Homer’s (Dan Castellanetta) unintentional nightmare fuel gift to Bart (Nancy Cartwright) from The Simpsons season 4 episode is brought to life. Season 4’s “Lisa’s First Word” saw Homer recollect when Lisa (Yeardley Smith) was born, revealing how the Simpson family first moved to Evergreen Terrace, became neighbors, and started borrowing from the Flanders family, and the early tension between Bart and his younger sibling. When Bart must give up his crib, Homer constructs a well-intentioned but terrifying bed for his son, who endures many sleepless nights.
Looking back to one of The Simpsons‘ most popular season 4 episodes, Instagram user the_simpsons_man shared a surprising real-world recreation of the most notable moment. Check it out below:
Built by thrift_store_painting, the nightmare clown bed is captured in all its uncanny, disproportionate glory, from its elongated arms and colossal hands to its saturated colors that perfectly match the animated counterpart. With its slightly open jaw and hollow eyes, Simpsons viewers can now understand just what left toddler Bart so terrified.
While Bart’s traumatic childhood was one of Homer’s less brilliant ideas, “Lisa’s First Word” remains one of the earlier season’s best showcases of what makes The Simpsons special. Alongside Homer’s major slip-up with Bart’s new bed, the episode is full of memorable gags. From Bart and later Lisa taunting Homer by refusing to call him dad at an early age, to Krusty (Castellanetta) failing to rig his Krusty Burger Olympics promotional campaign that backfires spectacularly, the episode excels in providing moments both humorous while also shedding light on the family’s past.
The episode doesn’t solely rely on its humor, as “Lisa’s First Word” is also an emotional exploration of how welcoming a new child can be good and bad for families. While Lisa’s birth leads to the family leaving their old inner-city apartment, Abe (Castellanetta) helping buy the family home shows a softer side to a character who has a strict attitude. Also, Lisa’s actual first word reveals why she and Bart will always have each other’s backs. Even Maggie’s surprising first word is touching, as she calls Homer “Daddy,” sweetly subverting her siblings’ actions.
Between a surprise guest actor providing Maggie’s voice and a fun glimpse at life before their first appearance in “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”, “Lisa’s First Word” is a highlight of The Simpsons‘ early days. As such, many of its gags have remained iconic, even though certain jokes have a terrifying side. As such, the real-life recreation is an accurate realization of one of Bart’s earliest traumas.
Source: the_simpsons_man /Instagram