Whacking Day

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Whacking Day
episode_no = 79
prod_code = 9F18
airdate = April 29, 1993
show runner = Al Jean & Mike Reiss
writer = John Swartzwelder
director = Jeffrey Lynch
blackboard = "I will return the seeing-eye dog".cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title= |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00-638898-1|pages=p. 114]
couch_gag = The couch is replaced by a small chair.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season4/page21.shtml|title='Whacking Day'
accessdate=2008-02-12|author=Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian |date=2000|publisher=BBC]
guest_star = Barry White as himself


image_caption = Mayor Quimby with his pre-whacked snakes
commentary = Matt Groening
Al Jean
Mike Reiss
Jeffrey Lynch
David Silverman
season = 4 "Whacking Day" is the twentieth episode of "The Simpsons"' fourth season, and originally aired April 29, 1993. It concerns the fictional holiday "Whacking Day", in which the citizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, then club them to death. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Jeffrey Lynch; Barry White, who had expressed a wish to appear in the show, guest stars as himself. It was pitched by the "animal conscious" George Meyer who wanted to create an episode against the mistreatment of snakes. The episode marks the first appearance of Superintendent Chalmers, features an "Itchy & Scratchy" parody of Oliver Stone's "JFK", and won a Genesis Award.

Plot

Principal Skinner locks Bart, Jimbo, Kearney, Dolph and Nelson in a utility basement, with the promise of free mountain bikes, during an inspection by Superintendent Chalmers. Bart escapes through a ventilation shaft, and takes Groundskeeper Willie's tractor for a joyride, crashing into Chalmers. Having cost him any chance of a promotion, Skinner expels Bart. After being quickly expelled from a new private Christian school, Marge decides to homeschool Bart.

Meanwhile, Kent Brockman announces that Springfield's annual "Whacking Day" is approaching. Each year on May 10th, the people of Springfield drive snakes to the center of town and beat them to death. The tradition appalls Lisa. Barry White arrives to begin festivities, but is disgusted when he discovers what the holiday is about. Bart finds out about the true origin of Whacking Day and suggests to Lisa that they lure the snakes to safety by playing music with a lot of bass and putting the stereo speakers to the ground. They get assistance from White who sings "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" attracting hundreds of snakes into the house.

The crowd arrives in pursuit, but they are soon turned around on the subject of Whacking Day by Bart's newfound knowledge. It turns out that the day was actually invented in 1924 as an excuse to beat up the Irish. Mayor Quimby, not knowing the city has changed its heart, shows up with pre-whacked snakes, but is booed. Skinner is impressed with Bart's efforts, and welcomes him back to the school—then realizes in horror that the bullies are still in the utility basement.

Production

Writer George Meyer, who was very "animal conscious" was interested in writing an episode related to an annual ritual held in a Texan town, where the townspeople would beat rattlesnakes with sticks. Meyer did not have time to pen the episode himself, so the idea was given to John Swartzwelder.cite video | people=Jean, Al|year=2004|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season Commentary for the Episode "Whacking Day"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox] The subject matter of "beating snakes" worried the staff who thought that many would deem it cruel, even though the episode's message is against the mistreatment of snakes. The episode's first act was one of the shortest the staff had ever written at that time, roughly ten pages in length, but with no ideas to expand, they left it as it was. Due to this, the main plot does not start until the beginning of the second act, as the writers could come up with much material for it. In order to speed up animation, director Jeffrey Lynch "begged" storyboard artists Kevin O'Brien and Steve Markowski to help him with the episode. The three spent months on the episode.cite video | people=Lynch, Jeffrey|year=2004|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season Commentary for the Episode "Whacking Day"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox] Barry White had wanted to guest star on the show, and so he was written into the plot. He sang "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" specially for the episode, rather than using a recorded version.

The song Grampa was supposed to sing in his flashback, showing how he posed as a German cabaret singer in World War II, was "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" by Marlene Dietrich. The staff could not get the rights to it because, according to the people who own the song, "everybody makes fun of it". Much of the flashback was pitched by Conan O'Brien.cite video | people=Reiss, Mike|year=2004|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season Commentary for the Episode "Whacking Day"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox] The episode marks the first appearance of Superintendent Chalmers. The staff wanted to introduce a boss for Skinner, and Wallace Wolodarsky pitched his name. Much of the dialogue and interactions between Skinner and Chalmers were ad-libbed by Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria.

Cultural references

The untitled Itchy & Scratchy short, with "guest director" Oliver Stone, is a parody of the scene where Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald in Stone's film "JFK". The song "O Whacking Day" uses the same tune as the Christmas carol "O Tannenbaum", known in English as "O Christmas Tree". Additionally, Bob Woodward is shown to be the author of the book "The Truth About Whacking Day".

Reception

For "consciousness-raising on behalf of animal issues," [cite news|title=Using Awards to Fight Cruelty to Animals – Preview: Show Cites Media and Entertainment Contributions to Cause of Humane Treatment|date=1994-06-20|accessdate=2008-02-12|page=F-10|publisher=The Orange County Register|author=Gary Lycan] the episode was awarded the Genesis Award for "Best Television Prime Time Animated Series" in 1994. [cite news|title="Free Willy", "Simpsons" Win Genesis Awards|accessdate=2008-01-30|publisher=Rocky Mountain News|page=56A|date=January 30, 1994] In its original American broadcast, "Whacking Day" finished tied for 25th in the weekly ratings for the week of April 26–May 2, 1993 with a Nielsen rating of 12.2. It was the highest rated show from the Fox Network that week. [cite news|title=Nielsen Ratings/April 26–May 2|date=1993-05-05|accessdate=2008-02-12|page=C-6|publisher=Long Beach Press-Telegram|author=Associated Press] Jeffrey Lee Puckett of "The Courier-Journal" cited "Whacking Day" as "the series' richest episode." He wrote: "In 22 remarkable minutes, 'Whacking Day' skewers the quality of America's educational system, self-aggrandizing politicians, greed, the mob mentality, sexuality in the age of political correctness and the whole notion of political correctness, and makes a hero of Barry White." [cite news|title=Toons for Our Times|date=1999-03-27|accessdate=2008-02-12|page=12S|publisher=The Courier-Journal|author=Jeffrey Lee Puckett] Chris Vognar of the "Dallas Morning News" noted the episode was one of the fourth season's best episodes in his review of the DVD. [cite news|title=A Fine Song and Dance: "Simpsons"' Musical Spoofs are Worthy of an Encore|date=2004-06-18|accessdate=2008-02-12|page=16-H|publisher=Dallas Morning News|author=Chris Vognar] The show's creator Matt Groening considers Homer's "I am evil Homer" fantasy to be one of the greatest moments in the show's history.cite video | people=Groening, Matt|year=2004|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season Commentary for the Episode "Whacking Day"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox]

A 2003 article in the "The Journal News" reported that records show genuine "Whacking Days" having taken place in Eastchester, New York from 1665 onwards: "That one day every spring be chosen for the destroying of rattle snakes." The article quoted showrunner Al Jean as saying: "I agree with the premise of the episode: leave the snakes alone. They didn't hurt anybody." [cite news|title=Move Over, Homer! Eastchester Had Its Own 'Whacking Day'|date=2003-07-31|accessdate=2008-02-12|page=9-A|publisher=The Journal News|author=Chris Serico]

References

External links

* [http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0421.htm "Whacking Day"] at The Simpsons.com
*snpp capsule|9F18
* [http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/whacking-day/episode/1364/summary.html "Whacking Day"] at TV.com
* [http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0701292/ "Whacking Day"] at the Internet Movie Database