Season

14

Production Code

EABF09

Broadcast Index

S14E14

Episode Number

305

Airdate

09 March 2003

Writer

John Swartzwelder

Director

Lance Kramer

Executive Producer

Al Jean

Guest Stars

Joe Mantegna

DVD Commentary

Al Jean
Matt Selman
Kevin Curran
J. Stewart Burns
Michael Price
Tom Gammill
Marc Wilmore
Lance Kramer
Mike B. Anderson

Editor

Jimmy Heenan

Plot While watching a very late episode of The Three Stooges (where the violently bumbling trio are on the brink of senility), the Simpsons feel the ground shaking. They discover an airplane flying dangerously close to their house. They soon realize that the air traffic must have been redirected. Homer and Marge complain to an airport official, who says that the planes were redirected away from wildlife preserves to protect the animals; whereas, actually, they were redirected by the request of Mayor Quimby, so that he could entertain his lady friends in peace and quiet.

The family tries to adjust to the massive noise, but are unable to cope and decide to move. After failing to sell the house to Apu and Ralph Wiggum, Homer and Marge complain to their congressman, Horace Wilcox, who has been congressman since 1933. Horace seems genuinely moved by their predicament and ready to help them. Unfortunately, he suffers a heart attack and dies. Later, as they watch a Krusty show, Bart gets the idea to have Krusty run for Congress. The family also thinks it would be a good idea. The next day, Bart visits Krusty (who at first mistakes him for a dying fan) and asks him to run for Congress. Krusty seems reluctant at first, but he soon likes to the idea, since he could change all the problems that the government has plagued him with, such as taxes and immigration (of his monkey). At the shady Republicans meeting, he nominates himself as a candidate for Congress. The other members are supportive (except for Bob Dole who nominates himself).

Krusty's campaign has a very bad start. He includes offensive jokes in his speeches and his opponent, John Armstrong, shows a sketch from Krusty's show making fun of the UN, in which he spoofs the "French Stench," the "Jamaican Hum-Drum" and San Francisco's homosexuality. Desperate to have Krusty win the election (and be on the winning team, for once), Lisa helps Krusty turn his campaign around by having him connect with regular families and citizens. With this advice and some help from Fox News (including a TV debate with Krusty shown with a Halo, while the Democratic candidate is shown with devil horns and a Soviet flag on the background, and finally upside down), Krusty's popularity soars and he wins the election, possibly due to Bart and extreme voter fraud.

So begins Krusty's term in Congress. After taking the oath, he tries to bring up the topic of the air traffic over Evergreen Terrace. However, no one pays any attention to him and they tell him that as a freshman congressman, he doesn't get much of a say in anything there. He's told to clean up the graffiti on the walls of the House. The other congressmen then start discussing designing dollar coins made out of chocolate.

Later, the Simpsons find Krusty in a bar, drowning his sorrows in booze. He feels that he's failed them, but they convince him to stand up for his beliefs. Thus encouraged, he tries to get his Air Traffic Bill passed, but he is only speaking to an empty room. The Simpsons watch him and feel sorry for him and more for themselves, considering they have to go back and live with all the airplane noise. When Homer says their plane leaves in 30 minutes (just to make things suspenseful), a janitor (who "looks like" Walter Mondale) arrives and informs them how a bill becomes a law. Lisa tries to show off her knowledge, but he interrupts her, telling them that underhanded tactics are necessary.

With his help, they blackmail a key congressman with a videotape, which has footage of him abusing the free mail policy (by sending a "Get Well Soon" card to his aunt). Homer manages to get Congressman Beauregard drunk (and himself as well, in the process). Finally, during a session in Congress, the janitor and Lisa, with Homer's drunken diversion, place the Air Traffic Bill under a bill giving orphans American flags. When the bill comes up for discussion, the blackmailed congressman immediately consents, and Congressman Beauregard, in a drunken stupor, consents to the bill. The legislation is then passed, and Krusty embellishes the successes of democracy.

At the Simpsons' place, the family is happy to see that all the air traffic has been diverted to the poor sections of town, while they get the peace and quiet that they heroically fought for.