Like Father Like Son 2005

Krusty agreed to share a dinner with the Simpsons to repay Bart for helping clear him of armed robbery charges. When he keeps canceling, Bart writes a heartfelt letter expressing that he’s lost faith in Krusty. Krusty’s secretary, Lois Pennycandy, is moved by the plea and threatens to quit unless Krusty keeps his promise to Bart, so Krusty agrees to attend, albeit reluctantly. During the meal, when asked to say grace, Krusty recites a Hebrew blessing, and the moment gradually reveals his true heritage. Lisa speaks up about his roots, which brings Krusty to tears and makes him admit that saying the blessing stirs memories of a painful past.

Krusty then opens up about his real name, Herschel Krustofsky, and describes his upbringing on the Lower East Side of Springfield. His father, Hyman Krustofsky, was a rabbi who despised his son’s dream of becoming a comedian and urged him to follow in the family footsteps. As a boy, Krusty made people laugh with slapstick behind his father’s back. One night, he performed at a rabbis’ convention without realizing his father would be there, and a moment of recognition turned to fury when Hyman, witnessing Krusty’s makeup and persona, disowned him. The rift between them endured for 25 years, with no contact whatsoever.

The confrontation deepens as Krusty films an episode of The Krusty the Klown Show and becomes visibly moved while presenting a father-and-son themed segment of The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Lisa remarks, > A man who envies our family is a man who needs help, and she and Bart resolve to reunite the estranged father and son. Hyman, hidden in the shadows at first, steps into the light to admonish Krusty for smoking, and then the two men confront their past. Hyman refuses to reconcile, convinced that his son abandoned faith and family.

To find a path forward, Lisa leans on Judaic teachings that advocate forgiveness, but Hyman remains stubborn. In a final, bold appeal, Bart persuades him to abandon that rigidity by invoking Sammy Davis Jr.—another Jewish entertainer like Krusty—and by sharing a moving plea about the adversities the Jewish people have survived. Bart’s impassioned speech softens Hyman, convincing him that entertainers too have a meaningful place within Jewish culture.

Before the live show resumes, Krusty feels the weight of the moment. He signals Itchy & Scratchy to roll as he steps backstage to smoke a cigarette, while Bart and Lisa bring Hyman along. From the darkness, Hyman initially scolds Krusty for his habit, then steps into the light. The two are finally reunited, and Krusty returns to the set to deliver a touching speech introducing his father and explaining that they have not seen each other in 25 years. In a playful, heartwarming gesture, Hyman accepts a cream pie from Bart and returns it to Krusty’s face, and the audience erupts in cheers as a true family reconciliation is celebrated on live television.