The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase
The Simpsons, season 8, episode 24. First aired May 11, 1997. 134 moments of about ten seconds each: open one for its frame, what happens and what's said.
← Homer's Enemy The Secret War of Lisa Simpson → The whole episode as text
About the episode
Troy McClure hosts a showcase of three would-be Simpsons spin-offs. First, Chief Wiggum, now a New Orleans private eye, teams up with Principal Skinner against the crime boss Big Daddy, who kidnaps Ralph; then Grampa's ghost inhabits Moe's love-tester machine and coaches Moe through a date with a woman named Betty. Finally, the family, minus Lisa, hosts a 1970s-style variety hour.
- Written by
- story by Ken Keeler; teleplay by David X. Cohen; story by Ken Keeler; teleplay by Dan Greaney; story by Ken Keeler; teleplay by Steve Tompkins
- Directed by
- Neil Affleck
- Guest stars
- Phil Hartman as Troy McClure
- Tim Conway
- Production code
- 4F20
The synopsis is our own. Credits and guest stars from Wikipedia and the Simpsons wiki.
Every moment
-
Troy McClure walks along a checkered-floor hallway lined with framed posters, including ones for The Ropers…
0:00–0:12 -
Troy McClure stands on a blue and white checkered floor in front of a poster of a man in a fedora and brown…
“The Simpsons Spinoff Showcase”
0:12–0:25 -
Troy McClure and white trousers, stands grinning in front of a framed portrait of an older grey-haired man…
“The Simpsons Spinoff Showcase”
0:25–0:38 -
A heavyset man in a pink sweater and white pants, with reddish swept-back hair, stands in a beige hallway…
“Not long ago,”
0:38–0:49 -
Four one-off men in pink sweaters and red ties, with swept-back orange hair, are identified by captions…
“35 new shows to fill a few holes in their programming lineup.”
0:49–1:02 -
Troy McClure stands on a checkered floor beside a pedestal labeled "SOLID GOLD REMOTE" that holds a gold…
“First up, a gritty crime drama starring Springfield's beloved police chief, Wiggum.”
1:02–1:15 -
Troy McClure waves and smiles on a checkered floor beside a blue board and a purple trash can
“Good luck, Wiggum!”
1:15–1:26 -
Chief Wiggum first stands on a sidewalk aiming two shotguns upward, then strides past a Tipitina's storefront…
1:26–1:37 -
Chief Wiggum and Ralph stand by a door whose sign reads CHIEF WIGGUM P.I.; Ralph draws a red G after the P.I.…
1:37–1:49 -
Chief Wiggum carries a cardboard box marked MAGNIFYING GLASSES past a door reading CHIEF WIGGUM P.I.…
“Ah, New Orleans.”
1:49–2:01 -
Chief Wiggum stands at left, facing a seated, thin man in a green short-sleeved shirt, khaki trousers…
“Why give up your job as a small-town police chief to set up a detective shop in New”
2:01–2:11 -
Chief Wiggum stands by a stack of boxes in an orange-walled room with a coat rack and an open purple door…
“For massive corruption. For massive... exactly.”
2:11–2:21 -
Chief Wiggum stands in an orange-walled room with a brick patch, a cardboard box, and a wooden table…
“but in my heart, I've always been a small-time hustler.”
2:21–2:34 -
Chief Wiggum stands in a red-walled room with a window alongside a thin, brown-haired man in a green shirt…
“Bleh.”
2:34–2:47 -
A heavy, bald-topped cartoon man in a white captain's cap with an anchor emblem and a light blue shirt sits…
“maybe they'll change their minds once I arrest them for throwing skulls all over my floor.”
2:47–2:54 -
A heavyset man in a white captain's cap and light blue shirt and a small blond boy in dark blue pajamas lie…
“Oh, man, what a day.”
2:54–3:03 -
A heavy, bald-headed man in a white sailor cap with an anchor badge and a light blue shirt sits up in bed…
“Two, I suppose.”
3:03–3:11 -
A heavyset man in a white captain's cap and blue shirt, a thin grey-haired man in a green shirt…
“I guarantee.”
3:11–3:24 -
A heavy man with blue hair in a white captain's cap and blue shirt sits at a restaurant table with a glass…
“Well, to be honest, Chief, I haven't lived in New Orleans for 42 years.”
3:24–3:36 -
A heavyset man with purple-grey hair and a white captain's cap bearing a gold anchor, wearing a light blue…
“Big Daddy, eh? Well, he won't feel so big if he messes with Chief Wiggum P.I.”
3:36–3:48 -
An elderly, grey-haired man sleeps in a bed under a pink blanket in a dim blue bedroom beside a blue wall
3:48–3:58 -
Chief Wiggum lies asleep in bed under a pink blanket on a white pillow in a blue-walled bedroom with a window
“Hey!”
3:58–4:08 -
Chief Wiggum aims a revolver at a green alligator lying on a bed with a pink blanket in a blue bedroom
“Lucky for you, this was just a warning gator.”
4:08–4:21 -
A heavyset yellow-skinned man with blue hair, wearing a harness with straps, first grins and grips a railing…
“The next one won't be corked.”
4:21–4:33 -
A heavy, bare-chested man in white briefs with a brown holster harness and blue-grey hair stands in a dim…
“Big Daddy's trademark calling card.”
4:33–4:44 -
Chief Wiggum stands in a dim room holding a pale skull-shaped object while a brown-haired man in green…
“Looks like we've got our first case ever, skinny boy.”
4:44–4:55 -
A heavy man in a white captain's cap with an anchor badge and a light blue shirt sits at a desk with a black…
“Who is this? It's me, Chief. I'm on the other extension.”
4:55–5:06 -
A stern, blue-haired man in a white captain's cap with a gold anchor emblem and a light blue shirt scowls…
“Big Daddy. What are you done with my boy, Daddy?”
5:06–5:19 -
A heavy man in a white captain's cap with a gold anchor and a light blue shirt sits at a desk in a dim…
“Sounded like some sort of party going on in the background.”
5:19–5:28 -
A thin, brown-haired man in a teal short-sleeved shirt and khaki trousers, and a heavy man in a light blue…
“Though, if I remember correctly,”
5:28–5:40 -
Bart runs past a green-faced clown in a pink hat and a costumed man in a red plumed hat on the left…
5:40–5:52 -
Homer, Marge with Maggie in her arms, Bart and Lisa stand on a crowded street with luggage and a man…
“Huh?”
5:52–6:05 -
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie stand close together on a street outside a building with orange…
“Chief Wiggum, I can't wait to hear about all the exciting,”
6:05–6:15 -
A heavy, round-faced man in a white captain's cap with an anchor badge and a light blue short-sleeved shirt…
“You haven't seen him, have you? Caucasian male between the ages of six and ten.”
6:15–6:25 -
A bearded, heavy man in a white suit, white fedora, dark sunglasses and red bow tie stands in a crowd…
“The Chief!”
6:25–6:36 -
A stout man in a white suit and wide-brimmed white hat, who is not a regular, hurries down a narrow alley…
6:36–6:45 -
A bearded man in a white suit, sunglasses and white hat sits in a chair on a boat deck, holding a small…
“Police business!”
6:45–6:56 -
A bearded man in a white suit, white hat and sunglasses sits at the helm of a paddle-wheel boat…
“Hang on, son.”
6:56–7:06 -
A black-haired man in a red jumpsuit and sunglasses stands on the bow of a white boat, brandishing a knife…
“Ha-ha!”
7:06–7:16 -
A heavy, round-faced man in a white sailor cap with an anchor emblem and a light blue shirt is seen…
“What do you suppose the rent is on a hideout like that?”
7:16–7:27 -
A heavy man in a white cap and light blue shirt, Chief Wiggum, and a thin brown-haired man in a green shirt…
“Yo!”
7:27–7:38 -
A bearded man in dark sunglasses, white fedora, white suit, pink flower and red bow tie sits at a wooden…
“Welcome to my maison, Chief.”
7:38–7:48 -
A bearded, sunglasses-wearing man in a white fedora, white suit, pink boutonniere and red bow tie sits…
“Monsieur, New Orleans is my town.”
7:48–7:59 -
A thin, brown-haired man in a green shirt watches as a bearded man in a white suit, fedora and dark…
“Oh, yeah? Well, that makes two of us. You know, boys,”
7:59–8:10 -
A heavy man in a white captain's cap with an anchor badge and a blue shirt stands at the left of a ship's…
“She's gradually getting away, Chief. Ah, let him go.”
8:10–8:22 -
A small yellow-skinned blond boy in a blue sweater hugs the legs of an adult man, seen only from the waist…
“Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be just like you.”
8:22–8:25 -
A heavy, bald-headed man in a white captain's cap and blue shirt stands in a room with pink curtains…
“Better start eating, kid.”
8:25–8:34 -
Chief Wiggum stands beside an unnamed brown-haired man in a grey-green shirt and a baby in blue overalls, all…
“Oh, hi.”
8:34–8:43 -
Troy McClure stands on a folding chair on a checkered floor while a dark-haired woman in a cropped top…
“Welcome back to our spinoff showcase.”
8:43–8:52 -
A slim man with swept-back reddish hair, wearing a pink sweater vest over a light blue collared shirt…
“Let's hope so, because Moe's leaving to do his own sitcom.”
8:52–9:02 -
Moe wipes the bar counter with a white cloth while Barney sits on a stool holding a mug of beer beside a Love…
“Well, I better go.”
9:02–9:13 -
Moe stands behind the orange wooden bar of his tavern, wiping it with a white rag
“She told me she was washing her hair tonight.”
9:13–9:27 -
Moe stands behind the wooden bar in his dim tavern, leaning forward on his folded arms while a few stools…
“Ah, quit your bellyaching, you big loser.”
9:27–9:31 -
Moe stands behind the bar with a hand at his chin, his eyes narrowing and then widening as he looks on
“But you're dead.”
9:31–9:43 -
Moe stands behind the bar in his tavern, with rows of glasses, a cash register and shelves of bottles…
9:43–9:45 -
An elderly man with spiky yellow hair, glasses, a tan shirt and grey trousers pushes a wire shopping cart…
“While shopping for some cans, an old man passed away.”
9:45–9:56 -
An elderly man with grey hair at the sides and a hooked nose, wearing a white shirt and blue overalls, stands…
“Now he's the love-natic grandpa,”
9:56–10:08 -
Moe first appears only as an arm and hand creeping in from the left beside the title card
“he'll fill our hearts with love.”
10:08–10:20 -
Moe stands behind the bar in a dimly lit tavern, first leaning on the counter with a sour expression…
“Don't be afraid, Mo.”
10:20–10:30 -
Moe leans on the bar counter in his tavern, glowering and grumbling
“Yeah, all quiet on the western front.”
10:30–10:39 -
A man seen from behind in a white shirt and blue overalls rests his arm on a wooden bar counter…
“See, that's your problem, you red crab.”
10:39–10:48 -
Homer stands in Moe's tavern gesturing with his hands while Moe leans on the bar with his arms folded…
“Then prove it.”
10:48–11:00 -
Homer Simpson stands beside a Love Tester machine in a dim bar with wood-panel walls and a green wall at right
“Son, it's me.”
11:00–11:14 -
Homer Simpson stands at Moe's bar holding the cord of a Love Tester machine while Moe watches…
“What kind of a son?”
11:14–11:25 -
Moe leans over the Love Tester machine in his bar, then straightens and stands beside it, while a dark-haired…
“I was just in a car accident.”
11:25–11:36 -
Moe stands at a bar beside a red-lit Love Tester machine with options like Casanova, Hot Tamale and Cold…
“Good. Give it a try. It goes by how clammy your hands are.”
11:36–11:47 -
Moe stands beside a dark-haired woman in a pink top, white pants and a handbag as she grips the metal handle…
“Love, Lorne, you need man. Moe near now.”
11:47–11:55 -
Moe and a black-haired woman in a pink sleeveless top with a black handbag stand in a tavern…
“Go near Moe. What?”
11:55–12:08 -
Moe stands with a woman in a pink sleeveless top, white pants, and a black handbag inside his bar…
“Bing!”
12:08–12:20 -
Moe stands at a love-tester machine with a heart-shaped base and a lever, grinning and gesturing with one…
“Dang right.”
12:20–12:31 -
Moe wheels a wooden Love Tester machine from the bar area across the carpet of an upscale restaurant where…
12:31–12:38 -
A frail, grey-haired old man in a blue suit and red bow tie struggles with a 'LOVE TESTER' arcade machine…
“Sorry, Grandpa, but I gotta stash you in the bathroom, so Betty won't get wise to us.”
12:38–12:49 -
A man with curly grey hair, a blue suit and a red bow tie first clutches his head with both hands in a tiled…
“Well, she just got here.”
12:49–12:55 -
Moe stands in a tiled restroom beside a wooden Love Tester machine with a red heart-shaped lever and a list…
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, romantic.”
12:55–13:06 -
Moe the bartender, a grey-haired man in a blue jacket and red bow tie, sits across a candlelit table…
“You know what's great about you, Betty, is you're letting your looks grow gracefully.”
13:06–13:19 -
Moe sits at a round table in a dim lounge with lavender walls, first holding a glass and then a small cup…
“Myself?”
13:19–13:25 -
Moe stands in a tiled men's restroom beside Homer, who is bald and stubbled in a white shirt and blue shorts…
“Huh? I got the runs.”
13:25–13:37 -
A curly-haired man in a blue suit stands in a tiled restroom beside a wooden Love Tester machine…
“You all right, Grandpa? Oh, Daisy,”
13:37–13:48 -
A stout man with dark curly hair, a blue jacket and a red bow tie stands beside a tiled wall, facing a wooden…
“Oh,”
13:48–14:00 -
Mr. Burns appears in a bathroom with checkered tile walls and urinals
“You are absolutely positive.”
14:00–14:12 -
A man in a blue suit and red bow tie, with dark curly hair and a small snail-like creature perched…
“Um, uh... Oh, I might as well come clean with you.”
14:12–14:25 -
A black-haired woman in a blue tank top and teal skirt and a grey-haired man in a blue suit with a red bow…
“As you may have guessed, it's inhabited by the ghost of my friend's dead father.”
14:25–14:38 -
A man in a blue suit with a red bow tie stands in a tiled restroom beside a white urinal, gesturing…
“despicable, sweet little angel. But, Betty, if you just give me a chance...”
14:38–14:48 -
A dark-haired woman in a teal dress and a curly grey-haired man in a blue suit with a red bow tie clasp hands…
“Thanks, Grandpa.”
14:48–14:57 -
A grey-haired man in a blue suit and red bow tie and a dark-haired woman in a teal dress grip the two metal…
“He's the love that is grandpa And he fills our”
14:57–15:06 -
Grampa appears in front of a yellow board of labels reading CASANOVA, HOT TAMALE, and LOVELORN, with red…
“He's the love that is grandpa And he fills our”
15:06–15:18 -
Troy McClure sits talking in an armchair across from Mr. Burns, a thin, grey-haired man in a lavender suit…
“Welcome back.”
15:18–15:29 -
Troy McClure and an unnamed man with blue-grey hair, glasses, a purple suit and a red bow tie sit facing each…
“I'm talking with the curator of the Museum of TV and Television, Mr.”
15:29–15:39 -
A ginger-haired man in a white sweater over a mint collared shirt and red tie stands before a beige wall…
“Unfortunately, one family member didn't want that chance and refused to participate.”
15:39–15:47 -
Troy McClure holds up a gold remote beside a pedestal labeled "Solid Gold Remote" in a studio
“Show us what you got, TV.”
15:47–16:00 -
Mr. Burns dances with a cane on a red-curtained stage alongside pink-overalled backup dancers, one of whom…
“Featuring the Waylon Smithers dancers And the Springfield Baggy Pants”
16:00–16:10 -
Homer, Marge holding Maggie, and Bart perform on a stage with pink and red curtains and a row of marquee…
“a family that doesn't know the meaning of the word Cancelled, the Sinsons”
16:10–16:23 -
Homer in a white jacket over a blue vest, a blonde woman, Bart, and Marge holding Maggie perform on a stage…
“Come along and join the family Join the family”
16:23–16:29 -
Marge with her tall blue beehive holds baby Maggie, who has a pacifier and blue bow, in front of a red…
“Remember me, my name is Mark's TV mom whose hair is large.”
16:29–16:41 -
An unnamed blonde woman with long straight hair, wearing a blue outfit with a white star emblem and white…
“I'm Lisa Pippi, blonde and stunning, sophomore prom queen, five years running.”
16:41–16:48 -
Marge Simpson with her tall blue beehive, Bart Simpson, and a blonde woman with white pompoms, all…
“Wait a minute, whoa, whoa.”
16:48–16:59 -
Homer sits among tuxedoed band members on a pink-walled stage playing a tuba, then ducks…
“Here he is. I'm hiding from the ghost.”
16:59–17:10 -
Marge Simpson stands before a red wooden backdrop, first pointing and talking, then spreading her arms wide…
“I said we were having a special guest tonight.”
17:10–17:21 -
Homer, Marge, Bart and Maggie, along with a blonde woman in a matching light-blue star-patterned jumpsuit…
“It's the Simpson Family Smile Time Variety”
17:21–17:29 -
Bart, Marge with her tall blue beehive, Homer, Lisa, and a blonde woman in a blue jumpsuit with star patterns…
“Hour!”
17:29–17:43 -
Homer Simpson and Marge Simpson stand together in front of a red wooden wall with a framed orange circular…
“You know, Homer, we've all been busy as beavers preparing for our very own show.”
17:43–17:52 -
Homer and Marge stand before a wood-paneled wall with an orange round picture of the two of them
“Marge, have you ever imagined what it would be like if we really were beavers?”
17:52–18:02 -
Homer Simpson and Marge Simpson stand in a wooden beaver lodge beneath a sign reading 'DAM SWEET DAM'
“Honey, I'm home!”
18:02–18:13 -
Homer stands beside a wooden sign stitched in red letters reading "Dam Sweet Dam," first pointing with one…
“Now remember, my new boss is coming home for dinner tonight.”
18:13–18:23 -
Bart gestures while Marge stands with her hands on her hips beside a large bald beaver who looks like Homer…
“Hey, will you two close the damn door? Part.”
18:23–18:34 -
Inside a beaver lodge with a sign reading "DAM SWEET DAM," the Simpson family is dressed in brown beaver…
“Okay, now, before my boss comes, there's something important you should know.”
18:34–18:47 -
Homer stands in a wooden cabin doorway beside other people in bear costumes, while a stubbled man…
“Was it something I said?”
18:47–19:00 -
A heavyset man in a black robe, not a named regular, stands behind a wooden bench in a courtroom, first…
“I move that the last sketch be stricken from the record.”
19:00–19:10 -
Marge and Homer sit side by side in a red diner booth holding a large newspaper open between them…
“Inflation, trade deficit, horrible war atrocities.”
19:10–19:20 -
Homer Simpson starts by stroking his face with his eyes closed and mouth open in a wail, then stands…
“No.”
19:20–19:32 -
Marge Simpson sits at a booth in a diner, then stands and gestures as Homer perches on the table and waves…
“But don't you want to end world famine? I want candy.”
19:32–19:44 -
Homer and Bart stand beside a diner counter with a Today's Flavor sign, next to a blonde girl in a white…
“Well, if you won't think of society's ills, I want candy.”
19:44–19:53 -
Bart, Lisa and Maggie appear in matching straw boater hats, with Bart in a green argyle sweater and Lisa…
“Got a new dance and it goes like this.”
19:53–20:05 -
A bearded old man in a blue hat and blue candy-striped outfit stands in a pink candyland with candy canes…
“Lollipop, lollipop. Oh, lolly lollipop, lollipop.”
20:05–20:19 -
A cowboy-costumed man in a dark hat, glasses, fringed jacket and chaps, who is not identifiable…
“Licorice whip.”
20:19–20:32 -
Marge with her tall blue beehive, Homer in a straw boater hat and green jacket, Bart in a boater hat…
“We want candy!”
20:32–20:40 -
Homer leads Marge in her pink dress, Bart in green, and baby Maggie in blue across a yellow stage in front…
“Candy!”
20:40–20:47 -
Marge sweeps one arm out on a stage lined with pink and red curtains and marquee lights…
“A poem by Hans Moellman.”
20:47–20:51 -
An elderly, thin, bald man with thick round glasses, a white shirt, blue tie and green trousers, leaning…
“A poem by Hans Moellman.”
20:51–21:02 -
A yellow-faced figure in a black-and-white skunk costume with a long wooden nose gestures with one hand…
“And they thought I stunk.”
21:02–21:09 -
Homer, Marge with her tall blue beehive, Bart, Maggie with her pacifier, a long-haired blonde woman…
“I wish our special guest Tim Conway didn't have to leave so soon.”
21:09–21:17 -
Marge Simpson lies in a bed with white pillows against a yellow wall
“He's just kidding.”
21:17–21:24 -
The Simpson family, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Bart, sits up in a wooden-slatted bed wearing red…
“Well, that's all the time we have. So this is the Simpson family saying,”
21:24–21:34 -
Marge, Homer, Maggie and Lisa sit up in a bed with a blonde woman and a man in a blue nightcap, waving…
“We're like this all the time.”
21:34–21:46 -
Troy McClure wears a white V-neck sweater over a mint shirt and red tie, standing in front of a beige wall…
“But what about the show that started it all?”
21:46–21:55 -
Troy McClure stands beside a blank black board, holding a remote in one hand and gesturing with the other
“Well, here's what's on tap for season nine.”
21:55–22:05 -
Marge, Maggie, Homer, Bart and Lisa stand side by side against a plain pink backdrop, with Maggie…
“So join America's favorite TV family.”
22:05–22:13 -
Marge, Homer, Bart, Lisa and Maggie stand in a row against a pink backdrop, with a small green alien in a cap…
“And a tiny green space alien named Osmodear that only Homer can see on”
22:13–22:22 -
Starting with the characters: a man in a white sweater vest and white trousers, who is not one…
“Good night, America!”
22:22–22:31 -
The moment is a black screen with gold credit text centered in the middle
“We'll be right back.”
22:31–22:41 -
No animated characters appear; the moment is a sequence of black title cards with gold text credits
22:41–22:51 -
The scene is a black screen with orange credits in sequence
22:51–23:00 -
No Simpsons characters appear in this moment; it is a sequence of black closing credits for the 1997 episode…
“Shh.”
23:00–23:10 -
Silhouetted audience members sit in rows of seats in a dark movie theater, with a large round-headed figure…
“Shh.”
23:10–23:20
Who's in it
Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Lisa Simpson, Marge Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Moe Szyslak, Grampa Simpson, Principal Skinner, Barney Gumble, Chief Wiggum, Lenny Leonard, Dr. Hibbert, Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, Jasper Beardsley, Ralph Wiggum, Selma Bouvier, Groundskeeper Willie, Jimbo Jones, Kearney Zzyzwicz, Hans Moleman, Dolph Starbeam, Horatio McCallister, Itchy, Troy McClure, Bumblebee Man, Just Stamp the Ticket Man, Roy Snyder, Ozmodiar, The Lisa Impostor, Betty, Big Daddy, John Winslow, Tim Conway
Everyone who appears in it, from the Simpsons wiki. Every character