Like Father, Like Clown

Season 3, Episode 6, Aired
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Episode Summary

Bart and Lisa team up to try and reunite Krusty the Clown with his estranged Rabbi father.
8.4
out of 10
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Fan Episode Reviews (10)

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  • Great

    8.5
    "Great"
    By jmbsonic555, Oct 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    We have reached the grand finale for another rousing episode of The Krusty the Clown Show, and after he cheerfully finishes waving goodbye to all the kids until next time, the real Krusty comes out. He ends his afternoon by canceling each and every appointment Miss Pennycandy has lined up, including a thank-you supper Krusty arranged with Bart for clearing his name under armed robbery charges from his former sideshow. At home, Miss Pennycandy calls Marge to tell her the unfortunate news about Krusty's cancellation, for the fifth time. She tells Marge an important last-minute issue had come up, which Krusty is establishing by scrubbing mildew from his shower. Bart is collecting an autograph order from Milhouse, getting ready for the big night, but Marge must deliver the bad news to her son. Disappointed with yet another cancellation, Bart goes to write an angry letter to Krusty, officially turning in his Krusty Buddy Badge. Miss Pennycandy goes to forward Bart's letter to Krusty, telling him the boy that never lost faith in him just lost faith in him. She threatens to quit her job if Krusty doesn't go to have supper with Bart and his family. So, Krusty gives in. Bart is still disconcerted with Krusty, until Marge informs him this time Krusty is coming for real. He gets excited. Milhouse invites himself over for the occasion, and once Krusty arrives, he starts to act like he is still on camera. He is relived to know in the Simpsons' house, he can be himself. At the table, the family, Milhouse and Krusty are all seated and Krusty is asked to say grace. He starts to pray in Hebrew and Lisa figures that Krusty must be Jewish. When Lisa starts to tell Homer about all the famous Jewish entertainers in the business, Krusty begins crying. He tells them the exact reason: the Jewish prayer reminds him of his childhood...and his father. Krusty tells the story of his past: he grew up as a boy named Herschel Krustofsky, who was born in a family with a long line of rabbis. His father, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky, was a very wise and highly respected rabbi. He would be the wise man people would go to to seek advice, however, he had forbade his son to pursue a career as a clown. Time continued, and Herschel, in clown makeup, began entertaining the Rabbis at a Talmudic conference in the Catskills while his father was in the audience. When one Rabbi sprayed him with a seltzer bottle, Rabbi Krustofsky immediately recognized his son. Feeling as though his son had brought shame to the family, Rabbi Krustofsky disowned him, saying he never wanted to see him again. Krusty explains that since that day, he and his father had not spoken since; 25 years have passed since then. Many hours later that evening, Krusty had begun to wear out his welcome. After a long goodbye, he starts to return home. Upon returning home, Krusty tries to call his father, but can't work up the courage to say anything. Bart and Lisa are watching The Krusty the Clown Show, and after seeing an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon with a father/son theme, Krusty breaks down crying on camera. Bart and Lisa know what must be done: they must attempt to have Rabbi Krustofsky forgive Krusty. Bart and Lisa go to see Reverend Lovejoy, and ask him if he knows where to find Rabbi Krustofsky. After learning of a radio program that he does with the good Rabbi called Gabbin' about God, he gives them his address. Bart and Lisa go to see Rabbi Krustofsky to talk about Krusty. His only response is of a simple exclamation of a feud: he has no son. Over at KBBL studios, Rev. Reverend Lovejoy, Msgr. Kenneth Daly and Rabbi Krustofsky are on air with another episode of Gabbin' about God. They answer a few religion-themed questions when Bart publicly asks about wheter a father should forgive his son if they are making so many children happy. This causes Rabbi Krustofsky to blurt out his disdain over the air, asking who screens these calls. After Bart fails to pass himself off as a Rabbi, Bart and Lisa attempt to arrange a 'by chance' meeting. Rabbi Krustofsky is conned into thinking he gets a lunch date with Nobel Prize-winning novelist Saul Bellow, and Krusty is conned into thinking the French government wants to award him the Legion of Honor. At Izzy's Deli, Bart and Lisa watch as Rabbi Krustofsky, at the reminder that his son sponsors a pork-heavy meal on white bread at this restaurant, storms off before Krusty arrives. Bart and Lisa try a new tactic: impress Rabbi Krustofsky with knowledge. Bart and Lisa spend hours at the library, where they try time and time again to duel with the wise Rabbi using bits of knowledge and wisdom to make Rabbi Krustofsky reconcile with his son. Ultimately, Rabbi Krustofsky counters them with contradicting knowledge. Many attempts later, Lisa gives Bart a new philosophy on paper, saying it's a long shot, but she can't do anymore without learning ancient Hebrew...and Lisa insists she's not learning Ancient Hebrew. While during a chess game, Bart deals the final card: "The Jews are a swinging bunch of people, I mean, I've heard of persecution, but what they went through is ridiculous. But the great thing is, after thousands of years of waiting and holding on and fighting, they finally made it." This quote very much impresses Rabbi Krustofsky, who is curious about this wise man. Bart gives the answer: it is from the book Yes, I Can, as written by Sammy Davis, Jr. This wise man was a Jewish entertainer, just like Krusty. Having been won over by this quote, Rabbi Krustofsky is driven to tears by the idea that he had lost so many years of joy under a small degree of short-sightedness. Lisa consoles him, saying it is not too late. While Krusty opens his show with absolutely no zing, he tells them to roll an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon while he goes to have a cigarette. Miss Pennycandy lets Bart and Lisa inside. At this time, Rabbi Krustofsky finds Krusty, having come to forgive his son. They have a joyous reunion the moment the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon has ended, and Krusty enters back inside, introducing his father to all the kids. His shares a reconciling song with his father, which proves to move everyone. At the conclusion of the song, Bart hands Rabbi Krustofsky a cream pie, which he throws his son's face. Krusty hugs his father, spreading laughs all around
    8.5 out of 10moreless

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  • this was a good ep i thought

    8.5
    "Great"
    By cube2k8, May 15, 2010 Report Abuse
    in this ep of the simpsons the simpsons have krusty the clown over for dinner and they learn that krusty had a father that was rabi and he did not approve of krusty job and that it was no good. and so bart and lisa team up to help reunite krusty and his father by getting his father to think krusty has a good job being a clown. this ep had some good moments in it like trying to get krusty and his fahter to reconcile on air in front of the whole krusty audience. this was a good ep i toughtmoreless

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  • Like Father Like Clown

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Jan 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    When Krusty is invited over to the Simpson house for dinner, he accepts, and the Simpson family learns he is Jewish. They also learn he doesn't get along well with his father, a famous rabbi, because he did not like the path Krusty chose for his career {he wanted him to be a rabbi}. So now Bart and Lisa try to reunite Krusty with his father. In the end they do and Krusty and his rabbi Father hug on Krusty's show.

    A good episode, the description doesn't sound like my type of plot, but it worked well and had good emotion in the endmoreless

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  • I can't think of a better way to break my review drought than with this very fine Simpsons episode

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By oceanic6, Aug 26, 2009 Report Abuse
    It is an unspoken rule that originality is the key to a good episode of any TV show so you can't blame this critic for having low expectations prior to viewing an episode that promised to be a continuous reference to an old movie.
    However relatively early on; every pre conceived notion was thrown at the window as for the first time this season; The Simpsons presents an episode that is outstanding across the board.
    Upon Krusty the Clown's visit to the Simpson home we all learn of his secret anguish of his estranged father, the stern Rabbi Krustofski (brilliantly voiced by Jackie Mason). Bart and Lisa attempt to to reunite the Rabbi with the increasingly depressed Clown but find that it is much harder than first thought.
    Yes, the father and son theme has been done to death. Yes, the Bart and Lisa going on a mission theme has been done to death and yes, jokes where Jewish people are the target have been done to death but no, person having seen this episode will have let those minor points deter them from the undeniable quality.
    I have not seen "The Jazz Singer", the film for which this movie is based and i'm doubtful that too many viewers of a cartoon show will be adept with relatively unknown movies from the 1930's so therefore its unoriginality is not a problem for the vast majority of viewers. The episode is split into two halves which are clearly defined as the news of Krusty's father is what seperates them. The first has a much lighter tone with more Simpson esque jokes while the second has a much more semi serious tone with the jokes becoming rather symptomatic with Jewish humour of not having punchlines as such but rather more subtle, knowing humor which can most probably be attributed to the monologues from Mason. The contrast is not only effective but is done with enough subtly so that the two halves are not vastly disproportionate in nature. This episode certainly looks different to previous and subsequent ones in that the colours are a little more dimmed with more cinematic lighting and facial expressions that are a lot more intricately drawn. These changes (which in case you didn't gather are entirely for the better) can be attributed to this episode having two directors one of which is the Oscar winning animation director Brad Bird.
    Not since the last time i have listened to a Jack Black song have i used the phrase "verbally chewing on the scenery" but with Dan Castellaneta's performance as Krusty it is very applicable. Dan is a terrific voice artist who captures the zaniness of Krusty while remaining very measured and never is there a hint of force behind his very exaggerated speech patterns and sobs. However, the real star of this episode is Jackie Mason as the Rabbi. Mason doesn't really need to extend his range since he is essentially playing a bearded version of himself but every word uttered by him is thoroughly entertaining and very, very convincing and for a real old school comedian to master this on his first try while many other s who appear better suited have tried and failed is really what makes his role so memorable. Like father, like clown is a refreshing episode that was one of the most notable examples of The Simpsons transcending from just another animated show to THE animated show. Check it out now.moreless

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  • Krusty and his problems strike once again...

    7.9
    "Good"
    By titiembe, Mar 18, 2008 Report Abuse
    I never really liked clowns after all. I thought this episode could've been done without with, and that it was a little dull and boring, but still touching and had its comedic moments. So basically it is discovered that Krusty is a Jew and his father is a Rabbi, but Krusty had always wanted to be a comedian. So he was shunned by his father for like 25 years I think. Then with the help of Lisa and Bart they are re-united. I particulary enjoyed the parts Lisa had in this episode, her line something like "A man who envies this family is a man who needs help", and how she came up with all the arguments against Krusty's father. So overall it was a good episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • While in the deli, Rabbi Krustofski passes on a celebrity-named sandwich called "The Jackie Mason". Jackie Mason provides the voice of the rabbi. Edit
    • As a boy, Krusty stared in to Yiddle's, a store that advertises "practical jokes, magic tricks, and medical supplies." Edit
    • Krusty and his father walk down the street past a deli with the sign, "Tannen's Fatty Meats". Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Bart and Lisa fool Rabbi Krustofski into "accidentally" meeting up with Krusty by telling him he is having lunch with novelist Saul Bellows. Originally, they were to tell him he was meeting Isaac Bashevis Singer. But between the first draft of the script and the final draft, Singer died so the name was changed. Edit
    • First Appearance: Mr. Teeny Edit
    • Itchy & Scratchy: "Field Of Screams" A combine comes bearing down on Scratchy and his son as they play catch in a wheat field. Itchy and his son look out from inside the combine as blood splashes up against the windshield. Afterwards, Itchy and his son play catch with Scratchy's head. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rabbi Krustofsky: A rabbi would never exaggerate. A rabbi composes. He creates thoughts. He tells stories that may never have happened. But he does not exaggerate. Edit
    • Bart: Poor Krusty. Lisa: A man who envies our family is a man who needs help. Edit
    • Lisa: Here you go, Bart. It's a long shot, but that's all I can do without learning ancient Hebrew. (Bart stares at her) Bart! I am not going to learn ancient Hebrew! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Raging Bull The scene in which Krusty calls his father but doesn't say anything is borrowed from a scene in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull in which Jake LaMotta does the same thing. Edit
    • Miss Moneypenny: James Bond's secretary is referenced in the name of Krusty's secretary -- Miss Pennycandy. Like her more famous counterpart, she secretly desires her co-worker/boss. Edit
    • The movies playing at the Springfield Theater are For Your Thighs Only, Crocodile Done Me and Doctor Strangepants are allusions to the actual movies For Your Eyes Only, Crocodile Dundee and Doctor Strangelove. Edit

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