The Simpsons/Homie the Clown

Homie the Clown
Season 6, Episode 15
Airdate	February 12, 1995
Production Number	2F12
Written by	John Swartzwelder
Directed by	David Silverman
← 6x14 Bart's Comet	6x16 → Bart vs. Australia
The Simpsons — Season Six

Homie the Clown is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season of The Simpsons, and the one hundred eighteenth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Dick Cavett (Himself), Joe Mantegna (Fat Tony), Johnny Unitas (Himself), Pamela Hayden (woman on intercom, Angelique, Milhouse)

Plot Overview

In between lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills and buying new houses when his old ones get too dirty, Krusty's racked up quite a gambling debt and Fat Tony is demanding payment. Krusty's accountant comes up with the idea to found a Krusty clown college but on "new billboard day" Homer is unimpressed with the non-food related advertising.

However, the billboard sticks in his mind and he becomes obsessed, seeing clowns everywhere, and finally deciding to enroll in the college. Clown college proves to confuse, amuse and completely confound Homer but he manages to graduate and become a Krusty stand-in for parties and store openings. The job is exhausting, and Homer is fed up until he realizes being a Krusty lookalike can net him the benefits of celebrity.

While Homer impersonates Krusty, the real Krusty flees the country to avoid Fat Tony's wrath. In his absence, Fat Tony's goons make several attempts on Homer's life, mistaking him for Krusty. When they abduct Homer and take him to their hideout, only his clown skills, along with help from the real Krusty, can save him.

Notes

Title Sequence

• Blackboard: Next time it could be me on the scaffolding
• Couch Gag: The family sits on air while the couch cushions "run" in and assemble on their laps and crush them.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• "Hire Kenny G to play for me in the elevator" - Kenny G is a very successful "smooth jazz" performer.
• "Did you send those thousand roses to Bea Arthur's grave?" - Bea Arthur, known for her work on the sitcoms Maude and The Golden Girls, was still living when this show aired.
• "Seven Words You Can't Say On TV" - A comedy bit made famous by George Carlin.
• "Well, excuuuuuse me!" - A Steve Martin trademark line from his stand-up comedy days.
• Action Comics - Krusty lights his cigar with "Action Comics #1", which is an extremely valuable comic book from 1938 featuring the first appearance of Superman.
• Lady Krusty Moustache Removal System - Similar to the reportedly painful "Epilady" hair removal device
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Homer sculpts a circus tent out of mashed potatoes, mirroring Richard Dreyfus in a similar scene from the 1977 movie.
• "You weren't complaining when I got you this close to Chachi." - Chachi was a character on Happy Days.
• The Hamburglar - Krusty Burger mascot "The Krustyburglar" is a shameless rip-off of this classic McDonald's mascot.
• "After work I've got to dedicate a new Jiffy Lube and cohost the Ace Awards." - Jiffy Lube is a national auto service station. The Ace Awards are a defunct cable TV awards show.
• "Well, well, well, Velocity Boy." - Velocity Girl was one of the most successful and acclaimed indie-rock bands of the early '90s.
• "Lemme get this straight- you took all the money you made franchising your name and bet it against the Harlem Globetrotters?" - The Harlem Globetrotters, a team of "basketball ambassadors" started in the 1920s, play only in exhibition games, every one of which they win.
• Speak Softly Love, the Love Theme from The Godfather - When Homer and Krusty ride across the mobster's bar on the mini tricycle, they play the famous Godfather theme.

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