Simpsons Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Episode
References
Gags
Appearances
Gallery
Quotes
Credits
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
The Principal and the Pauper
Lisa's Sax

Trivia[]

  • The episode featured a light rail years before the Minneapolis Metro Blue Line light rail was constructed. Though the idea for a light rail system in the Minneapolis area has often been credited to former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, Simpsons co-producer James L. Brooks previously based The Mary Tyler Moore Show in Minneapolis between 1970 and 1977. This episode also aired the year before Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota as well. Ventura had recently made a cameo appearance as a prison guard in the fourth installment of the 1989-1997 Batman film series Batman and Robin; the film even had McBain influence Arnold Schwarzenegger play Mr. Freeze and constant recite ice puns four years after McBain claimed "ice to see you" while hiding in a ice sculpture during a McBain film which a clip was shown of in the 1993 Simpsons episode "Last Exit to Springfield". Like the real Seymour Skinner, Ventura was a Vietnam War veteran and someone who has been known to at times provoke people by stirring controversy. In the time after construction of the Minneapolis Blue Line light rail was completed in 2004, Ventura, like the real Skinner, began living most of his time outside of his native home, in this case down in Mexico.http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0804/01/lkl.01.html
  • There has been only one (canon) instance of Skinner's real name spoken of after this episode. In the episode "I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot", Lisa renames her 5th cat Snowball II to save money on stuff and Skinner walks by and said "Isn't that a cheat?" Lisa then calls him by Armin and Skinner walks off.
  • "Armin Tamzarian" is an Armenian name, which is also the name of the Real Estate agent of the writer of the show, who later went on to become a lawyer for Fox.
  • In the DVD commentaries for this episode, writer Ken Keeler among others defended this episode against the strong negative reaction from fans and critics due to its heavy continuity snarl over Principal Skinner's life. Matt Groening and Harry Shearer have gone on record to say that this was their least favorite episode.
  • Agnes' line, "I have no son", was last mentioned by Lunchlady Doris to the Squeaky Voiced Teen in the episode "Team Homer". It was also said by Rabbi Krustofsky in "Like Father, Like Clown" and by Abe to Homer in "Old Money".
  • Besides respecting the history of the Skinner family, the concept is hated by the majority of the audience. The changing of fan favorite Principal Skinner to Sgt. Skinner makes this one of the most unpopular Simpsons episodes, thus making Sgt Skinner one of the most unpopular Simpsons characters, making it one of the few Simpsons episodes to be explicitly dismissed from canon.
  • In a deleted scene of this episode, Sideshow Mel tries to defend Sgt. Skinner saying that he got to know him and really likes him. However everyone else disagrees, this may have actually foreshadowed the writer and show runners defending the episode.

Cultural References[]

  • The title of the episode is a reference to the title of the book The Prince and the Pauper by the famous writer Mark Twain.
  • Although it is widely believed that the episode is based on the movie The Return of Martin Guerre, it is actually based on the real life Tichborne Heir case of the mid-1800s.
  • The bridge scene with flashing explosions is like the picture Apocalypse Now.
  • The song sung by the Springfield Elementary Chorus in tribute to Skinner is a knock off of the theme song of the popular sitcom Flipper.
  • Agne's line "I have no son" is mentioned in the same way as how Ed Bighead said he had no son in the season two premiere of a Rocko's Modern Life episode called, "I Have No Son".
  • At the very end of this episode that had been aired after 1995 in which that year 20th Century Fox Television begins in the TCFT history and instead of that logo, it was the 1993 20th Television logo instead.

Goofs[]

  • Yellowsynder2

    Judge Snyder with yellow skin

    Skinner/Tamzarian claims not to know Ned Flanders, despite Ned having briefly replaced Skinner as Principal on "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song".
  • In this episode, Judge Snyder appeared with yellow skin rather than his normal African-American skin.

Production Notes[]

  • The final draft for this episode was published on December 4, 1996.[1]

Citations[]


Season 8 Season 9 References/Trivia Season 10
The City of New York vs. Homer SimpsonThe Principal and the PauperLisa's SaxTreehouse of Horror VIIIThe Cartridge FamilyBart StarThe Two Mrs. NahasapeemapetilonsLisa the SkepticRealty BitesMiracle on Evergreen TerraceAll Singing, All DancingBart CarnyThe Joy of SectDas BusThe Last Temptation of KrustDumbbell IndemnityLisa the SimpsonThis Little WiggySimpson TideThe Trouble with TrillionsGirly EditionTrash of the TitansKing of the HillLost Our LisaNatural Born Kissers
Advertisement