Misplaced Pages

Krusty Gets Busted: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 19:23, 6 December 2006 editZoltarpanaflex (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users955 editsm →Cultural References← Previous edit Latest revision as of 02:47, 4 January 2025 edit undoPanamitsu (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users59,024 editsm add {{Use American English}} templateTag: AWB 
(718 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Simpsons episode|
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
episode_name = Krusty Gets Busted |
{{Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_no = 12 |
| image =
prod_code = 7G12 |
| caption =
airdate = ], ]|
| season = 1
writer = ] and ] |
| episode = 12
director = ] |
| director = ]
blackboard = "They are laughing at me, not with me" |
| writer = ]<br />]
couch_gag = ] pops out of the couch, and lands in ]'s arms |
| production = 7G12{{Sfn|Groening|2010|p=46}}
guest_star = ] as Sideshow Bob |
| airdate = {{Start date|1990|04|29}}
image = ] |
| guests = * ] as ]<ref name="officialsite"> ''The Simpsons.com''. Retrieved on August 29, 2008</ref>
season = 1 |
| blackboard = "They are laughing at me, not with me"<ref name="book">{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Groening |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |editor2-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Coffman |title=] |edition=1st |year=1997 |location=New York |publisher=] |lccn=98141857 |ol=433519M |oclc=37796735 |isbn=978-0-06-095252-5 |pages= |ref={{harvid|Richmond & Coffman|1997}} }}.</ref>
| couch_gag = ] pops out of the couch, and lands in ]'s arms.<ref name="bbc"/>
| commentary = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| prev = ]
| next = ]
}} }}
"'''Krusty Gets Busted'''" is the 12th episode of the ] of '']''. The episode originally aired ], ]. This episode marks the first full-fledged appearances of ], ] and also the first speaking appearance of ]. "'''Krusty Gets Busted'''" is the twelfth and penultimate episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It originally aired on ] in the United States on April 29, 1990.{{Sfn|Groening|2010|p=46}} The episode was written by ] and ] and directed by ].<ref name="bbc"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031012225928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season1/page12.shtml |date=October 12, 2003 }} ''BBC.co.uk''. Retrieved on August 31, 2008</ref> In the episode, ] is convicted of armed robbery of the ]. Believing that Krusty has been ] for it, ] and ] investigate the crime and learn that Krusty's sidekick, ], is the culprit.


This episode marks the first full-fledged appearance of ].<ref name="bbc"/> ] makes his first guest appearance on the show as the voice of Sideshow Bob, who becomes a recurring character in the series.<ref name="BirdKGB"/>
==Synopsis==
{{spoiler}}


==Plot==
As Bart and Lisa watch ''The Krusty the Klown Show'', Marge calls ] at work, asking him to stop by the Kwik-E-Mart on his way home since she is expecting company from ] and ]. The Bouvier sisters plan to show slides from their trip to the ].
] asks ] to pick up ice cream from the ] on the way home from work; Homer obliges, and at the ], he sees a man resembling ] committing a robbery. After Homer identifies Krusty in a ], the latter is arrested and convicted, much to the grief of Bart. Taking advantage of the public outrage over Krusty's apparent criminal turn, ] begins marketing a "clown-repelling" machine gun, while ] arranges a bonfire that the Springfield's residents use to destroy Krusty's merchandise. In Krusty's absence, his sidekick Sideshow Bob becomes the new host of his show, rechristening it as ''The Side-Show Bob Cavalcade of Whimsy'', which focuses on education and classic literature while retaining '']''. Refusing to accept that his idol could have committed a crime, Bart enlists Lisa's help to prove Krusty's innocence.


At the crime scene, Bart and Lisa recall that the robber read a magazine and used a ], which Krusty could not have done as he is illiterate and has an artificial ], which requires him to avoid microwave radiation. When Bart, Lisa, and Maggie visit Sideshow Bob to learn whether Krusty had any enemies, he gives them tickets to his show. During the live broadcast, Bart is invited on stage with Bob, who dismisses Bart's points about the microwave and magazine. When Bob says he has "big shoes to fill", Bart remembers when Homer stepped on the robber's foot during his robbery, making him react in pain. Despite wearing clown shoes, Krusty has small feet and would not have felt Homer stepping on them. Bart deduces that Sideshow Bob is the culprit, since he had the most to gain from Krusty's downfall and his large feet literally fill his own shoes. To prove this to the audience, Bart hits one of them with a mallet and reveals their size as Bob reacts in pain.
While at the Kwik-E-Mart, Homer encounters a masked clown, pointing a gun at ] and demanding that he hand over money to him. Homer leaps in a display of potato chips, while yelling at the same time, after seeing the clown armed with a revolver, as the clown takes the money and runs away. Homer describes the suspect to a ] artist, and the resulting portrait is none other than Krusty the Klown. The police barge into Krusty's home and arrest him. At the precinct, Homer is able to identify Krusty.


While watching the show, the police realize they failed to notice this evidence and head to the studio to arrest Bob, who confesses that he framed Krusty out of frustration for being on the receiving end of the clown's humiliating gags and felt that his true talents were wasted on his show. Now released following his exoneration, Krusty regains the trust of the townspeople, including Wiggum, who apologizes for mistakenly arresting Krusty, and Homer, who apologizes for misidentifying him, as he thanks Bart for his help. Bart hangs a picture of himself shaking hands with Krusty in his bedroom, which is refilled with Krusty decor and merchandise.
Later that night, Homer arrives home, in time to miss what turns out to be an incredibly boring slideshow but in plenty of time for the news. Anchorman Scott Christian (Kent Brockman was apparently on vacation) reports that Krusty is in jail in connection with the robbery; the report is complete with footage of the robbery. Bart is disillusioned to think that his hero could be a criminal. Before this Homer tries to get Bart to bed so he is unaware about the situation.


==Production==
Krusty's trial begins, and Homer immediately identifies defendant Krusty as the man he saw rob the Kwik-E-Mart. Bart had begged Homer not to take the stand, but to no avail.
] as the voice of Sideshow Bob.]]


Director ] wanted to open the episode with a close-up of Krusty's face.<ref name="Brad">{{cite video |people=Bird, Brad |date=2001 |title=Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The staff liked the idea, and he then suggested that all three acts of the episode, defined by the placement of the commercial breaks, should begin with a close-up shot.<ref name="Brad"/> Act one begins with Krusty's face introducing the audience at his show, act two begins with Krusty's face being locked up behind bars, and act three begins with Sideshow Bob's face on a big poster.<ref name="Brad"/> Krusty's character is based on a television clown from ] called ], whom ''The Simpsons'' creator ] watched while growing up in Portland.<ref name="Matt">{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2001 |title=Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The original ], written by ] and ], was 78 pages long and many scenes had to be cut.<ref name="Wallace"/> One scene that had to be cut down was the scene where ] show the slideshow of their vacation; it originally contained images of them being detained for bringing ] into America.<ref name="Wallace">{{cite video |people=Wolodarsky, Wallace |date=2001 |title=Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
During the trial, ] has offered to burn every piece of merchandise with Krusty's face on it. Bart watches sadly as Krusty-related merchandise - including those Marge collected from his room - explodes in a cloud of smoke.


"Krusty Gets Busted" is Sideshow Bob's second appearance on ''The Simpsons'' but is his first major appearance. He first appeared as a minor character in the season one episode "]".<ref name="MooreTTH"/> In that appearance, ] was simpler and his hair was round. However, near the end of the episode, he appears with his more familiar hairstyle. Bob's design was updated for "Krusty Gets Busted", and the animators tried to redo his scenes in "The Telltale Head" with the re-design, but did not have enough time.<ref name="MooreTTH">{{cite video |people=Moore, Rich |date=2001 |title=The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "The Telltale Head" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The script for "Krusty Gets Busted" called for ] to voice Bob, but the producers instead went with ], a cast member on '']'' at the time.<ref name="BirdKGB">{{cite video |people=Bird, Brad |date=2001 |title=The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Grammer based Bob's voice on that of theater director Ellis Rabb. ], ], and ] make their first appearances on ''The Simpsons'' in this episode.<ref name="Jay Kogen">{{cite video |people=Kogen, Jay |date=2001 |title=Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
Later, Krusty – testifying in his own defense – admits during cross examination he is illiterate when he is unable to identify an exhibit in the courtroom. That exhibit is betting slips, and the prosecutor notes that Krusty lost a fortune gambling on sporting events. Krusty is found guilty and sentenced to prison.


==Cultural references==
After Krusty goes to prison, former sidekick Sideshow Bob takes over as host of "The Krusty the Klown Show," renaming it "Sideshow Bob's Cavalcade of Whimsy" and completely revamping the format. Instead of the usual inane antics and slapstick, the show now features literary classics and educational activities more to Sideshow Bob's liking.


]'s order during the suspect line-up to "send in the clowns" is an allusion to the ] song "]" from the 1973 musical '']''. The Sondheim musical took its name from ]'s ], ''Eine kleine Nachtmusik'', which is the theme tune to Sideshow Bob's show.<ref name=bbc /> The close up shot of Krusty's face behind bars in the beginning of act two is a reference of the closing credit motif of the British television series '']'' from the 1960s.<ref name="bbc"/> The background music in that scene resembles the theme of the television series '']'' at one point.<ref name="bbc"/> Sideshow Bob is reading '']'' by ] to the studio audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snpp.com/episodes/7G12.html |title=Krusty Gets Busted|access-date=2014-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902232115/http://www.snpp.com/episodes/7G12.html |archive-date=2014-09-02 }}</ref> The song "]" by ] is featured in the episode.<ref name="bbc"/> Following Sideshow Bob's arrest, he mutters to the Simpsons children, "And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for these meddling kids.", which is a reference to a catchphrase from ]'s '']'' franchise, which was airing on ] as '']'' when this episode aired.<ref name="Matt"/>
Bart is certain that Krusty is innocent, and convinces Lisa to help him prove he could not possibly have robbed the Kwik-E-Mart. Remembering what they had seen on a previous TV newscast (recapping Krusty's career) and heard in court, they determine that:


==Reception==
* Krusty – because he had a ] – could not use the microwave to heat a burrito. The suspect in the surveillance video had used the ] without any ill effects.
In its original American broadcast, "Krusty Gets Busted" finished 13th in the ratings for the week of April 23–29, 1990, with a ] of 16.4. It was the highest rated show on the Fox network that week.<ref name="nielsen">{{cite news |title=CBS sweeps Sunday, but NBC nets week's honors |date=1990-05-02 |page=I06 |publisher=] |author=Richmond, Ray}}</ref> The episode received generally positive reviews from critics. Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', praised the episode: "The invention of the Simpsons' arch enemy as a lugubrious yet psychotic Englishman in dreadlocks succeeds wonderfully in this super-fast, super-funny episode that works by constantly reversing the audience's expectations."<ref name="bbc" />


In a DVD review of the first season, David B. Grelck rated this episode a{{nbsp}}3 (of 5).<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202012353/http://www.wdbgproductions.com/cinerama/reviews/simpsonsseason1.htm |url=http://www.wdbgproductions.com/cinerama/reviews/simpsonsseason1.htm |title=The Complete First Season |access-date=2011-09-15 |archive-date=2009-02-02 |date=2001-09-25 |author=Grelck, David B. |publisher=WDBGProductions}}</ref> Colin Jacobson at DVD Movie Guide said in a review that "throughout the episode we found great material; it really seemed clear that the show was starting to turn into the piece we now know and love. It's hard for me to relate any deficiencies" and added that "almost every Bob episode offers a lot of fun, and this episode started that trend in fine style."<ref name="dvdmg">{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonone.shtml |title=The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (1990) |access-date=2008-08-29 |first=Colin |last=Jacobson |publisher=DVD Movie Guide |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821134725/http://dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonone.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> ] called it the best episode of the first season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|title=The Simpsons: The Best Episode In Every Season, Ranked|last=Sim|first=Bernardo|date=2019-09-22|website=Screen Rant|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-22|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608035214/https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> Series creator Matt Groening listed it as his ninth favorite episode of ''The Simpsons'' and added "I have a peculiar love of TV clownery".<ref name="ew">{{cite news |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/01/14/springfield-dreams/ |title=Springfield of Dreams |date=2000-01-14 |access-date=2022-01-15 |first=Dan |last=Snierson |publisher=] |archive-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628145338/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C275114_2%2C00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The suspect was seen reading a magazine while waiting to make his move. Krusty admitted in court he was illiterate.


==References==
Lisa, too, begins to suspect that someone may have been out to get Krusty. Bart theorizes that Sideshow Bob would know who did it. Meanwhile, Bob concludes one of his shows, pretends to mourn for Krusty to one of his producers, then – once he closes the door to his dressing room – cackles evilly.
{{Reflist|2}}


=== Bibliography ===
The next day, Bart, Lisa and Maggie meet Sideshow Bob at the studio to ask him about who may have framed Krusty. A suspicious Bob shoos them off, giving the Simpson children tickets to his show.
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Groening |title=Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 |title-link=Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 |date=2010-10-28 |publisher=] |year= |isbn=9780061711282 |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |edition=1st |editor2-last=Gimple |editor2-first=Scott M. |editor2-link=Scott M. Gimple |editor-last3=McCann |editor-first3=Jessie L. |editor-last4=Seghers |editor-first4=Christine |editor-last5=Bates |editor-first5=James W.}}
{{refend}}


==External links==
On the air, Bob spots an "unhappy child" – Bart – in the audience, and invites him onstage to talk about what's the matter in a segment titled "Choices". Bart states his findings, but Bob provides plausible explanations for each claim. Then, Bob admits that he "has big shoes to fill." That statement echoes through Bart's mind, as he realizes the final link to the mystery: Homer stepped on the robber's shoes, causing the suspect to cry out in pain; yet, Krusty had small feet. Bart then makes his claim: Sideshow Bob robbed the Kwik-E-Mart. To make his point clear, Bart grabs a mallet and smashes Bob's feet, causing him to cry in pain; Bart then removes Bob's shoes to reveal large feet.
{{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_1#Krusty_Gets_Busted|Krusty Gets Busted}}
{{Portal|The Simpsons}}
* {{Snpp capsule|7G12}}
* {{IMDb episode |id=0701147}}


{{Simpsons Sideshow Bob}}
Exposed, Bob admits his guilt and that he framed Krusty because he had grown frustrated at constantly being on the receiving end of the clown's often-humiliating (and painful) physical gags. Bob is arrested and the charges are dropped against Krusty. A grateful Krusty thanks Bart for standing up for the truth and sticking to his convictions.
{{The Simpsons episodes|1}}
{{Good article}}


]
==Possible errors==
]
This episode had numerous parts that seemed to be contradictory to other episodes, as is often the case in early Simpsons episodes.
]
]
]


]
When the Springfield TV News asks if Krusty is busted, they show a picture of Krusty in makeup and a picture of Krusty without makeup, which is contradicted in a later episode, "]", where Krusty explains that he is naturally pale and that he doesn't wear makeup. He explains that this is because of his heart problems.

Krusty's claim of illiteracy in this episode is contradicted by many later flashbacks which depict him as capable of reading and, moreover, the later revelation that he is the son of a ] and apparently received an extensive rabbinical education. Possibly Krusty's supposed inability to read is due to brain damage from various heavy overindulgences in his long career, something he would naturally prefer not to clarify. However, it might just be possible that he can read ], but not English. And, he could have learned the language later on.

This episode says that Krusty is on a different channel from Kent Brockman, but this is contradicted in later episodes.

==Trivia==
*Krusty's main clown competition is Hobo Hank. Hobos were among the acts Krusty claims to have flattened in "Krusty Gets Kancelled."

==Cultural References==
* ] – The famous line, "Say it ain't so, Joe!" is mimicked when Bart utters, "Say it ain't so, Krusty!"
* '']'' – Lisa's line, "If cartoons were meant for adults, they'd put them on in prime time," is a stab at The Simpsons' predecessors-in-kind.
* ] – The Channel 5 pre-trial report, "The Day the Laughter Died," is a play on the common phrase, referring to the plane crash that killed ] stars ], ] and ].
* '']'' – Bart's observation, "Comedy, thy name is Krusty!" is a play on the Hamlet line, "Frailty, thy name is woman!"
* '']'' and '']'' - Krusty is shown on the cover of ''Timely'' and ''Newsweekly'' magazines.
* ] - Kent Brockman says, "children of all ages, from eight to eighty, hang on each new development like so many Romanian ] artists."
* ] – several references:
** He is modeled after a real-life clown named "Rusty Nails."
** His birthplace of ] is a reference to ], who was also born in Tupelo.
* ] - The townspeople participate in a public burning of Krusty memorabilia.
* "Burning Love" – The title of Elvis Presley's 1972 hit is used as the title of the first Itchy & Scratchy short (as well as another reference to The King).
* '']'' – The distinctive theme to the 1960s crime drama plays as Bart and Lisa arrive at the Kwik-E-Mart to begin their investigation of the armed robbery.
* '']'' – Sideshow Bob's version is ''The Springfield Review of Books'', which contains "amusing caricatures of ] and ]".
* '']'' - Sideshow Bob reads the end of the chapter "An Homeric Song", and announces, "Next week, chapter 35 of ''The Man in the Iron Mask'': 'The Death of a Titan.'"
* ] - Bob sings "]" to end his show.
* ] - Just before Bart announces he has solved the mystery, Bob says, "In ], there was a school of thought called stoicism".
* '']'' – Sideshow Bob's line, "And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for these meddling kids," is akin to what the villain says when caught at the end of every "Scooby Doo" episode.
* '']'' – Because this is their first full-fledged appearance, Itchy & Scratchy are a violent parody of the famous MGM cat and mouse duo. Scratchy fills Tom's shoes as the hapless cat, who is forever tormented by Itchy the mouse, an ultra-sadistic version of Jerry.
* ] – Krusty's poster, "Give a hoot, read a book!" is a spoof of Woodsy Owl's advertising campaign, "Give a hoot, don't pollute!"
*'']'' the plot of this episode is similar to an episode called "Binky Goes Bad" in which Binky the clown is framed for robbery.
* ] - Beatles records and merchandise were burned after John Lennon was quoted saying the Beatles were 'bigger than Jesus'.

==A first look at "The Krusty the Klown Show"==
Krusty greets his audience:

* '''Krusty''': "Hi, kids! Who do you love?"
* '''Kids in studio''': Krusty!
* '''Krusty''': "How much do you love me?"
* '''Kids (along with Bart and Lisa)''': "With all our heart!"
* '''Krusty''': "What would do if I went off the air?"
* '''Bart, Lisa and kids''': "]"

A little girl named Brittany is celebrating her birthday, and is given a choice of having Krusty sing her a birthday song, or have Sideshow Bob blown out of a ]. Encouraged by the audience, Brittany chooses the cannon. Krusty loads the cannon with gunpowder (in an effort to make the trick work like it's supposed to), but the cannon fires and rolls offstage, where Bob just flops out of the cannon onto the stage. The audience cheers wildly.

Later is an Itchy & Scratchy cartoon, "Burning Love." Scratchy the cat is sleeping in a hammock, when Itchy (a sadistic mouse) lights a flaming arrow and fires it at the cot. The arrow hits its intended target, and a burning Scratchy runs in terror.

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{snpp capsule|7G12}}
*{{imdb episode|id=0701147|episode=Krusty Gets Busted}}

]

]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 02:47, 4 January 2025

12th episode of the 1st season of The Simpsons
"Krusty Gets Busted"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 12
Directed byBrad Bird
Written byJay Kogen
Wallace Wolodarsky
Production code7G12
Original air dateApril 29, 1990 (1990-04-29)
Guest appearance
Episode features
Chalkboard gag"They are laughing at me, not with me"
Couch gagMaggie pops out of the couch, and lands in Marge's arms.
CommentaryMatt Groening
Brad Bird
Jay Kogen
Wallace Wolodarsky
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Crepes of Wrath" 		Next →
"Some Enchanted Evening"
The Simpsons season 1
List of episodes

"Krusty Gets Busted" is the twelfth and penultimate episode of the first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on April 29, 1990. The episode was written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky and directed by Brad Bird. In the episode, Krusty the Clown is convicted of armed robbery of the Kwik-E-Mart. Believing that Krusty has been framed for it, Bart and Lisa investigate the crime and learn that Krusty's sidekick, Sideshow Bob, is the culprit.

This episode marks the first full-fledged appearance of Kent Brockman. Kelsey Grammer makes his first guest appearance on the show as the voice of Sideshow Bob, who becomes a recurring character in the series.

Plot

Marge asks Homer to pick up ice cream from the Kwik-E-Mart on the way home from work; Homer obliges, and at the Kwik-E-Mart, he sees a man resembling Krusty the Clown committing a robbery. After Homer identifies Krusty in a police lineup, the latter is arrested and convicted, much to the grief of Bart. Taking advantage of the public outrage over Krusty's apparent criminal turn, Apu begins marketing a "clown-repelling" machine gun, while Reverend Lovejoy arranges a bonfire that the Springfield's residents use to destroy Krusty's merchandise. In Krusty's absence, his sidekick Sideshow Bob becomes the new host of his show, rechristening it as The Side-Show Bob Cavalcade of Whimsy, which focuses on education and classic literature while retaining The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Refusing to accept that his idol could have committed a crime, Bart enlists Lisa's help to prove Krusty's innocence.

At the crime scene, Bart and Lisa recall that the robber read a magazine and used a microwave oven, which Krusty could not have done as he is illiterate and has an artificial pacemaker, which requires him to avoid microwave radiation. When Bart, Lisa, and Maggie visit Sideshow Bob to learn whether Krusty had any enemies, he gives them tickets to his show. During the live broadcast, Bart is invited on stage with Bob, who dismisses Bart's points about the microwave and magazine. When Bob says he has "big shoes to fill", Bart remembers when Homer stepped on the robber's foot during his robbery, making him react in pain. Despite wearing clown shoes, Krusty has small feet and would not have felt Homer stepping on them. Bart deduces that Sideshow Bob is the culprit, since he had the most to gain from Krusty's downfall and his large feet literally fill his own shoes. To prove this to the audience, Bart hits one of them with a mallet and reveals their size as Bob reacts in pain.

While watching the show, the police realize they failed to notice this evidence and head to the studio to arrest Bob, who confesses that he framed Krusty out of frustration for being on the receiving end of the clown's humiliating gags and felt that his true talents were wasted on his show. Now released following his exoneration, Krusty regains the trust of the townspeople, including Wiggum, who apologizes for mistakenly arresting Krusty, and Homer, who apologizes for misidentifying him, as he thanks Bart for his help. Bart hangs a picture of himself shaking hands with Krusty in his bedroom, which is refilled with Krusty decor and merchandise.

Production

"Krusty Gets Busted" is the first episode guest starring Kelsey Grammer as the voice of Sideshow Bob.

Director Brad Bird wanted to open the episode with a close-up of Krusty's face. The staff liked the idea, and he then suggested that all three acts of the episode, defined by the placement of the commercial breaks, should begin with a close-up shot. Act one begins with Krusty's face introducing the audience at his show, act two begins with Krusty's face being locked up behind bars, and act three begins with Sideshow Bob's face on a big poster. Krusty's character is based on a television clown from Portland, Oregon called Rusty Nails, whom The Simpsons creator Matt Groening watched while growing up in Portland. The original teleplay, written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, was 78 pages long and many scenes had to be cut. One scene that had to be cut down was the scene where Patty and Selma show the slideshow of their vacation; it originally contained images of them being detained for bringing heroin into America.

"Krusty Gets Busted" is Sideshow Bob's second appearance on The Simpsons but is his first major appearance. He first appeared as a minor character in the season one episode "The Telltale Head". In that appearance, his design was simpler and his hair was round. However, near the end of the episode, he appears with his more familiar hairstyle. Bob's design was updated for "Krusty Gets Busted", and the animators tried to redo his scenes in "The Telltale Head" with the re-design, but did not have enough time. The script for "Krusty Gets Busted" called for James Earl Jones to voice Bob, but the producers instead went with Kelsey Grammer, a cast member on Cheers at the time. Grammer based Bob's voice on that of theater director Ellis Rabb. Kent Brockman, Judge Snyder, and Scott Christian make their first appearances on The Simpsons in this episode.

Cultural references

Chief Wiggum's order during the suspect line-up to "send in the clowns" is an allusion to the Stephen Sondheim song "Send in the Clowns" from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. The Sondheim musical took its name from Mozart's Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, which is the theme tune to Sideshow Bob's show. The close up shot of Krusty's face behind bars in the beginning of act two is a reference of the closing credit motif of the British television series The Prisoner from the 1960s. The background music in that scene resembles the theme of the television series Mission: Impossible at one point. Sideshow Bob is reading The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas to the studio audience. The song "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Cole Porter is featured in the episode. Following Sideshow Bob's arrest, he mutters to the Simpsons children, "And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for these meddling kids.", which is a reference to a catchphrase from Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo franchise, which was airing on ABC as A Pup Named Scooby-Doo when this episode aired.

Reception

In its original American broadcast, "Krusty Gets Busted" finished 13th in the ratings for the week of April 23–29, 1990, with a Nielsen rating of 16.4. It was the highest rated show on the Fox network that week. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics. Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, praised the episode: "The invention of the Simpsons' arch enemy as a lugubrious yet psychotic Englishman in dreadlocks succeeds wonderfully in this super-fast, super-funny episode that works by constantly reversing the audience's expectations."

In a DVD review of the first season, David B. Grelck rated this episode a 3 (of 5). Colin Jacobson at DVD Movie Guide said in a review that "throughout the episode we found great material; it really seemed clear that the show was starting to turn into the piece we now know and love. It's hard for me to relate any deficiencies" and added that "almost every Bob episode offers a lot of fun, and this episode started that trend in fine style." Screen Rant called it the best episode of the first season. Series creator Matt Groening listed it as his ninth favorite episode of The Simpsons and added "I have a peculiar love of TV clownery".

References

  1. ^ Groening 2010, p. 46.
  2. "Krusty Gets Busted" The Simpsons.com. Retrieved on August 29, 2008
  3. Groening, Matt (1997). Richmond, Ray; Coffman, Antonia (eds.). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family (1st ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-0-06-095252-5. LCCN 98141857. OCLC 37796735. OL 433519M..
  4. ^ Krusty Gets Busted Archived October 12, 2003, at the Wayback Machine BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on August 31, 2008
  5. ^ Bird, Brad (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  6. ^ Bird, Brad (2001). Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  7. ^ Groening, Matt (2001). Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  8. ^ Wolodarsky, Wallace (2001). Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  9. ^ Moore, Rich (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "The Telltale Head" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  10. Kogen, Jay (2001). Commentary for the episode "Krusty Gets Busted". The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  11. "Krusty Gets Busted". Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  12. Richmond, Ray (May 2, 1990). "CBS sweeps Sunday, but NBC nets week's honors". The Orange County Register. p. I06.
  13. Grelck, David B. (September 25, 2001). "The Complete First Season". WDBGProductions. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  14. Jacobson, Colin. "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season (1990)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  15. Sim, Bernardo (September 22, 2019). "The Simpsons: The Best Episode In Every Season, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  16. Snierson, Dan (January 14, 2000). "Springfield of Dreams". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 28, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

Bibliography

External links

The Simpsons Sideshow Bob episodes
Major appearances
Minor appearances
The Simpsons episodes
Seasons 1–20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Season 21–present
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Season 1
Themed episodes
See also

Categories: