Radio Bart
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Radio Bart" | |
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| Episode no. | 48 |
| Prod. code | 8F11 |
| Orig. Airdate | January 9, 1992 |
| Writer(s) | Jon Vitti |
| Director | Carlos Baeza |
| Chalkboard | "I will not carve gods" |
| Couch gag | The family bounces up and down on the couch |
| Guest star(s) | Sting as himself |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 3 September 19, 1991 – August 27, 1992 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Radio Bart" is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons' third season. The episode aired on January 9, 1992. It was also nominated for an Emmy that year.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
All the Simpsons are busy preparing for Bart's birthday party. Homer sees an ad on TV for a prank microphone (the Superstar Celebrity Microphone) that can be used to tap into localized radio systems and instantly decides to buy one for Bart. Subsequently, Bart experiences a crushingly disappointing birthday party when all his gifts turn out to be useless things like a cactus, a label maker and a dorky new suit. He also at first is disappointed by the prank microphone, but later finds a use for it in creating practical jokes, such as making the Flanders children think God is talking to them, or making Homer think the Martians have invaded Earth.
Bart then uses the microphone to make the townspeople think that an orphan named Timmy O'Toole has fallen down the town well. Although they are unable to get "Timmy" out, as the well is too small for any adult to fit in, the entire town offers moral support and do everything they can to give him hope (as well as a little surreptitious profiteering, e.g. t-shirt concessions and sacks of "authentic Timmy O'Toole baby teeth"). Krusty even gets Sting to join other celebrities in recording a charity single, "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well". However, Bart--after realizing that his name is on the walkie-talkie thanks to his label-maker--really does fall in the well while trying to retrieve it. When the townspeople find out, Bart confesses that Timmy O'Toole did not exist. Angry at being tricked, the townspeople decide to leave Bart in the well. "We're Sending Our Love Down The Well" then falls off the #1 spot dramatically on the Billboard to be replaced by "I Do Believe We're Naked" by Funky See Funky Do.
Despite efforts by Homer and Marge to mobilize a rescue operation, the entire town remains adamant. Finally, however, Homer decides to just dig a tunnel and retrieve Bart himself. Groundskeeper Willie spies this, yells, "Why dinnae I think of tha'?(Why didn't I think of that?)", tears off his shirt to expose his bulging muscles, and joins Homer. With a little help from the townsfolk, and Sting, an excavation operation is started. A very sorry Bart is finally rescued from the bottom of the hole. Willie puts up a small warning sign near the well the next morning to prevent future incidents.
[edit] Trivia
- In the DVD commentary for the episode, the staff expresses their disbelief that this episode lost the Emmy for animated program to Claymation Easter. Mike Reiss said they thought Ren & Stimpy would win and were absolutely floored when it didn't. David Silverman said he believes The Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy split the vote, allowing Claymation Easter to grab the Emmy.
- When this episode was being made, the producers approached Bruce Springsteen to appear. He rejected doing the episode, and got Sting to appear in his place.
Wall E. Weasel and the band
- This also marks the appearance of Wall E. Weasel. Wall E. Weasel is a Simpsons character who is the mascot for a kiddie entertainment center (pizza place). It is a parody of Chuck E. Cheese's and is a spoof of the franchise's pizza, video games, and (as seen in this episode) poorly maintained animatronic robots. The displayed restaurant sign posted reads, "We cram fun down your throat."
- In a later episode, "My Sister, My Sitter", Bart claims that Lisa is two years and thirty-eight days younger than him. This would make Lisa still seven years old in this episode.
- As the camera pans down the well after the excavation has begun, a flying saucer containing a skeleton of the space alien race that Kang and Kodos belong to can be seen.
[edit] Cultural References
- The episode's plot is inspired by the real life entrapment of Jessica McClure in a well in 1987.
- In the audio commentary, Matt Groening revealed that the central premise is based off the Billy Wilder film The Big Carnival.
- "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well" is a spoof of the hit 1980s charity singles "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and "We Are The World". Sting himself appeared in the original release of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
- "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well" is replaced at the top of the charts by the song "I Do Believe We're Naked" from a group called "Funky-See Funky Do", a parody of Milli Vanilli. Earlier in the episode a music show host announces that the group will "lip sync another of their hits" after a commercial break, referencing the real life scandal the group was involved in.
- The Superstar Celebrity Microphone is based on an actual product called Mr. Microphone, with some elements of its television commercial (dating to around 1979) [1] being used on the Superstar Celebrity Microphone commercial shown in the episode.
- The song played as Bart climbs down the well to retrieve his radio is very similar to "Axel F", the theme song to Eddie Murphy's character in Beverly Hills Cop.
[edit] Quotations
- Commercial announcer: ...But order now. Supply is limited.
Homer: (Gasps) Limited!?!? (frantically dials the phone) Do you have any of those microphones left?
Warehouse clerk: (standing in a warehouse filled to the roof with boxes of microphones) Yeah, a couple... - Homer: (grabs a box of Neapolitan ice cream) Mmmm, chocolate (opens box to reveal that the chocolate section is empty) d'oh! (throws the box away and grabs another) Mmmm, chocolate (the chocolate section of the new box is also empty) d'oh! Marge, we need some more chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream!
- Animatronic robots: You're the birthday, you're the birthday, you're the birthday, boy or girl!
- (Discussing Bart's prank on the news)
Homer: It's not our fault. We didn't want the boy, he was an accident!
Marge: Homer!
Homer: Uh, could you edit that last part out?
Kent Brockman: Mr. Simpson, we're live coast to coast.
Homer: d'oh! - We're Sending Our Love Down The Well
Sting: There's a hole in my heart as deep as a well for that poor little boy, who's stuck halfway to Hell...
Sideshow Mel: Though we can't get him out, we'll do the next best thing...
McBain: We go on TV and sing, sing, sing!
All: And we're sending our love down the well...
Krusty: All the way down!
All: We're sending our love down the well...
Krusty: Down that well!
[edit] External links
