When Bart is caught for playing pranks on the teachers, Principal Skinner reveals to Bart that he is not the greatest prankster ever at the school. Bart sets out to discover the identity of this prankster. After looking through archives of the school paper, he discovers that there was two week gap in its publication, and that there was a change in Skinner's appearance before and after the gap.
Groundskeeper Willie tells Bart that he was once the school swim instructor, and that Principal Skinner was a laid-back principal until "Night of the Wigglers." A prankster locked Skinner in a pool full of earthworms for an entire weekend. This experience changed Skinner's personality for the worst. Willie tells Bart that the prankster was named Andy Hamilton.
Bart meets Andy Hamilton and finds out he is unemployed and lives with his mother. When Lisa calls Andy a "loser", Bart gets him a job as Krusty's assistant, but is angry when Andy quits after one day. Bart gets him rehired and goes to checks on him. But when a truck full of earthworms drives into the studio, Bart is terrified that Andy is repeating the "Night of the Wigglers" prank (in the process of trying to stop Krusty.
He discovers that it is part of the show and that Andy has been hired as a writer for Krusty's show. Andy says that his pranking days are over, and thanks Bart for believing that he could grow up.
Elsewhere, Marge is criticized by other Springfield mothers for serving unhealthy snacks at their "Midday Mommies" meeting. She burns the family's junkfood. The family purchases organic food at a local market, but Marge gets criticized again when she uses non-stick bakeware and plastic (7) drinking bottles. The other mothers storm away.
My thoughts:
Blackboard Gag: Dr. Otto's "Wellness Clinic". I would never go there. (B)
Chalkboard Gag: Halloween does not kick Thanksgiving's ass. Eh, it's OK. (C+)
Couch Gag: The Simpson's sing the Twelve Days of Christmas with different Springfield citizens. Funny to watch but it's too long. (B+)
Storyline: This was a strong episode plot-wise. Bart's characterization was great. Him actually looking at Andy played out nicely as well. At first he's in awe and absolutely loving it, but then Lisa points something out to him and that causes him to reanalyze his original opinion on Andy. Seeing Bart lecture Andy on actually growing up was something great to see. Bart really did sell the episode, though. The Milhouse abuse was a bit over-the-top, but Andy was a pretty good character and him with Bart worked.
The Marge story was okay? It had some amusing kids song parodies, and a funny joke about the grocery clerk reading off their order. I did not like the hiding junk food scene. C'mon, that was pointless and stupid.
There weren't many jokes after the first act though. I liked the flashbacks with Willie, Skinner, the newspaper headlines, they were good. Moleman falling out of the ambulance,
Abe showering, and Skinner watching Krusty were decent mini-jokes after the first act.
Overall, not a bad episode, but there were some flaws.
My grade: B-
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