Grade School Confidential

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The Simpsons episode
"Grade School Confidential"

Episode no.	172
Prod. code	4F09
Orig. Airdate	April 6, 1997
Show Runner(s)	Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein
Written by	Rachel Pulido
Directed by	Susie Dietter
Couch gag	Balloons representing the Simpsons burst as they take their place on the couch.
DVD commentary by	Matt Groening Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Rachel Pulido Susie Dietter
Season 8 October 27, 1996 – May 18, 1997
Treehouse of Horror VII You Only Move Twice The Homer They Fall Burns, Baby Burns Bart After Dark A Milhouse Divided Lisa's Date with Density Hurricane Neddy El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer) The Springfield Files The Twisted World of Marge Simpson Mountain of Madness Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show Homer's Phobia Brother from Another Series My Sister, My Sitter Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment Grade School Confidential The Canine Mutiny The Old Man and the Lisa In Marge We Trust Homer's Enemy The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"Grade School Confidential" is the ninetenth episode of the The Simpsons' eighth season, which originally aired April 6, 1997. It was written by Rachel Pulido and directed by Susie Dietter. It episode establishes the long-term relationship between Seymour Skinner and Edna Krabappel.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Martin Prince invites his classmates to his birthday party, but the gathering – which features a mathemagician as the main entertainment – turns out to be incredibly boring. As a result, party guests Principal Skinner and Edna Krabappel strike up a conversation and discover they have romantic feelings for each other. The party comes to its merciful end when everyone becomes ill with food poisoning, as Martin insisted on serving oysters instead of a birthday cake. Bart is the only one to escape the poisoning, because he fed his oysters to Martin's cat. Lisa also escapes the poisoning, but fakes illness to leave the party. Bart stays behind and spots Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel kissing inside Martin's playhouse.

Bart plans to reveal what he witnessed, but Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel – wanting their privacy respected – swear him to secrecy. They hire him as their gofer so they can secretly exchange messages. Bart agrees for awhile, especially since the reward for his cooperation is that Milhouse will inherit Bart's poor school record. Eventually, Bart grows frustrated about his home, school and social life continually being interrupted to help them advance their relationship, putting him in a huge embarrassment. One afternoon at school, after he is embarrassed in front of his classmates by having to say one of Principal Skinner's messages to Mrs. Krabappel out loud, Bart became so furious and bitterly gathers the entire student body in front of a janitor's closet, in which Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel are kissing.

Word quickly spreads throughout Springfield, with the story growing more illicit and exaggerated with each passing turn (e.g., Ralph explains he saw Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel "making babies and I saw one of the babies and the baby looked at me"). An appalled Chief Wiggum, upon hearing his son's version of the events, alerts Superintendent Chalmers. Chalmers gives Principal Skinner an ultimatum – end the relationship or have both of them face dismissal. Principal Skinner decides that love is stronger than his professional goals, so Chalmers fires him and Mrs. Krabappel, expecting them to leave before 3:00.

Bart learns that Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel have lost their jobs and shows remorse for them. After Skinner apologizes to Bart for embarrassing him through his love with Mrs. Krabappel, Bart encourages him to stand up for himself, and he does just that. He locks down the school, calls the media and – after sitting on the roof – he and Mrs. Krabappel make their demands: They want their jobs back and the townspeople to not interfere in their relationship. However, several residents reply with their accusation about the two having sexual intercourse in the janitor's closet. Principal Skinner insists nothing of the sort happened, and that he, in fact, is still a virgin. Everyone accepts the explanation (since they feel that nobody would pretend to be a virgin at Skinner's age, over 40) and Chalmers agrees to reinstate Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel as though nothing happened. Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel decide to continue their relationship more privately than ever by convincing Bart that they have broken up after thanking him for helping them.

[edit] Cultural references

The title is a play on Jerry Lee Lewis' song "High School Confidential".
The candle that burns on Edna's table is Charlie Brown from Peanuts, though his head has completely been melted off.
Bart says, "Set your faces to stunned!" in reference to the Star Trek quote, "Set your phasers on stun."
Skinner pretends to be a suicide bomber by strapping Armour hot dogs to his shirt; Wiggum and Chalmers inadvertently quote the 1980s advertising jingle (previously sung by Bart and Lisa in "Lady Bouvier's Lover").