Burns, Baby Burns
From Simpsons Wiki
"Burns, Baby Burns" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons' eighth season, first aired by the Fox network on November 17, 1996.[1] Mr. Burns' long lost son Larry returns and although they at first get along well, Mr. Burns begins to see that his son has turned out to be an oaf. It was directed by Jim Reardon and was the first episode written by Ian Maxtone-Graham.[2] It guest starred Rodney Dangerfield as Larry Burns.[1]
Plot
Mr. Burns and Smithers take a train back to Springfield after attending a Yale football game. The train makes a brief stop because of a discarded couch on the tracks and a man named Larry comes up to the train and tries to hawk cheesy merchandise. He suddenly sees Mr. Burns, gasps and takes out an old picture of a man who looks similar and compares the two. Suddenly the train pulls away, leaving Larry behind. Meanwhile, the Simpson family head home after visiting a Cider Mill and see Larry hitchhiking. After much discussion, the family picks up the hitchhiker. Larry asks the Simpson family about Mr. Burns and they agree to take Larry to his house. In Springfield, Larry visits Mr. Burns' estate and reveals that he is Burns' son.
Mr. Burns is at first shocked, but after acknowledging the resemblance admits that Larry is the result of a one-night fling with the daughter of a former flame at a college reunion. At first, Mr. Burns is overjoyed to have a son and tried to shape Larry after himself. Burns takes Larry to fancy parties for the rich and tries to have him enrolled in Yale, but Larry keeps acting like an oaf and proves to be an embarrassment. Larry is put to work in Sector 7G at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant alongside Homer and the two become fast friends. Larry invites Homer to dinner, and at dinner, Mr. Burns throws a fit due to Larry's boorishness and tells him that he wishes he had no son. Homer tries to convince Larry to fake a kidnapping so that Burns will admit that he loves his son, and although Larry at first opposes the idea, he eventually agrees to do it. After going through with the plan, Larry moves into the Simpsons' basement. Homer calls Mr. Burns and says that he can have Larry back if he admits that he loves him. Marge eventually discovers the plan and convinces Homer and Larry to abandon their plot, but as they leave the house they are spotted by a news helicopter and are chased by reporters and police.
The two are chased into a cinema where they climb out onto the marquee and have a brief standoff with the police. Larry gives a heartfelt speech and Mr. Burns forgives Homer and Larry for the hoax but explains he cannot be the father whom Larry needs. Larry says that's okay and announces that he has a wife and kids back home who are probably worrying about him as he had only gone out for coffee. Larry announces that they should have a party and the episode ends with the people of Springfield dancing outside the movie theater.[1][3][4]
Production
[[Image:BBBReardon.png|left|200px|thumb|A caricature of director Jim Reardon seen behind Smithers and Burns. Reardon hates flying and thus a caricature of him is always placed in the background of scenes involving trains.[5]