.<ref name="anderson">{{cite video | people=] |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode was still being animated three weeks before its airdate, and the production process moved frantically as the episode neared completion.<ref name="anderson" /> The "Canyonero" song and visual sequence was modeled after ] commercials.<ref name="scully" /> The Canyonero sequence was originally going to be displayed during the closing credits, but since the production team liked the scene a lot, they did not want it to be obscured by the credits, and gave it its own segment at the end of the episode.<ref name="scully" /> | |||
| The episode title is a reference to the controversial novel (and later ]) '']''. In addition to Jay Leno, other real-life comedians that portrayed themselves in the episode include ], ], ], and ], whose appearance helped increase his popularity.<ref name="primescan">{{cite news |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |title=Primescan |work =] |page=68 |date=August 20, 1998 }}</ref><ref name="kasa">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Last Temptation of Krusty |work=] |date=February 22, 1998}}</ref><ref name="freedman">{{cite news |last=Freedman |first=Richard |title=Baum lands at Pepper Belly's Comic's wild act, if not face, unique | work=Times-Herald |date=February 5, 2004}}</ref> Garofalo would return to guest star again as herself in the season 23 episode "]". Krusty's "Krustylu Studios" is a spoof on the company ] studios, set up by ] and her husband ], where the series '']'' was once filmed.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season9/page15.shtml |title=Season Nine – The Last Temptation of Krust |access-date=November 30, 2007 |last1=Martyn |first1=Warren |last2=Wood |first2=Adrian |date=2000 |work=The Simpsons – Episode Guide |publisher=BBC |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20031223195157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season9/page15.shtml |archive-date=December 23, 2003}}</ref> During Krusty's "bender to end all benders" ], he is seen drinking out of and vomiting into the ]. The ] sent a letter regarding this scene.<ref name="scully" /> Mike Scully described it as a "kind of a cease and desist", but the production staff decided not to cut the scene from the episode.<ref name="scully" /> (Of note, Fox was a ] for NHL games at the time this episode originally aired.) The poem recited by Krusty when he announces his retirement from comedy is based on "To an Athlete Dying Young" by ]. Krusty attends the coffee shop Java the Hut, a reference to the '']'' character ].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nohomers.net/content/info/articles/11.shtml |title=I Bent My Wookiee! Celebrating the Star Wars/Simpsons Connection |access-date=January 23, 2022 |date=July 24, 2007 |first=Scott |last=Chernoff |work=No Homers Club |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081006065936/http://www.starwars.com/community/news/media/f20070724/index.html?page=3 |archive-date=October 6, 2008}}</ref> Additionally, Krusty's anti-commercialism and anti-corporate stances, along with styling his hair in a ponytail, is a reference to comedian ] who styled his hair the same way later in his career and often had anti-capitalist, anti-consumerist and anti-commercialist overtones in his performance.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} | |||
| ===Canyonero=== | |||
| == Cultural references == | |||
| The "Canyonero" song and visual sequence was modeled after ] commercials.<ref name="scully" /> The sequence is a parody of a commercial for a sport utility vehicle and ] sings a song about the Canyonero accompanied by ] and whip cracks.{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=254}} The song "Canyonero" closely resembles the theme to the 1960s television series '']''.<ref name="BBC" /> This episode was the first appearance of the Canyonero, which again appeared in the ] episode "]{{-"}}.{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=254}} The "Canyonero" song is included on the 1999 soundtrack album '']''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |title =ALL TV'Tooning in to animation CDs |work=] |page=39|date=November 12, 1999}}</ref> | |||
| ] reprised his role as an animated version of himself when ] appeared on '']'' to promote '']''.]] | |||
| In addition to Jay Leno, other real-life comedians that portray themselves at the comedy festival where Krusty decides to retire include ], ] and Bruce Baum.<ref name="kasa">{{cite news | last =Staff | title =The Last Temptation of Krusty | work =] | date =], ] | }}</ref><ref name="freedman">{{cite news | last =Freedman | first =Richard | title =Baum lands at Pepper Belly's Comic's wild act, if not face, unique | work =] | date =], ] | }}</ref> Baum's appearance as himself on ''The Simpsons'' helped to increase his popularity, when previously some people confused him with ].<ref name="freedman" /> The song "Canyonero", sung by ], closely resembles the theme to the 1960s television series '']''.<ref name="BBC" /> Krusty's "Krustylu Studios" is a spoof on the company Desilu studios set up by ] and her husband ], where the series '']'' was once filmed.<ref name="BBC" /> | |||
| Two years later, Ford released the ]-based ], the largest and heaviest SUV ever until the electric GMC Hummer SUV and pickup. | |||
| Jay Leno reprised his role as an animated version of himself on ], ], in a special animation segment when Homer appeared on '']'' to promote '']''.<ref>{{cite news | last =Friedman | first =Josh | title =BOX OFFICE; Bart and gang rise to the occasion; `The Simpsons Movie' blows away sales expectations, helped by positive reviews and aggressive marketing. | work =] | page =C1 (Section: Business) | date = ], ] | }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Gandert | first =Sean | title =Simpsons Movie free mp3, Homer on Leno | work =Paste Magazine | publisher =Paste Media Group | date =], ] | url =http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4517/news/film/simpsons_movie_free_mp3_homer_on_leno | accessdate = 2007-11-30 }}</ref><ref name="weisz">{{cite news | last =Weisz | first =David | title =Homer Simpson to Make Exclusive Tonight Show Appearance | work =Dose.ca | publisher =CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. | date =], ] | url =http://www.dose.ca/tv/story.html?id=06aed25a-1ae9-4502-b8c2-a3f8fa02c50d&k=93786 | accessdate = 2007-12-15}}</ref> In a released statement, Homer said "I understand I'm doing a monologue, I hope it doesn't involve talking."<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =Homer's 'Tonight Show' odyssey | work =] | page =1D | date =], ] | url =http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20070716/d_lline16.art.htm | accessdate = 2007-12-15}}</ref><ref name="weisz" /> Homer appeared alongside Leno in his opening monologue "scooping up a new 'Duff & D'oh-Nuts' flavour".<ref>{{cite news | last =Lai | first =Tim | title =How D'oh! nuts are gorging on Simpsons hype: TV family hits silver screen amid careful PR assault | work =] | date =], ] | url =http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/238494 | accessdate = 2007-12-15}}</ref> ''The Tonight Show'' appearance was Homer's "one and exclusive publicity appearance" to promote ''The Simpsons Movie''.<ref name="businesswire2007">{{cite news | last =Staff | title = Doh! Homer Simpson Makes His Only Publicity Stop at NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ to Promote ‘The Simpsons Movie’ | work =] | date =], ] | }}</ref> Homer only appeared during the opening monologue sequence, due to time restrictions on ''The Tonight Show''.<ref name="businesswire2007" /> | |||
| ] wrote positively of the Canyonero spoof piece in '']'', calling it "a brilliant parody of an SUV ad".{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=254}} | |||
| == Reception == | |||
| ] comments in the DVD commentary for "The Last Temptation of Krust" that he could not tell whether the writers were poking fun at him or complimenting him.]] | |||
| "The Last Temptation of Krust" is highlighted among the six best episodes of ] in a 2006 article in '']''.<ref>{{cite news | last = Clark | first = Mike | title = New on DVD | work = ] | publisher = Gannett Co. Inc. |date=], ] | url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-12-21-new-on-dvd_x.htm?csp=34 | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref> The episode is highlighted in a review of ''The Simpsons The Complete Ninth Season'' DVD in '']''.<ref name="washingtontimes">{{cite news | last =Szadkowski | first =Joseph | title =Animated ninja figures learn all about warrior art. | work =] | page =C09 | publisher =The Washington Times LLC | date =], ] | }}</ref> The reviewer notes: "Among the 22-minute gems found in the set, I most enjoyed ... Krusty the Clown's work with Jay Leno in 'The Last Temptation of Krust' ..."<ref name="washingtontimes" /> In a review of the season nine DVD, Mark Evans of the '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s writes "The Last Temptation of Krust is a winner for its title alone as Krusty the clown becomes an satiric 'alternative' comedian but then sells out by advertising the Canyonero SUV road hazard."<ref name="evans">{{cite news | last =Evans | first =Mark | title =Simpsons Season 9 | work =] | page =25 | publisher = ] | date =], ] | }}</ref> Some sources mistakenly refer to this episode as "The Last Temptation of Krusty".<ref name="kasa" /><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =The Simpsons - The Last Temptation of Krusty | work =Yahoo! TV | publisher =] | url =http://tv.yahoo.com/the-simpsons/show/the-last-temptation-of-krusty/episode/23856 | accessdate = 2008-02-20 }}</ref><ref name="irwin" /><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =The Simpsons - 'The Last Temptation of Krusty' Episode Info | work =MSN TV | publisher =] | url =http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/the-simpsons/the-last-temptation-of-krusty | accessdate =2008-02-20 }}</ref> | |||
| In an article in the journal ''Environmental Politics'', Steve Vanderheiden commented that the Canyonero reflected an "anti-SUV" stance by ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="vanderheiden">{{cite journal |last=Vanderheiden |first=Steve |title=Assessing the case against the SUV |journal=Environmental Politics | volume=15 |issue=1 |date=February 2006 |pages=23–40 |doi=10.1080/09644010500418688 |s2cid=55846686 }}</ref> Vanderheiden wrote: "Even the popular animated television series 'The Simpsons' joined the anti-SUV fray in 1998, featuring a mammoth vehicle called the 'Canyonero' (marketed with the jingle: 'Twelve yards long, two lanes wide/Sixty-five tons of American pride!'), which promised to help the family transcend its mundane station-wagon existence but instead brought only misery."<ref name="vanderheiden" /> | |||
| In the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood characterize the episode as "a good twist on the never-ending Krusty story", and write of Leno's performance: "Jay Leno turns in a nice cameo but, frankly, the show is stolen by the advert for the Canyonero."<ref name="BBC" /> Martyn and Wood comment on Krusty's new look, "Krusty with a ponytail and black sweater is soooo cool!"<ref name="BBC" /> In the DVD commentary, Jay Leno comments that the essence of comedy clubs is depicted very well in the episode.<ref name="leno">{{cite video | people=] |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Leno notes Krusty's remodeled appearance as "Carlin post-Vegas act", referring to ].<ref name="leno" /> He also comments that he appreciates Krusty's pokes at Leno's use of news headlines in ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' during Krusty's press conference and says that he cannot figure out whether parts of the episode were making fun of him or complimenting him.<ref name="leno" /> | |||
| The term "Canyonero" has since been used in the news media to refer critically to large trucks and SUVs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lennox |first1=Graeme |last2=Steele |first2=Liz |title=Drive a Survivor: Mums looking for safety first should check out Touareg |work=] |page=2 |date=June 22, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McKeever |first=Jim |title=Traffic Laws Don't Apply In Lots | work =] |page=B3 |date=September 19, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Michael |title=Right on Q. (Autos – Reviews) |work=] |page=E1 |date=May 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Staff |title=Muzzle the guzzlers |work=] |page=B8 |date=March 27, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Deen |first=Munim |title =Column: Hybrids overvalued |work=] |date=November 20, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| Chris Turner writes positively of the Canyonero spoof piece in his book '']'', calling it "a brilliant parody of an SUV ad".<ref name="turner">{{cite book | last =Turner | first =Chris | title =] | publisher =Da Capo Press | date =2005 | page =254 | id = | isbn = 030681448X}}</ref> William Irwin's '']'' discusses a scene from the episode where Krusty incites members of his audience to burn their money.<ref name="irwin">{{cite book | last =Irwin | first =William | coauthors = Mark T. Conard, Aeon J. Skoble | title =] | publisher =Open Court Publishing | date = 2001 | pages =49, 53–54 | id = | isbn = 0812694333}}</ref> Although Homer tells Marge to give him all the cash in her purse, she instead gives it to Lisa and tells her to run home and bury it in the backyard.<ref name="irwin" /> This is seen by ''The Simpsons and Philosophy'' as an example of Marge's ].<ref name="irwin" /> The book also uses this example to illustrate Marge's ] on Lisa, and her value as a ] for her children.<ref name="irwin" /> | |||
| In an article in the '']'' about SUV owners, Vicki Haddock wrote "SUV owners have become something of a punch line, succinctly captured in a "Simpsons" parody touting the apocryphal Canyonero".<ref>{{cite news |last=Haddock |first=Vicki |title=SUV owners have a champion on the Web; Road to acceptance for vilified vehicle owners is long, bumpy and winding |work=] |page=E1 |date=March 12, 2006 }}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| {{portal|Comedy|SMirC-laugh.svg}} | |||
| {{portal|The Simpsons|Simpsons tv icon.svg}} | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| In a 2006 article, Seth Jayson of '']'' compared the wording in a Ford advertisement ''myFord Owner Magazine'' to this episode, writing: "the unholiest of unholies is the writing, which is so thick with absurd adspeak, you'd think it was written by the crew at ''The Onion'' or ''The Simpsons'' – especially that episode where Krusty starts shilling for the Canyonero."<ref>{{cite news |last=Jayson |first=Seth |title='myFord' Makes Me Cringe |work=] |date=May 5, 2006 |url= https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/05/05/quotmyfordquot-makes-me-cringe.aspx |access-date=May 27, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071209121257/http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2006/05/05/quotmyfordquot-makes-me-cringe.aspx|archive-date=December 9, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| In a 2004 article in the '']'', Jim Mateja noted that people have pointed out a similarity between the ] and the Canyonero.<ref name="mateja">{{cite news |last=Mateja |first=Jim |title=Dealers let costs out of the bag |work=] |page=7 |date=April 4, 2004}}</ref> When contacted, GMC responded that the GMC is a pickup truck, while the Canyonero is a parody of an SUV.<ref name="mateja" /> | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| Joshua Dowling of '']'' described the philosophy of the ] as "The Canyonero comes to life".<ref>{{cite news |last=Dowling |first=Joshua |title=New Car Snapshot Ford F-250 |work=] |page=3 |publisher=John Fairfax Publications |date=September 30, 2001}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| ] said in the DVD commentary for "The Last Temptation of Krust" that he could not tell whether the writers were poking fun at him or complimenting him.]] | |||
| In its original broadcast, "The Last Temptation of Krust" finished 21st in ratings for the week of February 16–23, 1998, with a ] of 9.7, equivalent to approximately 9.5 million viewing households. It was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prime time Nielsen ratings|work=Associated Press Archive|agency=Associated Press|date=February 25, 1998}}</ref> | |||
| In 2006, '']'' highlighted the episode in a review of ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Mike |title=New on DVD |work=] |publisher=Gannett Co |date=December 22, 2006 |url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-12-21-new-on-dvd_x.htm?csp=34 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121017235605/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-12-21-new-on-dvd_x.htm?csp=34 |archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In his review of the season nine DVD, Joseph Szadkowski of '']'' noted: "Among the 22-minute gems found in the set, I most enjoyed ... work with Jay Leno."<ref name="washingtontimes">{{cite news |last=Szadkowski |first=Joseph |title =Animated ninja figures learn all about warrior art |work =] |page=C09 |date =January 13, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| Mark Evans of the '']'' wrote: "'The Last Temptation of Krust' is a winner for its title alone as Krusty the clown becomes a satiric 'alternative' comedian but then sells out by advertising the Canyonero SUV road hazard."<ref name="evans">{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Mark |title=Simpsons Season 9 |work=] |page=25 |publisher=] |date=January 27, 2007}}</ref> | |||
| ] wrote positively of the episode in '']'', citing the Canyonero sequence as "the real reason to watch" the episode and that "It's an oversize vehicle that will create oversized laughs."<ref name="primescan" /> | |||
| Some sources mistakenly refer to this episode as "The Last Temptation of Krusty".<ref name="kasa" /><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Simpsons – The Last Temptation of Krusty |work=Yahoo! TV |publisher=] |url= https://tv.yahoo.com/the-simpsons/show/the-last-temptation-of-krusty/episode/23856 |access-date=February 20, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110517053520/http://tv.yahoo.com/the-simpsons/show/the-last-temptation-of-krusty/episode/23856 |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name="irwin" /><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title =''The Simpsons'' – 'The Last Temptation of Krusty' Episode Info |work=MSN TV |publisher=] |url= http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/the-simpsons/the-last-temptation-of-krusty |access-date=February 20, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080607013039/http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/the-simpsons/the-last-temptation-of-krusty |archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood characterized the episode as "a good twist on the never-ending Krusty story" and suggested that while "Jay Leno turns in a nice cameo the show is stolen by the advert for the Canyonero".<ref name="BBC" /> The authors also praised Krusty's "ponytail and black sweater" look.<ref name="BBC" /> | |||
| In the DVD ] for "The Last Temptation of Krust", Leno said that he believed the essence of comedy clubs was depicted very well in the episode and referred to Krusty's remodeled appearance as " Carlin]] post-Vegas act".<ref name="leno">{{cite video |people=] |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust"|medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He also appreciated Krusty's poke at Leno's use of news headlines on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' and said that he could not figure out whether parts of the episode were making fun of him or complimenting him.<ref name="leno" /> | |||
| William Irwin's '']'' references a scene from the episode as an example of ]'s ], her ] on ], and her value as a ] for her children.<ref name="irwin">{{cite book |last1=Irwin |first1=William |last2=Conard |first2=Mark T. |last3=Skoble |first3=Aeon J. |title=] |publisher=Open Court Publishing |date=2001 |pages= |isbn=0-8126-9433-3 }}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{Portal|Comedy|The Simpsons}} | |||
| *] | |||
| {{Clear}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|colwidth=33em}} | |||
| '''Bibliography''' | |||
| {{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
| *{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Turner (author) |title=] |edition=1st revised |date=2005 |location=Cambridge |publisher=] |oclc=670978714 |isbn=978-0-306-81448-8 }} | |||
| *{{cite journal | last =Dobson | first =Hugo | title =Mister Sparkle Meets the Yakuza: Depictions of Japan in The Simpsons | journal =The Journal of Popular Culture | volume =39 | issue =1 | pages =pp. 44–68 | date =February 2006 | url =http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00203.x | doi =10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00203.x | id = | }} | |||
| *{{cite journal | last =Gray | first =Jonathan | title =Television Teaching: Parody, ''The Simpsons'', and Media Literacy Education | journal =Critical Studies in Media Communication | volume =22 | issue =3 | pages =pp. 223–238 | date =August 2005 | url =http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a724002351~db=all | doi =10.1080/07393180500201652 | id = | }} | |||
| {{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
| == |
==Further reading== | ||
| *{{cite journal |last=Dobson |first=Hugo |title=Mister Sparkle Meets the Yakuza: Depictions of Japan in The Simpsons |journal=The Journal of Popular Culture |volume =39 |issue =1 |pages=44–68 |date=February 2006| doi =10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00203.x }} | |||
| *{{cite journal |last=Gray |first=Jonathan |title=Television Teaching: Parody, ''The Simpsons'' and Media Literacy Education |journal=Critical Studies in Media Communication |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=223–238 |date=August 2005 |doi=10.1080/07393180500201652 |s2cid=144462611 }} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{wikiquote|The_Simpsons#The_Last_Temptation_of_Krust_.5B9.15.5D|"The Last Temptation of Krust"}} | {{wikiquote|The_Simpsons#The_Last_Temptation_of_Krust_.5B9.15.5D|"The Last Temptation of Krust"}} | ||
| *{{snpp capsule|5F10}} | *{{snpp capsule|5F10}} | ||
| *{{ |
*{{IMDb episode|0701247}} | ||
| *, at ] | |||
| {{The Simpsons episodes|9}} | |||
| * at The Simpsons.com | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Temptation |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Temptation Of Krust, The}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:15, 4 January 2025
15th episode of the 9th season of The Simpsons
| "The Last Temptation of Krust" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 9 Episode 15 | ||
| Directed by | Mike B. Anderson | ||
| Written by | Donick Cary | ||
| Production code | 5F10 | ||
| Original air date | February 22, 1998 (1998-02-22) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| |||
| Episode features | |||
| Chalkboard gag | "Pain is not the cleanser" | ||
| Couch gag | The family run in, with their behinds on fire and douse themselves on the waterlogged couch. | ||
| Commentary | Matt Groening Mike Scully Ron Hauge Donick Cary Yeardley Smith Mike B. Anderson Jay Leno | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 9 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"The Last Temptation of Krust" is the fifteenth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on Fox in the United States on February 22, 1998. It was written by Donick Cary and directed by Mike B. Anderson. Comedian Jay Leno makes a guest appearance. In the episode, Bart convinces Krusty the Clown to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno, but Krusty's old material does not go over well with the audience and he receives bad reviews. He briefly retires from comedy but returns with a new, better-received gimmick. He soon returns to his old ways, selling out to a motor-vehicle company.
The production team's decision to write an episode about stand-up comedy was influenced by comedy festivals. The writing staff initially had trouble getting Krusty's offensive bad jokes through network censors, but convinced them this was simply a way to emphasize his old and dated comedic material. The "Canyonero" sequence was modeled after Ford commercials and was given its own segment at the end of the episode because the production staff liked it so much.
The episode was highlighted by USA Today in a review of The Simpsons' ninth season and received positive reviews in The Washington Times, the Evening Herald, and in books on The Simpsons.
Plot
Krusty the Clown is persuaded by Bart Simpson to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno. Krusty's outdated and offensive material fails to impress the audience when compared with the trendier comedians also appearing. Discouraged by a negative review of his act, Krusty goes on a bender and passes out on Ned Flanders' lawn. While recovering in Bart's memorabilia-covered room, Krusty realizes that he should have spent more time honing his act rather than selling out, and he enlists Bart and Leno's aid. However, his attempts at observational humor fall flat with the Simpson family. Krusty holds a press conference to announce his retirement and in short order launches into a bitter tirade against modern-day comedians. The audience finds Krusty's rant hysterically funny and he subsequently announces his return to comedy.
Krusty is inspired to return to doing low-key events, where he structures a new image for himself as a stand-up comedian who tells the truth, criticizes commercialism, and refuses to sell out to corporate America. He also changes his appearance, sporting a dark sweater and tying his hair in a ponytail. Observing his newfound popularity, two marketing executives try to persuade Krusty to endorse a new sport utility vehicle called the Canyonero. Although he tries to resist, he eventually succumbs to the lure of money. After promoting the Canyonero at a comedy performance in Moe's Tavern, he is booed off stage by the patrons. He finally admits to himself that comedy is not in his blood and selling out is. The episode ends with an extended advertisement for the Canyonero, as Krusty and Bart leave Moe Szyslak's tavern in Krusty's new SUV.
Production
In the DVD commentary for The Simpsons' ninth season, writer Donick Cary stated that the inspiration for the idea of an episode about stand-up comedy came out of comedy festivals at the time. Executive producer Mike Scully said that the writers had difficulty getting Krusty's offensive bad jokes through the network censors. The stereotypical jokes were allowed because the writers convinced the network censors that viewers would understand it was simply emphasizing Krusty's dated comedic material.
Mike B. Anderson stated that at least three different acts of material were written and animated for Krusty's comeback stand-up appearance at Moe's Tavern. It was not until the editing process that the material used was decided upon. The episode was still being animated three weeks before it was due to air and the production process moved frantically shortly before completion. The Canyonero sequence was originally planned to be displayed during the closing credits. The production team liked the scene so much that they did not want it to be obscured by the credits and gave it its own segment at the end of the episode.
Cultural references
The episode title is a reference to the controversial novel (and later film) The Last Temptation of Christ. In addition to Jay Leno, other real-life comedians that portrayed themselves in the episode include Steven Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Bruce Baum, whose appearance helped increase his popularity. Garofalo would return to guest star again as herself in the season 23 episode "The Ten-Per-Cent Solution". Krusty's "Krustylu Studios" is a spoof on the company Desilu studios, set up by Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, where the series Star Trek was once filmed. During Krusty's "bender to end all benders" montage, he is seen drinking out of and vomiting into the Stanley Cup. The National Hockey League sent a letter regarding this scene. Mike Scully described it as a "kind of a cease and desist", but the production staff decided not to cut the scene from the episode. (Of note, Fox was a national television rightsholder for NHL games at the time this episode originally aired.) The poem recited by Krusty when he announces his retirement from comedy is based on "To an Athlete Dying Young" by A. E. Housman. Krusty attends the coffee shop Java the Hut, a reference to the Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt. Additionally, Krusty's anti-commercialism and anti-corporate stances, along with styling his hair in a ponytail, is a reference to comedian George Carlin who styled his hair the same way later in his career and often had anti-capitalist, anti-consumerist and anti-commercialist overtones in his performance.
Canyonero
The "Canyonero" song and visual sequence was modeled after Ford commercials. The sequence is a parody of a commercial for a sport utility vehicle and Hank Williams Jr. sings a song about the Canyonero accompanied by country guitar music and whip cracks. The song "Canyonero" closely resembles the theme to the 1960s television series Rawhide. This episode was the first appearance of the Canyonero, which again appeared in the season 10 episode "Marge Simpson in: 'Screaming Yellow Honkers'". The "Canyonero" song is included on the 1999 soundtrack album Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons.
Two years later, Ford released the Super Duty-based Ford Excursion, the largest and heaviest SUV ever until the electric GMC Hummer SUV and pickup.
Chris Turner wrote positively of the Canyonero spoof piece in Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation, calling it "a brilliant parody of an SUV ad".
In an article in the journal Environmental Politics, Steve Vanderheiden commented that the Canyonero reflected an "anti-SUV" stance by The Simpsons. Vanderheiden wrote: "Even the popular animated television series 'The Simpsons' joined the anti-SUV fray in 1998, featuring a mammoth vehicle called the 'Canyonero' (marketed with the jingle: 'Twelve yards long, two lanes wide/Sixty-five tons of American pride!'), which promised to help the family transcend its mundane station-wagon existence but instead brought only misery."
The term "Canyonero" has since been used in the news media to refer critically to large trucks and SUVs.
In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about SUV owners, Vicki Haddock wrote "SUV owners have become something of a punch line, succinctly captured in a "Simpsons" parody touting the apocryphal Canyonero".
In a 2006 article, Seth Jayson of The Motley Fool compared the wording in a Ford advertisement myFord Owner Magazine to this episode, writing: "the unholiest of unholies is the writing, which is so thick with absurd adspeak, you'd think it was written by the crew at The Onion or The Simpsons – especially that episode where Krusty starts shilling for the Canyonero."
In a 2004 article in the Chicago Tribune, Jim Mateja noted that people have pointed out a similarity between the GMC Canyon and the Canyonero. When contacted, GMC responded that the GMC is a pickup truck, while the Canyonero is a parody of an SUV.
Joshua Dowling of The Sun-Herald described the philosophy of the Ford F-250 as "The Canyonero comes to life".
Reception
In its original broadcast, "The Last Temptation of Krust" finished 21st in ratings for the week of February 16–23, 1998, with a Nielsen rating of 9.7, equivalent to approximately 9.5 million viewing households. It was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following The X-Files, The World's Scariest Police Chases, and King of the Hill.
In 2006, USA Today highlighted the episode in a review of The Simpsons ninth season.
In his review of the season nine DVD, Joseph Szadkowski of The Washington Times noted: "Among the 22-minute gems found in the set, I most enjoyed ... work with Jay Leno."
Mark Evans of the Evening Herald wrote: "'The Last Temptation of Krust' is a winner for its title alone as Krusty the clown becomes a satiric 'alternative' comedian but then sells out by advertising the Canyonero SUV road hazard."
Alan Sepinwall wrote positively of the episode in The Star-Ledger, citing the Canyonero sequence as "the real reason to watch" the episode and that "It's an oversize vehicle that will create oversized laughs."
Some sources mistakenly refer to this episode as "The Last Temptation of Krusty".
In the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood characterized the episode as "a good twist on the never-ending Krusty story" and suggested that while "Jay Leno turns in a nice cameo the show is stolen by the advert for the Canyonero". The authors also praised Krusty's "ponytail and black sweater" look.
In the DVD audio commentary for "The Last Temptation of Krust", Leno said that he believed the essence of comedy clubs was depicted very well in the episode and referred to Krusty's remodeled appearance as " Carlin post-Vegas act". He also appreciated Krusty's poke at Leno's use of news headlines on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and said that he could not figure out whether parts of the episode were making fun of him or complimenting him.
William Irwin's The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer references a scene from the episode as an example of Marge's passive resistance, her moral influence on Lisa, and her value as a role model for her children.
See also
References
- ^ Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Season Nine – The Last Temptation of Krust". The Simpsons – Episode Guide. BBC. Archived from the original on December 23, 2003. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
- "Another Simpsons season hits DVD". Orlando Sentinel. December 22, 2006.
- Cary, Donick (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Scully, Mike (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- Anderson, Mike B. (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (August 20, 1998). "Primescan". The Star-Ledger. p. 68.
- ^ "The Last Temptation of Krusty". KASA-TV. February 22, 1998.
- Freedman, Richard (February 5, 2004). "Baum lands at Pepper Belly's Comic's wild act, if not face, unique". Times-Herald.
- Chernoff, Scott (July 24, 2007). "I Bent My Wookiee! Celebrating the Star Wars/Simpsons Connection". No Homers Club. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Turner 2005, p. 254.
- Sepinwall, Alan (November 12, 1999). "ALL TV'Tooning in to animation CDs". The Star-Ledger. p. 39.
- ^ Vanderheiden, Steve (February 2006). "Assessing the case against the SUV". Environmental Politics. 15 (1): 23–40. doi:10.1080/09644010500418688. S2CID 55846686.
- Lennox, Graeme; Steele, Liz (June 22, 2003). "Drive a Survivor: Mums looking for safety first should check out Touareg". The Sunday Mail. p. 2.
- McKeever, Jim (September 19, 2005). "Traffic Laws Don't Apply In Lots". The Post-Standard. p. B3.
- Clark, Michael (May 26, 2006). "Right on Q. (Autos – Reviews)". Winnipeg Free Press. p. E1.
- Staff (March 27, 2006). "Muzzle the guzzlers". St Louis Post-Dispatch. p. B8.
- Deen, Munim (November 20, 2007). "Column: Hybrids overvalued". Oklahoma Daily.
- Haddock, Vicki (March 12, 2006). "SUV owners have a champion on the Web; Road to acceptance for vilified vehicle owners is long, bumpy and winding". San Francisco Chronicle. p. E1.
- Jayson, Seth (May 5, 2006). "'myFord' Makes Me Cringe". Motley Fool. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Mateja, Jim (April 4, 2004). "Dealers let costs out of the bag". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- Dowling, Joshua (September 30, 2001). "New Car Snapshot Ford F-250". The Sun-Herald. John Fairfax Publications. p. 3.
- "Prime time Nielsen ratings". Associated Press Archive. Associated Press. February 25, 1998.
- Clark, Mike (December 22, 2006). "New on DVD". USA Today. Gannett Co. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- Szadkowski, Joseph (January 13, 2007). "Animated ninja figures learn all about warrior art". The Washington Times. p. C09.
- Evans, Mark (January 27, 2007). "Simpsons Season 9". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. p. 25.
- "The Simpsons – The Last Temptation of Krusty". Yahoo! TV. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Irwin, William; Conard, Mark T.; Skoble, Aeon J. (2001). The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer. Open Court Publishing. pp. 49, 53–54. ISBN 0-8126-9433-3.
- "The Simpsons – 'The Last Temptation of Krusty' Episode Info". MSN TV. MSN. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Leno, Jay (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
Bibliography
- Turner, Chris (2005). Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation (1st revised ed.). Cambridge: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81448-8. OCLC 670978714.
Further reading
- Dobson, Hugo (February 2006). "Mister Sparkle Meets the Yakuza: Depictions of Japan in The Simpsons". The Journal of Popular Culture. 39 (1): 44–68. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00203.x.
- Gray, Jonathan (August 2005). "Television Teaching: Parody, The Simpsons and Media Literacy Education". Critical Studies in Media Communication. 22 (3): 223–238. doi:10.1080/07393180500201652. S2CID 144462611.
External links
- "The Last Temptation of Krust episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
- "The Last Temptation of Krust" at IMDb
