Behind the Laughter

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"Behind the Laughter" is an episode from the eleventh season of The Simpsons. It is presented in a narrative format, parodying VH1's Behind the Music documentary series. The show brought on Jim Forbes as narrator, the same person who did voiceovers on the VH1 program. The episode portrays the Simpson family as actors playing themselves on a sitcom, and tells the (partially fictional) story of how The Simpsons began.

Behind the Laughter

Done in the style of "Behind the Music," the popular VH1 biography show, this non-canon episode begins with the Simpson family history and how they got into show business. The first part of the fake documentary follows the family from their weak beginnings to their exceptional prosperity. A television show, a recording contract, a lot of awards, and countless wealth follow Homer's inadequate video "pilot."

Problems begin to arise as the Simpsons' fame continues. After a funny stunt causes him injury, Homer becomes addicted to prescription painkillers, Marge makes some senseless business investments, and Bart goes to rehab. The IRS examines soon after and takes away their house. Then, the family gets into a big dispute and splits up at the Iowa State Fair.

Fox is forced to temporarily discontinue the show, since none of the Simpsons will talk to each other. The members go their independent ways: Homer follows a career in the proper theater; Bart receives his own show, which is an action-adventure series; Marge makes a nightclub act; and Lisa writes a tell-all book about her experiences. Bringing the family back together seems hopeless until country singer Willie Nelson puts on a phony awards show in order to reconcile the family. They hug and forget past wrongs in a sensitive reunion. Again, they look with hope to the many years of episodes of the Simpsons to come...or not.

Quotes

• Homer: Everybody wanted a piece of us.
  Marge: They told us what to wear, how to dress, which clothes we should put on.
  Bart: The cops found me driving on the sidewalk.
  Lisa: I had no business hosting the Oscars. After the show, Meryl Streep spit on me!

• Homer: The fame was like a drug. But what was even more like a drug were the drugs.

• Ned: I'd see 'em sitting on that couch all day long, just staring at that Hollywood hogwash.
  Homer: Our favorite show was "Hollywood Hogwash," but we also loved "The Dreck Squad"...
  Marge: "The Malarkeys," "Dumbin' It Down"...
  Lisa: "Sheriff Lowbrow"...
  Bart: "Home Improvement"...
  Homer: ...but we never saw people like us on TV.

• Homer: "My Funny Family." Take One. And...action! Honey, I'm home. The boss is coming to dinner and I need a clean shirt.
  Marge: I haven't done the laundry yet.
  Homer: Mama mia! Now I'll have to do it! (He walks to a nearby washing machine and dumps in a plentiful amount of detergent.)
  Lisa: Dad, that's too much detergent!
  Homer: Not now! I'm busy turning on this washing machine.
  (Soap suds start to fill the room. Wearing a fake mustache and a sash with "Boss" written on it, Bart enters the front door.)
  Bart: Simpson! Where's my dinner?
  Homer: Mama mia!

• Marge: Okay, the material was a little corny, but Homer and I had real chemistry on-screen.
  Homer: Every day I thought about firing Marge. You know, just to shake things up.

• Homer: Son, let's go out for frosty chocolate milkshakes.
  Bart: Cowabunga, dude!
  Director: And...cut.
  Bart: Dad, I've never said "cowabunga" in my life! Your script sucks!
  Homer: Why, you little...! (grabbing Bart by the throat and choking him)
  Director: Hey, that's funny!

• Narrator: Then, another bombshell. An anonymous tipster alerted Uncle Sam that the Simpsons were evading their income taxes.
  Apu: (in silhouette) Yes, I finked on Homer. But you know, he deserved it. Never have I seen such abuse of the take-a-penny/leave-a-penny tray.

• Lenny: Even Bart was throwing dough around. He paid me and Carl a thousand bucks to kiss each other.
  Carl: Hey, did we ever get that money?

• Lisa: Dad, I want to go to bed. Aren't there child labor laws?
  Homer: Who told you about those laws? Was it Marge?
  Marge: Hey, you've been riding me all day. Why don't you poop in your hat?
  Kang: Are you going to need us tonight?
  Kodos: I have ballet tickets, not that they'll do much good now.

• Homer: We put all the craziness behind us, and now it's time to get back to what matters—the show...and the Sunday comic strip.
  Marge: Which Homer writes himself.
  Bart: (sarcastically) So you know it's great!
  Homer: Why you little...! (grabbing Bart by the throat and choking him)
  Narrator: So whether choking their son or poking some fun, the Simpsons will keep on gagging for years to come.

• 
  (Clip from an episode to come)
  Marge: I can't believe it! We won another contest!
  Homer: The Simpsons are going to Delaware!
  Lisa: I want to see Wilmington!
  Bart: I want to visit a screen door factory!
  ("Real" Homer whispering to guy watching the episode): This'll be last season...

Trivia

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