Editing Krusty the Clown (section)

==Role in ''The Simpsons''==
Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky was born in the [[Lower East Side]] of Springfield and is the son of [[Rabbi]] [[Hyman Krustofsky]]. Very little is known about Herschel's mother, aside from her name being Rachel and that she died when Krusty was around thirteen years old. Hyman strongly opposed Krusty's wish to become a [[clown]] and make people laugh, believing that it would distract Herschel from his religion, wanting the boy to go to ''[[yeshiva]]'' instead. However, Krusty performed [[slapstick|slapstick comedy]], obscuring this from his father. However, Herschel was performing at a rabbis' convention when one joking rabbi squirted [[carbonated water|seltzer]] on him, washing off his clown makeup. When Rabbi Krustofsky discovered Herschel was the clown onstage, he disowned his son and did not speak to him for 25 years. Krusty later reconciled with his father with the assistance of Bart and Lisa Simpson.<ref name= "LFLC">{{cite episode |title=Like Father, Like Clown |episode-link=Like Father, Like Clown |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Kogen, Jay; Wolodarsky, Wallace; Bird, Brad; Lynch, Jeffrey |network=Fox |airdate=1991-10-04 |season=3 |number=6}}</ref>

It was later revealed that Krusty did not have a [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|Bar Mitzvah]] service, because Hyman feared he would violate the sanctity of the rites by "acting up." Krusty had two adult Bar Mitzvah ceremonies: a [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] gala which Krusty uses to stage a comeback after his show is cancelled, then a simple ceremony intended to reconnect with his father.<ref name="TIAC"/> After leaving the Lower East Side of Springfield, Krusty started his show biz career as a street mime in [[Tupelo, Mississippi]] ([[Elvis Presley]]'s birthplace).<ref name="KGB">{{cite episode |title=Krusty Gets Busted |episode-link=Krusty Gets Busted |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Kogen, Jay; Wolodarsky, Wallace; Bird, Brad |network=Fox |airdate=1990-04-29 |season=1 |number=12}}</ref> Krusty later discovers that he has a daughter named Sophie. He had met Sophie's mother Erin when Erin was a soldier in the [[Gulf War]] and he was entertaining the troops. After spending the night together, he prevented Erin from assassinating [[Saddam Hussein]] to protect his Saddam-themed comedy act. After that, Erin started hating clowns, and she kept their daughter a secret from Krusty.<ref name="ICP">{{cite episode |title=Insane Clown Poppy |episode-link=Insane Clown Poppy |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Frink, John; Payne, Don; Anderson, Bob |network= Fox |airdate=2000-11-12 |season=12 |number=03}}</ref> Krusty and Sophie bonded over time, and while not a full-time father, he is known to acknowledge her birthdays and  occasionally references his daughter publicly.

Krusty has his own show on Channel 6 in Springfield: ''The Krusty the Clown Show'', which is aimed towards a children's audience and has many followers, including Bart Simpson.<ref name="KGK">{{cite episode |title= Krusty Gets Kancelled |episode-link= Krusty Gets Kancelled |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-13 |season=04 |number=22}}</ref> Krusty has licensed the show to dozens of countries that produce localized versions, including [[Ireland]], [[China]], [[Jamaica]], and [[Romania]] with the original version being the least popular.<ref name="YS">{{cite episode |title= Yellow Subterfuge |episode-link=Yellow Subterfuge |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Cohen, Joel H; Anderson, Bob |network= Fox |airdate=2013-12-08 |season=25 |number=07}}</ref> Krusty's show has gone through various phases: a clip from 1961 presents the show as a serious [[talk show]] featuring Krusty interviewing [[AFL–CIO]] president [[George Meany]] on the topic of [[collective bargaining]] agreements, while a clip from 1963 shows Krusty interviewing [[Robert Frost]], then dumping a load of snow on the poet. The show later takes a different turn, featuring [[Ravi Shankar]] as a guest<ref name="BoD">{{cite episode |title=Bart of Darkness |episode-link=Bart of Darkness |series= The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=McGrath, Dan; Reardon, Jim |network=Fox |airdate= 1994-10-04 |season=06 |number=01}}</ref> and having Krusty howl a drugged-out version of [[The Doors]]' ''[[Break On Through (To the Other Side)|Break on Through (To the Other Side)]]'' in 1973.<ref name="ILL">{{cite episode |title=I Love Lisa |episode-link=I Love Lisa |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Mula, Frank; Archer, Wes |network=Fox |airdate=1993-02-11 |season=04 |number=15}}</ref> By the 1980s, the show had devolved into a children's entertainment show, although in one episode Krusty provided updates on the [[1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands|1982 Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands]]. During the series, the ''Krusty the Clown Show'' is shown to be aimed almost entirely at children. It features many characters, including [[Sideshow Mel]], [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Mr. Teeny|Mr. Teeny]], Tina Ballerina, and [[Corporal Punishment (The Simpsons)|Corporal Punishment]].<ref name="ISM">{{cite episode |title=Itchy & Scratchy & Marge |episode-link=Itchy & Scratchy & Marge |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Reardon, Jim |network=Fox |airdate= 1990-12-20 |season=02 |number=09}}</ref> [[Sideshow Bob]] begins the series as Krusty's main [[sidekick]]. However, years of constant abuse lead to Bob framing Krusty for [[Armed-robbery|armed robbery]], although Bob is eventually foiled by Bart.<ref name="KGB" /> Bob is replaced by Sideshow Mel, who has remained loyal to Krusty despite being constantly abused by Krusty as well.<ref name="KGK" />

Krusty seems to retire from—and then get back into—show business repeatedly throughout his career.<ref>{{Cite web| last= Michelle |first= Kara| date=September 27, 2014|title=The Simpsons News: A Character Dies and Krusty the Clown Retires, Again| url= https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/7452/20140927/simpsons-news-character-dies-krusty-clown-retires-again.htm|access-date=1 December 2020|publisher=JubileeCast}}</ref> One of his retirements is almost made permanent due to just-[[parole]]d Sideshow Bob's latest scheme: wiring [[plastic explosive]]s to a [[hypnosis|hypnotized]] Bart and sending Bart onstage. When Krusty makes a tribute to Bob, however, Bob has a change of heart and stops Bart from fulfilling his mission. Bob and Krusty later reconcile, with Krusty exclaiming that Bob's attempts at Krusty's life make his ratings shoot through the roof.<ref name="DotJ">{{cite episode |title=Day of the Jackanapes |episode-link=Day of the Jackanapes |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Jean, Al; Marcantel, Michael |network= Fox |airdate=2001-02-18 |season=12 |number=13}}</ref> This reconciliation remains for the rest of the series, as Bob abandons his attempts for revenge on Krusty in favor of targeting Bart exclusively.

[[File:Krustytheclownshow.png|right|200px|thumb|Krusty finishes his show with a song.]]
Bart Simpson is one of Krusty's biggest fans. In the episode "[[Krusty Gets Busted]]" he declares, "I've based my entire life on Krusty's teachings," and sleeps in a room filled with Krusty merchandise. He exposes Sideshow Bob's attempted framing, helps Krusty return to the air with a comeback special, reigniting his career,<ref name="KGK" /> and reunites Krusty with his estranged father.<ref name="LFLC" /> For his part, Krusty is usually grateful for Bart's assistance, but almost immediately forgets about it — presumably due to his excessive drinking and drug habits as well as his general conceitedness — and usually does not even remember his name the next time they encounter each other.<ref name="LFLC" /> One summer, Bart enthusiastically attends Kamp Krusty, largely because of the promise that he would get to spend his summer with Krusty. The camp turns out to be a disaster, with Krusty nowhere to be seen, as the camp is simply a franchise location to which Krusty has licensed his image. Bart keeps his hopes up by believing that Krusty will show up, but one day the camp director, Mr. Black, brings in [[Barney Gumble]] with clown makeup masquerading as Krusty. This pushes Bart over the edge. He decides that he is sick of Krusty's shoddy merchandise and takes over the camp. Krusty immediately visits the camp in hopes of ending the conflict and manages to appease Bart.<ref name="KK">{{cite episode |title=Kamp Krusty |episode-link=Kamp Krusty |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Stern, David M.; Kirkland, Mark |network=Fox |airdate=1992-09-24 |season=04 |number=01}}</ref>{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=128–129}}

Krusty is a [[Millionaire|multimillionaire]] who has amassed his fortune mostly by licensing his name and image to a variety of substandard products and services, from Krusty [[alarm clocks]] to Krusty [[crowd control barrier]]s.<ref name="HtC" /> Many of these products are potentially dangerous,<ref name="KK" /> such as Krusty's brand of [[cereal]], Krusty-O's, which in [['Round Springfield|one episode]] boasts a jagged metal Krusty-O in each box. One of many [[lawsuit]]s regarding these products is launched by Bart, who eats a jagged metal Krusty-O by mistake and has to have his [[Vermiform appendix|appendix]] removed.<ref name="RS">{{cite episode |title='Round Springfield |episode-link='Round Springfield |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Jean, Al; Reiss, Mike; Sternin, Joshua; Ventimilia, Jeffrey; Moore, Steven Dean |network=Fox |airdate=1995-04-30 |season=06 |number=22}}</ref> The "Krusty Korporation," the company responsible for Krusty's licensing, has also launched a series of disastrous promotions and business ventures, such as sponsoring the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] with a rigged promotion that backfires when the [[Soviet Union]] [[1984 Summer Olympics boycott|boycotts]] the games, causing Krusty to lose $44&nbsp;million.<ref name="LFW">{{cite episode |title=Lisa's First Word |episode-link=Lisa's First Word |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Martin, Jeff; Kirkland, Mark |network=Fox |airdate=1992-12-03 |season=04 |number=10}}</ref> In the TV series and [[List of The Simpsons comics|comic books]], Krusty is also the mascot and owner of the fast foods restaurant chain [[Krusty Burger]]. It has been shut down by the health board many times for everything from overworking employees to stapling together half-eaten burgers to make new ones,<ref name="SMWIMtS">{{cite episode |title='Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky |episode-link='Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Greaney, Dan; Grazier, Allen; Moore, Steven Dean |network=Fox |airdate=2003-03-30 |season=14 |number=14}}</ref> as well as using beef infected with [[mad cow disease]] to save money.

Krusty wastes money almost as fast as he earns it: lighting his [[cigarette]]s with [[United States one hundred-dollar bill|hundred-dollar bills]], eating [[condor]]-egg [[omelette]]s, spending huge sums on [[pornographic magazine]]s and [[call girl]]s, and losing a fortune [[gambling]] on everything from [[Horse racing|horse races]] to [[opera]]s and [[Sports betting|betting]] against the [[Harlem Globetrotters]].<ref name="HtC" />

Krusty is a hard-living entertainment veteran, sometimes depicted as a jaded, burned-out has-been, who has been down and out several times and remains addicted to [[Problem gambling|gambling]], cigarettes, [[Alcoholism|alcohol]], [[Oxycodone|Percodan]], [[Pepto-Bismol]], and [[alprazolam|Xanax]].<ref name="MSGtW">{{cite episode |title= Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington |episode-link=Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Swartzwelder, John; Kramer, Lance |network=Fox |airdate=2003-03-09 |season=14 |number=14}}</ref> He instantly becomes [[depression (mood)|depressed]] as soon as the cameras stop rolling;<ref name="HtC">{{cite episode |title=Homie the Clown |episode-link=Homie the Clown |series= The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David |network=Fox |airdate=1995-02-12 |season=06 |number=15}}</ref> Marge states in "[[The Sweetest Apu]]" that, "off camera, he's a desperately unhappy man." Krusty appears to have used [[cocaine]], one time emerging from a restaurant bathroom with white powder under his nose; however, he explains that he was simply researching a part for a film in which he played himself. In his book ''[[Planet Simpson]]'', author [[Chris Turner (author)|Chris Turner]] describes Krusty as "the wizened veteran, the total pro" who lives the celebrity life. He is miserable but he needs his celebrity status.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=392–394}} In "[[Bart the Fink]]," Bart inadvertently reports Krusty for [[Tax evasion|tax fraud]] to the [[Internal Revenue Service]] and, as a result, Krusty loses most of his money. Bart soon discovers that Krusty has faked his death and is living as Rory B. Bellows on a boat. Krusty declares that he is finished with the life of a celebrity and is unconvinced when Bart reminds him of his fans and his entourage.<ref name="BtF">{{cite episode |title=Bart the Fink |episode-link=Bart the Fink |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Stern, David M.; Kirkland, Mark |network=Fox |airdate= 1996-02-11 |season=07 |number=15}}</ref> Finally, Bart tells Krusty that leaving [[show business]] would mean losing his [[celebrity]] status, which convinces Krusty to return.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=392–394}} Krusty has been described as "the consummate showman who can't bear the possibility of not being on the air and not entertaining people."<ref>{{cite video |people=Oakley, Bill |year=2002 |title=Commentary for the episode "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming". The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

In "[[Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington]]", Bart convinces Krusty to run for [[United States Congress|Congress]] so that Krusty can introduce an airline rerouting bill and stop planes from flying over the Simpsons' house. Krusty agrees and runs on the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ticket. Although his campaign starts off badly, Lisa suggests that he try connecting with regular families. He does so, resulting in a landslide victory. Krusty's term starts off badly, as he is completely ignored by his new, more politically savvy colleagues. With the help of the Simpsons and an [[Walter Mondale|influential doorman]], however, Krusty succeeds in passing his bill.<ref name="MSGtW"/>

His body features include a [[third nipple]], a veal-shaped [[birthmark]], and a scar on his chest as a result of having a [[pacemaker]] inserted into his heart after suffering from a [[heart attack]] on-air in 1986.<ref name= "KGB" />

In the "[[Once Upon a Time in Springfield]]", Krusty's age is revealed to be 52.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Chelsey |date=2021-06-24 |title=The Simpsons: Every Main Character & How Old They'd Be If They Aged In Real Time |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-simpsons-main-characters-real-age/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>