"The Front" is the 19th episode of The Simpsons ' fourth season. The title references the Front, the Woody Allen movie of the same name. Simpsons redirects here. ... Image File history File links Thefront. ... Abraham Abe Grampa J. Simpson is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... The Simpsons writing staff in season 13, including current show runner Al Jean (fourth from left in middle row) and previous show runners Mike Scully (first from left in back row), David Mirkin (sixth from left in back row), and Mike Reiss (fourth from left in back row). ... The three people are caricatures of (left to right) Rich Moore, Wes Archer and David Silverman[1] The following is a list of directors who have worked on the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... Rich Moore is an animation director whose credits include The Simpsons, Futurama, Baby Blues, and The Critic. ... Bart writes The Pledge of Allegiance does not end with Hail Satan The chalkboard gag is a running visual joke that occurs during the opening credits of many episodes of The Simpsons. ... The couch gag is a running visual joke in the opening credits of the animated television series The Simpsons. ... The Can-can (also spelt Cancan, Can Can) is regarded today primarily as a music hall dance, perfomed by a chorus line of female dancers who wear costumes with long skirts, petticoats, and black stockings, harking back to the fashions of the 1890s. ... Alex Toms of Sydney, Australia demonstrates Street unicycling (March, 2006). ... The Big Top of Billy Smarts Circus Cambridge 2004. ... (left to right) Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Keith Richards, Homer, Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz and Brian Setzer guest starred in the heavily promoted season 14 episode How I Spent My Strummer Vacation. This is a list of guest stars who appeared on The Simpsons. ... Christa Brooke Camille Shields[1] (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and supermodel. ... The Simpsons DVD season boxsets have been released since 2001 in different regions all over the world. ... Matthew Abram Groening (born February 15, 1954[2] in Portland, Oregon;[3] his family name is pronounced ) is an Emmy Award-winning American cartoonist and the creator of The Simpsons,[4] Futurama and the weekly comic strip Life in Hell. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... Rich Moore is an animation director whose credits include The Simpsons, Futurama, Baby Blues, and The Critic. ... The Simpsons fourth season originally aired between September 1992 and May 1993, beginning on September 24, 1992. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Kamp Krusty is the first episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... A Streetcar Named Marge is the second episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Homer the Heretic is the third episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Lisa the Beauty Queen is the 4th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Treehouse of Horror III (on-screen title: The Simpsons Halloween Special III) is the fifth episode of The Simpsons fourth season, and the third Simpsons Halloween episode. ... Marge Gets a Job is the 7th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... New Kid on the Block is the 8th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Mr. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Homers Triple Bypass is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons fourth season, which originally aired on December 17, 1992. ... Marge vs. ... Selmas Choice is the 13th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Brother from the Same Planet is the fourteenth episode of The Simpsons from the fourth season. ... I Love Lisa is the fifteenth episode from the fourth season of The Simpsons, in which the dim-witted and socially-awkward Ralph Wiggum plays a prominent role. ... Duffless is the 16th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Last Exit to Springfield is the 17th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Richard Nixon on Whacking Day Whacking Day is the 20th episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Marge in Chains is the 21st episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... Krusty Gets Kancelled is the final episode of The Simpsons fourth season. ... The following is an episode list for the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... The following is an episode list for the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... The Front is a 1976 film starring Woody Allen and Zero Mostel that portrayed the Movie industry in the days of Senator Joseph McCarthy, when many actors were blacklisted for their supposed un-american activities. ... Woody Allen (born Allen Stewart Königsberg on December 1, 1935) is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director, writer, actor, jazz musician, comedian, and playwright. ...

Plot

Bart and Lisa watch a terrible episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show and decide they can write a better one themselves. Inspired by the sight of Homer accidentally cutting Marge's hair with hedge shears, they write "Little Barbershop of Horrors", but the episode is rejected by Roger Meyers, President of Itchy & Scratchy International. They resubmit the manuscript under the name of Abraham Simpson. As a result, Grampa is given a job as staff writer. Bart and his sister Lisa as news anchors. ... Lisa Marie Simpson is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Yeardley Smith; Lisa is the only character Smith voices on a regular basis. ... The Itchy & Scratchy Show. ... Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (née Bouvier) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons and is voiced by Julie Kavner. ... The Little Shop of Horrors is a 1960 black comedy film directed by Roger Corman. ... Abraham Abe Grampa J. Simpson is a fictional character featured in the animated cartoon television series The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ...

Later, at a ceremony called the "Annual Cartoon Awards", Grampa is recognized for outstanding writing in a cartoon series. Krusty the Clown and Brooke Shields presented the award for Outstanding Writer. After watching the clip shown to introduce the award – apparently the first time he has seen the show – Grampa is appalled, and directs his acceptance speech as an assault against the cartoon and against the audience attending the ceremony. He then storms off, giving the award to Lisa and Bart, and Bart swears never to watch an award show again, unless it has "that delightful Billy Crystal." Herschel Pinkus Yerucham Krustofski (‎, born c. ... Christa Brooke Camille Shields[1] (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and supermodel. ... For the American political commentator, see William Kristol. ...

Meanwhile, Homer and Marge are invited to their "Class of 1974" High School reunion, prompting Homer to admit that he never graduated because he failed a science class. At the reunion, Homer receives numerous awards (almost all of them of a dubious or negative nature), including Most Improved Odor, but when Principal Dondelinger reveals that Homer never graduated these awards are revoked. Homer takes an evening class in Remedial Science 1A (the class he failed) in determination to win them back. A blonde haired, very skilled worker with a 70s look. ...

"The Adventures of Ned Flanders"

The episode ends with an apparently unrelated segment entitled "The Adventures of Ned Flanders", with its own memorable theme tune: "Hens love roosters, geese love ganders, everyone else loves Ned Flanders!" Then Homer says "Not me!" The tune continues with "Everyone who counts loves Ned Flanders!" Entitled Love that God, this short segment highlights the Flanders' dedication to religion and perfect family niceness, yet again. Ned nearly scolds Rod and Todd, who are busy praying, after they refuse to get ready for church — only to be told that it is, in fact, a Saturday. Ned laughs at his mistake with a trademark "okelydokelydoo!" This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Deleted Scenes

The following scenes were cut and can be viewed on the DVD as a bonus feature:

• Roger Myers types a rejection letter for Bart and Lisa, saying they are too young to be writers. Lisa is then seen reading the letter, saying, "I know what that word is, but what's Shinola?" (a reference to the insulting putdown, "you don't know shit from Shinola.")

• An alternate scene of Homer vowing to retake his science course. He relates his problem to a movie about a skier that falls off the mountain. Marge tells him to get to the point. Homer vows to ski, and then changes it.

• After telling Grampa about the source of the checks, Grampa says, "So that's why they were so nice at Richy and Cathy's." Bart corrects him.

• There was originally a longer version of the tour Roger Meyers gives to Bart and Lisa. It contained a stop at the art department, where they see a dozen sketchers observing a cat and trying to design it. One of them puts a stick of dynamite into his mouth and lights it. As Meyers, Lisa, and Bart walk out of the room, a large explosion can be heard. According to the audio commentary, it was cut out to appease the censors, before the episode aired.

• A brief scene of Bart and Lisa at work at the next Itchy and Scratchy episode, while Grandpa tries to direct them into what he wants for the episode. They eventually tell him to shut up and he does.

• After confessing that he didn't like the episode, he goes back stage to find Roger Meyers waiting for him there to fire him. Grampa exclaims, "I DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY!" After a beat, he comes back to him asking for a nickel for a trolley ride.

Shinola is a brand of wax shoe polish available in the early- to mid-20th century. ... Look up Shit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Trivia

• Homer's Trophies:
  • Most weight gained
  • Most improved odor
  • Lowest paying job
  • Most hair lost
  • Oldest car
  • Person who traveled the least distance to come to the reunion
• Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein have said that the Ned Flanders short in this episode inspired them to come up with the idea for Season 7's 22 Short Films About Springfield.
• The writers and animators for Itchy and Scratchy (particularly the Harvard graduate who got fired) are all based on real Simpsons writers and animators. The Harvard graduate who got fired is based on Jon Vitti.
• The "Everyone Loves Ned Flanders" piece was done to fill up time when it was discovered that the episode was running short.
• The credits for the Itchy and Scratchy episode "Little Barbershop of Horrors":
  • Assistant to Mr. Itchy: DEE CAPPELLI
  • Assistant to Mr. Scratchy: JACQUELINE AKTINS
  • Scratchy's Wardrobe Provided by: BOTANY 500
  • for a transcript of this episode, send $25 to this station.
  • The closing logo for Itchy & Scratchy Productions parodied the Stephen J. Cannell Productions logo.
• According to the DVD commentary for this episode, the "CLIP NOT DONE YET" shown for Ren and Stimpy: Season Premiere was made as a knock on John Kricfalusi's notorious habit of procrastination, who also took shots at the animation and writing of The Simpsons. The show was also parodied in the episode Brother from the Same Planet.
• During the "Everyone Loves Ned Flanders" segment, you can hear a crew member talk in the background, straight after Todd Flanders says "We're not going to church today".
• Impressions by class clown Bobby Mindix include Flo (Polly Holliday) saying her catchphrase "Kiss my grits!" from the sitcom Alice, Richard Nixon, Ed Sullivan, Howard Cosell, Cheech and Chong and Jimmie "JJ" Walker (shouting his catchphrase, "Dyn-O-Mite!!")
• Artie Ziff makes his second of four appearances, but is not voiced by Jon Lovitz, as in his previous one and later two. This episode also establishes that he has become extremely wealthy but still pines for Marge.
• Lisa reads a book entitled "How To Get Rich Writing Cartoons" By John Swartzwelder. John Swartzwelder is a writer for The Simpsons.

Bill Oakley (born in 1966) is an American televison writer, best known for his work on The Simpsons. ... This article is about The Simpsons writer Josh Weinstein. ... 22 Short Films About Springfield is the twenty-first episode of The Simpsons seventh season, airing on April 21, 1996. ... Vitti as portrayed in the episode of The Simpsons The Front. Jon Vitti is a writer who is most noted for his well-received scripts for the television series The Simpsons. ... Botany 500 is an American brand of mens apparel. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Stephen Joseph Cannell, known professionally as Stephen J. Cannell (born February 5, 1941), (IPA pronunciation: ), rhymes with channel, is an Emmy award winning American television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor from the United States. ... The Ren and Stimpy Show is an American animated television series created by Canadian animator John Kricfalusi. ... John Kricfalusi (born Michael John Kricfalusi on September 9, 1955 in Chicoutimi, Quebec) is an Emmy-nominated Canadian animator, better known as John K. He is creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show and The Ripping Friends animated series, The Goddamn George Liquor Program, the first animated series made using Macromedia... Brother from the Same Planet is the fourteenth episode of The Simpsons from the fourth season. ... Florence Jean Castleberry , better known Flo, is a fictional character in the movie Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore, the subsequent television series, Alice, and that shows spinoff, Flo. ... Polly Dean Holliday (born July 2, 1937 in Jasper, Alabama) is an American actress, best known for her role as Florence Jean Castleberry (Flo) on the television series Alice, and later on her own show, Flo. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... Alice was an American television sitcom series which ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the movie Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore (1974). ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... Ed Sullivan Edward Vincent Sullivan (September 28, 1901 – October 13, 1974) was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the emcee of a popular TV variety show called The Ed Sullivan Show that was at its height of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. ... Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were a comedy duo who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their stand-up routines, which were based upon the eras hippie, free love and especially drug culture movements. ... For other persons named James Walker, see James Walker (disambiguation). ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... One of the few pictures of John Swartzwelder. ...

Cultural references

• The title "Little Barbershop of Horrors" is a reference to the comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, as well as the stage musical based on the film, and the 1986 film version of the musical.
• Strong-Dar: Master of Akom (one of the nominees) is a spoof of the 1980s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Strong-Dar is clearly based upon Filmation's model of He-Man, the lack of the cross on his chest armour being the only notable difference. Also, "Master of Akom" is a reference to the Korean animation studio AKOM (who did the animation for this episode).
• The writer deciding to write a sitcom about a "sassy robot" is a reference to British sitcom Metal Mickey, which was created by former Monkee Micky Dolenz. Simpsons creator Matt Groening would go on to create Futurama, featuring Bender, who is also a sassy robot.
• At the end of the episode Bart says he'll never watch an award show again unless Billy Crystal is hosting. Billy Crystal has hosted 8 Academy Awards, including 4 since this episode aired.
• One of the 'Itchy & Scratchy' episodes finishes with Scratchy, with Itchy sitting on his shoulder, typing at a typewriter. Scratchy pulls the paper out and throws it into the air, forming an Itchy & Scratchy Productions logo. This is a spoof of the close of many series created / produced by Stephen J. Cannell, which had an almost identical sequence.
• The Episode "Little Barbershop of Horrors" features Elvis on the apartment above the barbershop, who shoots the TV when Scratchy bursts through it.
• Krusty makes a reference to Brooke Shields' film, The Blue Lagoon when they arrived on stage to present the award.

The Little Shop of Horrors is a 1960 black comedy film directed by Roger Corman. ... Little Shop of Horrors is a 1982 off-Broadway musical comedy by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Little Shop of Horrors is the 1986 film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical comedy of the same name by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattels successful toy line Masters of the Universe. ... The first Filmation logo. ... AKOM is a South Korean animation studio that has provided much work since its conception in 1985 by Nelson Shin. ... Metal Mickey , robot on UK television early 1980s Metal Mickey was a 5 foot tall fictional robot character who first appeared on British television in the ITV childrens magazine show The Saturday Banana, produced by London Weekend Television in 1979. ... The Monkees were a pop-rock quartet created and based in Los Angeles in 1965 for an NBC American television series of the same name. ... George Michael Dolenz, Jr. ... Futurama is an Emmy Award-winning animated American sitcom created by creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox network. ... Bender Bending Rodríguez, more commonly known as Bender, is a main character in the animated television series Futurama. ... For the American political commentator, see William Kristol. ... Stephen Joseph Cannell, known professionally as Stephen J. Cannell (born February 5, 1941), (IPA pronunciation: ), rhymes with channel, is an Emmy award winning American television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor from the United States. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll, or as just simply The King, was an American singer who had an immeasurable effect on world culture. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• "The Front" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive