The Otto Show

From Simpsons Wiki

“The Otto Show” is the 22nd episode of the third season]].

Plot

Bart and Milhouse attend a Spinal Tap concert, but it turns into a major flop and degenerates into a riot. Nonetheless, Bart is impressed by the aging heavy metal band and wants to become a rock guitarist.

Homer and Marge decide to buy Bart his own electric guitar, but Bart struggles to learn how to play it. The next morning on the school bus, Bart asks Otto to show him how to play, and Otto—with the bus still stopped in traffic—wows his passengers with an impromptu concert. However, Otto loses track of time and is forced to drive recklessly to school. In the ensuing chaos, the bus runs Spinal Tap’s bus off the road, and turns over onto its side in the town square. Numerous people call Springfield Elementary School to report the accident, earning Otto a reprimand from Principal Skinner. However, when Officer Eddie asks for Otto’s driver’s license to complete his report, he is forced to admit he doesn’t have a license. Otto loses his job, and Skinner takes over his route. Skinner finds it hard going because he is not being an aggressive driver like Otto.

Things quickly go downhill for Otto. He fails his driver’s test at the Springfield DMV, he is unable to find a new job, and he is evicted from his apartment. He calls upon the Simpsons to take him in until he can find a new job, and is allowed to move into the garage, after Bart convinces the family. The key method being a tape recording of Bart asking if Otto can stay as long as he likes, with Bart then impersonating Marge with a reply of “He sure can!” which Homer falls for by asking Marge what she was thinking, with Homer then replying to Marge’s denial that it wasn’t her on the recording with “Everyone says that when they hear themselves on tape!”

Otto makes a nuisance of himself as he becomes comfortable laying around the house and playing his guitar. Homer soon loses his patience with Otto and demands that he be sent on his way. Marge and Bart, however, encourage Otto to give the driving test one last try. Otto goes to the DMV to take the test, but Patty and Selma don’t want to give him a retest. Otto explains he has something to prove to Homer, which quickly changes their demeanor out of spite for their brother-in-law. It isn’t long before Otto passes the test (with some help from the sisters) and is back to work. Otto drives off into the sunset, with Skinner remarking, “there goes the bus driver, bus driver man.”

Production

On the Commentary the crew states that Otto is one of their least favorite characters to use. Also Harry Shearer stated that Otto's is the most irrating voice to do on the show. The Song, 'Spanish Flea'; was very hard to get rights to until writer Jon Vitti, who is related to the drummer of the band, could finally get rights to it at the last minute.

Trivia

• Bart’s electric guitar seems to work just fine without being plugged into an amplifier. This is because it has a built in speaker which can be seen under the tremolo.
• On the DVD commentary, the producers reveal that actor Christopher Guest was difficult to work with.
• Otto tells Lisa the urban legend "The Man in the backseat"

Goofs

• When Nelson was making fun of Bart’s guitar playing his shirt and vest changed color.
• Since Bart is left handed he has a left handed guitar, but when Otto plays it the head of the guitar is turned right side up, thus the guitar turned into a right-handed guitar.

Cultural references

• Happy Days—Homer makes a comment saying “This is not Happy Days, and he is not the Fonz!” Otto then walks in and says to Homer, “Heeeeeyy, Mr. S,” much like many of the teenagers address Howard Cunningham as “Mr. C” in the long-running situation comedy.
• This Is Spinal Tap—The rock band is reunited from the mockumentary. Harry Shearer plays bassist Derek Smalls in the movie (and in this episode) and provides many of the voices on The Simpsons, including Otto.
• “Spanish Flea”—While riot police enter the arena to calm down the rowdy crowd, Homer listens to “Spanish Flea” performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. He also sings the lyrics.
• Homer finds a can of Billy Beer in his old jacket. This is a reference to the beer endorsed by Jimmy Carter’s brother, Billy Carter.
• The song Otto plays on the school bus is “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• Bart has trouble playing Polly Wolly Doodle. Nelson meets him at the bus stop & criticises it as "Polly Wolly Crappy"