Worst Episode Ever

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"Worst. Episode. Ever."
The Simpsons episode
The Comic Book Guy in hospital, after he had suffered a "cardiac episode".
Episode no.	259
Prod. code	CABF08[1]
Orig. airdate	February 4, 2001
Show runner(s)	Mike Scully
Written by	Larry Doyle
Directed by	Matthew Nastuk
Chalkboard	“I will not hide the teacher's medication.”
Couch gag	The couch is replaced by a valet parking spot. The Squeaky-Voiced Teen pushes a couch in place for the Simpsons to sit down. He then holds his hand out for a tip and leaves angrily when he does not receive one.
Guest star(s)	Tom Savini as himself
DVD commentary	Mike Scully Al Jean Tom Gammill & Max Pross Matt Selman Hank Azaria Larry Doyle Chris Kirkpatrick
Season 12 November 1, 2000 – May 20, 2001 "Treehouse of Horror XI" "A Tale of Two Springfields" "Insane Clown Poppy" "Lisa the Tree Hugger" "Homer vs. Dignity" "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" "The Great Money Caper" "Skinner's Sense of Snow" "HOMR" "Pokey Mom" "Worst Episode Ever" "Tennis the Menace" "Day of the Jackanapes" "New Kids on the Blecch" "Hungry, Hungry Homer" "Bye Bye Nerdie" "Simpson Safari" "Trilogy of Error" "I'm Goin' to Praiseland" "Children of a Lesser Clod" "Simpsons Tall Tales" List of all The Simpsons episodes
Seasons 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21

"Worst. Episode. Ever." is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons' twelfth season, airing on February 4, 2001. Hank Azaria received a Primetime Emmy Award for his voice work in this episode. The episode is the last written by Larry Doyle and was directed by Matthew Nastuk.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Cultural references 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Plot

Bart and Milhouse go out spending $50 (which Bart won when he bet Homer to eat a spoonful of rotten baking soda Lisa dug out of the back of the refrigerator) around Springfield, but this abruptly ends when the boys (joining the elite ranks of Sideshow Bob, Nelson Muntz, and Matt Groening) are banned for life from Comic Book Guy's store, The Android's Dungeon, when they talk Martin Prince's mom out of selling Martin's rare and invaluable Star Wars items to Comic Book Guy, including the original hand-written script, for a mere five dollars (“That stuff’s priceless, lady! He’s ripping you off!”). When Comic Book Guy suffers from a heart attack when witnessing Tom Savini's work, Comic Book Guy gives Bart and Milhouse the duty of running his store since he does not really have any friends who can help him. The store becomes wildly successful under the management of the two boys, only to lose much of its newfound prosperity after Milhouse goes overboard in ordering a shipment of two thousand comics depicting "Biclops", a superhero with thick glasses (who resembles Milhouse), which flops spectacularly (Kearney complains that “These don’t even smack good!”).

After a brief argument and scuffle between the two boys, they unintentionally discover that Comic Book Guy owns a secret stash of illegal video clips ( hiding on a " She Hulk" poster, and Bart and Milhouse charge admission for viewing such clips as a secret government plan to use Springfield as a testing zone for allied countries' nuclear missiles and Ned Flanders' complaint to the police that Homer released a radioactive ape into his house (Although Bart explains to Milhouse that Homer did not do it intentionally, as "the Ape tricked him").

The scheme works well until Chief Wiggum conducts a police raid on the store. Despite this, they manage to come away with the profits of their time managing the store.

Meanwhile, Homer has been helping a recovering Comic Book Guy look for a friend, but attempts (most notably his unfavourable comments on Duff Beer and the “mindless” Moe's Tavern occupants) fail until he meets Agnes Skinner. Comic Book Guy and Agnes become romantically involved. However, when Chief Wiggum comes to charge Comic Book Guy for his pirated videotapes, Agnes says she is too old to wait until he gets out of jail.

Bart and Milhouse, freed from the responsibilities of running the Android's Dungeon, decide that they had a fun time together and that they have missed a lot of school. Milhouse comments that, “Everything is back to normal”: however, it seems that Ned still remains firmly under the clawed thumb of the radioactive ape.

[edit] Production

The episode was written by Larry Doyle his last writing credit and Matthew Nastuk his 5th directing credit. The episode was originally called "The Fiver".^[2] The picture of Matt Groening is sometimes credited as George Lucas.^[3]

[edit] Cultural references

The soda that goes on Radioactive Man #1000 goes on Bongo Comics."^[3]

The magician is often believed to be Galiger. The parody is voiced by Harry Shearer.^[3]

[edit] Reception

Hank Azaria won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for voicing Comic Book Guy his second win with the first for Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.^[4] Cindy White of IGN in a review of The Season 12 DVD said the episode was a classic.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: "Worst Episode Ever"

• "Worst Episode Ever" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
• "Worst Episode Ever" at the Internet Movie Database