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Difference between revisions of "The Italian Bob"

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'''"The Italian Bob"''' is the eighth episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' seventeenth season. It first aired on [[December 11]], [[2005]]. The title is a take off of the film ''[[The Italian Job]]''. This episode is the ninth appearance of Sideshow Bob.
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{{Tab}}
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{{EpisodePrevNext|The Last of the Red Hat Mamas|Simpsons Christmas Stories}}
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{{Episode
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|image= The Italian Bob.png
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|number= 364
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|season=17
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|snumber=8
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|prodcode= HABF02
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|airdate= December 11, [[2005]]
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|couchgag= A pair of cartoon hands deal out a wild royal flush, consisting of the jack of diamonds (Bart), the queen of diamonds (Marge), the king of diamonds (Homer), the ace of diamonds (Lisa), and the joker (Maggie)
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|guests= [[Maria Grazia Cucinotta]] as [[Francesca Terwilliger]]<br>[[Kelsey Grammer]] as [[Sideshow Bob]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
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|writer= [[John Frink]]
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|director= [[Mark Kirkland]]
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}}
  
==Synopsis==
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"'''The Italian Bob'''" is the eighth episode of [[season 17]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and sixty-fourth episode overall. It originally aired on December 11, [[2005]]. The episode was written by [[John Frink]] and directed by [[Mark Kirkland]]. It guest stars [[Maria Grazia Cucinotta]] as [[Francesca Terwilliger]] and [[Kelsey Grammer]] as [[Sideshow Bob]].
{{spoiler}}
 
After [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns']] car breaks down, he tells Homer to pick him up a brand new [[Lamborghini|Lambor]][[Bugatti|gotti]] [[Ferrari Testarossa|Fasterossa]] car in Italy. The rest of the family comes along with him, and after they pick up the car, they have a great time touring the country. However, after a huge wheel of [[Mortadella]] lands on their car, they push it into a small Tuscan village nearby called Salsiccia. When they get there, they ask an elderly woman for help, and she tells them that the mayor speaks English. However, they find out the mayor is none other than [[Sideshow Bob]]. He explains to them that after he attempted to [[The Great Louse Detective|kill Bart]], he came to Italy to begin a new life. After a rough start, the natives warm up to him after he helped them crush grapes into wine (using his enormous feet). After that, they elected him mayor of their village. Bob no longer has any intention of killing Bart, and it is revealed that he has a wife and son, Francesca and Gino, and they don't know anything about his past life in America. Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone, and they agree in order to have the car fixed.
 
  
The Simpsons enjoy spending time in the village, and they continue to keep Bob's past a secret. However, after Lisa drinks some wine at a party, she starts to spout off about him being an attempted-murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit and everyone can see that underneath is his outfit from Springfield Prison. They find out the Bob is an attempted killer, and they take away his title as mayor. The Simpsons take off in the fixed car, and Bob swears [[vendetta]] on them.
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== Synopsis ==
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{{Desc|[[Mr. Burns]]'s Stutz Bearcat finally breaks down, so he decides to buy a new Italian sports car, and asks [[Homer]] to pick it up for him. The Simpsons go to Italy but end up in a small town where the residents aren't aware of the criminal past of their new mayor - Sideshow Bob, who is now married and has a son. [[Marge]] quickly finds out what "vendetta" means in English.}}
  
After the family flees, Bob begins to follow them on a motorcycle. Homer drives into a ditch and ends up driving on ancient Roman ruins, and after they go off the end, the car ends up on top of [[Trajan's Column]] in the [[Roman Forum]]. Bob's wife meets up with him, and she tells him that they will kill the Simpsons together as a family (Gino, too).
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== Plot ==
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When [[Mr. Burns]]' 1910s-model car is beyond repair, he purchases a LamborBugatti Ferrari Fasterossa car and assigns Homer Simpson to travel to Italy, where the car will be acquired. The rest of the family comes along with him, and after they pick up the car, they have a great time touring the country. However, after a huge wheel of Mortadella lands on their car, they push it into a small Tuscan village nearby called [[Salsiccia]]. When they get there, they ask an elderly woman for help, and she tells them that the mayor speaks English. However, they find out the mayor is none other than [[Sideshow Bob]]. He explains to them that after he attempted to [[The Great Louse Detective|kill Bart]], he came to Italy to begin a new life. After a rough start, the natives warmed up to him after he helped them crush grapes into wine (using his enormous feet). After that, they elected him mayor of their village. Bob no longer has any intention of killing Bart, and it is revealed that he has a wife and son, [[Francesca]] and [[Gino]], and they don't know anything about his past life in the United States. Now that he is a citizen of Italy with no criminal record, Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone, and they agree in order to have the car fixed.
  
Meanwhile, the Simpsons are wondering what they should do next. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising [[Krusty the Klown]]'s performance in ''[[Pagliacci]]''. They meet up with him at the [[Colosseum]], and he puts them in as extras. However, Bob, Francesca and Gino find them and corner them in on the stage while Krusty, who went into a trap door, flees the stage, allowing Bob to perform the climax of ''Vesti la Giubba''. Before they can kill them, though, Krusty's limo picks them up. The Terwilligers walk away with evil smiles, no doubt plotting revenge.
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The Simpsons enjoy spending time in the village, and they continue to keep Bob's past a secret. However, after [[Lisa]] drinks some wine at a party, she starts to spout off about him being an attempted-murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit and everyone can see that underneath is his outfit from Springfield Prison (which Bob somehow never bothered to dispose after his release from prison). The villagers of Salsiccia find out that Bob was a citizen of the United States with a criminal record, and strip Bob of his mayorlty. The Simpsons take off in the fixed car, and Bob swears vendetta on them.
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[[File:Sideshow bob opera.png|200px|thumb|right|Sideshow Bob performing the climax of the opera.]]
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After the family flees, Bob begins to follow them on a motorcycle. Homer drives into a ditch and ends up driving on ancient Roman ruins, and after they go off the end, the car ends up on top of Trajan's Column in the Roman Forum. Bob's wife meets up with him, and she tells him that they will kill the Simpsons together as a family (Gino, too).
  
==Trivia==
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Meanwhile, the Simpsons are wondering what they should do next. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising [[Krusty the Clown]]'s performance in ''[[Pagliacci]]''. They meet up with him at the [[Colosseum]], and he puts them in as extras. However, Bob, Francesca and Gino find them and corner them on the stage while Krusty who is getting booed by the audience, went into a trap door and flees the stage, allowing Bob to perform the climax of ''Vesti la Giubba'', (which his performance gains a standing ovation). Before they can kill them, though, Krusty's limo picks them up. The Terwilligers walk away with evil smiles, no doubt plotting revenge.
*The rake-to-the-face gag is recycled from "[[Cape Feare]]".
 
*The Italian police book features Snake as ''Invasione Di Casa'' ([[Home invasion|home invader]]), Mayor Quimby as ''Drinko Drive-O'' ([[drunk driving]]), [[Peter Griffin]] as ''Plagiarismo'' ([[plagiarism]]), [[Stan Smith (American Dad!)|Stan Smith]] as ''Plagiarismo Di Plagiarismo'' (plagiarism of plagiarism), and Sideshow Bob as ''Omicidio Attentato Multiplo'' (multiple [[Attempted murder|attempts of murder]])
 
*The two year old town drunk looks and sounds like a young [[Barney Gumble]]. He may actually be one of Barney's innumerable children, thanks to the Springfield sperm bank.
 
*When Homer gives an Italian woman a mug with [[Kentucky]] emblazoned on it as a peace offering, this may be a reference to "[[Behind the Laughter]]", in which the Simpsons are referred to as a "Northern Kentucky family."
 
*When Lisa rips Sideshow Bob's clothes off revealing his prison suit, his prison number is HABF02, the production code of this episode (a running gag on The Simpsons, where the episode's production code is seen on-screen).
 
* The writing in the book of fugitives from America on the opposite page from the pictures appears to be Arabic.
 
* Homer and, to a lesser extent, Bart manifest profound knowledge of the [[history of Italy]] in this episode.
 
* When the family visits [[Pompeii]], there are the remains of a Roman family strongly resembling the Simpsons, which Homer refers to as "[[savages]]."
 
* The [[PBS]] logo has the Simpsons' overbite, which was also featured in ''[[Missionary: Impossible]]''.
 
*In Sideshow Bob's flashback, he is wearing the same clothes as he was at the end of his last appearance, in "[[The Great Louse Detective]]".
 
*On Sideshow Bob's globe, Tuscany looks like it is a city, but it is actually a region.
 
*This episode was shown during the [[Super Bowl XL]] Halftime show ([[February 5]], [[2006]]).
 
*The name of the village (Salsiccia) means "sausage" in [[Italian language|Italian]].
 
*Krusty's lines during the musical ''Pagliacci'', with the words changed to "I'm all out of [[Rice Krispies]]", is a reference to the Batman comic "Hush", when, during the musical, Harley Quinn is disguised as the lead actor and sings the same lines about Rice Krispies.
 
  
==Cultural References==
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== Reception ==
*The episode title is a reference to the film ''[[The Italian Job]]''.
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"The Italian Bob" won the [[2007]] Writers Guild of America award in Animation.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/2007/1/ IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2007 Awards"]</ref>
*The Lamborgotti Fasterossa is virtually identical to the real-life [[Lamborghini Gallardo]]. As a play on the names of Italian exotic cars, the Fasterossa's name is also derived from the [[Ferrari Testarossa]]. The 'rossa' root might explain the car's red color, despite Lamborghini's signature yellow color.
 
*The song Lisa chants as the cheeses bounce towards the Fasterossa is to the tune of "Italiano Calypso", a song on ''The Seven Hills of Rome''.
 
*Lisa mentions [[Jean Valjean]]. Both Bob, [[Principal Skinner]] and ''[[Arrested Development]]'''s [[Oscar Bluth]] have worn Valjean's prison number in the past.
 
*This episode marks the first cameo appearance of [[Stan Smith (American Dad)|Stan Smith]]. He, like fellow "plagiarismo" [[Peter Griffin]] is shown with their [[Caucasian race|regular skin]] color rather than yellow skin.
 
  
==Awards==
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[[Kelsey Grammer]] won a {{W|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance}} in the {{W|58th Primetime Emmy Awards}} for voicing [[Sideshow Bob]] in this episode.<ref>[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2006/outstanding-voice-over-performance Television Academy - "Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2006"]</ref>
*[[Kelsey Grammer]] won the [[Emmy Award]] for [[Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] for his voice portrayal of [[Sideshow Bob]] in this episode.
 
  
==Goofs==
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== References ==
*Homer did attend college—later in life, though. However, his character would be known to forget something like that.
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{{Reflist}}
*Lisa does not appear to speak much Italian in this episode, despite learning from Milhouse in the previous episode. However, she does translate the old woman's dialogue and correctly identifies all the [[cheese]]s that fall off the [[truck]].
 
*Sideshow Bob has a child now, who appears to be older than Maggie, seeing as he can talk, whereas in previous episodes Maggie has existed but Bob has had no son.
 
*[[Pompeii]] was spelled "Pompei" when they arrived. Pompei in fact is the correct Italian name of the city.
 
*The [[Italian language|Italian]] spoken in the show is a quite literal translation of the English phrases shown as subtitles. It's not grammatically and phonetically correct sometimes, but the literal translation of the English [[idiomatic expression]]s would sound nonsensical to an Italian native.
 
*Bob becomes the "Il Mayore" of Salsiccia but the correct [[Italian language|Italian]] word would be "Sindaco". ''Mayore'' is probably an intentional Italianization of the term [[mayor]], as the word doesn't even exist in [[Italian language|Italian]].
 
*When the family is at the Lamborgotti assembly line, the sign shows "Limea Montaggio No. 1". The correct word would be "LiNea". Plus, "No." is the English abbreviation of "Number", in [[Italy]] that would have been "N°", "Num." or simply "N.". "#" is not used in Italy.
 
*When the [[Italian Police]] searches the book of American criminals, [[Sideshow Bob]] is listed under "omicidio attentato multiplo". The correct [[Italian language|Italian]] term would be "Tentato Omicidio Multiplo". ''Attentato'' is a wrong, although largely intelligible, translation of ''attempted'', as the word in Italian means more or less "act of terrorism", and not the act of attempting to do something.
 
*"Plagiarismo" is a Spanish translation from the English "plagiarism". The correct Italian word is "plagio".
 
  
==Quotes==
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{{season 17}}
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[[sv:The Italian Bob]]
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[[Category:2005]]
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[[Category:Sideshow Bob episodes]]
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[[Category:Travel episodes]]
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[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winning episodes]]
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[[Category:WGA Award winning episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by John Frink]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Mark Kirkland]]
  
*'''Bart:''' Hey [[Crypt Keeper]], I like your [[Dodge Caravan|Dodge Scare-avan]]! ''(the children laugh)''<br/>'''Burns:''' How dare you mock my Mobile-a-mobile! It was the first car to outrun a man! <br/> '''Nelson:''' A [[caveman]]! ''(children laugh)'' I thought of that because I slept in a cave last night.<br/>'''Mr. Burns:''' Oh, of all the... I will not be lampooned by school children! Kill them, Smithers!<br/>'''Smithers:''' Uh, you could just buy a new car, sir.<br/>'''Burns:''' Well, whatever's easier.<br/>'''Martin:''' A new car? May I suggest an [[Oldsmobile|''Olds''mobile]]?<br/>''(dead silence)''<br/>'''Nelson:''' Mr. Burns sucks!<br/>''(everyone laughs)''<br/>'''Burns:''' I won't forget who mocked me! I'm taking your picture! ''(takes out an old fashioned [[view camera]])'' Now, hold perfectly still for seventy-eight minutes. ''(after a few seconds, the children leave and Mr. Burns falls asleep)''
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[[de:HABF02]]
 
 
*'''Homer:''' You're sending me to Italy? <br/> '''Burns:''' Yes. <br/> '''Homer:''' Can I take my family? <br/> '''Burns:''' Sure. <br/> '''Homer:''' Do I have to hang out with them? <br/> '''Burns:''' It would be nice. <br/> ''(Homer groans)''
 
 
 
*'''Homer:''' Why can't you people learn to speak my language? I learned to eat your food!
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' Gee, I wish we could explore a little more of Italy.<br/>'''Homer:''' ''(excited)'' Marge, are you encouraging me to be irresponsible?<br/>'''Bart:''' Why don't you ''encourage'' him to get us some [[health insurance]]?<br/>'''Homer:''' Why you little-! ''(strangles Bart)'' ''(Bart then pulls a lever, and a robotic arm holding a car part begins to hit Homer on his head. They eventually pass out)''<br/>'''Line Manager:''' ''(to Marge)'' So, first time in Italy?
 
 
 
*'''Homer:''' ''(sees a man in first class on the plane)'' Hey, that man has a TV in his seat. I wonder what I got. ''(rips off the top of the armrest)'' Oh, just a bunch of stupid wires. <br/> ''(Homer rips off some of the wires and one of the engines falls off, landing in Cletus' front yard)'' <br/> '''Cletus:''' Hey, Brandine! The kids just gots themselves a new playpen! <br/> '''Brandine:''' Cletus, you're the most wonderful husband and son I ever had.
 
 
 
*'''Bart:''' ''(At the airport)'' What's up with the Canadian sticker on your backpack? <br/> '''Lisa:''' Well, some people in Europe think that America has made some [[George W. Bush|stupid choices]] for the past, oh, five years. So for the next week, I'm from [[Canada]]. <br/> '''Bart:''' Uh, I think Dad may blow your cover. <br/> '''Homer:''' ''(pushing through the crowd)'' That flag is mine! ''(takes an American flag off the [[conveyor belt]] and stands on top of suitcases, waving the flag around)'' Don't mess with [[Texas]]! [[Shock and awe]], losers! Shock and awe!
 
 
 
*'''Homer:''' ''(talking to an elderly Italian woman)'' I honor you and your country. ''(gives her a coffee mug with the word "[[Kentucky]]" on it)''<br/>'''Elderly woman:''' ''(shrieks)'' Kentucky! In Italia, this-a means whore! ''(smashes the mug and slaps Homer)''
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. They say you speak English. <br/> '''Man behind chair:''' Indeed I do. <br/> ''(man turns around to reveal that he is Sideshow Bob)'' <br/> '''Simpsons:''' Sideshow Bob! <br/> '''Bob:''' The Simpsons!<br/> ''(they all scream)''
 
 
 
*'''Homer:''' Yes, tell us your story. But it better have a beginning, a middle, and an end. ''(threateningly)'' And you better make us root for the [[protagonist]]!<br/>'''Bob:''' ''(gets up and faces the window)'' My tale begins after I had once again attempted to murder Bart.<br/>'''Homer:''' Okay, so far I'm rootin' for ya.<br/>''(in a flashback, Bob opens the front door of his old house in Springfield, takes off his hat and puts in on the coat hanger, puts his knife away and sits down)''<br/>'''Bob:''' ''(narrating) I needed a fresh start. But where? (He walks up to the globe and spins it around. He covers his eyes and stabs the knife into the globe, which lands on [[Orlando, Florida]])'' Not in this lifetime! ''(He spins it again, and the knife lands on [[North Korea]])'' Damn it! ''(He spins it again, and the knife  lands on Shelbyville)'' Never! ''(He spins it again, and the knife lands on a fictional country called Bartovia that looks like Bart winking; it is supposedly located near Italy)'' Now cut that out. ''(He moves the globe slightly and stabs the knife in [[Tuscany]])'' Ah, Tuscany. Fortune is finally smiling upon me. ''([[Cape Feare|steps on a rake and groans in annoyance]], then throws it on the floor)''
 
 
 
*'''Woman crushing grapes:''' ''(in Italian)'' I give up. This is too difficult.<br/>'''Man crushing grapes:''' ''(in Italian)'' Our tiny feet suck.
 
 
 
*''(Homer gestures like [[Mussolini]] on the balcony)''<br/> '''Lisa:''' ''(whispering)'' Dad, don't act like Mussolini.<br/> '''Homer:''' Ooh, I thought I was doing [[Donald Trump]].
 
 
 
*'''Bob:''' This is my bride, Francesca, and my son, Gino.<br/>'''Homer:''' Holy moley! I always thought that you were, you know, [[homosexuality|out loud]] and proud.<br/>'''Bob:''' Well, I experimented in college as one does.<br/>'''Homer:''' Yeah. I never went to college.<br/>'''Bob:''' ''(sarcastically)'' Stop the presses.
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' ''(to Francesca)'' Hello. I'm Marge. This is my husband, Homer, my daughters, Lisa and Maggie, and my son, Bart Simpson. <br/>'''Francesca:''' Bart Simpson? The name Roberto cries when he has the bad dream?<br/>'''Gino:''' ''(making stabbing motions with his hand)'' Bart Simpson! Bart Simpson! Bart Simpson! I make-a like my daddy! ''(grunts and makes more stabbing motions)''<br/>'''Bob:''' ''(takes Gino from Francesca and laughs nervously)'' Yes! Bart and I used to go, uh, fly fishing together.<br/>'''Gino:''' ''(running around on the floor in a circle and making more stabbing motions)'' Die, Bart! Die, Bart! ''([[Cape Feare|steps on a miniature rake and groans in annoyance]], then falls over)''
 
 
 
*'''Bart:''' Bob, your family will find out the truth. Sooner or later, you'll try to kill me again! Watch, I'll prove it. ''(lifts up his shirt and moves his hips around)'' Come on, Bob. Slice, dice, and serve on rice!<br/>'''Bob:''' (chuckling) You little scamp! ''(laughs and puts down Bart's shirt)'' You know, you'll make some murderer very happy one day. But, it shan't be me.
 
 
 
*'''Francesca:''' ''(talking about Bob)'' He's so wonderful. They must miss him in America.<br/>'''Marge:''' Uh, well...<br/>''(in Springfield, Chief Wiggum, Lou, and Eddie burst into Sideshow Bob's old home)''<br/>'''Wiggum:''' Eat justice, Sideshow Bob! ''(the cops unload their machine guns. When they're done, they see that there are little kids having a birthday party)''<br/> '''Lou:''' Chief, I tried to warn you. Sideshow Bob hasn't lived here for months. <br/> '''Wiggum:''' Oh, God, am I sorry. ''(chuckles)'' Oh, hey, is that a [[Penn State]] banner? 'Cause my cousin went there. Did you know him? Mark Wiggum, fat kid? Played a lot of [[Tetris]]? ''(the kids still stare, shocked beyond comprehension)''
 
 
 
*'''Bob:''' We are here to honor my old friends, the Simpsons. Tomorrow they return to America, taking with them my gratitude, my friendship, and my heartfelt wish that they never return.
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' ''(looking in an Italian to English Dictionary)'' [[Vendetta]] means...vendetta! ''(all the Simpsons scream)''
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' Boy, that Sideshow Bob goes from zero to murder awfully fast.<br/>'''Bart:''' At least this time it was Lisa who ruined Bob's life.<br/>'''Lisa:''' ''(groaning)'' Oh, I feel so sick!<br/> '''Homer:''' ''(chuckles)'' It's called a [[hangover]], sweetie. And it's an unavoidable part of life.
 
 
 
*'''Francesca:''' Roberto! <br/> '''Bob:''' Francesca, you've come to me. Well, you've caught me at the right time because I swear ''(hold up his arm)'' never to raise this hand in vengeance again. <br/> '''Francesca:''' ''(grabs his arm)'' No, Roberto! If the Simpsons have dishonor you, they have dishonored our family. And we should take revenge as a family. <br/> '''Gino (pulls out a knife):''' Vendetta! Vendetta! Vendetta for me papa! ''(tosses the knife in the air and skillfully catches it with his finger)'' <br/> '''Bob:''' Ah! Revenge is a dish best served...family style! <br/> ''(Bob laughs manically, as does Francesca and then Gino. Gino than falls to the ground and begins crying. Francesca picks him up, and he laughs again while Bob and Francesca smile menacingly)''
 
 
 
*'''Bart:''' Please help us, Krusty. We don't want to be the first [[Christian]]s to die at the [[Colosseum]]!
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' Here's a cute fact. This sausage shop has been grinding the same family of pigs for six hundred years.<br/>'''Butcher:''' ''(in Italian)'' Sono abitato dai fantasmi di diecimila maiali morti. (''English captions read:'' I am haunted by the ghosts of ten thousand dead pigs).
 
 
 
*'''Francesca:''' Oh, he makes love like a man who just got out of [[Prison|jail]]. ''(kisses Bob)'' <br/> '''Bob:''' ''(chuckles nervously)'' Yes, you crave my skillful touch. Now take the boy and shut the door. I'll rock your world anon. ''(gets Francesca and Gino out, closes the door, then gets on his knees in front of the Simpsons)'' Simpsons, I beg of you. Please don't destroy the new life I've created here! Surely the most heinous criminal deserves a seventh chance.
 
 
 
*'''Lisa:''' Hey, Krusty's in an [[opera]] here in Rome! He can save our lives! Come on, let's go! <br/> '''Homer:''' ''(groans)'' Opera? They have that here too?
 
 
 
*'''Lisa:''' You have to help us! Sideshow Bob has sworn a vendetta against us! <br/> '''Krusty:''' Vendetta? What's that, an Italian [[vending machine]]? ''(the Simpsons stare at him for a few seconds before Krusty bursts into tears)'' Aw! That's my opening [[joke]]! And my closer, and my saver, and my topper!
 
 
 
*'''Krusty:''' Put on these costumes and mix in with the crowd scenes. He won't kill you in front of all those witnesses! <br/> '''Homer:''' Can I be [[the Phantom of the Opera]]? <br/> '''Lisa:''' Dad, the Phantom isn't in this. <br/> '''Homer:''' But I do such a great impression of him! ''(turns around and turns back to them with his hand covering one of his eyes)'' Ooh, I am the gayest supervillian ever! Beware my scented candles! Ooh, scented!
 
 
 
*'''Bob:''' I can't believe what that ''[[clown]]'' is doing to [[Ruggiero Leoncavallo|Leoncavallo]]! And they call ''me'' a murderer! <br/> '''Gino (sighting the Simpsons):''' Vendetta! ''(puts a knife in his mouth and slide down a rope)'' ''(muffled)'' Vendetta! Vendetta! Vendetta! <br/> '''Bob (to Francesca):''' I don't wish to brag, but he's evil at an eighth grade level!
 
 
 
*'''Bart:''' Krusty, you saved us! <br/> '''Krusty:''' Yeah, well, I need someone to help me smuggle [[antiquities]] back to America. Take a piece and hide it on your person. Hide it well.
 
 
 
*'''Lisa:''' ''(on an ancient [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[aqueduct]]; to Homer)'' Dad! You're driving on an ancient [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[aqueduct]]! <br/> '''Homer:''' ''(to Lisa)'' Well, what am I supposed to do about it? Transport water from distant cities? <br/> '''Homer:''' ''(about to drive off an end of the [[aqueduct]])'' Lazy Romans!
 
 
 
*'''Bob:''' ''(stomping grapes to the tune of "[[These Boots Are Made for Walking]]")'' ''"These feet are made for stomping, and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these feet will make [[Chianti]] out of you!"''
 
 
 
*'''Marge:''' We're in a foreign city with no car, being stalked by a killer. I feel like I'm [[The Bourne Identity]].
 
 
 
*'''Krusty:''' (talking to the audience at the [[Colosseum]]) ... So, I had this beautiful tour guide, right? And I tell her "I want to see your [[naples]]!" She slaps me! ''(he laughs but the audience is silent)''<br/>'''Man from audience:''' We call it "Napoli"!<br/>'''Krusty:''' Yeah, well it sounds like you're all taking a Napoli! I know you're out there, I can hear you being greasy!
 
 
 
*''(in [[Venice]], the Simpsons take a [[gondola]] ride)'' <br/> '''Marge:''' Oh, Homie, isn't Venice romantic? This gondola ride was a wonderful idea! <br/>'''Gondolier (singing to the tune of ''[[That's Amore]]''):''' ''When a wife looks like that and her husband's so fat, that's immoral. When she kisses that jerk while I do all the work, that's im...'' <br/> '''Homer:''' Hey, knock it off! <br/> '''Gondolier:''' Excusi, no speak-a English. ''(singing)'' ''When that big tub of [[lard]]...''
 
 
 
==Broadcasting Information==
 
'''[[United States|USA]]/[[Canada]]'''
 
*'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, [[December 11]], [[2005]]
 
*'''2nd Airdate:''' Sunday, [[February 5]], [[2006]]
 
'''[[United Kingdom|UK]]'''
 
*'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, [[January 15]], [[2006]]
 
*'''2nd Airdate:''' Friday, [[January 20]], [[2006]] (Encore Screening)
 
*'''3rd Airdate:''' Sunday, [[April 23]], [[2006]]
 
*'''4th Airdate:''' Thursday, [[June 22]], [[2006]]
 
*'''5th Airdate:''' Sunday, [[August 6]], [[2006]]
 
*'''6th Airdate:''' Saturday, [[August 26]], [[2006]]
 
'''[[Australia]]'''
 
*'''1st Airdate:''' Tuesday, [[April 25]], [[2006]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:10, March 28, 2024

Season 17 Episode
363 "The Last of the Red Hat Mamas"
364
"The Italian Bob"
"Simpsons Christmas Stories" 365
"The Italian Bob"
The Italian Bob.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 364
Season number: S17 E8
Production code: HABF02
Original airdate: December 11, 2005
Couch gag: A pair of cartoon hands deal out a wild royal flush, consisting of the jack of diamonds (Bart), the queen of diamonds (Marge), the king of diamonds (Homer), the ace of diamonds (Lisa), and the joker (Maggie)
Guest star(s): Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Francesca Terwilliger
Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: John Frink
Directed by: Mark Kirkland


"The Italian Bob" is the eighth episode of season 17 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and sixty-fourth episode overall. It originally aired on December 11, 2005. The episode was written by John Frink and directed by Mark Kirkland. It guest stars Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Francesca Terwilliger and Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob.

Synopsis[edit]

"Mr. Burns's Stutz Bearcat finally breaks down, so he decides to buy a new Italian sports car, and asks Homer to pick it up for him. The Simpsons go to Italy but end up in a small town where the residents aren't aware of the criminal past of their new mayor - Sideshow Bob, who is now married and has a son. Marge quickly finds out what "vendetta" means in English."


Plot[edit]

When Mr. Burns' 1910s-model car is beyond repair, he purchases a LamborBugatti Ferrari Fasterossa car and assigns Homer Simpson to travel to Italy, where the car will be acquired. The rest of the family comes along with him, and after they pick up the car, they have a great time touring the country. However, after a huge wheel of Mortadella lands on their car, they push it into a small Tuscan village nearby called Salsiccia. When they get there, they ask an elderly woman for help, and she tells them that the mayor speaks English. However, they find out the mayor is none other than Sideshow Bob. He explains to them that after he attempted to kill Bart, he came to Italy to begin a new life. After a rough start, the natives warmed up to him after he helped them crush grapes into wine (using his enormous feet). After that, they elected him mayor of their village. Bob no longer has any intention of killing Bart, and it is revealed that he has a wife and son, Francesca and Gino, and they don't know anything about his past life in the United States. Now that he is a citizen of Italy with no criminal record, Bob begs the Simpsons not to tell anyone, and they agree in order to have the car fixed.

The Simpsons enjoy spending time in the village, and they continue to keep Bob's past a secret. However, after Lisa drinks some wine at a party, she starts to spout off about him being an attempted-murderer. He leads her away from the table, but as she stumbles backwards, she rips off his suit and everyone can see that underneath is his outfit from Springfield Prison (which Bob somehow never bothered to dispose after his release from prison). The villagers of Salsiccia find out that Bob was a citizen of the United States with a criminal record, and strip Bob of his mayorlty. The Simpsons take off in the fixed car, and Bob swears vendetta on them.

Sideshow Bob performing the climax of the opera.

After the family flees, Bob begins to follow them on a motorcycle. Homer drives into a ditch and ends up driving on ancient Roman ruins, and after they go off the end, the car ends up on top of Trajan's Column in the Roman Forum. Bob's wife meets up with him, and she tells him that they will kill the Simpsons together as a family (Gino, too).

Meanwhile, the Simpsons are wondering what they should do next. Lisa spots a bus with a poster advertising Krusty the Clown's performance in Pagliacci. They meet up with him at the Colosseum, and he puts them in as extras. However, Bob, Francesca and Gino find them and corner them on the stage while Krusty who is getting booed by the audience, went into a trap door and flees the stage, allowing Bob to perform the climax of Vesti la Giubba, (which his performance gains a standing ovation). Before they can kill them, though, Krusty's limo picks them up. The Terwilligers walk away with evil smiles, no doubt plotting revenge.

Reception[edit]

"The Italian Bob" won the 2007 Writers Guild of America award in Animation.[1]

Kelsey Grammer won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards for voicing Sideshow Bob in this episode.[2]

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "The Italian Bob".
Season 17 Episodes
The Bonfire of the Manatees The Girl Who Slept Too Little Milhouse of Sand and Fog Treehouse of Horror XVI Marge's Son Poisoning See Homer Run The Last of the Red Hat Mamas The Italian Bob Simpsons Christmas Stories Homer's Paternity Coot We're on the Road to D'ohwhere My Fair Laddy The Seemingly Never-Ending Story Bart Has Two Mommies Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife Million-Dollar Abie Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore The Wettest Stories Ever Told Girls Just Want to Have Sums Regarding Margie The Monkey Suit Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play