Thread by @dailysimpsons

#OnThisDay #OTD April 25, 1999, "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" (S10E20) first aired on the Fox network. Dir: @markk1914. Wr: @ScullyThacker. EP: @scullymike. Guest-starring Jack LaLanne as himself. #TheSimpsons

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike This was the first Simpsons episode Julie Thacker wrote. The plot was based on a "disastrous" school program, in which students had to participate in community service to advance to the next grade. The B-story, which involved Homer selling springs, was conceived by Mike Scully.

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike In a scene in the episode, Lenny gets one of Homer's springs stuck in his eye. Lenny's eye injuries have since become a running gag, and "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" "started the trend", according to Thacker.

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike The "clunky, Up With People-type" dance that the students perform for the Olympic jury was partly demonstrated during the animatic by Simpsons writer George Meyer, who (to his horror) was given a choreographer credit at the end of the episode.

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike The episode features American fitness expert Jack LaLanne as himself. In the DVD commentary for the episode, Scully stated that LaLanne was "very funny" and that he "gave a great performance". LaLanne's lines were recorded separately from the series main cast members.

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike The logo below the IOC text parodies the logo of the real International Olympic Committee. Because they did not want to "upset" the committee, the Simpsons staff slightly altered the logo by changing the colors and not making the rings interlock.

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" features references to the films Gone With the Wind, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Titanic, amongst others. (video: Onikorp)

@markk1914 @ScullyThacker @scullymike "You sunk my battleship."