The Principal and the Pauper

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The Simpsons episode
"The Principal and the Pauper"
Episode no.	180
Prod. code	4F23
Orig. Airdate	September 28, 1997
Show Runner(s)	Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Writer(s)	Ken Keeler
Director	Steven Dean Moore
Couch gag	The family dresses up in spacesuits, and the couch blasts off like a rocket.
Guest star(s)	Martin Sheen as Sgt. Seymour Skinner
SNPP capsule
Season 9 September 21, 1997 – May 17, 1998
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson The Principal and the Pauper Lisa's Sax Treehouse of Horror VIII The Cartridge Family Bart Star The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons Lisa the Skeptic Realty Bites Miracle on Evergreen Terrace All Singing, All Dancing Bart Carny The Joy of Sect Das Bus The Last Temptation of Krust Dumbbell Indemnity Lisa the Simpson This Little Wiggy Simpson Tide The Trouble with Trillions Girly Edition Trash of the Titans King of the Hill Lost Our Lisa Natural Born Kissers
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"The Principal and the Pauper" is the second episode of The Simpsons' ninth season. The episode first aired on September 28, 1997.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural references
4 Quotes
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Seymour Skinner is about to celebrate his 20th anniversary as school principal, and it goes smoothly until a man who says his name is Seymour Skinner comes in, pointing out that Agnes Skinner is his mother. Principal Skinner admits he is not the real Seymour Skinner, and is only an impostor. He tells his story, in a parody of the life of Martin Guerre, and admits that his real name is Armen Tamzarian, but assumed the identity of Sergeant Seymour Skinner. Soon, the sergeant becomes the school's principal, because he says he had intentions to be the principal of Springfield Elementary School.

Afterwards, Springfield prefers Tamzarian over the real Skinner. Tamzarian, however, had left Springfield and gone to Capital City. The Simpsons devise a plan to get Tamzarian back to Springfield, by coming to Capital City to get him. Back in town, the citizens of Springfield force Sergeant Skinner to leave on a train (actually tied to a chair on a freight train car), and Tamzarian returns to being Principal Skinner through an order by Judge Snyder, saying that no one will mention "Tamzarian" again under penalty of torture (Reset button technique).

[edit] Trivia

This episode is referenced by Lisa in the episode "I, D'oh-Bot."
"Armen Tamzarian" is an Armenian name.
This episode is considered by many Simpsons fans as one of the worst episodes ever. The show has even mocked the episode several times. For example, in "Behind the Laughter", a clip is shown to illustrate how gimmicky the plots became after a while.

[edit] Cultural references

The title of the episode is a reference to the title of the book The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.
The plot of the episode could possibly be based on the movie The Return of Martin Guerre.
The bridge scene with flashing explosions is like the picture Apocalypse Now.
The song sung by the Springfield Elementary Chorus in tribute to Skinner is a knock off of the theme song of Flipper.

[edit] Quotes

Lisa: "Ralph and I could do the report together."
Ms. Hoover: "Your funeral."

Homer's brain (after Skinner says he's a fraud): Keep looking shocked...and move slowly towards the cake.

Edna Krabappel: Is this the line for people who want to badmouth sergeant Skinner,
Marge: And have 10 items or less.
Edna: (tossing out items) 12, 11, 10, the man's a weenie!

Agnes Skinner: I have no son!
Homer: Look, lady, obviously you have at least one son.
Agnes: No! I have one stranger and one fraud!

Homer: Okay, once more. Where are we going?
Edna: To Capital City.
Homer: And why are you and the old lady in the car?
Agnes: We're gonna talk Armin Tamzarian into coming back.
Homer: And why is Marge here?
Marge: I came up with the idea.
Homer: And why am I here?
Marge: Because the streets of Capital City are no place for three unescorted ladies.
Homer: Why are the kids here?
Marge: Because we couldn't find Grandpa to sit for them.
Homer: And why is Grandpa here?
Abe: Because Jasper didn't want to come by himself! (Jasper looks at Abe)
Homer: Fair enough.

Superintendent Chalmers: Armin Tamzarian's reign of terror is over! Now let us welcome our new principal Skinner...principal Seymour Skinner! (audience is confused) (points to Sgt. Skinner) Uh, him.

Skinner: From now on, you'll see a new Seymour Skinner!
Agnes: Oh, no; we won't!
Skinner: Yes, Mother.

Mrs. Krabappel: Oh, Superintendent Chalmers! Can I offer you a cup of coffee-flavored Bevering?
Chalmers: Yeah, I take it gray with Cremium. But first, before Skinner shows up, I have a secret announcement. In honor of Seymour's twentieth year as principal, we've decided to hold a surprise tribute Friday night.
Willie: It's my twentieth year, too.
Chalmers: (rolling his eyes) The teachers' lounge is for teachers, Willie.

Lisa: ...so, in 1966, a brave young man named Seymour Skinner enlisted and shipped out to Vietnam where he rose to become platoon sergeant. Ralph?
Ralph: Principal Skinner is an old man who lives at the school. Lisa?
Lisa: Sergeant Skinner was a hero. He risked capture many times behind enemy lines.
Ralph: Teacher made me go to Principal Skinner's office when I was dirty.
Lisa: And he survived to make it back to Springfield, where he became the fine educator we salute tonight.
Ralph: When I grow up, I want to be a principal or a catepillar. I love you, Principal Skinner.

Lisa: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Bart: Not if you called 'em stenchblossoms.
Homer: Or crapweeds.
Marge: I'd sure hate to get a dozen crapweeds for Valentine's Day. I'd rather have candy.
Homer: Not if they were called scumdrops.

Skinner/Armin: The judge offered me a choice — jail, the army, or apologize to the judge and old lady. Of course, if I knew there was a war going on, I probably would have apologized.