View source for Behind the Laughter

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox Simpsons episode
| image      =
| caption    =
| season     = 11
| episode    = 22
| director   = [[Mark Kirkland]]
| writer     = 
* [[Tim Long]]
* [[George Meyer]]
* [[Mike Scully]]
* [[Matt Selman]]
| production = BABF19
| airdate    = {{Start date|2000|05|21}}
| guests     = * [[Willie Nelson]] as himself
* [[Jim Forbes (journalist)|Jim Forbes]] as the narrator
| blackboard = "I will not obey the [[Auditory hallucination|voices in my head]]"
| couch_gag  = (first) The Simpsons sit on the couch as normal. [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] puts a coin in a slot on the arm of the couch and the couch vibrates away, taking the family with them. / (second)  In an "aborted" couch gag, the family (minus Bart) sits wearing Western outfits; the director cuts the scene as Bart is busy on the phone agreeing to do Teen Wolf 3. Lisa complains that she wants to go to bed, asking if there are child labor laws. Homer asks if Marge told her about the laws, and Marge tells him to poop in his hat. Kang and Kodos then show up with ballet tickets, asking if they needed them that night. 
| commentary = 
* Mike Scully
* George Meyer
* [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]]
* Matt Selman
* Tim Long
* Mark Kirkland
| prev       = [[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge]]
| next       = [[Treehouse of Horror XI]]
}}
"'''Behind the Laughter'''" is the twenty-second and final episode of the [[The Simpsons season 11|eleventh season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. It first aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the United States on May 21, 2000. In the episode, a parody of the [[VH1]] series ''[[Behind the Music]]'', the Simpsons are portrayed as actors on a [[sitcom]], and their dramatic inner turmoil and struggles are detailed. Told in a [[mockumentary]] format, the episode presents a [[alternate history|fictional version]] of how ''The Simpsons'' began.

The episode was directed by [[Mark Kirkland]] and written by [[Tim Long]], [[George Meyer]], [[Mike Scully]] and [[Matt Selman]]. The idea was pitched by Long, and the writers wrote the episode quickly without a draft. VH1 and the producers of ''Behind the Music'' allowed the crew to use the show's visual graphics package, and ''Behind the Music'' narrator [[Jim Forbes (journalist)|Jim Forbes]] recorded narrations. In addition, country musician [[Willie Nelson]] guest stars as himself.

The episode received critical acclaim, with many reviewers noting it as a highlight of the season and the series itself, and won an [[Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour)|Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour)]] in 2000. In addition, composer [[Alf Clausen]] won an [[Annie Award]] for "[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production|Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Television Production]]".

In May 2004, the [[BBC]] chose it as the last episode to be aired, having lost the terrestrial broadcasting rights in February 2002 to [[Channel 4]], who later aired the series in November 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Simpsons|url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/indexee37.html?|access-date=2015-05-01|newspaper=offthetelly.co.uk|date=2004-05-07|archive-date=July 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721074455/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/indexee37.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
The episode is a parody of the [[VH1]] biography series ''[[Behind the Music]]'' and shares its narrator, [[Jim Forbes (journalist)|Jim Forbes]]. It begins with the [[Simpson family]] history and how they got into show business: believing that families depicted in the numerous TV shows they watch together bear no resemblance to their comparative dysfunctionalism, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] writes and directs an inadequate video "[[television pilot|pilot]]" that fails to attract the attention of the major [[television network|networks]] except for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], as its [[Rupert Murdoch|president]] happens to be [[Marge Simpson|Marge]]'s hairdresser. After much fine-tuning and on-set mishaps produce many of the show's [[running gags]], ''The Simpsons''' resounding ratings and merchandising success makes the family extraordinarily wealthy; having moved out of their house on [[Evergreen Terrace]] to live in [[MC Hammer]]'s former mansion, "Hammertime" (renamed "Homertime"), they expand their scope by working with [[David Geffen]] on a series of [[Grammy]]-winning, "[[RIAA certification|mega-platinum]]" [[novelty music|novelty album]]s.

Problems begin to arise as the Simpsons' fame grows: they become reckless [[spendthrift]]s, alternating between buying their colleagues extravagant gifts and paying them to perform embarrassing acts for their amusement. When Homer is injured after plummeting into Springfield Gorge (as seen in "[[Bart the Daredevil]]"), he becomes addicted to [[Analgesic|prescription painkillers]]; Marge blows much of the family's fortune on licensing her likeness for use on [[Diaphragm (birth control)|diaphragm]]s, and [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] goes into rehab after attacking flight attendants, with his role on the show being temporarily filled out by his friend [[Richie Rich (comics)|Richie Rich]]. Following a tip from [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon|Apu]], the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] discovers that the Simpsons are [[Tax evasion|evading tax payments]] and repossess Homertime. As tensions mount in the family, the show's writing and production team resort to gimmicky, nonsensical plots and shameless guest star appearances to maintain ratings. Finally, while performing with [[Jimmy Carter]] at the [[Iowa State Fair]], the family gets into a big dispute and splits up.

Fox puts the show on hiatus since none of the Simpsons will talk to each other. The members pursue independent endeavors: Homer becomes a [[character actor]] in stage productions such as ''[[Rent (musical)|Rent II: Condo Fever]]''; Bart replaces [[Lorenzo Lamas]] as the star of the [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] action show ''[[Renegade (TV series)|Renegade]]''; Marge creates a nightclub act performing [[Bob Marley|Bob Marley's]] song "[[I Shot the Sheriff]]"; and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] writes ''Where Are My Residuals?'', a tell-all book about her negative experiences from working on the show, such as Homer's spiking of her cereal with anti-growth hormones. Bringing the family back together seems impossible until [[Dr. Hibbert]]'s old [[fraternity]] brother, country singer [[Willie Nelson]], puts on a phony awards ceremony to reconcile the family. In an emotional reunion, they embrace and forgive their mistakes, and look forward to many more years of ''The Simpsons''.

The episode ends with an epilogue, in which Forbes states, "...the future looks brighter than ever for this [[northern Kentucky]] family".{{efn|
In keeping with the long-running joke of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)#Location|Springfield's unknown and unidentifiable location]], the writers did not want to "pin [the location] down for the fans," and with knowledge that the episode would rerun twice, had Forbes record several alternate locations aside from the original version's "northern Kentucky" (such as "[[southern Illinois]]"), which were seen on Fox reruns.<ref name="Scully" /> Each of the alternate locations, including "southern [[Missouri]]" and the unused "small island of [[Lanai]]," can be found as an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] on the eleventh season DVD set.|name=|group=}} Following the epilogue, the Simpson family is shown in a video editing room, viewing a scene from an upcoming episode from the next season, in which the family wins a trip to [[Delaware]].{{efn|This plot device, as well as the dialogue from this scene, would actually be used in the final episode of the [[The Simpsons season 12|next season]], "[[Simpsons Tall Tales]]".}} Seemingly in response to the stilted and unfunny quality of the proceedings, Homer quietly assures the editor that the next season will be the last. The final scene is a mock teaser for an "upcoming episode" of ''Behind the Laughter'' about [[Huckleberry Hound]], in which he reveals that he is [[gay]].

==Production==
Gay Rosenthal, a friend of executive producer [[Mike Scully]], was producing the VH1 series ''Behind the Music'', which was very popular during the episode's production.<ref name="Scully" /> Tim Long was the one to pitch the idea for the episode.<ref name="Long">Long, Tim (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The idea for the episode was a drastic departure for the series to try something so different.<ref name="Kirkland" /> It took the writers a long time to conceptualize the show, as they were unsure whether to make Homer a filmmaker or make the characters unaware they were being filmed.<ref name="Meyer" /> Selman recalled that there was no draft for the episode, instead the writers just sat down and "pounded it out."<ref name="Selman" /> He noted that one of the disadvantages for producing an animated show that takes up to a year in advance to create was that many other comedy shows, most notably ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' with their "[[More cowbell]]" sketch, had already done ''Behind the Music'' parodies.<ref name="Selman" /> Although the final episode only features one [[Bleep censor|bleeped]] curse word for Marge (for comedic effect), Meyer recalled the writers spent many weeks just "pitching Marge filth."<ref name="Meyer">Meyer, George (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>

[[File:Willie_UK2K7_2.JPG|thumb|[[Willie Nelson]] guest stars as himself]]
The writers had particular fun writing over-the-top, melodramatic "tortured metaphors," many of which were penned by producer [[David Mirkin]].<ref name="Meyer" /><ref name="Selman" /> Although not credited, Scully has noted writers [[Tom Gammill and Max Pross]] for making significant contributions to the episode.<ref name="Scully">Scully, Mike (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The crew used actual early ''Simpsons'' promotional posters in the episode.<ref name="Selman">Selman, Matt (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> VH1 and Gay Rosenthal Productions were both "extremely cooperative" regarding the episode, letting the team use the entire graphics package.<ref name="Scully" /> Larina Adamson drove over to the VH1 headquarters in order to compile most of the video graphics package.<ref name="Kirkland" /> Part of the imitating of ''Behind the Music'' was using the "corny, stock [[Interstitial program|interstitial]] footage to amp up the drama of the situation."<ref name="Selman" />

[[Ian Maxtone-Graham]] directed the voice actors during the recording sessions for the episode.<ref name="Ian">Maxtone-Graham, Ian (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> [[Jim Forbes (journalist)|Jim Forbes]], narrator for ''Behind the Music'', came in to the studio and did the narrations, which George Meyer called "fantastic". When Scully went to the studio to record [[Willie Nelson]]'s guest appearance, he was running late and had to wait, as Nelson was recording a duet with [[B.B. King]].<ref name="Scully" />  Meyer recalled that Nelson said to the producers that he enjoyed ''The Simpsons'', and watched it on his tour bus before he went to perform.<ref name="Meyer" /> Mark Kirkland called the episode one of the "oddest he'd ever worked on."<ref name="Kirkland" /> He attended the table reading for the episode with knowledge he was to direct the episode, but was surprised to find that the story was "not a linear story […] it was all chopped up."<ref name="Kirkland" /> In the direction aspect, the episode was deemed to be very challenging, but also easy because the animation team did not need to look for [[continuity errors]] as the episode "jumped around so much."<ref name="Kirkland" />  The animators and Kirkland watched multiple episodes of ''Behind the Music'' in order to get the feel of it, as did the writers.<ref name="Kirkland"/><ref name="Meyer" />

In an interview with ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' regarding the renewal of the show in [[The Simpsons season 23|season 23]], showrunner [[Al Jean]] discusses what episodes that have previously aired might serve well as a series finale. He regards "Behind the Laughter" and "[[Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind]]" as the strongest candidates, and further elaborates: "I don’t think we’re a serialized show and I don’t think we’re going to have a ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' [[The End (Lost)|finale]] where we reveal some truth about the world that nobody ever suspected. Whenever we do a last episode, we just hope that it would be sweet, true to the characters, funny, and give you a nice feeling for where the Simpsons would be headed."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Snierson|first=Dan|title='Simpsons' exec producer Al Jean on renewal: 'This isn't an end but a beginning' -- Exclusive|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/10/08/simpsons-al-jean-renewal/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=January 24, 2022|date=October 8, 2011|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110084449/https://ew.com/article/2011/10/08/simpsons-al-jean-renewal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cultural references==
The episode contains many references and allusions to ''Behind the Music'', and one line the staff thought was humorous was pulled straight from the actual series.<ref name="Scully" /> 
[[File:Brad_bird_cropped_2009.jpg|thumb|A statue of the title character from ''[[The Iron Giant]]'' is seen in the episode, an homage to its director [[Brad Bird]], formerly of ''The Simpsons''.]]
*During Comic Book Guy's interview, a statue of the Giant from ''[[The Iron Giant]]'' can be seen, as a nod to former ''Simpsons'' director and creative consultant [[Brad Bird]], who left to direct the film.<ref name="Kirkland">Kirkland, Mark (2008). Commentary for "Behind the Laughter", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> 
*The teenage fans of Bart Simpson screaming to the song "[[Twist and Shout]]" is a [[Beatlemania]] reference.<ref name="Selman" />  
*Bart and his [[parachute pants]] are allusions to [[MC Hammer]], which was inspired by the ''Behind the Music'' episode based on his life that the staff watched during production.<ref name="Kirkland" /> 
*Bart, while getting pampered by assistants, agrees to take a role in ''[[Teen Wolf]] 3'', a reference that Scully later considered to be dated.<ref name="Scully" /> 
*[[Richie Rich (comics)|Richie Rich]] replaces Bart's role on the show while Bart is undergoing rehab; the animators colored his suit green to avoid copyright infringement.<ref name="Scully" /> 
*When ''The Simpsons'' is put on hiatus, the fictional Fox replaces it with ''Peepin' It Real!'', which consists of [[hidden camera]] footage from [[Ann Taylor (clothing retailer)|Ann Taylor]] women's dressing rooms; Scully noted that the retailer was "not happy" about this joke.<ref name="Scully" />
*The episode is also knowingly self-referential. A series of T-shirts are shown sporting a number of Bart Simpson "catchphrases", such as "You bet your sweet bippy, man" and "Life begins at conception, man."<ref name="ign" /> These are parodies of both officially licensed and bootleg ''Simpsons''-themed T-shirts in the early days of the series, [[Bart Simpson#Bartmania|usually revolving around Bart]].<ref name="ign" /> 
*The famous scene of Homer plummeting into Springfield Gorge on Bart's skateboard from the season two episode "[[Bart the Daredevil]]" is shown; the sequence in which Homer falls from the jagged cliffs was reanimated. "Behind the Laughter" then shows the "unfunny aftermath" of Homer going through physical rehabilitation and becoming addicted to painkillers.<ref name="Kirkland" /><ref name="ign" /> 
*The episode states the series turned to [[The Simpsons#Perceived decline in quality|"gimmicky premises and nonsensical plots" as ratings dipped]], and uses a clip from the episode "[[The Principal and the Pauper]]" to get that point across, as it was a highly controversial episode that many fans and critics panned.<ref name="ign">{{cite news|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/19/the-simpsons-flashback-behind-the-laughter-review| title=The Simpsons Flashback: "Behind the Laughter" Review|first=Robert|last=Canning|date=August 18, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
The episode was ranked as the fourth best ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode by [[AskMen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment_60/64c_top_10_list.html|title=Top 10: Simpsons Episodes|first=Rich|last=Weir|access-date=30 November 2017|website=[[AskMen]]|archive-date=February 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211143123/http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment_60/64c_top_10_list.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Johnny Dee of ''[[The Guardian]]'' listed the episode as one of his five favorite episodes in the history of ''The Simpsons'', noting ''The Simpsons'' is "good at self-parody".<ref name=Dee>{{cite news|last=Dee|first=Johnny|title=The Simpsons at 500: what are your favourite episodes?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/jan/13/simpsons-500-favourite-episodes?newsfeed=true|access-date=2012-01-14|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2012-01-13}}</ref> ''[[The Simpsons]]'' writing staff voted this in their list of Top 15 ''Simpsons'' episode becoming the newest episode in the list.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-02-06-favorites_x.htm | work=[[USA Today]] | title=15 Writer Favorites | date=February 6, 2003 | access-date=August 24, 2017 | archive-date=February 20, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220084557/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-02-06-favorites_x.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Screen Rant]] called it the best episode of the 11th season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|title=The Simpsons: The Best Episode In Every Season, Ranked|last=Sim|first=Bernardo|date=2019-09-22|website=[[Screen Rant]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-22|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926054611/https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_11#Behind_the_Laughter|"Behind the Laughter"}}
*{{Snpp capsule|BABF19}}
*{{IMDb episode|id=0701068}}

{{Huckleberry Hound}}
{{The Simpsons episodes|11}}
{{EmmyAward AnimationLessThanHour 1979-2000}}
{{Portal bar|The Simpsons|2000s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Behind The Laughter}}
[[Category:The Simpsons season 11 episodes]]
[[Category:2000 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Mockumentaries]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Jimmy Carter]]
[[Category:Emmy Award–winning episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Tim Long]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Matt Selman]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Mike Scully]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by George Meyer]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Mark Kirkland]]