Radio Bart

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Radio Bart


image_caption = Promotional artwork for Radio Bart, featuring guest star Sting.
episode_no = 48
prod_code = 8F11
airdate = January 9, 1992
show runner = Al Jean & Mike Reiss
writer = Jon Vitti
director = Carlos Baeza
blackboard = "I will not carve gods"
couch_gag = The family bounces up and down on the couch
guest_star = Sting as himself
commentary = Matt Groening
Al Jean
Mike Reiss
Nancy Cartwright
Jon Vitti
David Silverman
season = 3 "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 inspired by a common American tradition of telling stories about children who have fallen down wells, specifically the character Gordon Martin (Jon Provost) from the 1950s TV show Lassie, with whom Bart's made-up victim in the episode shares a first name (Gordon O'Toole). There have also been several real-life events that may have inspired these stories (see Jessica McClure).

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 from Patty and Selma, and a dorky new suit from Martin Prince. At first he is also disappointed by the microphone when Homer abuses it, but later finds a use for it in creating practical jokes, such as tricking the Flanders children into believing that God is talking to them, listening in on Janey and Lisa's conversations about boys, persuading Homer that Martians have invaded Earth, and even making a flatulent sound when Mrs. Krabappel sits in her chair.

Bart then goes too far: he 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 (whom he once fired) 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, Homer has had enough - he decides to dig a tunnel and rescue Bart himself. Groundskeeper Willie sees this, yells, "Whah din' aye think o' 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 a few sympathetic townsfolk, and Sting, an excavation operation is started. A very sorry Bart is finally rescued, and Willie puts up a small warning sign near the well the next morning to prevent future incidents ("Tha' should dew it! (That should do it!)").

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.

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.

Continuity

Due to the show's floating timeline, Bart celebrates what is assumed to be his 10th birthday. 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 speaks.

When Bart is in the well, three of the things he said he'll miss out on is to "smoke" "use a fake ID" and "shave a swear word in my hair". The season five episode Boy-Scoutz N the Hood also made a reference to someone shaving a bad word into his hair (only it was Milhouse who did it, not Bart) and the season seven episode Bart on the Road revolved around Bart creating a fake ID (and using it) after spending the day at the DMV with Patty and Selma.

Two of the names on The Krusty the Klown birthday list are the names of people who would later become part of the "Simpsons" staff: Ken Keeler and Patric Verrone (listed as "Patric M. Verrone").

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." [cite news | last =Walton | first =James | coauthors = | title =The 10 Best Simpsons TV Episodes (In Chronological Order) | work =The Daily Telegraph | pages =Page 3 | language = | publisher = | date =July 21, 2007 | url = | accessdate = ]

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 "Ace in the Hole". The movie in turn was based on the real incident and media circus that resulted when cave explorer Floyd Collins was trapped and died in a cave in Kentucky in 1925.
*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". Also a parody of All out of love by Air Supply.
*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 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 stand, and I can't stand no more!" echoing a line Popeye frequently used before getting into a fight.
*"Soul Mass Transit System", 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 Soul Train. Funky-See Funky Do's single, titled "I Do Believe We're Naked," is a parody of the song I Think We're Alone Now recorded by Tommy James & the Shondells, Tiffany and Girls Aloud. [cite web|url=http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F11.html|title=Radio Bart SNPP Capsule]
*As the camera pans down the well after the excavation has begun, a flying saucer containing a skeleton of a Rigellian alien can be seen.
*Homer stating that Sting is a good digger while he is helping dig Bart out of the well is appropriate and somewhat ironic due to the fact that Sting worked as a ditch digger (as well as a few other professions) before he became a full time musician.
*This episode is similar to an incident involving Jessica McClure, who fell into a well in Midland, Texas on October 14, 1987.

References

External links

* [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F11.html Episode Capsule on "Simpsons Archive"]