Lois Pennycandy
Krusty the Klown or Herschel Schmoeckel Krustofski is a fictional character in the cartoon The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. Krusty is the long-time host of Bart and Lisa's favourite TV show. The TV show is a combination of kiddie variety-television hijinks with a sidekick, and cartoons including the Tom and Jerry parody Itchy and Scratchy. His original sidekick, Sideshow Bob has now been replaced by Sideshow Mel. In 1996, Krusty faked his death and lived briefly as sailor Rory B. Bellows.
The episode Like Father like Clown, based on the film The Jazz Singer and first released on October 24, 1991, expanded on his origin. According to it , he was born Herschel Schmoeckel Krustofski and is of Jewish heritage. Krusty is a third generation immigrant. In 1902, Zed Krustofski who would become his grandfather reportedly left Imperial Russia for the United States and gained entry through Ellis Island. His son Hyman Krustofski became a rabbi and firm believer in Orthodox Judaism. Rabbi Krustofski, voiced by Jackie Mason, apparently hoped that his own son would follow in his footsteps. The episode featured him bragging that Herschel was on top of his Yeshiva class. However Herschel chose to become a clown instead. Consequently, the Rabbi disowned him. Years later, Krusty memorably reconciled with his father. This was achieved with the assistance of Bart and Lisa.
It was also revealed that Krusty did not have a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. Krusty had two adult Bar Mitzvahs, one which was a Hollywood gala, the other a simple ceremony intended to reconnect with his father.
It has been noted that Krusty was supposedly illiterate in Krusty Gets Busted, first released on April 29, 1990, where Sideshow Bob framed him for armed robbery. He has since been seen reading with varying ability. Through his unnamed mother Krusty is reportedly an older half-brother to actor Luke Perry. His only other known relatives are his father, and his illegitimate daughter Sophie, whose voice actor was Drew Barrymore. She was introduced in Insane Clown Poppy, first released on November 12, 2000, as the result of an affair with a female soldier during Gulf War (1990 - 1991). Although Sophie attempts to seek him out, the mother developed a bitter hatred of clowns and displays it with her choice of artwork.
Krusty reportedly started his career as a street mime in Tupelo, Mississippi, but later found success in television. Krusty is actually a hard-living entertainment veteran who has been down and out several times (and rescued by the Simpson children) and remains addicted to cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. His profligate spending has resulted in encounters with the local Mafia, not to mention schemes involving running a clown college to turn out clone Krustys to appear at birthday parties, and running a concentration camp-like summer camp (Kamp Krusty). He willingly sells out to commercial interests to sell all manner of second-rate goods; he even has a generic spoken endorsement--"I heartily endorse this event or product!" Another example of the little attention he pays to the things he is involved in is the unfortunate acrostic of his Christmas show, "Krusty Kinda Kristmas", his TV special, "Krusty Komedy Klassics", and a tennis tournament he sponsored, the "Krusty Kharity Klassic". Unfortunately, the only one he notices is the TV special, and that was only because the initials (KKK) are shown behind him.
Krusty, minus his trademark clown-hair, pale facepaint and red nose, bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Homer Simpson. However there also differences such as his superfluous third nipple and his small feet. Krusty apparently has faced heart problems in the past as he currently has an artificial rather than a natural cardiac pacemaker. The pacemaker has since permantly made his face white.
Sideshow Mel, full name Melvin van Horne, has served as Krusty's sidekick for more than a decade but little is known about him. His main accomplishment so far has been successfully removing Waylon Smithers from suspicion of having shot Mr. Burns. Bart Simpson has found out that Mel is lactose intolerant.
Quotes
- (During a marathon TV performance) "Now kids, let's go and see Sideshow Mel for some more of his legal, over the counter wake-up drugs!"
- BART: The Krusty I know didn't get where he is today by giving up!
- KRUSTY: No, I got where I am today by naming names in the Fifties.
- (During an 'adult' stand-up performance) "Let's talk about herpes! Herpes, herpes, herpes!"
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