Pranksta Rap
"Pranksta Rap"
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Episode Information
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Pranksta Rap is the 9th episode of The Simpsons' 16 season.
Contents
Plot
Bart sees a commercial for the rap show "Murder 4 Life" and decides to go, even though Lisa is disappointed that he has become "another lame suburban kid who loves rap". Homer has no qualms about letting Bart buy the ticket himself, as long as Bart doesn't block the TV. Later, when Marge sees Bart wearing ghetto-like clothing, she finds out about the hip-hop show and, along with Homer, cuts a rap forbidding him from going. However, Bart feels that since he bought his own ticket, he is an adult and decides to go to the show.
While the concert's underway, the microphone of the main singer, Assault Weapons Magazine "Man of the Year" Alcatraaaz, falls into his hands. Alcatraaaz challenges him to use it or step off. Bart, not one to step down, gets up on stage and cuts a rap (which basically disses Homer), making him an instant hit with the crowd. Impressed with this "little yellow racker", Alcatraaaz gives him a ride in his Hummer-limo. As they drive, they see 50 Cent in his own Hummer-limo, who advises Bart to stay in school (however, that does not count as community service). When Bart gets home, Alcatraaaz gives him a free jersey.
However, as he passes by the window, he overhears Marge and Homer talking. They have discovered his little escapade and are waiting for him (Homer with his belt in hand). Bart decides that he should face the music like an adult... or lie his way out of it like a kid. So he climbs up to his treehouse and, removing his incriminating jersey, starts writing a note. He then ties the note round a rock and throws it through the window, right where Homer and Marge are standing. Marge reads it, which says that he has been kidnapped and that they should await further instructions. While Marge is shocked that Bart has been kidnapped, Homer is more upset that they have "to await further instructions".
The whole community comes out in support of the Simpsons. Chief Wiggum declares, in a press conference, that the kidnapper will not get away, as he himself is on the case. This brings peals of laughter from the assembled reporters, one of whom asks if they should prepare for Bart's funeral already. Despite Wiggum's assurances, no one believes that he can solve the case. Later, he withdraws to his office and muses over all his failures as a cop. He feels so depressed that he turns to the bottle... of maple syrup, with a plate of pancakes. As he eats, Barney Fife (of the The Andy Griffith Show) "communicates" with him, through the TV, urging him to put all his efforts into solving this case. Wiggum, thus encouraged, decides to do so.
Meanwhile, Milhouse plays frisbee by himself, feeling blue that Bart is not there to watch him do it. Bart makes an appearance and tells him his scheme. Milhouse lets Bart crash at his dad's place in the rundown "Bachelor Arms" apartments. As Bart prepares popcorn, he calls his family, disguising his voice, acting as the kidnapper. Wiggum is at the Simpsons' place, listening in with a recorder. After the call, he plays it back and hears the popcorn popping in the background. He identifies it as "Chintzy Pop" (a very cheap popcorn). After a (non-bribe-related) visit to the Kwik-E-Mart, he discovers that there are only two people cheap enough to buy that brand - himself and Kirk.
While Kirk enjoys his popcorn in his apartment, the cops raid the place and find Bart there. Kirk is arrested on charges of kidnapping and Bart is returned to his relieved parents. Wiggum is hailed a hero in Springfield for having solved the case ("No, really!", according to the papers). He is promoted to police commissioner, and in turn, he promotes Lou to police chief and Eddie to "Lou".
Bart and Wiggum are given a parade. Milhouse confronts Bart, telling him that his dad went to jail because of Bart. Bart feels guilty and later confesses to Wiggum in Wiggum's office. However, Clancy tells Bart to maintain the lie, since everyone's a winner (even the imprisoned Kirk, who gets a cleaner home, three meals a day, and single women cheering for him).
Later, as Lisa sits outside, she sees crows hovering around the treehouse. When she investigates, she finds Bart's jersey there and realises that Bart had not been kidnapped at all. She shows the jersey to Homer, who tells her she did the right thing by showing it to him. He then throws it in the fireplace to burn up the evidence. Apparently, Hollywood has paid him a lot of money (which he has already wasted) to make a movie about Bart's "kidnapping". Then, inexplicably, he burns up his own shirt and pants.
Lisa goes to Bart's nemesis, Principal Skinner, and tells him the story. Without hesitation, he agrees to expose Bart as a fraud. But first, they will need proof. So they decide to go Alcatraaaz's mansion and find out from the rapper himself. However, Wiggum gets wind of their snooping, so he meets with Homer, Bart and Kirk and they decide to cover the whole thing up, before they all lose. Wiggum even has had jackets made for the cover-up, though they can never wear them.
Later, Lisa and Skinner go to Alcatraaaz's place and ask him for video footage of Bart at the rap show. They even get the time and date off of different people's "bling", as seen in the footage. They now have proof that Bart was actually at the show, at the same time the kidnapping was supposed to have occurred. Wiggum, accompanied by Homer and Bart, bursts in, gun drawn, demanding the tape. However, Alcatraaaz's entourage respond in kind, by "yanking out their pieces". Wiggum withdraws, since his gun isn't even loaded.
Homer and Bart try to convince Lisa and Skinner of how this lie has made everyone one involved happier with no downside. However Lisa still plans on telling just for the sake of the truth. Homer, flamboyantly trying to tell Lisa to "be cool", accidently wrecks a big-screen TV, prompting the entourage to level their guns at him. However, Alcatraaaz tells them all to relax, and using the infinite wisdom of the street, has the perfect solution: HOUSE PARTY!!
The house party is a big hit, with many rappers and hip-hop artistes in attendance. Bart and Wiggum are made the center of attention. Lisa still wonders whether this is right, but Homer tells her not to worry about it, and then he cannon-balls into the pool. Skinner asks Alcatraaaz about his chances of being in the rapper's entourage. Alcatraaaz tells him that they already have someone similar - Superintendent Chalmers, who orders Skinner to "step off, dog!".
Trivia
- TV Guide initially reported that Dave Chapelle would guest star in this episode.
- Early reports said that Bart had recorded a song with 50 Cent, but no such song appears in the episode
Cultural References
- The rapper Alcatraaaz is a parody of Southern Rapper Ludacris due to his extatic character, faint resemblance to Luda, and gangsta like tendencies (such as when he said he was going to go "murder his enemies")
- The jokes about Kirk getting trailer time with Springfield's craziest chicks is a reference to the many jailed serial killers (such as Susan Smith) who have placed ads looking for a partner and gotten thousands of responses.
- Chief Wiggum calls Bart "Bratty Hearst" after Bart asks Wiggum not to arrest Milhouse's dad. This name is a reference to Patty Hearst, the newspaper heiress who was kidnapped in 1974 and who eventually bonded with her captors, famously helping them in the armed robbery of a bank.
Goofs
- As Chief Wiggum says "Questions?!?" and pulls off his napkin the shaving cream on his face instantly disappears.
- Chief Wiggum tells Barney Fife that his "fat" has grown over his badge. He demonstrates this by lifting the fat so the viewers can see the police badge. However, in the next scene viewers can easily see the badge without Wiggum lifting up his fat.
