The Simpsons: Season 9, Episode 2

The Principal and the Pauper (28 Sep. 1997)

TV Episode  -   -  Animation | Comedy | Family
7.2
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.2/10 from 613 users  
Reviews: 7 user

After holding a surprise tribute to their beloved Elementary school principal Skinner, the town of Springfield is shocked to find out that Seymour Skinner is an impostor...

Director:

Writers:

(creator), (developer), 7 more credits »
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 49 titles created 04 Jun 2011
 
a list of 10 titles created 3 months ago
 
a list of 25 titles created 6 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: The Principal and the Pauper (28 Sep 1997)

The Principal and the Pauper (28 Sep 1997) on IMDb 7.2/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of The Simpsons.
« Previous Episode | 180 of  539 Episodes | Next Episode »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Family Guy (TV Series 1999)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.4/10 X  

In a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strive to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.

Stars: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green
South Park (TV Series 1997)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.9/10 X  

Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.

Stars: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall
Robot Chicken (TV Series 2005)
Animation | Comedy | Sci-Fi
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

From creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, Robot Chicken is stop motion animation with a demented twist.

Stars: Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich
Clerks (TV Series 2000)
Comedy | Animation
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

The continuing adventures of clerks Dante and Randal, who try to make the best of their menial labor, with no help from Jay and Silent Bob.

Stars: Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Brian O'Halloran
Daria (1997–2001)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

A smart & cynical girl goes through teenage life as a proud outsider in a world of mainly idiotic teens and condescending adults.

Stars: Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, Julián Rebolledo
The Ricky Gervais Show (TV Series 2010)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington
King of the Hill (1997–2010)
Animation | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X  

Show about a rigid redneckish propane salesman with a good heart and wacky friends and family.

Stars: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon
Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 (TV Series 2000)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

The misadventures of a milkshake, an order of fries, a meatball, and their retired next door neighbor in the suburbs of New Jersey.

Stars: Dave Willis, Dana Snyder, Carey Means
Animation | Comedy | Sci-Fi
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

Third-rate superhero Harvey Birdman gets a new lease on life when he becomes a lawyer.

Stars: Gary Cole, Thomas Allen, Stephen Colbert
Happy Tree Friends (TV Series 2006)
Animation | Comedy | Horror
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  
Stars: Ellen Connell, David Winn, Warren Graff
Drawn Together (2004–2008)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.7/10 X  

A parody of reality shows cast with spoofs of several famous types of animated characters.

Stars: Adam Carolla, Jess Harnell, Abbey McBride
The Life & Times of Tim (TV Series 2008)
Animation | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

"The Life & Times of Tim" is an animated show about a young guy named Tim who just can't seem to catch a break in life. He's a normal guy who always tries to do the right thing, but for ...

Stars: Steve Dildarian, M.J. Otto, Nick Kroll
Edit

Cast

Episode cast overview:
...
...
Marge Simpson (voice)
...
...
Lisa Simpson (voice)
...
...
...
...
Mrs. Krabappel (voice)
...
Agnes Skinner (voice)
Maggie Roswell ...
Miss Hoover (voice)
Edit

Storyline

After holding a surprise tribute to their beloved Elementary school principal Skinner, the town of Springfield is shocked to find out that Seymour Skinner is an impostor...

Add Full Plot | Plot Synopsis


Certificate:

TV-PG | See all certifications »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

28 September 1997 (USA)  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

During his introduction on the season 9 DVD, creator Matt Groening admitted that this is one of his least favorite Simpsons episodes. See more »

Goofs

At the beginning, Skinner plays a tuning fork, but he should have place the handle onto a resonating surface to hear a sound. See more »

Quotes

Abe Simpson: [to Agnes] Hello Beautiful.
Agnes Skinner: In your dreams!
Abe Simpson: We'll see about that!
[He falls asleep]
Abe Simpson: [Talking in his dream] Hello Beautiful.
See more »

Connections

References Flipper (1964) See more »

Soundtracks

"Flipper Theme"
(uncredited)
Music by Henry Vars
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Outrage fades with time, but humor is a constant
27 October 2009 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

This was a pretty contentious episode when it came out, much like Homer's Enemy. And that's exactly what it was supposed to be -- a conspiracy against the fans, a giant screw- you, "in canon," but with a big wipeout at the end so that nothing really changed. This was a bold move that was well executed, and yet somehow fell short of communicating itself to the bulk of the audience.

We've got a story where a minor character in the lives of Springfieldianites is revealed to have a history that's shockingly different than they had understood, though his personality remains unchanged. This leads to outrage and finally a complete rejection of the truth because it's too unsettling.

Hey -- if this episode makes you outraged and uncomfortable, you might be from Springfield!

You see -- it's all a commentary on how easy it is to love a lie. On how constancy is such a necessity in our lives that we'd rather embrace a familiar falsehood than accept the truth.

Maybe that's too meta for TV -- but who gives a spit, this episode is also funny as hell, well paced, well written and highly emotive. And tucked inside is a cogent exploration of complex relationships. It could be the smartest episode in the series' history.

Now let us never speak of it again -- under penalty of torture!


8 of 13 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Why isnt this as funny as it use to be? Skyrider01
pinpoint the episode/season where the show started going downhill paul-j-mccabe3-393-752896
Why aren't more seasons out on DVD? Amazon421
What seasons for you are the 'golden era'? cottiermike
favorite line from every episode? comedylover88
Worst jokes/episodes from the golden era jeffcole95
Discuss The Principal and the Pauper (1997) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page