Homer the Clown

"Homie the Clown"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.	118
Directed by	David Silverman
Written by	John Swartzwelder
Showrunner(s)	David Mirkin
Production code	2F12
Original air date	February 12, 1995
Chalkboard gag	"Next time it could be me on the scaffolding"
Couch gag	The Simpsons sit down in midair; the couch builds itself on top them.
Commentary	Matt Groening David Mirkin Mark Kirkland David Silverman
Guest appearance(s)
Dick Cavett as himself Johnny Unitas as himself Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony
Season 6 episodes September 4, 1994 – May 21, 1995 "Bart of Darkness" "Lisa's Rival" "Another Simpsons Clip Show" "Itchy & Scratchy Land" "Sideshow Bob Roberts" "Treehouse of Horror V" "Bart's Girlfriend" "Lisa on Ice" "Homer Badman" "Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy" "Fear of Flying" "Homer the Great" "And Maggie Makes Three" "Bart's Comet" "Homie the Clown" "Bart vs. Australia" "Homer vs. Patty and Selma" "A Star Is Burns" "Lisa's Wedding" "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" "The PTA Disbands" "'Round Springfield" "The Springfield Connection" "Lemon of Troy" "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)"
Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Dick Cavett as himself
Johnny Unitas as himself
Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony

"Homie the Clown" is the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons' sixth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 12, 1995. In the episode, Homer becomes a Krusty the Clown impersonator, but is mistaken for the real Krusty by the Springfield Mafia. Joe Mantegna returned as Fat Tony, while Dick Cavett and Johnny Unitas guest starred as themselves.

The episode was conceived and written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman. Swartzwelder's script required very little rewriting and Silverman considers this one of the best episodes he has directed. He later used it to help him when directing The Simpsons Movie. One dropped storyline for The Simpsons saw Krusty being revealed as Homer's secret identity and this episode allowed writers to comment upon the similarity of the two characters' design. The episode features references to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Godfather, and The Maltese Falcon.

Krusty's massive gambling debts and extravagant personal life land him in deep trouble with the Springfield Mafia. To make money, he launches a training college for clowns, and Homer enrolls. After graduating, he impersonates Krusty at private and public events that the real Krusty deems unworthy of his personal appearance.

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Wikipedia