| "Homie the Clown"
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| Episode Information
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- "How about letting me go double or nothing on the big opera tonight?"
- ―Krusty the Clown
- "OK. But we're only letting the bet ride because you crack us so consistently up."
- ―Fat Tony
"Homie the Clown" is the fifteenth episode of season 6 and aired on February 12, 1995. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman.
Synopsis
After spotting a billboard for clown college, Homer cannot resist and upon becoming an official Krusty the Clown impersonator Homer runs into some trouble with the mob.
Plot
Krusty's extravagant lifestyle is eating into his profits. Along with this, he owes money to the mob. His accountant informs him that he will be bankrupt in a month, and suggests opening up a Clown College, to train people to act as him for various events and functions.
It just so happens that a billboard of the new clown college catches Homer's eye. Unable to get the image out of his head, he decides to join. After graduating, Homer shows up for various Krusty events, but soon tires of the prat falls and punchlines. Homer then finds that his similarity to Krusty allows people to assume he is the real clown, and ends up getting free stuff and kickbacks.
Meanwhile, Krusty is in trouble with Fat Tony, and manages to escape by pretending to go to the toilet. Tony and his goons see Homer attempting to purchase a vehicle, and kidnap him. Back at their legitimate club, the real Krusty shows up, and he is in trouble. They switch up and are unable to be told apart, but Homer speaks, ruining it. Krusty and Homer are for forced to perform a trick together, they go through a wild path, and are a success, Homer is freed and Krusty pays the mob a total payment of $48.00.
Behind the Laughter
This episode contains the first major appearance of Fat Tony and his mafia since the season 3 episode, Bart the Murderer. After this episode more episodes were produced with Fat Tony giving Joe Mantegna about 23 different moments to voice the character. This episode also contained the idea that from Matt Groening that Krusty was secretly Homer due to their appearances. This episode is considered to be one of the best episodes of season 6.
