{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 24 | episode = 20 | director = [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] | writer = * [[Brian McConnachie]] * [[Tom Root]] <small>(couch gag)</small> | production = RABF12 | airdate = {{Start date|2013|5|12}} | guests = *[[Justin Bieber]] as himself * [[Bill Hader]] as Slava * [[Jane Krakowski]] as Zhenya * [[Patrick Stewart]] as Nuclear Power Plant Worker | blackboard = "The school is not falling apart" (the blackboard crumbles) | couch_gag = In a [[stop-motion]] gag animated by the ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' crew, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] wakes up and realizes he is an action figure and can do multiple things, such as firing his fists as projectiles and transforming into a donut. He then decides to get into a race with [[Otto Mann|Otto]] and they both drive extremely fast. Homer ends up catapulting the family into the Simpson living room, where the chicken from ''Robot Chicken'' awaits. | commentary = | prev = [[Whiskey Business]] | next = [[The Saga of Carl]] }} "'''The Fabulous Faker Boy'''" is the twentieth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 24|twenty-fourth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and the 528th episode overall. The episode was directed by [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] and written by [[Brian McConnachie]]. It originally aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the United States on May 12, 2013.<ref name="TFC"/> The name is a [[pun]] on ''[[The Fabulous Baker Boys]]''.
In this episode, Bart takes piano lessons, and Marge pays for it by teaching the instructor's father how to drive while Homer loses his last two hairs. [[Bill Hader]], [[Jane Krakowski]], and [[Patrick Stewart]] are credited as guest stars, and [[Justin Bieber]] appeared as himself.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Payne |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/justin-bieber-appear-simpsons-521250 |title=Justin Bieber to Appear on 'The Simpsons' |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 11, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-14 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126195725/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/justin-bieber-appear-simpsons-521250 |url-status=live }}</ref> The episode received mixed reviews.
==Plot== [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] attends a parent-principal conference with [[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]], who tells her that [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] might be able to improve his academic performance by taking up a musical instrument. Marge takes Bart to several potential instructors - [[Sideshow Mel]], [[Comic Book Guy]], and [[Professor Frink]] - but he ridicules all of them. He becomes infatuated with a young [[Russia]]n woman named Zhenya, who agrees to give him piano lessons in exchange for Marge teaching her father how to drive so that he can get a driver's license. While Marge makes little progress with Zhenya's father's dangerous habits, word of Bart's rapid progress and emerging musical ability quickly spreads, leading to Zhenya gaining many more students. However, it later emerges that he has only been miming in time with a CD that he has secretly slipped into a player mounted beneath the piano. Feeling neglected because Zhenya has very little time for him due to her other students, Bart publicly confesses to his deception during a talent show. Marge is enraged and disappointed in him until Zhenya's father tells her that he has obtained his license - not by passing the test, but by bribing [[Patty and Selma]] with jeans. He also convinces Marge to go easy on Bart as he only cheated for love and for his mother. Marge forgives Bart, saying she is proud of him for having told the truth and assuring him that he is unique and it will work out for him in the future.
Meanwhile, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] loses the two last [[hair]]s on his head and becomes totally [[bald]]. He tries to hide it by using different [[hat]]s and a [[wig]], but these attempts only draw further attention to him. One worker at [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant|the power plant]], who is also bald, inspires Homer with confidence by describing all the exciting experiences he has undergone since losing his hair. Homer tells Marge that he has gone bald; she comforts him, and the hairs spontaneously grow back. ([[Frédéric Chopin]]'s "[[Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (Chopin)|Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53]]" is played on piano during the closing credits.)
==Production== ===Development=== This is the first episode written by [[Brian McConnachie]]. McConnachie was invited to write an episode after a joke from him was used in a prior episode.<ref>{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Stevenson|url=https://highlandscurrent.org/2017/08/27/humor-another-planet/|title=Humor from Another Planet|website=[[The Highlands Current]]|date=August 27, 2017|access-date=August 25, 2023|archive-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000359/https://highlandscurrent.org/2017/08/27/humor-another-planet/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The couch gag was created by [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios]], which produces the television series ''[[Robot Chicken]]''. Executive producer [[Al Jean]] stated that guest animators have wide creative latitude, and the only requirement is that a couch must appear.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kate|last=Stanhope|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Simpsons-Stop-Motion-Couch-Gag-1064924.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506023959/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Simpsons-Stop-Motion-Couch-Gag-1064924.aspx|url-status=dead |archive-date=May 6, 2013 |title=Simpsons Exclusive: Go Behind the Scenes of the Robot Chicken Team's Couch Gag|website=[[TV Guide]] |date=May 3, 2013 |access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref>
===Casting=== In August 2012, musician [[Justin Bieber]] announced that he would appear on the show, which was later confirmed by executive producer [[Al Jean]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Snierson|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/21/justin-bieber-simpsons/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822023243/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/21/justin-bieber-simpsons/|url-status=dead |archive-date=August 22, 2012|title=Justin Bieber to cameo on 'The Simpsons'|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref> Jean stated that creator [[Matt Groening]] requested that Bieber be added to an episode because he was a fan of Bieber. Bieber also asked to be on the show when he met Groening.<ref name="Clarke">{{cite web|first=John Jr.|last=Clarke|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/justin-bieber-makes-simpsons-cameo-60927/|title=Justin Bieber Makes 'Simpsons' Cameo|website=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 11, 2013|access-date=August 25, 2023|archive-date=March 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323190928/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/justin-bieber-makes-simpsons-cameo-60927/|url-status=live}}</ref> The producers considered adding an alert before and after his appearance, which was included in the final cut of the episode.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kimberly|last=Roots|url=https://tvline.com/interviews/the-simpsons-season-24-preview-steve-carell-justin-bieber-360077/|title=Simpsons Boss on Carell's Violent Tendencies, Cumberbatch's Eagerness and 'Bart's Annie Hall'|website=[[TVLine]]|date=September 9, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2023|archive-date=March 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323191332/https://tvline.com/interviews/the-simpsons-season-24-preview-steve-carell-justin-bieber-360077/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Gil |last=Kaufman|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/61gix7/justin-bieber-simpsons-cameo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826042509/https://www.mtv.com/news/61gix7/justin-bieber-simpsons-cameo|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2023|title=Doh! Justin Bieber Doesn't Make Cut In 'Simpsons' Cameo|website=[[MTV News]] |date=May 13, 2013|access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref> Bieber's guitarist and musical director [[Dan Kanter]] and his manager [[Scooter Braun]] also appear in non-speaking roles.<ref name="Clarke"/>
[[Bill Hader]] guest starred as a foreign character named Slava.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Jimmie|last1=Tramel|first2=Rita|last2=Sherrow|url=https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/after-25-simpsons-seasons-here-are-25-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-show/article_a3d439c8-4d54-5f96-8e31-00c93f3d9585.html|title=After 25 'Simpsons' seasons, here are 25 things you may not know about the show|website=[[Tulsa World]]|date=August 21, 2014|access-date=August 25, 2023|archive-date=August 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826041008/https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/after-25-simpsons-seasons-here-are-25-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-show/article_a3d439c8-4d54-5f96-8e31-00c93f3d9585.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jane Krakowski]] appeared as a Russian piano teacher named Zhenya.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Ng|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-the-simpsons-bart-piano-20130512-story.html|title=Beyond Bieber: 'The Simpsons' sends Bart to classical piano lessons|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 13, 2013|access-date=August 25, 2023|archive-date=August 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826041007/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-the-simpsons-bart-piano-20130512-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Patrick Stewart]] guest starred as a vigorous older man.<ref name="TFC">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20130422fox16/|title=(SI-2412) "The Fabulous Faker Boy" |website=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref> Stewart previously appeared as a different character in the [[The Simpsons season 6|sixth season]] episode "[[Homer the Great]]."<ref>{{cite web|first=Eric |last=Pesola|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/star-trek-on-the-simpsons/|title=How 'Star Trek' Celebrities Fared on 'The Simpsons'|website=[[Heavy (website)|Heavy]] |date=August 11, 2023 |access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Critical reception=== This episode received mixed reviews from critics.
Robert David Sullivan of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a C−, saying that "the relationship between Marge and Bart is actually one that hasn’t been done to death on ''The Simpson''s, but it comes up too half-heartedly and is resolved too quickly in this episode."<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Robert David|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-the-fabulous-faker-boy-1798176784|title=The Simpsons: "The Fabulous Faker Boy"|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=13 May 2013|access-date=2013-05-14|archive-date=July 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710072600/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-fabulous-faker-boy%2C97151/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Teresa Lopez of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode two and a half stars out of five, saying that "Not only was the mother-son dynamic shoved into the narrative late in the game, but Marge's disappointment was easily waived away by her Russian driving student saying Bart cheated for love and for his mother. Kind of a simple rationalization, right? The B-plot involving Homer's loss of his last two hairs did lead to some hilarious The Simpsons quotes and an amazing guest appearance by Patrick Stewart (one of the sexiest and most confident bald men), but it was mostly a distracting vehicle that allowed Homer to try on various hats."<ref>{{cite web|first=Teresa|last=Lopez|url=http://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/05/the-simpsons-review-the-piano-boy/|title=The Simpsons Review: The Piano Boy|website=TV Fanatic|date=12 May 2013|access-date=2013-05-14|archive-date=June 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615034957/http://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/05/the-simpsons-review-the-piano-boy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Ratings=== The episode received a 2.0 in the 18-49 demographic and was watched by a total of 4.16 million viewers. This made it the second-most watched show on Fox's Animation Domination line up that night.<ref>{{cite web|first=Amanda|last=Kondolojy|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/14/sunday-final-ratings-survivor-once-upon-a-time-the-simpsons-revenge-adjusted-up/182603/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607114211/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/14/sunday-final-ratings-survivor-once-upon-a-time-the-simpsons-revenge-adjusted-up/182603/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-07 |title=Sunday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Simpsons' & 'Revenge' Adjusted Up - Ratings |website=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=May 14, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-14}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_24#The Fabulous Faker Boy|"The Fabulous Faker Boy"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} * {{IMDb episode|2850618}}
{{The Simpsons episodes|24}} {{Robot Chicken}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fabulous Faker Boy}} [[Category:The Simpsons season 24 episodes]] [[Category:2013 American television episodes]] [[Category:Crossover animation]] [[Category:Robot Chicken]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Bob Anderson (director)]]