Thread by @dailysimpsons

#OnThisDay #OTD April 23, 1992, "The Otto Show" (S03E22) first aired on the Fox network. Dir: Wes Archer. Wr: @Interbang1Jeff. EP: @AlJean & @MikeReissWriter. Guest-starring @MJMcKean & Christopher Guest. #TheSimpsons

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean Otto's full name is revealed for the first time in this episode and to feature the character in a prominent role. Writers @JayKogen and Wallace Wolodarsky had originally wanted to name him Otto Mechanic, but the animators gave him the last name Mann. (This shot looks like "Mang")

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen Otto's statement that he would prefer to be sleeping in a Dumpster brand trash container over a "Trash Co. Waste Disposal Unit" alludes to the word's status as a registered trademark for a brand of large trash containers. (Yes, "Dumpster" is a brand name.)

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen The animators gave many of the members of the crowd at the Spinal Tap concert long bangs, so they would not have to animate many pairs of eyes.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen "The Otto Show" features an appearance from Spinal Tap (Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel and Simpsons regular @theharryshearer as Derek Smalls), a parody band that first appeared in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer The Spinal Tap poster above, designed by Bill Morrison, hung on the wall of The Simpsons writer's room in the early 1990s.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer According to Al Jean, Fox execs were unhappy about having the band guest star, partially because it cost a lot of money to purchase rights to play their songs. Mike Reiss said that Fox felt that the show could have gotten a "real group" for that amount of money.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer In the final scene to feature the band, their tour bus bursts into flames after being knocked off the road. According to the writers, the scene was not in the original script and was added because they felt the band's final scene was not interesting enough.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer The Season 3 DVD set features improvised audio outtakes from "The Otto Show". This one is of Pamela Hayden shouting for "help" as Milhouse.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer A minute of Dan Castellaneta improvising lyrics to "Spanish Flea" from "The Otto Show" recording session.

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer .@ewzzy recently revealed a long-unheard gag from "The Otto Show" on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ewzzy/status/1648706924425142272

@Interbang1Jeff @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @MJMcKean @JayKogen @theharryshearer @ewzzy .@GoldS_TCRF posted the Table Draft of "The Otto Show" to the @internetarchive. There's a lot that was cut and changed in here, so be sure to read the description. The recently unearthed joke is confirmed in this draft! archive.org/details/8F21-t…