Whacking Day
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Whacking Day" | |
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|---|---|
| Episode no. | 79 |
| Prod. code | 9F18 |
| Orig. Airdate | April 29, 1993 |
| Show Runner(s) | Al Jean & Mike Reiss |
| Written by | John Swartzwelder |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Lynch |
| Chalkboard | "I will return the seeing-eye dog" |
| Couch gag | Small chair instead of couch |
| Guest star | Barry White as himself |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Reiss Jeffrey Lynch David Silverman |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 4 September 24, 1992 – May 13, 1993 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Whacking Day" is the 20th episode of The Simpsons' fourth season. It concerns the fictional holiday "Whacking Day", in which the citizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, then club them to death.
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[edit] Synopsis
Principal Skinner lures Bart, Jimbo, Kearney, Dolph and Nelson to a utility basement with the promise of free mountain bikes. When they get there, however, they're informed that they're being "swept under the rug" during an inspection by Superintendent Chalmers. Bart escapes through a ventilation shaft, and then takes Groundskeeper Willie's tractor for a joyride. He quickly loses control, and it ends up hitting the superintendent in the rear. When Chalmers informs Skinner that the accident has cost him his promotion to Asst. Superintendent, Skinner responds by issuing his harshest punishment yet: expelling Bart.
Meanwhile, Kent Brockman announces that a celebration that was found to be "disgusting and puerile" by a group of hillbillies is coming up. The upcoming celebration is Whacking Day - every May 10th, the people of Springfield drive snakes to the center of town and beat them to death. Lisa is appalled at the upcoming Whacking Day celebration, but her protests fall on deaf ears. She tries to appeal to Homer to not lower himself to the level of others, but Homer is set on participating in Whacking Day.
Bart remains expelled from Springfield Elementary, and his parents try enrolling him in a private Christian school. However he gets in trouble almost immediately for singing "Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit" when asked for a psalm, and is chased from the building by the teacher and other students. Marge then decides to homeschool Bart. On a "field trip" to Olde Springfield Towne, Bart notices a discrepancy in the Jebediah Springfield story: on May 10, 1775, the day he led an attack on Fort Ticonderoga, he also supposedly founded Whacking Day. At a loss for words, the Squeaky Voiced Teen in charge of the tour decides to force Bart to leave.
Barry White (who Mayor Quimby introduces as Larry White) arrives to begin festivities, but when he discovers what the holiday is about, he is disgusted, much to the ignorant joy of the assembled crowd. Bart finds out about the true origin of Whacking Day. He suggests to Lisa that they can lure the snakes to safety by playing music with a lot of bass and putting the stereo speakers to the ground. Homer's record collection, which boasts such gems as Tiny Tim, The Chipmunks, and A Castrato Christmas, leaves much to be desired, but they get assistance from Barry White (who was conveniently walking by). With White singing his signature hit "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Baby" and Lisa's bass guitar playing, they attract hundreds of snakes into the house.
The crowd arrives in pursuit, but they are soon turned around on the subject of Whacking Day by Bart's newfound knowledge. It turns out that the day was actually invented in the early 1900s as an excuse to beat up the Irish. Mayor Quimby not knowing the city has changed its heart shows up with pre-whacked snakes, but is booed by the crowd and drives off. Skinner is impressed with Bart's efforts, and welcomes him back to the school — then realizes in horror that the bullies are still in the utility basement. He runs back to the school with mountain bikes for the four bullies still in the basement in the hopes that they're all still alive.
[edit] Cultural references
- JFK - The untitled Itchy & Scratchy short, with "guest" director Oliver Stone, is a frame-by-frame recreation of the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald (who was accused of the shooting death of John F. Kennedy).
- Matlock - Grampa and his friends mention the show, starring Andy Griffith, several times.
- "O Tannenbaum" - The song "O Whacking Day" uses the same tune as the Christmas carol.
- Bob Woodward - The book "The Truth About Whacking Day" (which Bart reads) is apparently by the famous Washington Post reporter.
- Boxing Day - It is possible that the title was taken from the holiday Boxing Day observed by Commonwealth Countries (takes place on the day after Christmas).
[edit] Trivia
- This is the first episode with Superintendent Chalmers.
- According to the DVD commentary on this episode, the song Grandpa was supposed to sing in the flashback of how he posed as a German cabaret singer in World War II (and blew his cover when he flirted with Hitler) was a song sung by Marlene Dietrich called "Falling in Love Again", but they couldn't get the rights to it because, according to the people who own the song, "everybody makes fun of it [the song]".
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- "Whacking Day" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
