Difference between revisions of "Krusty Gets Busted"

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"Krusty the Clown, you are being arrested for armed robbery!"

―Clancy Wiggum

"Krusty Gets Busted" is the twelfth episode of Season 1. It aired on April 22, 1990. The episode was written by Jay Kogen and directed by Brad Bird. Kent Brockman and Scott Christian make their first appearances on The Simpsons in this episode. Kelsey Grammer makes his first appearance on the show as Sideshow Bob.

Homer witnesses a robbery at the Kwik-E-Mart, and he idenitifies Krusty the Clown as the culprit. Krusty is arrested, tried, jailed, and replaced on the show by Sideshow Bob. Lisa and Bart are adamant that Krusty is innocent, so they examine the evidence and they conclude that he was framed. Eventually, they uncover evidence proving Krusty's innocence and showing that the robber was Sideshow Bob, who framed Krusty. When Bart confronts Bob, he admits to the crime and is sent to jail, while a grateful Krusty is released and thanks Bart for believing in him.

Plot

Act One

The episode begins with Bart, Lisa and Maggie watching Krusty the Clown on TV. During the show a reluctant and unhappy Sideshow Bob is launched from a cannon, also an episode of Itchy and Scratchy is aired (titled: Burning Love). Marge calls Homer at work and asks him to stop on his way home to pick up some ice cream. Homer asks what the occasion is, and shudders when he learns that Patty and Selma are coming over later to show slides of their vacation. Homer stops at the Kwik-E-Mart for ice cream on the way home, and while there he witnesses Krusty rob Apu at gunpoint. Cut quickly to the Simpson house, as the rest of the family watches Patty and Selma's slides. Cut back to Homer, who gives a description of Krusty to the police. Meanwhile at Krusty's apartment Krusty is relaxing with a drink when a SWAT team busts down his door and take him into custody. At the police station Homer identifies Krusty as the armed robber. Homer finally makes it home just as the news report about Krusty's arrest comes on the air. Bart is devastated that his idol Krusty could have done such a thing.

Act Two

On the news, Kent Brockman reports on the upcoming trial and history of Krusty the Clown including the fact that Krusty has a pacemaker. Reverend Lovejoy calls for a public burning of all Krusty merchandise. The next day as Krusty walks up the steps to the courthouse Bart and Lisa watch in disbelief and Bart notices that Krusty has small feet. Inside the courtroom during the trial, even after Bart begs him not to, Homer points out Krusty to the jury as the armed robber. Later back at the house, Homer and Marge gather up all the Krusty merchandise in the house and head to the public burning. An upset Bart watches as the pile of merchandise goes up in flames. The next day at the trial, it is revealed after being asked to identify some evidence that Krusty is illiterate. Later, the jury reaches a guilty verdict. At the Simpson house, Lisa and Maggie watch Sideshow Bob who has now taken over for Krusty on TV. When Bart walks in and sees this, he is upset. He tells Lisa he thinks Krusty is innocent and he convinces Lisa to help prove Krusty's innocence. Bart and Lisa go to the Kwik-E-Mart to examine the crime scene and Lisa notices that the microwave at the checkout counter has a sign warning that people with pacemakers should keep away. She also recalls that in the security camera footage Krusty was reading a magazine, but that couldn't be true since Krusty is illiterate. Cut to Sideshow Bob who after just finishing taping of his show enters his changing room and emits an evil diabolical laugh.

Act Three

At the television studio Bart, Lisa, and Maggie pay a visit to Sideshow Bob, he dismisses them because his show is about to start, but he offers them free tickets. While in Bob's room they notice his enormous feet. In the audience a visibly saddened Bart watches the show. When Sideshow Bob notices Bart's sadness he invites him on stage for a new psychological segment called Choices. While on stage Bart reveals he is sad because he thinks that Krusty was framed and wrongfully jailed, however, Sideshow Bob tries to convince him otherwise. While Sideshow Bob is talking to the audience he mentions that he has "big shoes to fill." "Big shoes," resonates in Bart's mind and suddenly everything clicks for Bart. He jumps to his feet and declares that Sideshow Bob is the one who framed Krusty. The police are watching the show and after hearing Bart and his evidence, they go down to the studio and arrest Sideshow Bob. Sideshow Bob reveals that he framed Krusty because he couldn't stand all the antics and felt his intelligence was wasted on the show. Later at the police station Krusty is released and he thanks Bart for his help. That night a much happier Bart goes to bed in his newly refurnished bedroom, with all things Krusty the Clown.

Production

Sideshow Bob makes his first appearance as a major character in this episode. However, his official first appearance was in the background of a scene in the season one episode The Telltale Head. Bob's design was revamped, with his original round hair being turned into his now-famous "palm tree" style. James Earl Jones was originally cast as Bob, but the producers decided to try Kelsey Grammer. Also making their first appearances in this episode are Kent Brockman and Scott Christian.

Reception

The episode finished thirteenth place for May 23–29, 1990, with a Nielsen rating of 16.4. The episode received positive reviews from critics. Matt Groening has listed it as his ninth favorite episode of the show and said "I have a peculiar love of TV clownery". In a DVD review of the first season, David B. Grelck gave the episode a rating of 3/5. 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."