The Front (The Simpsons)
"The Front" is the nineteenth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired in the United States on Fox on April 15, 1993.[2] In the episode, Bart and Lisa decide to write an episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show; after their script is rejected, they resubmit it under the name of their grandfather Abraham Simpson, resulting in Grampa being hired as a staff writer. Meanwhile, Homer returns to high school to retake a failed science course.
"The Front"
Season 4
Episode 19
9F16
April 15, 1993
"I will not sell miracle cures"
The Simpsons, and a thousand circus performers, form a kickline. The theme song briefly interpolates "Entry of the Gladiators" by Julius Fučík.[1]
The episode was written by Adam I. Lapidus and directed by Rich Moore. Actress Brooke Shields guest starred as herself.[3] It is the only Simpsons episode written by Lapidus.[4]
Plot[edit]
After being disappointed by a new episode of Itchy & Scratchy, Bart and Lisa decide to write a cartoon script themselves. Inspired by the sight of Homer accidentally slicing Marge's hair off with hedge shears, they write a script titled "Little Barbershop of Horrors" and send it to Roger Meyers Jr., head of Itchy & Scratchy International. Lisa also sends Meyers a letter that explains why she and Bart wrote the script; Meyers reads the letter and then rejects the script before even looking at it.
Correctly guessing that Meyers did not take them seriously because they were children, Bart and Lisa resubmit the script under Grampa's name. Meyers loves the script and hires Grampa as a staff writer. Bart and Lisa inform Grampa of their scheme, and the trio conspire to continue passing off Bart and Lisa's scripts as Grampa's, splitting the money three ways. Bart and Lisa's cartoons are met with acclaim from audiences, resulting in Meyers firing Itchy & Scratchy's entire writing staff except for Grampa.
Meanwhile, Homer and Marge attend their "Class of 1974" high school reunion, where they have a great time and Homer wins a variety of humorous awards. However, Principal Dondelinger interrupts the ceremony to announce that Homer technically never graduated from high school due to failing a remedial science course and revokes all of Homer's awards. Determined to win back the accolades, Homer retakes the course and passes the final exam, finally graduating.
For "his" work on Itchy & Scratchy, Grampa is nominated for an award for Outstanding Writing In An Animated Series. Krusty the Clown and Brooke Shields present the award. When Grampa sees Itchy & Scratchy for the first time in a clip show introducing the award's nominees, he is appalled at the violent humor. Grampa wins the award, but in his acceptance speech, he condemns the cartoon's violence and the viewers who enjoy it. Grampa then storms off the stage, not noticing the audience is booing and throwing vegetables at him. Grampa gives the award to Bart and Lisa, and Bart declares he will never watch an award show again, "unless that delightful Billy Crystal is involved".
The episode concludes with a self-contained segment, complete with its own theme song, titled The Adventures of Ned Flanders. In the sketch, itself titled "Love That God", Ned is upset with his sons for not wanting to go to church, until they inform him that it is Saturday, and he laughs at his mistake.
Reception[edit]
In its original broadcast, "The Front" finished 21st in ratings for the week of April 12–18, 1993, with a Nielsen rating of 12.5, equivalent to approximately 11.6 million viewing households. It was the highest-rated show on the Fox network that week.
Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, praised "The Front" as "an ironic look at the animation industry, with a higher than average Itchy and Scratchy count. The episode is followed by The Adventures of Ned Flanders with its own, rather wonderful, theme tune."[16]