Yokel Chords

This episode has always annoyed me because of the singing parts, and the plot simply revolves around the Spuckler children working on Krusty's show, which doesn't interest me much nor do I find it funny. If I approve of this episode, it's because of the subplot of Bart going to a psychologist after scaring his schoolmates with a horror story. That subplot is interesting to me. Nevertheless, it's an episode that can't be said to make you laugh, and I only like the psychologist subplot, although I do enjoy the Spuckler children's plot until they start working for Krusty, then it starts to drag on for me.

The musical episodes of The Simpsons may not appeal to everyone, but among this genre of episodes, "Yokel Chords" is one of my favorites. While the musical numbers are limited to Lisa's story of trying to educate Cletus' yokel offspring, even Bart's story about Dark Stanley has an incredible fantasy/horror sequence with beautiful animation and a terrific Astor Piazola inspired musical track.

Of course, for musical theater geeks, this episode features the ultimate guest appearance by Stephen Sondheim who gets abused by Krusty and then composes a peppy Buzz Cola jingle. It's a nice guest spot that breezes by quickly but is more than a throw-away (unlike Andy Dick's mercifully short walk-on).

Overall, the episode is very sharp, has a good pace, and features some edgy lines such as a not-quite Jewish insult and a 9/11 line that perfectly encapsulates the justification for the Iraq War and is all the more biting because it comes from Cletus.