I consider this to be the first major publicity stunt the

I'm pretty sure Maude was killed off to spite her VA before this happened, so that was closer to being (one of) the first. And the Critic crossover. Probably other stuff I can't think of right now too.

This is a really fucking bad episode though; that musical number is so awkward to sit through.

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>>77476606
Ok. I mean, it definitely wasn't, but it's ok that you think that.

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>>77476606
> first

>>77476655
>>77476644
How the fuck did I forget this

>>77476655
>>77476663
I forgot 1-800-COLLECT was ever a thing.

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>>77476655
>>77476658
That's four seasons after the crossover with Spinal Tap (which was kind of huge) and the Michael Jackson appearance (which was definitely huge).

Plus they had celebrities appearing as themselves right from the start, when celebrity VAs was a big deal and a total publicity stunt.

I mean what were you thinking? This is a show that basically built the FOX network as a subscription service and allowed the Murdochs to turn the failing 20th Century Fox studio into a competitive, successful major producer of film and television media.

>>77476644
The Critic was season 6, but it was more of the biggest stunt the Critic ever pulled than a stunt for the Simpsons.

>>77476606
>there's a scene in this episode where Homer tittfucks marge then falls off the bed.

>>77478838
>the only stunt the Critic ever pulled
ftfy

>>77478944
I think I would remember that

>>77479323
It was heavily implied implied

>>77476655
What if someone would have guessed Maggie did it? Would they just switch to the Smithers ending?

>>77479830
People did guess Maggie did it; apparently someone had the right solution posted up on one of those Usenet Simpsons groups like 15 minutes after Part 1 first aired. Pretty sure the actual contest aspect was somehow rigged so that someone who never even watched the show ended up winning.

The Smithers and other endings were animated so that they could be "leaked" to news stations etc. before Part 2 aired, to see if any of them would be falsely reported, but apparently no one took the bait.

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>>77476606
You really didn't think this through, OP

>>77480244
who actually finds their voices appealing to listen to?

>>77480018

it wasn't rigged it was no one who entered through it guessed right so they had to give it to some rando

>>77480018
>>77480511
They were legally obligated to have one winner, but no one who called in guessed Maggie