The Lastest Gun in the West
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"The Lastest Gun in the West"
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Episode Information
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"The Lastest Gun in the West" is the twelfth episode of season 13 and aired on February 4, 2002. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Bob Anderson. Dennis Weaver guest stars as Buck McCoy.
Bart and Lisa meet a washed-up movie star of westerns from the 1950s and attempt to revive his career by getting him to appear on the Krusty the Klown Show. But years of alcohol abuse get in the way.
Plot
As Bart walks home from school one day, he cannot believe his good fortune: He finds a shiny new dime, accepts some free ice cream, and happens upon a medium-sized dog, which he assumes he’ll befriend. But the dog turns out to be mean, and soon after Bart finds himself being chased through the streets. Bart makes his way to safety, but the following day the dog launches another attack. Bart grows convinced the animal is out to kill him—especially when it shows affection to the rest of the family. Eventually, the animal chases Bart into an old ritzy neighborhood. The boy climbs the gate of a large old house and hopes over the side, separating himself from the dog. But as Bart turns, he soon finds himself face-to-face with a wolf, rattlesnake, mountain lion and other dangerous animals.
At first, Bart is terrified. But he soon realizes the animals are all stuffed…except for the ostrich, which bites him and runs off. An aging man steps forward and introduced himself as Buck McCoy, a famous movie cowboy who appeared in Westerns in Hollywood’s golden era. Buck shows Bart a move that makes the dog roll over and wag its tail. The dog then trots off, smiling at Bart in the process. Buck then takes Bart for a tour of his sumptuous home. Bart is impressed with the many pioneer items on display. When the boy returns home, he tells his family about his new friend. Grampa is greatly impressed, as he remembers Buck’s films from years earlier. Later, Bart takes Milhouse to the old house, where Buck performs impressive lasso twirls. When Bart returns home, he shows Homer and Marge a cowboy hat that Buck gave him. Homer soon grows jealous of Bart’s new friend. To compensate, Homer begins wearing a cowboy hat and bolo tie with an arrowhead clasp.
Later, Buck is invited to the Simpson home for dinner. After the meal, Buck shows the family highlights of his acting career. Marge believes the cowboy Western is due for a comeback. Soon after, Bart shows up at school clad in cowboy garb, and a new Western craze sweeps town. Bart and Lisa lobby Krusty to put the old cowboy star on his show. At first Krusty is reluctant to do so, labeling the craze a “fad.” But he soon gives in, and Buck begins rehearsing his routine, shooting at a cutout of the clown. Krusty is greatly impressed…and reminds Buck that millions of viewers will be watching. Buck grows nervous and soon takes to his flask. When the show goes on the air, Buck is noticeably inebriated. And when he takes aim with his gun, Buck’s gun wavers back and forth between the cutout and the real Krusty. Buck pulls the trigger, hitting Krusty. Buck then admits to Bart that he’s an alcoholic.
Marge and Homer show up at Buck’s mansion and pour all his whiskey down a drain. Buck is admitted to the John Ford Center for Alcoholic Cowboys, but he grows fed up and walks out. Soon after, the Western craze is replaced by an astronaut craze. But Homer isn’t ready to give up on Buck. When news of a robbery at the National Bank of Springfield is broadcast on television, Homer picks up the phone and calls Buck for help. He drives the old cowboy to the bank and suggests he save the day by confronting the robbers. Though he’s just an actor, Buck tosses away his flask, swings his lassos and announces to the robbers that the fun is over. He disarms the bad guys, who are later taken to jail. Afterward, Bart tells Buck and Homer that they are both his heroes.
