Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)

Season 6, Episode 25, Aired
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Episode Summary

The entire town of Springfield is enraged at Mr. Burns after he steals oil from the school, destroys the retirement home, closes down businesses and plans to block out the sun. After the town meeting, Mr. Burns is found shot. Who was the gunman?
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Cast & Crew

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Fan Episode Reviews (24)

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  • "Who Shot Mr. Burns" was a big deal for SIMPSONS viewers. Not only was it a cliffhanger (the only one in the show's history) it was genuinely funny with an epic plot involving Burns and his plan to blot out the sun.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By VeryAware, Jun 21, 2011 Report Abuse
    You knew I was going to include this, didn't you?

    As a entertainment-obsessed youth, there were few things more important than THE SIMPSONS. When we kids heard that Mr. Burns was going to be shot we all became detectives. Who could do it? Homer, finally seeking revenge for a crappy job? Smithers, sick of being pushed around by an ungrateful boss? Maybe it's Bart or Lisa, striking down Burns to save their beloved Springfield.

    I guess none of us realized that this was THE SIMPSONS and that it was going to be a funny, inconsequential pay-off. Regardless, "Who Shot Mr. Burns" was a big deal for SIMPSONS viewers. Not only was it a cliffhanger (the only one in the show's history) it was genuinely funny with an epic plot involving Burns and his plan to blot out the sun. I remember watching a VHS with the episode taped on it during the summer hiatus. Over and over and over again I watched, hoping to discover new clues. Yeah, I was kind of an idiot.

    Admit it, you had your own theories too.moreless

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  • The school becomes rich when oil is found underneath it, until Mr. Burns taps the oil deposit, then blocking out all sun to Springfield, in the process earning him the hatred of the town. At least until he gets shot in the end, creating a cliffhanger.moreless

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By plumber-man, Mar 12, 2011 Report Abuse
    Great episode, does a great job showcasing Burns' character traits. Very funny, like in the scenes where he tries to pass himself as Jimbo or when he steps on a replica of the power plant while destroying a model of the town in his office. Though to ruin the episode, it was Maggie who shot Burns, but this is still a great episode.

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  • Loved this episode!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Sami5118, Oct 24, 2010 Report Abuse
    I loved this episode! The first (and so far) only time that I have seen it was in History class. This episode was pretty funny and it made you think, especially at the end because pretty much everyone was capable of doing it. They all had a reason to do it so it was hard to decide who really shot Mr. Burns. I liked this episode because instead of the town being divided between each other, it was the town against Burns. I also liked that they made it almost impossible to figure out exactly who did it and they left you hanging till the next season.

    Overall, this episode is definately a classic. 10/10!moreless

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  • Really good episode with a nice drama effect

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Southparkfa, Aug 15, 2010 Report Abuse
    I don't usually watch the Simpsons often, but I watched this one for the fact that it's one of the show's highest rated episodes, and I can see why. In this episode, Mr.Burns steals oil from the town school, and then plans to block out the sun, and after doing so, he is shot by unknown assialant. I liked how pretty much everyone was a suspect like Homer (For not knowing his name) Smithers (Not agreeing with his actions, and firing him) or Principal Skinner (Stealing the school's oil). I liked the cliffhanger at the end and the joke about breaking the fourth wall at the end. Overall, this is an episode that shows exactly why the Simpsons is such a classic show. 9.5/10 A+moreless

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  • Who Shot Mr. Burns? Read my review for part two to find out!

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By captaindillo456, May 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    Ah one of the classics of the series, really funny, dramatic plot, great character devolpment and in my top ten. Allright I'll get right down to it, this episode was different to all other Simpsons episodes, it was drama, it was suspense and at the same time it was funny. The Smithers-Burns characters really get explored into. And setting up all the different suspects, like Grandpa, Bart, Homer, etc., was great because they all had their different reasons to do it. I don't think that later staffs could've pulled this episode off as good as it was and no other show, then, now, or before could have done a better episode than this.

    To be continued...moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Groundskeeper Willie is seen reading a Weekly Reader magazine. Edit
    • While Mr. Burns is walking in the twilight following the town meeting, comments made and shots shown reveal who is missing and leads the viewer to believe that they are prime suspects: -Carl says that Smithers left his jacket behind. -Otto states that Skinner left his mother behind. -Marge doesn't know the whereabouts of Bart, Lisa, Homer, and Grampa. -Grampa's buried gun has been dug up in the front yard. Edit
    • Grampa's gun is an old Smith and Wesson. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • A few hours after this episode had aired, a college student found out the identity of the shooter and posted his theory on the internet. The staff couldn't give him the prize in the "Who Shot Mr. Burns Contest" because they weren't allowed to contact him during the contest (as he hadn't entered) and afterwards, he couldn't be identified. Edit
    • Blackboard Gag: This is not a clue...or is it? Couch Gag: The family run across a repeating panning shot of the couch and TV. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (At Moe's) Barney: These fumes aren't as fun as beer. Sure, I'm all dizzy and nauseous, but where's the inflated sense of self-esteem? (A man at the end of the bar slumps to the floor.) Moe: Hey, if you guys are getting loaded off them fumes I'm gonna have to charge you. (Two scientists walk into Moe's Tavern wearing gas-masks.) Male Scientist: Man alive! There are, uh, men alive in here. Female Scientist: (Holding a beeping detector) I'm detecting over twenty different toxins in the air. (Barney belches and the detector beeps faster.) Male Scientist: All right, everybody out! As long as Burns is pumping oil, this bar is closed! Moe: Damned Burns. Let me just get one thing. (Pulls shotgun from behind the bar.) Barney: Me too! (Pulls gun from his side.) Ah, now there's the inflated sense of self-esteem! Edit
    • Captain McAllister: Arr...Burns, yer scurvy schemes have earned ye a one-way ticket to the boneyard. Ned: Uh, I'd like to hear from Sideshow Mel. Sideshow Mel: I'll see to it that Mr. Burns suffers the infernal mechanations of Hell's grim tyrant! (Holds up a switchblade) Otto: Yeah! Edit
    • (Burns has a gun under his jacket) Mr. Burns: I decided to take the liberty of protecting myself after being attacked in my office by some unidentified assailant. Homer: (off-screen) D'oh! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Simon and Garfunkel The 1966 song "59th St. Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy)," from Simon and Garfunkel, is referenced with slightly different lyrics. Mr. Burns sings, "Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin'? I've come to watch your power flowing." The original song is "flowers growing" instead of "power flowing". Edit
    • Goldfinger The model of Springfield that comes out of Mr. Burns' floor is a reference to the 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger, when Goldfinger explains his plans to raid Fort Knox. Edit
    • Mr. Burns: "I own the electric company, the water works, and that hotel on Baltic Avenue!" These are all pieces on the board game "Monopoly." And Skinner's follow-up: "That hotel's a dump", is correct. Baltic Avenue is the cheapest property on the board. Edit

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