Cape Feare
Sideshow Bob seeks revenge on Bart Simpson.
Cape Feare, the second episode of The Simpsons' fifth season, aired on Fox on October 7, 1993. It marks Kelsey Grammer's third appearance as Sideshow Bob, who is released from prison and again targets Bart Simpson. The episode parodies the 1962 film Cape Fear and its 1991 remake, both based on John D. MacDonald's novel The Executioners, and includes nods to horror films like Psycho. Jon Vitti wrote it, and it was Rich Moore's final directing credit before he became supervising director of The Critic. Wally Wolodarsky pitched the idea as a Cape Fear spoof. Originally produced for season four, it was held over to season five alongside the premiere. The crew struggled to fill the half-hour runtime, padding scenes like the famous rake sequence, where Sideshow Bob repeatedly steps on rakes that smack him in the face. This gag became a recurring highlight. The episode's score earned an Emmy nomination.
Quick Facts
- Season
- 5
- Episode
- 2
- Director
- Rich Moore
- Writer
- Jon Vitti
- Production
- 9F22
- Air date
- 7 October 1993
- Guests
- Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob
- Commentary
- Matt Groening
- Al Jean
- Jon Vitti
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Sideshow Bob sends anonymous threatening letters to Bart from prison, wanting revenge for his two previous defeats. Bob is soon paroled; the parole board no longer considers him a threat, despite his tattoo reading "Die Bart Die" (which he claims is German for "The Bart The"). After encountering Bob at a movie theater, the Simpsons join the Witness Protection Program, relocating to a houseboat in Terror Lake and changing their surname to "Thompson". As the family drives, Bob is strapped to the underside of the car, enduring speed bumps, hot coffee poured by Homer, and a cactus patch. After arriving, Bob unstraps himself, steps on rakes several times, and is trampled by elephants. During the night, Bob reaches the houseboat, ties up the family, and corners Bart. Bart stalls by complimenting Bob's voice and asking him to sing the entire score of H.M.S. Pinafore. As the musical concludes, the boat runs aground, preventing Bob from killing Bart. Bob is arrested by Chief Wiggum, whose police force was at a riverside brothel. The Simpsons return home to find Grampa has grown breasts and long hair due to leaving his medications in the abandoned house.
Production
Sideshow Bob is a recurring character on The Simpsons. Since season three's "Black Widower", the writers have echoed the premise of Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner by having Bob unexpectedly insert himself into Bart's life and attempt to kill him as revenge for earlier events. Executive producer Al Jean has compared Bob to Wile E. Coyote, noting both are intelligent yet foiled by an inferior intellect. The scene where Bob is stomped by elephants and bounces back up references Wile E. Coyote. Kelsey Grammer guest-starred as Bob for the third time; he had become a household name as the lead of Frasier, which was in production simultaneously. Grammer did not know the rake scene was extended because he made the moan only once and was surprised by the final product. The writers admire Grammer's singing voice and include a song for each appearance. In Planet Simpson, Chris Turner writes that Bob is built as a highbrow snob and conservative Republican, so the writers can hit him with a rake and bring him down. In Leaving Springfield, David L. G. Arnold comments that Bart is a product of a "mass-culture upbringing" and thus Bob's enemy.
Cultural references
The episode borrows the overall plot structure of the Cape Fear films and makes direct references to specific scenes. References to the original include Marge going to Chief Wiggum only to be told Bob has not broken any laws. References to the 1991 remake include Bob's tattoos, the shot of him leaving prison, smoking in the movie theater, part of his workout, hiding under the car, Wiggum's wire alarm, Homer's suggestion about anyone entering his home, Bob under the car talking to Bart, and Homer hiring a private investigator. Elements of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho appear with Bob staying at the Bates Motel. Bart asks who'd want to kill him, calling himself "This century's Dennis the Menace." Ned Flanders's "finger razors" reference A Nightmare on Elm Street and Edward Scissorhands. Homer's hockey mask recalls Friday the 13th Part III, and Bob's knuckle tattoos resemble those of Robert Mitchum's character in The Night of the Hunter. Bob exclaims "Ah! Le mot juste!" while composing a to-do list. Lisa notes the Witness Relocation Program included a recording of The F.B.I. Light Opera Society Sings the Complete Gilbert and Sullivan. Homer's and Bart's hats during the car trip recall I Love Lucy. Bart asks Bob to sing the complete score of H.M.S. Pinafore.
Reception and legacy
"Cape Feare" originally aired on October 7, 1993, finishing 32nd in the ratings for the week of October 4–10 with a Nielsen rating of 12.3, the highest-rated show on Fox that week. It is considered one of the darkest and best episodes of The Simpsons, with scenes involving Bob nearly killing Bart and the bloody tone from the letters. According to Matt Groening, people often include it among their top 10 favorites. Entertainment Weekly ranked it third in its top 25 episodes. USA Today placed it ninth in a top 10 chosen by the webmaster of The Simpsons Archive. IGN named it the best episode of the fifth season in 2006. Vanity Fair called it the show's fourth-best episode in 2007. James Walton of The Daily Telegraph characterized it as one of "The 10 Best Simpsons TV Episodes", and the Herald Sun placed it in their "The Simpsons Top 20". Karl Åkerström of Borås Tidning called it his all-time favorite. Michael Moran of The Times and Emily VanDerWerff of Slant Magazine both ranked it fourth-best. Cast member Hank Azaria cited it as his favorite episode.
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