Undercover Burns

{{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 32 | episode = 1 | director = [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] | writer = David Cryan | music = * "[[Why Can't We Be Friends? (song)|Why Can't We Be Friends?]]" by [[War (American band)|War]] * "[[Bang the Drum All Day]]" by [[Todd Rundgren]] * "[[The Spaniard That Blighted My Life]]" by [[Billy Merson]] | production = ZABF19 | airdate = {{Start date|2020|9|27}} | guests = * [[David Harbour]] as Fred Kranepool * [[Philip Rosenthal|Phil Rosenthal]] as himself | blackboard = | couch_gag = After the Simpsons rush to the couch, they fall down. The camera moves back to reveal a [[Chroma key|green screen]] with [[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]] sitting at a computer. He laughs and says "Ha-Ha, green screen." | prev = [[The Way of the Dog]] | next = [[I, Carumbus]] }} "'''Undercover Burns'''" is the [[The Simpsons season 32|thirty-second season]] premiere of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and the 685th episode overall. It aired in the United States on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on September 27, 2020.<ref name="Futon Critic">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20200902fox15/|title=(SI-3119) "Undercover Burns"|date=September 2, 2020|work=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=September 5, 2020|archive-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330115239/https://www.google-analytics.com/ga.js|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates For ''The Simpsons'', ''Family Guy'', ''Bob's Burgers'', ''Bless The Harts''|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/the-simpsons-2020-premiere-dates-family-guy-bobs-burgers-bless-the-harts-fox-1202992116/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 22, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722194532/https://deadline.com/2020/07/the-simpsons-2020-premiere-dates-family-guy-bobs-burgers-bless-the-harts-fox-1202992116/|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode was directed by [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]]<ref>{{cite tweet|user=AlJean|number=1219733399755079680|title=Bob Anderson|date=January 21, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> and written by David Cryan.<ref name="Star"/>

[[David Harbour]] guest-stars as [[Mr. Burns]]'s undercover persona Fred, and [[Philip Rosenthal|Phil Rosenthal]] appears as himself.<ref name="Futon Critic"/> This is also the first episode that [[Alex Désert]] voices [[Carl Carlson]], taking over the role from [[Hank Azaria]].<ref name="Désert"/> The episode's title is a reference to the television franchise ''[[Undercover Boss]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/13/the-simpsons-cate-blanchett-david-harbour/|title='The Simpsons' taps Cate Blanchett, David Harbour for guest roles|date=December 13, 2019|last=Snlerson|first=Dan|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227043604/https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/13/the-simpsons-cate-blanchett-david-harbour/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The episode featured Mr. Burns going undercover at his company, the [[Springfield (The Simpsons)#Springfield Nuclear Power Plant|Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]], similar to the format of ''Undercover Boss''. It received generally positive reviews and was watched live in the United States by 4.44 million viewers.

==Plot== [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] and [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] go to the power plant with [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] for "Take Your Child to Work Day", but [[Mr. Burns]] decides to change it into "Put Your Child to Work Day". All of the children are forced to work, but Lisa escapes and confronts Mr. Burns about the abuse of child labor laws. Mr. Burns decides to hide in the employee restroom. While in the restroom, Mr. Burns sees unflattering graffiti on the walls, and soon realizes that his employees don't like him.

[[Waylon Smithers|Smithers]] decides to help a distraught Mr. Burns go undercover as a man named Fred Kranepool. During his undercover operation, Mr. Burns plans to "infiltrate and kill" disloyal employees, but ends up befriending Homer, [[Lenny Leonard|Lenny]], and [[Carl Carlson|Carl]]. Smithers becomes jealous of all the time Mr. Burns is spending with the employees and eventually tells Homer that Fred is actually a disguised Mr. Burns. His scheme exposed, Mr. Burns reverts to his old, tyrannical self.

==Production== ===Development=== The episode was written by David Cryan, who reached out to showrunner [[Al Jean]] on [[Twitter]], asking Jean to read some scripts he had written. Cryan was hoping to be given the opportunity to submit a script for ''The Simpsons'', but Jean was impressed enough by Cryan's scripts, particularly those for ''[[Veep]]'' and ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', that he invited Cryan to join the show's writing staff. However, Cryan was unable to accept the offer, because Cryan, who lives in Canada, had his United States visa application denied. So, Jean instead offered him a freelance opportunity to write an episode. Cryan chose to write an episode surrounding his favorite character of [[Mr. Burns]], it is Cryan's first television episode.<ref name="Star">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2020/08/16/simpson-eh-gta-man-writes-episode-for-long-running-show-after-pitching-executive-producer-on-twitter.html|title='Simpson, eh?' GTA man writes episode for long-running show after pitching executive producer on Twitter|date=August 16, 2020|last=Garbutt|first=Herb|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818063613/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2020/08/16/simpson-eh-gta-man-writes-episode-for-long-running-show-after-pitching-executive-producer-on-twitter.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Casting=== [[David Harbour]] guest-starred in the episode as Mr. Burns' undercover persona Fred and [[Philip Rosenthal|Phil Rosenthal]] appeared as himself.<ref name="Futon Critic"/> Rosenthal previously portrayed TV Dad in ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-simpsons-movie/cast/284608/|title=The Simpsons Movie Cast and Crew|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=September 5, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114101639/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-simpsons-movie/cast/284608/|url-status=live}}</ref> This is also the first episode with [[Alex Désert]] voicing [[Carl Carlson]], taking over from [[Hank Azaria]] who voiced the character since [[The Simpsons season 1|the first season]].<ref name="Désert">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-simpsons-carl-voice-alex-desert-hank-azaria-1234782691/|title='The Simpsons' Season Premiere: Here's Who Took Over Carl's Voice From Hank Azaria (EXCLUSIVE)|date=September 24, 2020|last=Schneider|first=Michael|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924233315/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/the-simpsons-carl-voice-alex-desert-hank-azaria-1234782691/|url-status=live}}</ref> This came after the producers of the series announced that "Moving forward, ''The Simpsons'' will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/the-simpsons-will-no-longer-have-white-actors-voice-non-white-characters-1202971437/|title='The Simpsons' Will No Longer Have White Actors Voice Non-White Characters|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=September 25, 2020|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|last=Petski|first=Denise|archive-date=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627190303/https://deadline.com/2020/06/the-simpsons-will-no-longer-have-white-actors-voice-non-white-characters-1202971437/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Music=== The episode features "[[Why Can't We Be Friends? (song)|Why Can't We Be Friends]]" by [[War (American band)|War]], "[[Bang the Drum All Day]]" by [[Todd Rundgren]] and "[[The Spaniard That Blighted My Life]]" by [[Billy Merson]].

== Marketing == Jean released a [[Film frame#Still frame|still]] from the episode on September 9, 2020, on Twitter.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=AlJean|number=1303822230242037760|title=.@TheSimpsons Mixing season 32 premiere today!|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 10, 2020}}</ref> Also on September 9, 2020, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] released eight promotional pictures from the episode.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 9, 2020|title=The Simpsons|url=https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3119|access-date=September 10, 2020|work=FoxFlash|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030201835/https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3119|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception== ===Viewing figures=== In the United States, the episode was watched live by 4.44 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-9-27-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929163233/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-9-27-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2020|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.27.2020|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=September 29, 2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=September 29, 2020}}</ref>

===Critical response=== [[Tony Sokol]] with ''[[Den of Geek]]'', said "'Undercover Burns' makes for a fun and informative season premiere episode. Mr. Burns always delivers, except on any promises he's made." He gave the episode four out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-1-review-undercover-burns/|title=The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 1 Review: Undercover Burns|date=September 27, 2020|last=Sokol|first=Tony|work=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029103520/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-1-review-undercover-burns/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kevin Melrose with ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'', said "those longtime critics who insist ''The Simpsons'' peaked in 1993 will no doubt point to the Season 32 premiere as only the latest supporting evidence. From the green screen couch gag to its parody of ''Undercover Boss'', a reality series that's been on the air for more than a decade, 'Undercover Burns' is hardly cutting edge. And yet, the episode still surprises."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/tbe-simpsons-season-32-premiere-undercover-burns/|title=The Simpsons: Mr. Burns Goes Undercover in a (Kind of Filthy) Season 32 Premiere|date=September 27, 2020|last=Melrose|first=Kevin|work=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|access-date=September 28, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017115453/https://www.cbr.com/tbe-simpsons-season-32-premiere-undercover-burns/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote|The Simpsons/Season 32#Undercover Burns|"Undercover Burns"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} *{{IMDb episode|9761050}}

[[Category:2020 American television episodes]] [[Category:The Simpsons season 32 episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Bob Anderson (director)]]