Today marks the 34th anniversary of a truly important episode of The Simpsons that significantly altered how viewers perceived Krusty the Clown. Now in its 37th season on FOX, it’s amazing that the show continues to develop fresh storylines for its characters after so many years. This is largely due to Springfield’s large and diverse cast, which allows writers to continually explore new facets of each character’s personality and background – a tradition that began in the show’s early days.
Although The Simpsons had featured Krusty the Clown in entertaining storylines before, the episode “Like Father, Like Clown” took things further by introducing Krusty’s father, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky. Airing on FOX on October 24th, 1991—32 years ago today—the episode revealed Krusty’s family background and Jewish heritage, elements that would become important aspects of his character going forward.
“Like Father, Like Clown” Was a Very Important Krusty Episode
“Like Father, Like Clown” was the sixth episode of The Simpsons‘ third season and marked a turning point for the show. It was around this time that The Simpsons began to move away from the realistic family stories of its second season and started focusing more on other characters. Written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, and directed by Jeffrey Lynch and Brad Bird, the episode revealed that Krusty the Clown was Jewish and had a strained relationship with his father due to his career choice. After being disowned as a young man, the Simpsons decided to try and reunite Krusty with his father.
Jackie Mason provided the voice for Krusty the Clown’s father, Rabbi Krustofsky, a role that even earned him an Emmy Award. The show established that Krusty and his father hadn’t spoken in 25 years, but Bart and Lisa researched Jewish traditions and successfully encouraged them to reconcile on live TV. Rabbi Krustofsky then became a regular character on the show for many years, until his death in a significant episode, “Clown in the Dumps,” during the 26th season.
How This Simpsons Episode Changes Krusty
This episode marked a significant shift in how Krusty was portrayed on The Simpsons. Building on the storylines introduced with Sideshow Bob in earlier seasons, it set the stage for a more complex character arc. Instead of simply being a beloved TV personality for Bart and Lisa, the episode began to explore Krusty’s personal failings and flaws. This established him as a more realistic and multifaceted character, providing a solid foundation for future storylines.
Early on, The Simpsons needed characters who could carry a whole episode, and Krusty the Clown quickly proved he was one of them. That’s why he remains a memorable supporting character even now. Later episodes, like the acclaimed “Today I Am a Clown,” explored his background, including his Jewish heritage and complex relationship with his father. This episode was a sign of many great stories to come for the show.
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2025-10-24 20:11