Krusty Gets Busted

This is the second episode of the season written by prolific Simpsons writers Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky. It is of course much stronger than their first episode and is one of the crowning achievements of the first season. It marks the first appearance of two essential Simpsons characters in Kent Brockman and Sideshow Bob(first speaking role).

I'm not sure in anyone who reads this(who am I kidding no one reads this) has read The Simpsons and Philosophy but they did have an interesting article regarding anti intellectualism in Springfield(link will be posted at the bottom of review) and while their article centers around Lisa and her battle against the dimwitted in Springfield I think it can transfer over perfectly to Sideshow Bob's character. He is everything the average Springfieldian and average western person hates. He represents high culture. He reads a lot, loves older movies and talks with a uptight snobby accent. He is in a constant battle with Krusty and his way of low brow humor and is a slave to his vices. While Sideshow Bob should be the one that everyone holds in high regard for his fight to make television better. The people love Krusty more and only really love Sideshow Bob when he is being shot out of a cannon or later in the episode when he is all they've got. Even Lisa one the few voices for intellect in the city loves Krusty much much more that Sideshow Bob and that is what makes her character great. She while being a highly intelligent beyond belief is still a young girl inside as well as outside. But like Lisa Bob's battle isn't just in one area it is every form of his life. Krusty while being illiterate is famous and makes tons of money. While Bob who is an intellect and sacrifices for the show isn't held on a pedestal like Krusty. Sideshow's Bob's arrest maybe provide the best insight into the intellectual battle in Springfield. Despite Bob being the smartest person in the town he is still foiled by a young boy in Bart Simpson. Bob is ironically brought down by his own intellect(only in Springfield)by talking to Bart on his troubled adolescents segment. It is really a classic Bart moment in that he is able to finally figure out it was in fact Bob who did it(the large feet) and it's moments like that that make me bewildered when people say Bart is stupid or that he should just pull pranks every episode. While not school smart he is able to think quickly and like Homer gets sudden jolts of intellectual power. The whole premise of this battle between two types of TV low brow vs high brow is very Simpsons esque. It is first brought about in the line "if cartoons were meant for adults they would be aired in prime time". The fact that the show is more appreciated by regular viewers for its stupider gags and the fact that people liked the "pretty colors" than for its great pieces of satire and brilliant characterizations really shows the battle of intellect not only in Springfield but in America


Now enough about that it's time to start talking about the episode. The episode is probably the most well put together episode of the first season. It is a really well done in most parts that make an episode great. It has some biting satire, a great plot and some fantastic gags. The mystery aspect of this episode has surprisingly held up really well. Of course I know Bob eventually gets caught for framing Krusty but the pieces of the puzzle are really nice to see being put together. Many scenes of this episode seem like they could be right in the middle of the seasons everyone love. The scene in the Qwik E Mart really stands out to me. The dialogue between Homer and Apu is really well done. Homer going to identify the clowns and Selma and Patty's slides are also great gags. But the greatest parts of the episode surround the mob mentality that surrounds Krusty's arrest. It really struck a cord with me this time especially following the riot that just occurred in Vancouver. The fact that everyone is able to join the "bandwagon" as Homer states and dismiss Krusty immediately despite the fact that he had not been found guilty yet. The church the ones who are supposed to be the most forgiving lead the mob and burn everything for really no reason. The media is used to harm Krusty as well. It is used in a sort of precursor to Radio Bart of season 3. That everyone can be on Krusty's side to just hating him. But the real satire comes in the form of thinking they're(the people of Springfield) the better people by just burning Krusty merchandise and not realizing that they're doing more harm than he did. Krusty is deemed a criminal mastermind for just a simple robbery and the whole scene with Wiggum arresting Krusty with his half done saying of Krusty's Miranda Rights and the fact that they launch into his house with a swat team is hilarious and just shows the lack of proper policing and is a satire on police in Springfield.

Grade: B+

http://webspace.ringling.edu/~lfjones/sd/readings/Lisa%20and%20American%20Anti-intellectualism.pdf