"The Simpsons" Sideshow Bob Roberts (1994)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Mark Kirkland

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator)
James L. Brooks (developer) ...

TV Series:

"The Simpsons" (1989)

Original Air Date:

9 October 1994 (Season 6, Episode 5)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

Plot:

Sideshow Bob is released from prison, runs for mayor as a Republican, and defeats "Diamond" Joe Quimby in the election...

Plot Keywords:

Politics | Actress Playing Multiple Roles | Pink Car | School Teacher | Brother In Law Sister In Law Relationship

Cast

Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Grampa / Barney Gumble / Krusty the Klown / Groundskeeper Willie / Mayor Quimby / Hans Moleman / Sideshow Mel / Others (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier / Others (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Nelson Muntz / Todd Flanders / Ralph Wiggum / Kearney / Others (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Moe Szyslak / Chief Wiggum / Apu / Comic Book Guy / Cletus / Prof. Frink / Others (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Montgomery Burns / Waylon Smithers / Ned Flanders / Kent Brockman / Rev. Lovejoy / Principal Skinner / Dr. Hibbert / Rainer Wolfcastle / Others (voice)
Barry Hansen	...	Himself (voice) (as Dr. Demento)
Kelsey Grammer	...	Sideshow Bob (voice)
Phil Hartman	...	Lionel Hutz / Troy McClure (voice)
Larry King	...	Himself (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Mrs. Krabappel (voice)
Henry Corden	...	Fred Flintstone (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Others (voice)

Series Cast

These people are regular cast members. Were they in this episode?

Doris Grau

...

Lunchlady Doris (voice)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

This episode features the first appearance of Right-wing-radio-talk-show host Birch Barlow, who is obviously modeled after Rush Limbaugh.

Quotes:

Sideshow Bob: No children have ever meddled with the Republican Party and lived to tell about it.

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

'Quimby' Campaign Commercial

***1/2 / **** Terrific episode. Brutal satire on American politics

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Another episode on politics. Here Bart's arch enemy Side Show Bob (a superb Kelsey Grammar), is released from prison and challenges Mayor Quimby in the mayoral elections. The film takes potshots at both Republicans and Democrats. The Democrat Quimby is portrayed as lazy, inefficient, sleazy and lacking the will power to win, while Republican Side Show Bob is a cold-hearted, ruthless authoritarian who is determined to cheat.

Side Show Bob has the best lines. After Bart and Lisa try to show their support for Quimby, Bob warns them, "No children have ever meddled with the Republican Party and lived to tell about it."

After the kids reveal how Side Show Bob stole the elections by using dead people to cast fraudulent votes, Bob goes in front of the cameras and says, "Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king. That's why I did this, to save you from yourselves."

Overall: Terrific episode which satirizes American politics with brutal efficiency.