Episode 12 - Krusty Gets Busted
27 March 2012
Synopsis: Bart’s beloved TV clown Krusty is arrested for armed robbery. Homer was the key witness at Apu’s Kwik-e-Mart. Krusty’s sidekick Sideshow Bob takes over his show. Bart enlists Lisa to help him prove Krusty’s innocence.
The Good: This is the first episode of The Simpsons to focus more fully on a character who isn’t a member of the Simpson family. It introduces us properly to Krusty the Clown and of course Bart’s future nemesis Sideshow Bob.
Krusty is a pretty original TV character. Even before the layers of characterisation that he will receive in the future, the sight of an overweight TV clown with a raspy Bozo voice is very unusual. The writers already start to establish the deep cynicism at the heart of his character as he cruelly fires Sideshow Bob out of a cannon and instructs his viewers to “kill ourselves!” if he is taken off the air. But despite his cynicism he redeems himself slightly through the revelation that he has fought hard for children’s literacy, despite being illiterate himself. “Is it a crime to be illiterate?” he cries while on the stand. His gambling habit is also revealed to which he less convincingly cries “Is it a crime to bet on sporting events?”
The genius in the writing of The Simpsons comes from the casting and writing for Sideshow Bob. Kelsey Grammar’s rich and refined voice brings to life the snooty, high brow Bob. In typical Simpsons fashion, Bob is no mere cartoon bad guy. He is actually an educator who wants to help children enjoy the finer things, develop their self esteem and improve their nutrition. He is quite a contrast to the low brow, hustling, “patronising” Krusty. But unfortunately he is a criminal.
Bart and Lisa team up to bring justice and establish that they can put aside their sibling squabbles for the sake of greater goods. Within the simple detective story we also get plenty of laughs. The unfortunate victim of the armed robbery, Apu, steals the biggest for himself (see Best Joke). But Homer is in fine form, grabbing a snack for “the trip back to the cash register” and then giggling through the police line up of clowns. Chief Wiggum’s dedication to justice is in evidence as he reads Krusty his rights “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
The Bad: If Krusty can’t read then who helped him read those betting slips? Or pick winners? Or understand the odds? Bob’s rather direct reference to Scooby Doo as he is arrested seemed a little unnecessary.
Best Joke: Despite apparently having plenty of experience of being robbed at gun point, Apu is taking no chances. When Lisa and Bart pop in to the Kwik-e-Mart he is crouching behind his counter “Don’t try anything funny, I am armed to the teeth.” As Lisa points out the magazine that “Krusty” was seen reading Apu yells from off screen “This is not a lending library, if you’re not going to buy that thing, put it down or I’ll blow your heads off!”
The Bottom Line: A fun detective tale with plenty of jokes and satire to enjoy on the side. Not to mention of course the establishment of a formula episode which would bring great success in the future.
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