Blood on the Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story
Blood on the Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story
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Movie Information
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Blood on the Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story is a made-for-TV movie that stars Neil Patrick Harris as Bart Simpson. It purports to portray the murder of Principal Skinner by Bart Simpson, but the movie's depiction bears almost no resemblance to actual events.
Plot
In the scene that was shown, Bart and Fat Tony had confronted Skinner and Bart was aiming a pistol at him. Fat Tony said he was scared and they should leave, but Bart shushed Fat Tony and continued to menace Skinner with the pistol, asking him where he wanted it. Skinner's only reply was to spit on Bart. At this, Bart said, "Not smart", and shot Skinner several times (off camera).
However, the actual events were completely different from the movie. In reality, Fat Tony and two of his men visited Skinner in his office at Springfield Elementary School, their sole intention being to confront Skinner over giving Bart detention and making him late for his bartending job at Fat Tony's social club. When Skinner threw Tony and his men out, they politely left. After that, Skinner coincidentally disappeared for several days, getting trapped in his home when a stack of old newspapers collapsed on top of him. Fat Tony was accused of Skinner's murder and attempted to frame Bart, but the legal proceedings were halted and all charges dropped when Skinner re-appeared and explained what had happened.[1]
Reactions
The Simpsons saw Blood on the Blackboard: The Bart Simpson Story on TV. Bart thought the scene where he was shown shooting Skinner was "Cool", but Homer asked when they were going to get paid. Marge said that "they changed it just enough so they don't have to pay us." Homer then went on a tirade: "You know who the real crooks are? Those sleazy Hollywood producers!"[1]
Joe Mantegna's role in the film led to Chief Wiggum listing him as one of the known associates of Fat Tony and the Springfield Mafia.[2]
Behind the Laughter
- The movie announcer introduces Neil Patrick Harris as "TV's Doogie Howser". At the time the episode aired, Harris's best-known role was as the title character in Doogie Howser, M.D.
- In a bit of humor, Joe Mantegna stars as Fat Tony in the movie and voices himself playing the role. (In real life, Mantegna is Fat Tony's regular voice actor.)
Appearances
Episode – "Bart the Murderer" 
Book – Chief Wiggum's Book of Crime and Punishment (mentioned)
