Episode 2F02
Written by Bill Oaldey and Josh Weinstein
Directed by Wes Archer
Also starring: Henry Corden (as Fred Flintstone), Pamela Hayden
Special guest voices: Kelsey Grammer (as Sideshow Bob), Phil Hartman (as Lionel Hutz), Marcia Wallace (as Ms Krabappel), Larry King (as himself), Dr Demento (as himself)

Premise: The Republican Party needs a candidate to contest Springfield. Right-wing commentator Birch Barlow has a suggestion - Sideshow Bob!

Features: Grampa, Mayor Quimby, Sideshow Bob, Moe, Barney, Lenny and Carl, Principal Skinner, Ralph, Jasper, Mr Burns, Smithers, Dr Hibbert, Wolfcastle, Kent Brockman, Lionel Hutz.

Couch: The Simpsons' eyes rush in - followed by their bodies.

Homage: Apart from Bob Roberts (Tim Robbins, 1992), in particular the scene where Bob enters Burns' meeting wrapped in the US flag, there are nods to Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1944) and, again, Jack Nicholson's angry speech from A Few Good Men (Rob Reiner, 1992). Lisa likes John Parr's 1985 hit St Elmo's Fire, for some reason.

Notes for Brits: Birch Barlow, author of Only Turkeys Have Left Wings, is a thinly veiled portrait of American right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh. Stacey Koons was one of the police officers involved in the Rodney King affair.

Notes: A stunningly outspoken political satire that drew considerable disapproval from the Republican Party when it was aired in the run-up to the 1992 Presidential election.