Springfield's Most Wanted

Even though this is not an official episode of the Simpsons it is the best clip show they have. If I remember this correctly this aired right before the season seven premiere(and now can be found on disc four of The Sipsons Season Six Box set in the extras). The whole show is basically America's Most Wanted based on the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episode. There are a lot of clips showing why people would want to shoot him. There are also criminologist giving motives for all the characters. The best of all is the Las Vegas bookmaker giving odds for everyone(from the looks of it, it looks like that part was filmed at the Stardust in Vegas). Overall it is a great time waster.

Springfield's Most Wanted is a short that has John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted, goes undercover after getting tips in finding a fugtive wanted in the shooting of one Montgomery Burns.

Yes, if you read this, then you will quickly find out this is not an episode of America's Most Wanted, a show that aims to take down actual fugitives who committed real crimes by using dramatizations of the crimes. This is a short that was scripted and made for the purpose of being a cheap advertisement for The Simpsons. At the time, Fox was marketing the show after the season six finale, where it ends in a cliffhanger where Mr. Burns is shot, by doing a contest in conjunction with 1-800-COLLECT (because it was the 1990's, a decade where companies like AT&T were advertising their long-distance phone services, which probably caused a lot of upset parents that got high phone bills) where the winner would be animated into a Simpsons episode.

Over the years, the special would get a negative light for what it is, a shameless advertisement for The Simpsons' Seventh Season, in which the premiere would answer the question. And I have to agree. While it is okay as a clip show, Fox didn't need to go as far as to get John Walsh involved, as many would go on to claim that this special would do damage to his credibility (I mean, the man hosted a show that is all about getting people to help stop dangerous fugitives). Also, this would go as far as to get expert opinions from people like Darrel Gates, former Los Angeles Police Chief, and even Jimmy Vacarro, oddsmaker from The Mirage Casino in Las Vegas, who has been taking bets on who shot Mr. Burns.

Yeah, when all is said and done, this special was made for its sole purpose: to get people to stay in for the season premiere, which revealed the shooter, as the second part would actually finish first in ratings for the time slot it was on, and the two-part story would go on to become one of The Simpsons' best moments. However, this promotional short won't be one of John Walsh's best moments, as it shows how Fox is willing to cross the line when it comes to advertising their top animated show for adult audiences and how gimmicky it turned out.

"Springfield's Most Wanted," the 1995 television special that bridged the gap between the two parts of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?", was a brilliantly executed parody of the popular true-crime show America's Most Wanted. The special cleverly adopted the format of its inspiration, featuring host John Walsh interviewing various Springfield residents about the attempted murder of Mr. Burns. This meta approach not only heightened the anticipation for the resolution but also provided a humorous lens through which to re-examine the events of Part One. Seeing familiar characters like Moe, Smithers, and even Santa's Little Helper offer their perspectives, often with their own biases and quirks shining through, was both entertaining and a clever way to keep the audience guessing. The special expertly mirrored the dramatic reenactments and earnest appeals for information that were hallmarks of America's Most Wanted, amplifying the comedic effect by placing these elements within the absurd context of The Simpsons.

I found the parody to be highly effective and thoroughly enjoyable. It wasn't just a simple rehashing of the first part; instead, it offered new comedic angles and allowed the show to playfully engage with its own audience's speculation. John Walsh's straight-man delivery amidst the cartoonish chaos of Springfield was a particular highlight, adding an extra layer of surreal humor. The special managed to maintain the suspense surrounding the shooter's identity while simultaneously delivering laughs, a delicate balance that it struck perfectly. "Springfield's Most Wanted" served as a unique and memorable way to build excitement for the conclusion of the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" saga, proving that even a promotional special could be a creative and integral part of the overall storytelling.