Scorpion0422 (talk | contribs) →Contest: Fix |
Scorpion0422 (talk | contribs) Shorten lead |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
:''For the |
:''For the first part of this episode, see [[Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)]].'' |
||
{{Infobox Simpsons episode |
{{Infobox Simpsons episode |
||
| episode_name = Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part |
| episode_name = Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two) |
||
| image = [[Image: |
| image = [[Image:WSMB2.png|220px]] |
||
| image_caption = |
| image_caption = Homer attacks Mr. Burns |
||
| episode_no = |
| episode_no = 129 |
||
| prod_code = |
| prod_code = 2F20 |
||
| airdate = [[ |
| airdate = [[September 17]], [[1995]] |
||
| show runner = [[David Mirkin]] |
| show runner = [[David Mirkin]] |
||
| writer = [[Bill Oakley]]<br>[[Josh Weinstein]] |
| writer = [[Bill Oakley]]<br>[[Josh Weinstein]] |
||
| director = [[ |
| director = [[Wes Archer]] |
||
| blackboard = " |
| blackboard = "I will not complain about the solution when I hear it."<ref name="book">{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=[[The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family]] |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00-638898-1|pages=pp. 180-181}}</ref> |
||
| couch_gag = The |
| couch_gag = The Simpsons line up for a mug shot.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season7/page1.shtml|title=Who Shot Mr Burns? Part Two|accessdate=2008-03-28|author=Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian |date=2000|publisher=BBC}}</ref> |
||
| guest_star = [[ |
| guest_star = [[Tito Puente]] as himself. |
||
| commentary = [[David Mirkin]]<BR>[[Bill Oakley]]<BR>[[Josh Weinstein]]<BR>[[ |
| commentary = [[Matt Groening]]<BR>[[David Mirkin]]<BR>[[Bill Oakley]]<BR>[[Josh Weinstein]]<BR>[[Wes Archer]]<BR>[[David Silverman]] |
||
| season = |
| season = 7 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
"'''Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)'''" is the |
"'''Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)'''" is the season premiere episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[The Simpsons (season 7)|seventh season]] and originally aired on the [[FOX Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network on [[September 17]], [[1995]].<ref name="officialsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0701.htm|title=Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)|accessdate=2007-05-07|publisher=The Simpsons.com}}</ref> It is first half of the only two-part episode of ''The Simpsons'' to date and was written by [[Bill Oakley]] and [[Josh Weinstein]], and directed by [[Wes Archer]].<ref name="book"/> |
||
In the months following the airing of part one, there was much widespread debate among fans of the series as to who actually shot Mr. Burns. [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], the television network that ran the series, offered a contest to tie in with the mystery (sponsored by [[MCI Communications|1-800-COLLECT]]). It was one of the first contests to tie together elements of television and the [[Internet]]. |
|||
Before the second part season opener, Fox aired a special, ''Springfield's Most Wanted'', hosted by [[John Walsh]] of ''[[America's Most Wanted]]'' which featured theories as to who might have shot Mr. Burns. This special is included in the Season 6 DVD Box Set, accompanying part one. |
|||
==Plot== |
==Plot== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]] walks into [[Springfield Elementary School|school]] and discovers that a class [[gerbil]] has died. Skinner orders [[Groundskeeper Willie]] to bury it and as he is digging the grave, he strikes oil, suddenly making Springfield Elementary the richest school in the [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|state]]. Skinner and [[Superintendent Chalmers]] lavishly think of ways to spend the money, taking many student requests: [[Tito Puente]] is hired as a music teacher on Lisa's suggestion, for example. |
|||
[[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]] is now hospitalized in a [[coma]], and the Springfield police are working to find the shooter. Their primary suspect is [[Waylon Smithers]], who, after waking up in his apartment with a [[hangover]], is himself unsure if he did it. |
|||
At the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]], Homer is disturbed that [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]] cannot remember his name, even after being his boss for ten years. Later, Burns finds out about the oil and immediately wants it. He establishes a [[slant drilling]] operation to take it; the Springfield Elementary oil pump fails as Burns had tapped into the oil first. Mr. Burns's drilling operation causes harm and distress to many Springfield citizens: [[Moe's Tavern]] is closed and [[Moe Syzlak|Moe]] and [[Barney Gumble|Barney]] are enraged; the Springfield Retirement Home collapses and [[Abraham Simpson|Grampa]] has no home; Bart's treehouse is destroyed and [[Santa's Little Helper]] is injured; and because the school has lost a lot of money, its music and maintenance programs are removed and as a result, Tito Puente and Groundskeeper Willie are fired and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] is upset. |
|||
Smithers is arrested until [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Sideshow Mel|Sideshow Mel]] realizes that Smithers must have been home watching ''Pardon My Zinger'' at the time of the shooting, and Smithers is released. |
|||
Burns then reveals to [[Waylon Smithers|Smithers]] his grandest scheme: the construction of a giant, movable disk that will permanently block out the sun in Springfield, forcing the residents to continuously use the [[electricity]] from his [[nuclear power plant]]. Smithers objects, insisting that Burns has gone too far and in response, Burns fires him. Homer later sneaks into Burns's office and spray paints his name on the wall, hoping to help Burns remember it. Burns catches him in the act, but still does not recognize him, and in a rage Homer attacks him. Homer is hauled away by security, vowing revenge on Burns. |
|||
With the prime suspect cleared, the police start eliminating other suspects. [[Tito Puente]] demonstrates that his idea for revenge is an insulting, yet, catchy tune; [[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]] was seen by [[Springfield Elementary School#Superintendent Chalmers|Superintendent Chalmers]] in the lavatory preparing to shoot Burns at the time he was shot; [[Groundskeeper Willie]] has [[arthritis]] which makes it impossible for him to fire a gun; and the police eliminate [[Moe Szyslak|Moe]] with the help of a lie detector. |
|||
At a city hall meeting, the Simpson family, along with many other citizens, angrily come to [[Joe Quimby|Mayor Quimby]] about their problems with Mr. Burns. Suddenly, Burns himself appears and activates his sun-blocking device, stating that nobody can stop him since he has armed himself since his encounter with Homer in the office. Laughing evilly, Burns leaves the city hall. |
|||
While checking the suit Burns was wearing, Wiggum finds an eyelash which matches Simpson [[DNA]]. At the same time, Burns wakes up from his coma and cries, "[[Homer Simpson]]!" The police raid the Simpson home and find a gun under the seat of their car loaded with bullets that match the shooting. Homer is arrested for [[attempted murder]], but escapes from a [[paddywagon]] when it overturns. Smithers offers a reward for his capture. |
|||
[[Image:Burns encounter.png|left|200px|thumb|Mr. Burns encounters his assailant.]] |
|||
The camera shows him walking into an alley, obscured him from view. Burns can be heard saying, "Oh it's you, what are you so happy about? I see. I think you'd better drop it," and can be heard struggling with someone before a gunshot rings out. He then stumbles out into the open and collapses on the town's [[sundial]]. The townspeople find his body, and since Burns has upset so many people recently, no one can guess who the shooter is. [[Clancy Wiggum|Chief Wiggum]] promises that he will find out. |
|||
Meanwhile, at the hospital, [[Dr. Nick Riviera]] finds that "Homer Simpson" is all that Burns can say. Lisa returns to the scene of the crime to investigate and finally figures out the identity of Burns's true assailant. At the same time, Homer arrives at the hospital prepared to silence Burns who keeps saying his name. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
A police bulletin reports Homer's location, and Lisa, the police, and citizens of Springfield all race to the hospital. Lisa protests that her father "wouldn't hurt a fly" and declares she has solved the mystery. However, upon entering Burns's room, they find an enraged Homer shaking Mr. Burns vigorously. The shaking returns Burns's ability to speak normally, and Burns reveals the true assailant: [[Maggie Simpson]]. |
|||
Burns reveals what really happened on the night he was shot: after leaving the town meeting victoriously, he came across Maggie with a [[lollipop]] alone in the Simpsons' car. Burns decided to once again try stealing candy from a baby. However, Maggie's strength proved comprable to his own, and there was a struggle for the lollipop. As he finally yanked it away, his gun slipped from its holster into Maggie's hands and fired. The gun and lollipop both then fell beneath the car seat; Homer would later unknowingly leave fingerprints on the gun and find the lollipop while feeling around under the seat for dropped ice cream. |
|||
Burns demands that Maggie be arrested for the crime, but Wiggum replies that no jury in the world (other than Texas) would ever convict a baby. Marge adds that the shooting was an accident, but a shifty-eyed Maggie implies that it may not have been accidental at all. |
|||
==Production== |
==Production== |
||
The |
The producers worked hard to keep the ending of the episode a secret. While it was in production, [[David Silverman]] was the only animator who knew who the culprit was.<ref name="Silverman2">{{cite video | people=Silverman, David|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> [[Wes Archer]], director of the episode, was initially unaware of the solution and directed the episode up until the conclusion.<ref name="Archer2">{{cite video | people=Archer, Wes|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> When it was time to animate the ending of the show, Silverman and Archer waited until the end of the Summer of 1995 to work on it. They realized they needed help with the layouts and started giving various animators small parts to work on without telling them who the culprit was.<ref name="Silverman2"/> The table read for the episode also ended before the third act.<ref name="Oakley2">{{cite video | people=Oakley, Bill|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The writers had wanted the clues that were animated to be just right, so there were many animation retakes.<ref name="Oakley2"/> |
||
While deciding who the culrit was, Oakley and Weinstein pitched [[Barney Gumble]] because he was a character that could go to jail and it could change the dynamic of the show.<ref name="Weinstein2"/> Mirkin suggested Maggie because he felt it was funnier and wanted the culprit to be a family member.<ref name="Mirkin2"/> Oakley and Weinstein were initially unsure about having Maggie as the culprit, and it was decided that the episode would end with Maggie shifting her eyes and making it would look like it wasn't a complete accident.<ref name="Oakley2"/> |
|||
===Hidden clues=== |
|||
A number of subtle clues, and a few red herrings, were planted in Part One for viewers who wanted to unravel the mystery.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
*Almost every clock is set at three or nine o'clock. The point of the clocks was to teach the viewer to view the sundial at the end upside down.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
*An important clue for identity of the culprit is when Mr. Burns looks out his window and talks about stealing candy from a baby.<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
|||
*Many of the suspects have the letters S and W or M in their initials and the intention was that several "obvious" suspects could be eliminated by the letters. Several characters already had names with those initials, but some were made up specifically for this episode.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
**[[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]]'s full name is revealed to be "'''W'''. '''S'''eymour Skinner" on a diploma in his office.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
**Mr. Burns calls [[Santa's Little Helper]] the "'''S'''impson '''M'''utt".<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
**Moe's liquor license reveals that his full name is '''M'''oe '''S'''zyslak.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
**Grandpa's gun was a [[Smith & Wesson|'''S'''mith & '''W'''esson]].<ref name="Weinstein">{{cite video | people=Weinstein, Josh|year=2005|title=The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> |
|||
*Just before entering Mr. Burns's office to spray paint his name, Homer stands in front of a sign that says "IN ONLY", but his head blocks all of the letters except "NO", and a small arrow can be seen pointing at him.<ref name="EW1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,298673,00.html|title=A Burns-ing Mystery|accessdate=2007-05-07|author=Walk, Gary Eng |date=1995-09-15|publisher=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> |
|||
*A television in [[Moe's Tavern]] shows that "Pardon My Zinger" is broadcast on weekdays at 3 PM on [[Comedy Central]].<ref name="Oakley"/> It is later revealed that Burns is shot at 3 PM. Just after the meeting ends, Smithers is seen heading in the opposite direction that Burns heads.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
*During the scene at the town hall, several citizens are seen stroking guns: Skinner has a silenced handgun, Moe has a shotgun, Barney has a [[derringer]] and Smithers has a standard handgun.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
*As Mr. Burns collapses on the sundial, it is seen that the gun he was previously carrying has gone missing. This was inserted as an intentional freeze frame clue.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
*When Mr. Burns collapses on the sundial, he points at '''W''' and '''S''', although from his viewpoint, the W looks like an '''M'''.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
[[Tito Puente]] and His Latin Jazz Ensemble appear in the episode and sing the song "Sẽnor Burns". Oakley and Weinstein were unfamiliar with Puente and wrote him into the episode because [[Matt Groening]] is a fan. They figured he would sing the song, but later discovered that Puente was a drummer, not a singer.<ref name="Oakley2"/> The lyrics were sung by one of Puente's band members.<ref name="Mirkin2"/> His band would also play their version of ''The Simpsons''<nowiki>'</nowiki> theme over the end credits.<ref name="Mirkin2"/> |
|||
===Contest=== |
|||
[[Image:WhoShotMrBurnsclue.png|right|200px|thumb|One of the most important clues shows Mr. Burns's gun is missing from its holster shortly before he collapses on the sundial.<ref name="Oakley"/>]] |
|||
In the months following the broadcast of Part One, there was widespread debate among fans of the series as to who shot [[Mr. Burns]]. [[Fox Network|FOX]] offered a contest to tie in with the mystery where callers who dialed [[MCI Communications|1-800-COLLECT]] were eligible and they then guessed who the culprit was.<ref name="Oregon"/> It ran from [[August 13]] to [[September 10]] and was one of the first contests to tie together elements of television and the [[Internet]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Broadcast bucks, events get bigger - Networks step up battle with cable to get viewers to tune in |date=[[1995-08-10]]|accessdate=2008-05-02|page=3|publisher=''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]''|author=Tim Cuprisin}}</ref> Fox launched a new website, www.springfield.com, devoted to the mystery which got over 500,000 hits during the summer of 1995.<ref name="Oregon">{{cite news|title=To Be Continued... Cyberspace Has Been|date=[[1995-09-11]]|accessdate=2008-05-02|page=D01|publisher=''[[The Oregonian]]''|author=Kristi Turnquist}}</ref> The winner would be animated on an episode of the show. No one, however, was ever animated on the show. This was because no one officially guessed the right answer. Due to contest regulations, a winner had to be selected out of a random sample of entries. The sample did not contain any correct answers, so the winner who was chosen did not have the right answer and was paid a cash prize in lieu of being animated.<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
|||
==Alternate endings== |
|||
The contest is referenced at the end of the episode when [[Dr. Hibbert]] says, "Well I couldn't possibly solve this mystery... Can you?"<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
|||
Due to the amount of interest in the ending of this episode, [[David Mirkin]] wrote several "terrible endings" and, with just [[Harry Shearer]], recorded several alternate endings.<ref name="Mirkin">{{cite video | people=Mirkin, David|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One)". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> His original intention was to fool the production staff and also leak the endings to various media outlets, but much to his surprise he was unsuccessful.<ref name="Mirkin"/> Several endings were animated that showed various characters shooting Mr. Burns.<ref name="Mirkin2"/> Several of the alternate endings aired during the clip show "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]". Various clips showed [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon|Apu]], [[Moe Szyslak|Moe]], [[Barney Gumble|Barney]], [[Tito Puente|Tito]] and [[Santa's Little Helper]] as the gunmen. There was also a full-length conclusion that aired in which Smithers shot Burns and explained his doing so at Burns's bedside after Homer's wild chase, and fell on "W" and S" on the compass, Waylon's initials.<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular|episodelink=The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular |series=The Simpsons |serieslink=The Simpsons |credits=Vitti, Jon; Silverman, David|network=Fox |airdate=1995-12-03 |season=7|number=10}}</ref> |
|||
==Springfield's Most Wanted== |
|||
The writers had trolled the internet trying to see if anyone had correctly guessed who the culprit was, and found that only one man on a college account on [[alt.tv.simpsons]] had followed the clues and correctly guessed the culprit. [[David Mirkin]] was going to send him a prize but was legally barred from contacting him in any way. Mirkin decided to instead contact him after the contest had ended, but by that time the account was dead and Mirkin has been unable to find him.<ref name="Mirkin2">{{cite video | people=Mirkin, David|year=2005|title=The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> |
|||
'''Springfield's Most Wanted''' was a TV special hosted by [[John Walsh]], host of ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''. The special aired on [[September 17]], [[1995]], at 7:30 P.M. ET before the first episode of the [[The Simpsons (season 7)|seventh season]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]''. A parody of Walsh's television series, this special was designed to help people find out who shot Mr. Burns, by laying out the potential clues and identifying the possible suspects. It features opinions from former [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] police chief [[Daryl Gates]] and predictions from [[Dennis Franz]], [[Courtney Thorne-Smith]], [[Kevin Nealon]], [[Chris Elliott]], and [[Andrew Shue]]. It was directed by Bill Brown and written by Jack Parmeter and Bob Bain. Although it aired with Part Two during the seventh season, it was released as part of the [[The Simpsons (season 6)|season six]] DVD Boxset. |
|||
The special was criticized for taking the publicity of the episode too far. Several critics said the special tainted host [[John Walsh]]'s credibility and was described as gimmicky,<ref>{{cite news|title=A Simpsons `pseudo show' keeps him off edge of his seat |date=[[1995-09-07]]|accessdate=2008-02-09|page=3|publisher=''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]''|author=Tim Cuprisin}}</ref> tacky,<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox gimmick triggers round of criticism |date=[[1995-09-08]]|accessdate=2008-02-09|page=3|publisher=''[[The Tampa Tribune]]''|author=Walt Belcher}}</ref> and "blatant groveling for viewers".<ref>{{cite news|title=Walsh joins 'Simpsons' hype |date=[[1995-09-15]]|accessdate=2008-02-09|page=11B|publisher=''[[Dayton Daily News]]''|author=Tom Hopkins}}</ref> The special averaged an 8.4 [[Nielsen Ratings|Nielsen Rating]] and finished 50th in the United States in the ratings for the week of September 11-17, 1995.<ref name="Ratings"/> |
|||
==Cultural references== |
==Cultural references== |
||
[[Image:WSMB Wiggums Dream.png|right|200px|thumb|Chief Wiggum's dream is a detailed reference to [[Dale Cooper]]'s interaction with the [[Man from Another Place]] in the series ''[[Twin Peaks]]''. The moving shadow in the middle of the curtain is also right out of ''Twin Peaks''.<ref name="Weinstein2">{{cite video | people=Weinstein, Josh|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>]] |
|||
The title and concept for these two episodes were taken from the series ''[[Dallas]]''. In the "[[Who shot J.R.]]" plotline, [[J.R. Ewing]] is shot in the season finale. The identity of the assailant was not revealed until the following season, leaving viewers to wonder for months which of Ewing's many enemies were the culprit.<ref name=bbc/> |
|||
Aside from the [[Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)#Cultural references|continuing reference]] to the [[Who shot J.R.?]] plotline,<ref name="book"/> the opening sequence, wherein Smithers dreams that he merely dreamt shooting Mr. Burns, is a reference to the episode "Blast From The Past" on ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'', in which the events of the entire eighth season were explained away as being merely a character's dream.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Mirkin2">{{cite video | people=Mirkin, David|year=2005|title=Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The dream itself, in which Smithers and Burns are undercover detectives on the 1960s Speedway racing circuit, parodied ''[[The Mod Squad]]''.<ref name="BBC"/> [[Groundskeeper Willie]]'s interrogation, and particularly his crossing and uncrossing his legs, is a parody of [[Sharon Stone]]'s famous interrogation scene in ''[[Basic Instinct]]''.<ref name="book"/> The nightclub is called 'Chez Guevara', a reference to revolutionary [[Che Guevara]].<ref name="book"/> |
|||
Homer's escape from the overturned paddy wagon is a homage to the 1993 film ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]''.<ref name="book"/> Chief Wiggum's dream in which Lisa speaks backwards is reference to ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' and [[Dale Cooper|Special Agent Dale Cooper]]'s interaction with the [[Man from Another Place]].<ref name="book"/> While recording Lisa's lines for the segment, [[Yeardley Smith]] recorded the part backwards and it was reversed, which is the same way it was done on ''Twin Peaks''.<ref name="Mirkin2"/> Several other parts out of the segment are direct references to the dream, including a moving shadow on the curtain, and Wiggum's hair standing straight up after waking.<ref name="Oakley2"/> |
|||
When Mr. Burns refers to his package at the beginning of the episode, he states that it "absolutely, positively" has to arrive in [[Pasadena, California]] the following day, a reference to an early [[Fedex]] slogan.<ref name="Mirkin"/> The song Mr. Burns sings to a lamp-post echo the lyrics of [[Simon & Garfunkel]]'s song "[[The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)]]".<ref name="Mirkin"/> The musical score that ends the episode (when the credit rolls) is a parody of [[John Williams (composer)|John Williams]]' ''Drummers' Salute'', which is part of the musical score he wrote for [[Oliver Stone]]'s movie ''[[JFK (film)|''JFK'']]''.<ref name="Oakley"/> |
|||
==Reception== |
==Reception== |
||
| ⚫ | Jake Rossen of ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' magazine, who named the previous episode as having the sixth greatest [[cliffhanger]] of all time, expressed disappointment in the resolution, saying, "Sometimes it’s better to make up your own ending, kids."<ref>{{cite news | author = Jake Rossen | title = THE TOP 25 CLIFFHANGERS OF ALL TIME! | publisher = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | date = [[2007-08-05]] | url = http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/005467042.cfm | accessdate=2007-08-05}}</ref> |
||
In 2003, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' published a Top 25 ''Simpsons'' episode list and placed both parts of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" in 25th place, saying "a two-part comedic homage to ''Dallas''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ''Who shot J.R.?'' stunt, [Who Shot Mr. Burns] is perhaps ''The Simpsons''<nowiki>'</nowiki> most grandiose pop moment ever".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748_5,00.html|title=The Family Dynamic|accessdate=2007-08-25|date=[[2003-01-29]]|publisher=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' characterized the episode as one of "The 10 Best Simpsons TV Episodes."<ref>{{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 = }}</ref> |
|||
The episode averaged 12.3 million households and a 12.9 [[Nielsen Ratings|Nielsen Rating]]. It finished sixteenth in the United States in the ratings for the week of September 11-17, 1995, finishing first in its timeslot and was the highest rated show on the Fox network that week.<ref name="Ratings">{{cite news|title=CBS comes tumbling down, falls to 4th place in week's ratings|date=[[1995-09-21]]|accessdate=2008-02-09|page=4F|publisher=[[The Plain Dealer (newspaper)|The Plain Dealer]]|author=Associated Press}}</ref> It helped the Fox network rank third overall for that week at a time when Fox was usually finishing fourth.<ref>{{cite news|title="Simpsons" helps shoot down CBS|date=[[1995-09-21]]|accessdate=2008-02-09|page=11B|publisher=[[Dayton Daily News]]|author=Associated Press}}</ref> |
|||
The song "Sẽnor Burns", which was composed by [[Alf Clausen]] and written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in 1996 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php |title=Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search|publisher=Emmys.org|accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 72: | Line 73: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons#Who_Shot_Mr._Burns. |
{{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons#Who_Shot_Mr._Burns.3F_Part_II_.5B7.01.5D|"Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part II"}} |
||
{{portal|The Simpsons}} |
{{portal|The Simpsons}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473087 "Springfield's Most Wanted"] at the [[Internet Movie Database]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
*[http://www. |
*[http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/springfields-most-wanted/episode/33452/summary.html "Springfield's Most Wanted"] at [[TV.com]] |
||
*[http://www. |
*[http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0701.htm "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)"] at The Simpsons.com |
||
| ⚫ | |||
*[http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/who-shot-mr.-burns-2/episode/1414/summary.html "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)"] at [[TV.com]] |
|||
[[Category:The Simpsons episodes, season |
[[Category:The Simpsons episodes, season 7]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:1995 television episodes]] |
[[Category:1995 television episodes]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[es:Who Shot Mr. Burns?]] |
[[es:Who Shot Mr. Burns?]] |
||
Revision as of 05:12, 3 May 2008
- For the first part of this episode, see Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One).
| "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:WSMB2.png | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 |
| Directed by | Wes Archer |
| Written by | Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein |
| Original air dates | September 17, 1995 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not complain about the solution when I hear it."[1] |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons line up for a mug shot.[2] |
| Commentary | Matt Groening David Mirkin Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Wes Archer David Silverman |
"Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)" is the season premiere episode of The Simpsons' seventh season and originally aired on the Fox network on September 17, 1995.[3] It is first half of the only two-part episode of The Simpsons to date and was written by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, and directed by Wes Archer.[1]
In the months following the airing of part one, there was much widespread debate among fans of the series as to who actually shot Mr. Burns. Fox, the television network that ran the series, offered a contest to tie in with the mystery (sponsored by 1-800-COLLECT). It was one of the first contests to tie together elements of television and the Internet.
Before the second part season opener, Fox aired a special, Springfield's Most Wanted, hosted by John Walsh of America's Most Wanted which featured theories as to who might have shot Mr. Burns. This special is included in the Season 6 DVD Box Set, accompanying part one.
Plot
This plot is continued from Part One.
Mr. Burns is now hospitalized in a coma, and the Springfield police are working to find the shooter. Their primary suspect is Waylon Smithers, who, after waking up in his apartment with a hangover, is himself unsure if he did it.
Smithers is arrested until Sideshow Mel realizes that Smithers must have been home watching Pardon My Zinger at the time of the shooting, and Smithers is released.
With the prime suspect cleared, the police start eliminating other suspects. Tito Puente demonstrates that his idea for revenge is an insulting, yet, catchy tune; Principal Skinner was seen by Superintendent Chalmers in the lavatory preparing to shoot Burns at the time he was shot; Groundskeeper Willie has arthritis which makes it impossible for him to fire a gun; and the police eliminate Moe with the help of a lie detector.
While checking the suit Burns was wearing, Wiggum finds an eyelash which matches Simpson DNA. At the same time, Burns wakes up from his coma and cries, "Homer Simpson!" The police raid the Simpson home and find a gun under the seat of their car loaded with bullets that match the shooting. Homer is arrested for attempted murder, but escapes from a paddywagon when it overturns. Smithers offers a reward for his capture.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Dr. Nick Riviera finds that "Homer Simpson" is all that Burns can say. Lisa returns to the scene of the crime to investigate and finally figures out the identity of Burns's true assailant. At the same time, Homer arrives at the hospital prepared to silence Burns who keeps saying his name.
A police bulletin reports Homer's location, and Lisa, the police, and citizens of Springfield all race to the hospital. Lisa protests that her father "wouldn't hurt a fly" and declares she has solved the mystery. However, upon entering Burns's room, they find an enraged Homer shaking Mr. Burns vigorously. The shaking returns Burns's ability to speak normally, and Burns reveals the true assailant: Maggie Simpson.
Burns reveals what really happened on the night he was shot: after leaving the town meeting victoriously, he came across Maggie with a lollipop alone in the Simpsons' car. Burns decided to once again try stealing candy from a baby. However, Maggie's strength proved comprable to his own, and there was a struggle for the lollipop. As he finally yanked it away, his gun slipped from its holster into Maggie's hands and fired. The gun and lollipop both then fell beneath the car seat; Homer would later unknowingly leave fingerprints on the gun and find the lollipop while feeling around under the seat for dropped ice cream.
Burns demands that Maggie be arrested for the crime, but Wiggum replies that no jury in the world (other than Texas) would ever convict a baby. Marge adds that the shooting was an accident, but a shifty-eyed Maggie implies that it may not have been accidental at all.
Production
The producers worked hard to keep the ending of the episode a secret. While it was in production, David Silverman was the only animator who knew who the culprit was.[4] Wes Archer, director of the episode, was initially unaware of the solution and directed the episode up until the conclusion.[5] When it was time to animate the ending of the show, Silverman and Archer waited until the end of the Summer of 1995 to work on it. They realized they needed help with the layouts and started giving various animators small parts to work on without telling them who the culprit was.[4] The table read for the episode also ended before the third act.[6] The writers had wanted the clues that were animated to be just right, so there were many animation retakes.[6]
While deciding who the culrit was, Oakley and Weinstein pitched Barney Gumble because he was a character that could go to jail and it could change the dynamic of the show.[7] Mirkin suggested Maggie because he felt it was funnier and wanted the culprit to be a family member.[8] Oakley and Weinstein were initially unsure about having Maggie as the culprit, and it was decided that the episode would end with Maggie shifting her eyes and making it would look like it wasn't a complete accident.[6]
Tito Puente and His Latin Jazz Ensemble appear in the episode and sing the song "Sẽnor Burns". Oakley and Weinstein were unfamiliar with Puente and wrote him into the episode because Matt Groening is a fan. They figured he would sing the song, but later discovered that Puente was a drummer, not a singer.[6] The lyrics were sung by one of Puente's band members.[8] His band would also play their version of The Simpsons' theme over the end credits.[8]
Alternate endings
Due to the amount of interest in the ending of this episode, David Mirkin wrote several "terrible endings" and, with just Harry Shearer, recorded several alternate endings.[9] His original intention was to fool the production staff and also leak the endings to various media outlets, but much to his surprise he was unsuccessful.[9] Several endings were animated that showed various characters shooting Mr. Burns.[8] Several of the alternate endings aired during the clip show "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular". Various clips showed Apu, Moe, Barney, Tito and Santa's Little Helper as the gunmen. There was also a full-length conclusion that aired in which Smithers shot Burns and explained his doing so at Burns's bedside after Homer's wild chase, and fell on "W" and S" on the compass, Waylon's initials.[10]
Springfield's Most Wanted
Springfield's Most Wanted was a TV special hosted by John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted. The special aired on September 17, 1995, at 7:30 P.M. ET before the first episode of the seventh season of The Simpsons. A parody of Walsh's television series, this special was designed to help people find out who shot Mr. Burns, by laying out the potential clues and identifying the possible suspects. It features opinions from former Los Angeles police chief Daryl Gates and predictions from Dennis Franz, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Kevin Nealon, Chris Elliott, and Andrew Shue. It was directed by Bill Brown and written by Jack Parmeter and Bob Bain. Although it aired with Part Two during the seventh season, it was released as part of the season six DVD Boxset.
The special was criticized for taking the publicity of the episode too far. Several critics said the special tainted host John Walsh's credibility and was described as gimmicky,[11] tacky,[12] and "blatant groveling for viewers".[13] The special averaged an 8.4 Nielsen Rating and finished 50th in the United States in the ratings for the week of September 11-17, 1995.[14]
Cultural references
Aside from the continuing reference to the Who shot J.R.? plotline,[1] the opening sequence, wherein Smithers dreams that he merely dreamt shooting Mr. Burns, is a reference to the episode "Blast From The Past" on Dallas, in which the events of the entire eighth season were explained away as being merely a character's dream.[2][8] The dream itself, in which Smithers and Burns are undercover detectives on the 1960s Speedway racing circuit, parodied The Mod Squad.[2] Groundskeeper Willie's interrogation, and particularly his crossing and uncrossing his legs, is a parody of Sharon Stone's famous interrogation scene in Basic Instinct.[1] The nightclub is called 'Chez Guevara', a reference to revolutionary Che Guevara.[1]
Homer's escape from the overturned paddy wagon is a homage to the 1993 film The Fugitive.[1] Chief Wiggum's dream in which Lisa speaks backwards is reference to Twin Peaks and Special Agent Dale Cooper's interaction with the Man from Another Place.[1] While recording Lisa's lines for the segment, Yeardley Smith recorded the part backwards and it was reversed, which is the same way it was done on Twin Peaks.[8] Several other parts out of the segment are direct references to the dream, including a moving shadow on the curtain, and Wiggum's hair standing straight up after waking.[6]
Reception
Jake Rossen of Wizard magazine, who named the previous episode as having the sixth greatest cliffhanger of all time, expressed disappointment in the resolution, saying, "Sometimes it’s better to make up your own ending, kids."[15]
The episode averaged 12.3 million households and a 12.9 Nielsen Rating. It finished sixteenth in the United States in the ratings for the week of September 11-17, 1995, finishing first in its timeslot and was the highest rated show on the Fox network that week.[14] It helped the Fox network rank third overall for that week at a time when Fox was usually finishing fourth.[16]
The song "Sẽnor Burns", which was composed by Alf Clausen and written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1996 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics".[17]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Richmond, Ray (1997). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family. Harper Collins Publishers. pp. pp. 180-181. ISBN 0-00-638898-1.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Who Shot Mr Burns? Part Two". BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
- ^ a b Silverman, David (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Archer, Wes (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b c d e Oakley, Bill (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b Weinstein, Josh (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b c d e f Mirkin, David (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b Mirkin, David (2005). Commentary for the episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One)". The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Vitti, Jon; Silverman, David (1995-12-03). "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular". The Simpsons. Season 7. Episode 10. Fox.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - ^ Tim Cuprisin (1995-09-07). "A Simpsons `pseudo show' keeps him off edge of his seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Walt Belcher (1995-09-08). "Fox gimmick triggers round of criticism". The Tampa Tribune. p. 3.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Tom Hopkins (1995-09-15). "Walsh joins 'Simpsons' hype". Dayton Daily News. p. 11B.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Associated Press (1995-09-21). "CBS comes tumbling down, falls to 4th place in week's ratings". The Plain Dealer. p. 4F.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Jake Rossen (2007-08-05). "THE TOP 25 CLIFFHANGERS OF ALL TIME!". Wizard. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Associated Press (1995-09-21). ""Simpsons" helps shoot down CBS". Dayton Daily News. p. 11B.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search". Emmys.org. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
External links
- "Who Shot Mr. Burns? episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
- "Springfield's Most Wanted" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Springfield's Most Wanted" at TV.com
- "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)" at The Simpsons.com
- "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)" at TV.com