The Telltale Head
| "The Telltale Head" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:SimpsonsMPG 7G07.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 |
| Directed by | Rich Moore |
| Written by | Al Jean Mike Reiss Sam Simon Matt Groening |
| Original air date | February 25, 1990[1] |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I did not see Elvis"[2] |
| Couch gag | Bart is squeezed off the couch, flies out of frame, and lands in front of the TV. |
| Commentary | Rich Moore Al Jean Mike Reiss |
"The Telltale Head" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons' first season, and it originally aired February 25, 1990.[1] It was written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon, Matt Groening, and directed by Rich Moore.[2] In the episode, Bart cuts the head off the statue of Jebediah Springfield in the center of town to impress Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, three older kids he admires. The town's residents, including the three boys, are horrified and Bart regrets his actions. After telling his family, Homer and Bart head to the center of town, where they are met by an angry mob. After Bart tells the mob he has made a mistake, the townspeople forgive Bart and he places the head back on the statue.[1] The episode's title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.[3]
Plot
The episode begins in medias res - Homer and Bart are chased through the streets of Springfield by an angry mob while carrying the head of the statue of their town founder, Jebediah Springfield. Surrounded by the mob, Bart begins to relate the events of the previous day. Bart suffers through a boring morning at church and is forbidden to see the violent new Space Mutants movie. After church he runs into local troublemakers Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney, and, wanting to seem cool, sneaks into the Space Mutants movie with them.
After being thrown out of the movie, the troublemakers shoplift from the Kwik-E-Mart, throw rocks at the Jebediah Springfield statue, and watch clouds. Bart remarks that one cloud resembles Jebediah Springfield, but without a head. His new friends remark that they wish someone would cut off the statue's head, saying it would be funny to see the town so upset. Bart is conflicted and asks Homer whether it's okay to compromise your beliefs to be popular. Homer tells Bart that popularity is the most important thing in the world, as long as Bart isn't talking about killing someone. That night, Bart sneaks out of the house and saws off the statue's head.
The town is shaken by the crime. Even Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney are upset, telling Bart that if they met the person responsible, they would attack them critically. Bart begins to feel guilty for what he has done, and his conscience manifests itself as the statue's severed head, which begins speaking to him. Unable to go on, Bart confesses his crime to the family, explaining that he thought that being popular was the most important thing in the world. It was then Homer realized that he inspired Bart of his popularity advice that caused him to commit the crime. It was then Bart decided to return the head back where it belongs, and a guilty Homer follows along, feeling responsible for this. They are found by the angry mob, returning the story to the beginning. Bart tells the mob that his act has actually brought the town closer together, to which the mob agrees. The head is returned back to the statue and everyone forgives Bart. Homer and Bart leave, Homer reminding Bart that "not all lynch mobs are this nice."[1][2]
Production
The idea to have the episode in flashbacks was originally thought up in the color screening stage of production.[4] This is the first episode directed by Rich Moore.[5] This is the first time Jebediah Springfield is mentioned, as well as the first time the Simpsons go to church. The announcer of the football game Homer is listening to at church is based on Keith Jackson.[6] Bart awakening and finding the head of Jebediah Springfield in bed next to him is a reference to the famous scene in The Godfather where Jack Woltz, a Jewish movie producer, finds the head of his prize racehorse next to him one morning.[3]
This is the first episode of the series in which Sideshow Bob, Reverend Timothy Lovejoy, Krusty the Clown, Jimbo Jones, Kearney Zzyzwicz, Dolphin "Dolph" Starbeam, Ms. Albright, and Apu Nahasapeemapetilon appear.[2]
Reception
Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, said they enjoyed: "the Simpsons [being] grossly dysfunctional in church, Homer dispensing terrible advice, and a real moral dilemma for Bart."[2] In a DVD review of the first season, David B. Grelck gave the episode a rating of 3/5 and added that "This is a strange episode, touching on many bizarre aspects of the show to come".[7] Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide said "Good little moments abounded, and this was a generally solid episode. I liked the objects the boys saw in the clouds, and quite a few other funny bits appeared. “Telltale” wasn’t a great episode, but it was generally entertaining and clever."[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "The Telltale Head" The Simpsons.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2008
- ^ a b c d e Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "The Tell-Tale Head". BBC. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Cite error: The named reference "bbc" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ a b Richmond, Ray (1997). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family. Harper Collins Publishers. p. 24. ISBN 0-00-638898-1.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Reiss, Mike (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "The Telltale Head" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Moore, Rich (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "The Telltale Head" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Jean, Al (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "The Telltale Head" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Grelck, David B (2003). "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season". WDBG Productions. Retrieved 2008-08-20. [dead link]
- ^ "The Simpsons Season One". DVD Mag. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
External links
- "The Telltale Head" at The Simpsons.com
- "The Telltale Head episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
- "The Telltale Head" at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com episode