The Parent Rap
"The Parent Rap" | |
---|---|
The Simpsons episode | |
Episode no. | Season 13 Episode 2 |
Directed by | Mark Kirkland |
Written by | George Meyer Mike Scully |
Production code | CABF22 |
Original air date | November 11, 2001 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
Episode features | |
Couch gag | The Simpsons jump out of the painting of the simply drawn sailboat behind the couch. |
Commentary | Matt Groening Mike Scully George Meyer Ian Maxtone-Graham Matt Selman Tim Long Dana Gould Joel H. Cohen Kevin Gould |
"The Parent Rap" is the second episode and official premiere of the
The episode was written by
When it was first broadcast, “The Parent Rap” was watched by 14.4 million viewers, making it the second most watched show of its timeslot that night. After its release on DVD and Blu-ray, however, the episode garnered mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
After missing the bus, Bart and
Unable to bear the punishment any longer, they break free using
Production and cultural references
"The Parent Rap" was co-written by George Meyer and Mike Scully, and Mark Kirkland served as the director for the episode.[2] It was first broadcast on the Fox network in the United States on November 11, 2001.[2] The title of the episode is a reference to The Parent Trap. Even though "Treehouse of Horror XII" - the first episode of the thirteenth season - had aired the previous week, "The Parent Rap" was considered the official premiere of the season.[3] "The Parent Rap" was the last episode written in its production line.[4] "As I recall, we got toward the end of the season and we had to write another episode in a hurry", said Meyer in a DVD audio commentary for the episode.[4] Judge Constance Harm is a parody of Judge Judy.
The writing staff contributed a rough outline for the episode, and Meyer and Scully went into one of the writer's room and "basically, kind of locked [themselves] in for five days" writing the episode.[4] Meyer and Scully both thoroughly enjoyed the writing process of the episode;[2][4] "It really came together easily", stated Meyer, "...because we had known each other so long and were comfortable with each other's style".[4] Ian Maxtone-Graham, one of the writers for The Simpsons, commented that the draft Meyer and Scully had written was "awfully good".[5]
The episode was based on "a couple of incidents" that the writers had heard about in which troublesome children, through alternative sentencing, were tethered to their parents.[2] The scene in which Homer and Marge get spanked by Springfield's citizens as part of their punishment was also based on an alternative sentencing, in which the sentenced had to wear certain shirts or signs that indicated whether they, for example, had not paid taxes.[2] The scene in which Bart accidentally drives away with Chief Wiggum's police car was based on one of Scully's friends in high school, who stole a still running police car parked at a Dunkin' Donuts while the police were in the store.[2]
The episode featured the first appearance of Judge Constance Harm, portrayed by American actress Jane Kaczmarek. At the time of the episode's airing, Kaczmarek starred on Fox's Malcolm in the Middle.[2] The character's name was conceived by Meyer, who had always thought that Constance was a scary name.[4]
The episode makes several references to Blue Öyster Cult's hit song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", which also plays during the episode's end credits, and inspired the title of a later episode.[6] Meyer later got to meet the band, who said that they were "stoked" to be referenced in a Simpsons episode.[4]
Release
In its original American broadcast on November 11, 2001, "The Parent Rap" was seen by approximately 14.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The episode received a 6.9 rating/16 share among adults between ages 18 and 49, making it the second most-watched television show of the night in its demographic.[7] The episode was listed among the 15 most watched shows in its demographic that week.[8]
Following the episode's broadcast, as well as the home video release of thirteenth season of The Simpsons, "The Parent Rap" received generally mixed reviews from critics.
Writing for the Daily News, Eric Mink gave the episode a mixed review.[3] "To be sure, the show has its moments", wrote Mink, "But there's not much zip here, and the show has, of all things, a warm-and-fuzzy ending... 'The Simpsons' and warm-and-fuzzy is not a healthy combination".[3]
Nate Boss of Project-Blu described the episode as "filler" and praised the episode's concept, but criticized how the episode was executed.[9]
Colin Jacobsson of DVD Movie Guide also gave the episode a mixed response, and wrote that "'Rap' starts with a clever – if absurd – concept", but "does little to churn good comedy out of its theme", and concluded by calling the episode "disappointing".[10]
Jennifer Malkowski, reviewing the season for DVD Verdict, was more positive towards the episode.[11] Giving the episode a rating of B+, Malkowski listed "The Parent Rap" among episodes in the season where "We see wacky scenarios force Homer to bond with his family, to a rather heartwarming effect".[11]
Ron Martin of 411Mania was also favorable, calling the episode "decent".[12]
References
- ^ "The Parent Rap". The Simpsons.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scully, Mike. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b c Mink, Eric (November 20, 2001). "SO-SO 'SIMPSONS' STILL CAN'T BE BEAT". Media Post News. NY Daily News. Retrieved January 14, 2011. [dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g Meyer, George. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Maxtone-Graham, Ian. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Long, Tim. (2010). Commentary for "The Parent Rap", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ "CBS, Fox Pack Sunday Punch". Reuters. November 13, 2001. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "CBS Gets Special Boost In Latest Week". Reuters. November 14, 2001. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Boss, Nate (September 8, 2010). "The Simpsons: The Thirteenth Season". Project-Blu. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ Jacobsson, Colin (September 2, 2010). "The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season [Blu-Ray] (2001)". DVD Movie Guide. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Malkowski, Jennifer (September 6, 2010). "The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season (Blu-Ray)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ Martin, Ron (September 15, 2010). "The Simpsons Season 13 DVD Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on October 15, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2020.