Radio Bart
"Radio Bart"
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Episode Information
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Radio Bart is the thirteenth episode of the third season, first shown on the 9th January 1992. Sting guest voices himself. It was nominated for an Emmy that year.
Plot
Homer doesn't know what to get Bart for his birthday. While watching TV, he sees an ad for a microphone that can be used to send voices over the radio. Homer jumps on the idea and orders one for Bart's birthday. However, Bart is less than enthralled by it, and more taken with the label-maker that Patty and Selma got him.
Homer tries to convince Bart how great the microphone is, and after Marge also tries it out, Bart decides to have a little 'fun' with it. After trying it out on a few unsuspecting victims (he manages to make Rod and Todd Flanders believe that God is talking to them through the radio), Bart lowers a radio down into an old, abandoned well. Calling for help over the radio, a number of Townspeople gather around the well, where Bart explains that he is an orphan named Timmy O'Toole. Due to the size of the well, none of the city's Police Force will fit, and Timmy explains that his foot is trapped under a rock.
A number of townsfolk attempt to come up with solutions to free the boy. Krusty the Clown even decides to work with musician Sting, to create a song called "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well." A carnival is held near the well to benefit Timmy O'Toole, and an Itchy & Scratchy episode is dedicated to him.
However, Bart's ruse is broken when Lisa sees him wrestling the microphone away from Santa's Little Helper. The growls through the microphone by the dog make the townspeople believe that something is wrong with Timmy, and the local news immediately reports on his 'possibly feral condition.' Lisa confronts Bart that his prank is going to end up backfiring. Bart scoffs at this, until he remembers that he used his label-maker to put a 'Property of Bart Simpson' label on the radio in the well.
Later that evening, Bart returns to the well, and attempts to climb down into it using a rope. When Officers Lou and Eddie see the rope, they untie it, sending Bart plummeting down into the well, where his foot ends up trapped under a rock (much like the story he made up to fool everyone). Bart calls for help, and explains to the officers about his prank. The officers then decide to leave Bart there.
The next day, Marge asks what the Police are doing to help Bart. Police Chief Wiggum mentions that since Bart tricked the public, there is very little public support to help him. The Mayor considers this prospect, but in the wake of negative public opinion, he renounces his support and proclaims that Bart should 'stay down there' (which causes cheers from his brain-washed constituents).
Later that evening, Marge and Homer return and drop a sweater down for Bart to wear. As he ponders the situation, and considers that he'll be trapped down in the well for the rest of his life, Homer is incited to dig him out. Before long, a number of other citizens have helped in the efforts. After several days, they manage to reach Bart. Homer assures Bart that they'll make sure that no-one else will ever fall down the well.
The final shot shows Groundskeeper Willie posting a sign nearby that says "Caution: Well" (instead of the more sensible option of just boarding up the well).
Production
The episode's plot is inspired by the media frenzy around “Baby Jessica” McClure in 1987, in which an 18-month-old child fell down a well in Midland, Texas and was rescued in a highly publicized incident.
When this episode was being made, the producers approached Bruce Springsteen to appear. He rejected doing the episode, and got Sting to appear in his place. According to DVD Commentary, the producers originally wanted Homer to sing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot as opposed to Convoy. Jon Vitti said the reason the song was not used was because Lightfoot had made it so that in order to clear the song, they would have to get okays from the families of all 29 victims who died on the ship.
In one scene, Bart uses his radio to make Homer believe aliens are invading the Earth. This prompts Homer to brandish a shotgun in panic. According to the commentary, Homer's original reaction was to mix Kool-Aid and rat poison, ostensibly to spare his family the horror of alien invasion. This was deemed too dark and was changed.
Reception
In the DVD commentary for the episode, the staff expresses their disbelief that this episode lost the Emmy for animated program to Claymation Easter. Al Jean said they thought this episode or Ren & Stimpy would win and were absolutely floored when neither did. David Silverman said he believes The Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy split the vote, allowing Claymation Easter to grab the Emmy. The Daily Telegraph characterized the episode as one of "The 10 Best Simpsons TV Episodes."
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