Behind the Laughter

"Behind the Laughter" is the twenty-second and final episode of Season 11.
==Synopsis==
In a parody of VH1's Behind the Music (and other cable documentary shows, like E! True Hollywood Story, that chronicle the rise and fall of celebrities and casts of famed TV shows), The Simpsons are depicted as a real-life family who created a sitcom about their lives that becomes popular -- and with fame, comes drug addictions, behind-the-scenes feuds, tell-all book scandals, ego trips, poor investments, and run-ins with the law that are contributing to the show's decline in quality and jeopardizing its future.
==Full Story==
The first part of the mockumentary follows the family from their weak beginnings to their exceptional prosperity. A television show, a recording contract, a lot of awards, and countless wealth follow Homer's inadequate video "pilot."
However, problems begin to arise as the Simpsons' fame continues. After a funny stunt causes him injury (the cliff plummet from "Bart the Daredevil"), Homer becomes addicted to prescription painkillers, Marge makes some senseless business investments (Marge Simpson Diaphragms, for example), and Bart goes to jail for assaulting flight attendants. Later, the IRS examines soon after they are alerted via Apu (whose voice is only heard) and takes away their house, which used to belong to M.C. Hammer. Then, the family gets into a big dispute and splits up at the Iowa State Fair.
Fox is forced put the show on hiatus (replacing it with a reality show called Peepin' It Real!, which follows the security camera footage at Ann Taylor), since none of the Simpsons will talk to each other and the show's quality has been falling due to gimmicky episodes like "The Principal and the Pauper" and the parade of needless celebrity guest stars. The members go their independent ways: Homer follows a career in the theater; Bart replaces Lorenzo Lamas as the star of the syndicated action show Renegade; Marge makes a nightclub act, and Lisa writes a tell-all book about her experiences on the show. Bringing the family back together seems hopeless until country singer Willie Nelson puts on a phony awards show in order to reconcile the family (and also patch matters up with Van Halen and Sammy Hagar). At the award show, Willie calls out the whole family (minus Maggie) to present one award. Lisa deduces that the award show is fake and they refuse to even look at each other. However, after Willie and the audience encourage them, they hug and forget past wrongs in a sensitive reunion. Again, they look with hope to the many years of episodes of The Simpsons to come.
The final images show Homer giving orders regarding the editing of "the last season" of the Simpsons series, followed by a preview of the next episode of Behind The Laughter, where Huckleberry Hound talks about how he had to hide his homosexuality from everyone. A montage of Homer's most memorable comic injuries are played over the end credits.
===Springfield's State===
At the end of the episode, Forbes names the state that the Simpsons live in as Kentucky, the writers didn't understand how many more years the series would run so they finally chose to reveal it in this season finale. Specifically, the episode mentions the Simpsons live in northern Kentucky.
==Broadcast History==
===United States===
Broadcast date(s)	Channel aired
*May 21, 2000
*July 12, 2000
*December 31, 2000	
*December 29, 2020	
==Behind the Laughter==
===Production===
Tim Long, George Meyer, Mike Scully and Matt Selman wrote the episode and Mark Kirkland directed. Willie Nelson and Jim Forbes guest star.
===Reception===
*According to TV.com user ratings, this is the best Season 11 episode with a 9.0/10 rating, followed closely by E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt) which has an 8.9/10 rating.
===Awards===
*This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour).
== Citations ==
fr:Derrière les rires
pl:Behind the Laughter
pt:Por trás das risadas
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Lisa episodes
Category:Marge episodes
Category:Outstanding Animated Program Emmy winning episodes
Category:Annie Award winning episodes
Category:Season finales
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Simpson Family Are Pariahs episodes
Category:Television-themed Episodes
Category:Work-themed Episodes
Category:Clip Show
Category:Flashback episodes
Category:Episodes with alternate end credits
Category:Written by Tim Long
Category:Written by Mike Scully
Category:Written by Matt Selman
Category:Written by George Meyer
Category:Directed by Mark Kirkland
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:Episodes with narration
Category:Primetime Emmy Award-Winning episodes
Category:Episodes where Homer chokes Bart
Category:Parody episodes
Category:Maggie episodes
Category:Episodes in which a Character Swears Censored or Uncensored
Category:Episodes Where Homer cries