Simpsons – Radio Bart (s3e13)

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“Radio Bart” is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons’ third season. The episode aired on January 9, 1992. It was also nominated for an Emmy that year. The episode’s plot is directly inspired by the 1987 incident involving the then 2-year-old girl Jessica McClure becoming trapped in a well.

Production
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.

Plot
All the Simpsons are busy preparing for Bart’s birthday party. Homer sees an ad on TV for a prank microphone (the Superstar Celebrity Microphone) that can be used to tap into localized radio systems and instantly decides to buy one for Bart. Subsequently, Bart experiences a crushingly disappointing birthday party when all his gifts turn out to be useless things like a cactus, a label maker and a dorky new suit. He also at first is disappointed by the prank microphone, but later finds a use for it in creating practical jokes, such as making the Flanders children think God is talking to them, or revealing to Milhouse just what Lisa and Janey are talking about, or making Homer think the Martians have invaded Earth.

Bart then uses the microphone to make the townspeople think that an orphan named Timmy O’Toole has fallen down the town well. Although they are unable to get “Timmy” out, as the well is too small for any adult to fit in, the entire town offers moral support and do everything they can to give him hope (as well as a little surreptitious profiteering, e.g. t-shirt concessions and sacks of “authentic Timmy O’Toole baby teeth”). Krusty even gets Sting to join other celebrities in recording a charity single, “We’re Sending Our Love Down the Well”. However, Bart–after realizing that his name is on the walkie-talkie thanks to his label-maker–really does fall in the well while trying to retrieve it. When the townspeople find out, Bart confesses that Timmy O’Toole did not exist. Angry at being tricked, the townspeople decide to leave Bart in the well. At the same time, “We’re Sending Our Love Down The Well” dramatically falls off the #1 spot on the Billboard to be replaced by “I Do Believe We’re Naked” by Funky See Funky Do.

Despite efforts by Homer and Marge to mobilize a rescue operation, the entire town remains adamant. Finally, however, Homer decides to just dig a tunnel and retrieve Bart himself. Groundskeeper Willie spies this, yells, “Why dinnae I think of tha’?(Why didn’t I think of that?)”, tears off his shirt to expose his bulging muscles, and joins Homer. With a little help from the townsfolk, and Sting, an excavation operation is started. A very sorry Bart is finally rescued from the bottom of the hole. Willie puts up a small warning sign near the well the next morning to prevent future incidents.

Continuity
Due to the show’s floating timeline, Bart celebrates what is assumed to be his 11th birthday; however, he is always referred to as ten years old both before and after this episode. This is also the first episode in which Sideshow Mel talks.

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. Mike Reiss said they thought Ren & Stimpy would win and were absolutely floored when it didn’t. David Silverman said he believes The Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy split the vote, allowing Claymation Easter to grab the Emmy.

Cultural references
The song that plays as Bart descends the well (to retrieve the incriminating radio) is based on the theme song Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop. The Itchy & Scratchy cartoon “Cat Splat Fever” makes use of the title of the 1977 Ted Nugent album/song Cat Scratch Fever. The media circus and carnival that results after news breaks about “Timmy” being trapped in the well mirrors that of the 1951 movie The Big Carnival.

The episode parodies Charity singles. The song “We’re Sending Our Love Down the Well” is a spoof of various 1980s charity songs, including “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (on which Sting was one of the vocalists) and “We Are the World”.

The Wall E. Weasel pizza restaurant (”We cram fun down your throat”) is a parody of the family pizza restaurant franchise Chuck E. Cheese’s. Seen in this episode: The restaurant’s mascot (here in his first appearance), the franchise’s pizza, video games, and poorly maintained animatronic robots.

The song in the commercial (used to demonstrate the Superstar Celebrity Microphone) — and later “performed” by Homer — is the 1975 novelty song Convoy by C.W. McCall.

The title I Do Believe We’re Naked is a play of the song I Think We’re Alone Now recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells and Tiffany (singer). The Superstar Celebrity Microphone is based on the late-1970s era toy microphone Mr. Microphone. The television ad pitching the microphone is also similar.

Upon hearing Bart cry about being trapped in the well, Homer decides to dig Bart out himself, declaring “that’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!”, echoing a line Popeye frequently used before getting into a fight. Soul Train The TV dance show in the first act (on which Funky-See Funky-Do is guest performing) is a parody of the long-running syndicated program. The name of the boy “Timmy” is a reference to Lassie. As the camera pans down the well after the excavation has begun, a flying saucer containing a skeleton of the space alien race that Kang and Kodos belong to can be seen.

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