Sideshow Bob Roberts

"Sideshow Bob Roberts" is the fifth episode of The Simpsons' sixth season.

Synopsis

Sideshow Bob calls up Birch Barlow, a local right-wing talk show host, stating that he is being treated unfairly in prison. Thanks to Barlow, all of Springfield sympathizes with Bob. Pressured by protests, Mayor Quimby releases Bob.

At a Springfield Republican meeting, Bob announces his candidacy for mayor of Springfield. Determined to keep the psychopath from becoming mayor, Bart and Lisa help campaign for Quimby. Quimby helps get the old folks' votes by naming a new expressway the "Matlock Expressway". Unfortunately, at a televised debate hosted by Larry King, Quimby's drowsiness (caused by extra drowsy flu medication) causes him to lose all support. Springfield votes for mayor and the results are 100% for Bob and 1% for Quimby (and there is a one percent margin of error).

Within days, the Simpsons wake up to construction occurring outside. Bob informs the family that the Simpsons' house is in the way of the new Matlock Expressway and that it will be demolished in 72 hours, along with any remaining Simpsons. Bart and Lisa begin to suspect that Bob somehow cheated in the election. Lisa goes through all the voter records but that does not help. (Bart is of no help because, thanks to Bob, he got transferred to kindergarten.) While Lisa reviews the records, someone leaves a message for her. Bart and Lisa go to a parking garage to meet with the whistle blower, who turns out to be Waylon Smithers. He gives them one name of a person who voted for Bob and the two children soon discover that virtually every single person (and many dead pets) who voted for him was dead, even some for centuries. Of course, dead people and animals are not eligible to vote. At a trial, an angry Bart and Lisa trick Bob into confessing his crime and he is thrown into a minimum security prison, thus managing to let the Simpsons have their house back, letting Quimby gain his term as mayor, and putting Bart back to the fourth grade.