At a charity comedy show, Krusty discovers that his brand of humor is out of step with modern stand-up comedy. After announcing his retirement and going on a drunken bender, Krusty wakes up at the Simpsons household and, with the help of Bart Simpson and special guest star, Jay Leno, Krusty becomes an anti-establishment stand-up comic (a la George Carlin, Denis Leary, Dennis Miller, and Bill Hicks), but must choose between his ethics and selling out when an agent offers him the chance to be the spokesman for a new SUV.
Full Story[]
Persuaded by Bart to appear at a comedy festival organized by Jay Leno, Krusty the Clown's old-fashioned and dated material fails to impress the crowd when compared with other, more trendy comics also appearing. After going on 'the bender to end all benders', he holds a press conference to announce his retirement, and in short order launches into a bitter tirade against modern-day comics, which the crowd finds hysterical. He is inspired to return to doing low-key events, where he structures a new act for himself as a comic who tells the truth and refuses to sell out to corporate America. Although less marketable and financially successful, he is now credible and trendy. Two marketing executives try to persuade him to advertise the Canyonero, but he initially resists, before succumbing to the lure of money again. He finally admits to himself that it is not comedy that is in his blood; it is selling out.