Fears of a Clown/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 29 Episode References
← 631 "3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage"	632 "Fears of a Clown"	"No Good Read Goes Unpunished" 633 →

Cultural references

• The episode's name is a reference to the song "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
• The episode is a re-imagining of Stephen King's It but with Krusty.
• At the Museum of Television, wax statues of characters from the tv shows Bonanza (431 episodes), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (435 episodes), Lassie (547 episodes) and Gunsmoke (635 episodes) appear. At the end, they sit on the couch, under the label "The Simpsons 636 episodes" but Lisa points out they're 4 episodes early. The 636th episode will be Forgive and Regret, 4 episodes after this one.
  • Lassie however run for 591 episodes, but the additional ones not counted were the last two seasons who run in syndacation.
• Martin says the line "with diagonal belt comes great responsibility", a reference to Ben Parker's line in the Spider-Man comics
• Skinner! retires on Taco Tuesday.
• Skinner mentions David Bowie and his song Changes.
• Skinner mentions The Beatles's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
• The OK Go appear singing Upside Down & Inside Out. They're voiced by Tim Nordwind and Damian Kulash themself.
• The Real Ex-Wives of Krusty is a reference to the tv show The Real Housewives.
  • Previously the show was pariodied in the shows The Real Housewives of Shelbyville and The Real Housewives of Tampa Bay, and the episode The Real Housewives of Fat Tony.
• Marge mentions Tom Hanks, Albert Brooks, Michael Keaton, Zach Braff and Bryan Cranston. All except Zach Braff appeared as guest stars in the show.
• The rights of Death of a Salesman cost too much, so the people in the public theater make a rip-off called The Salesman's Bad Day.
• The stage manager from The Book of Mormon is feautured in The Salesman's Bad Day.
• Sideshow Mel mentions Amazon.

Continuity

• In the opening scene, Homer is seen flying on his wingsuit. ("YOLO")
• In the walls around Lassie, images of Laddie appear. ("The Canine Mutiny")

Trivia

• "The Tears of a Clown" has been referred to in previous episodes:
  • The Itchy & Scratchy cartoon "The Tears of a Clone" ("Little Big Mom").
  • The Tears of a Clown counseling center ("Clown in the Dumps").
• This is the second episode in a row to reference the line "with great power comes great responsibility".
• The blackboard text and the episode premise is based on pranks. The episode aired on April Fools' Day.

← Season 28 Season 29 References Season 30 →

The Serfsons • Springfield Splendor • Whistler's Father • Treehouse of Horror XXVIII • Grampy Can Ya Hear Me • The Old Blue Mayor She Ain't What She Used to Be • Singin' in the Lane • Mr. Lisa's Opus • Gone Boy • Haw-Haw Land • Frink Gets Testy • Homer Is Where the Art Isn't • 3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage • Fears of a Clown • No Good Read Goes Unpunished • King Leer • Lisa Gets the Blues • Forgive and Regret • Left Behind • Throw Grampa from the Dane • Flanders' Ladder