"Stark Raving Dad" is the season premiere episode of The Simpsons' third season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 19, 1991.[3] In the episode, Homer is forced to wear a pink shirt to work one day and is mistaken for a "free thinking anarchist" and sent to a mental institution. He shares a room with a large white man who thinks he is Michael Jackson. Al Jean and Mike Reiss wrote the episode while Rich Moore served as director.[2] It was the final episode produced for the previous season and aired during the third season as a holdover. Michael Jackson guest stars as Leon Kompowsky's speaking voice, while his singing is provided by Kipp Lennon. For contractual reasons, Jackson was credited as John Jay Smith, and his role in the episode was not officially confirmed until later, although most critics assumed it was him. Kompowsky was originally set to return in a second episode, except voiced by Prince, but the episode was never produced. During the January 30, 1992 rerun of the episode, a short alternate opening aired before the credits. The opening was produced in response to a comment made about The Simpsons by then-President of the United States George H.W. Bush.Plot Lisa wakes Bart up and reminds him that her birthday is coming up and that he neglects or forgets her birthday every year. Bart promises to get her the best present ever. Meanwhile, Bart washes his red hat with the white laundry, and Homer has no choice but to wear a pink shirt to work. As a result, Mr. Burns suspects Homer of being a "free thinking anarchist" and has him detained. Dr. Marvin Monroe administers a 20-question quiz that Homer has Bart fill out. The results cause Homer to be sent to a mental institution, where he shares a cell with a large white man who thinks he is Michael Jackson. Not knowing who that is, Homer believes him. Marge comes to visit Homer and convinces his doctors that Bart is the primary cause of Homer's problems. Homer gets an official certificate that says he is not insane and Michael reveals that he is only in the hospital voluntarily. Homer calls and tells Bart that he is bringing Michael Jackson to stay for a few days. Against Homer's wishes, Bart lets the word out and all of Springfield turns out to see Michael Jackson. All the town's excitement is deflated when the faux Michael is revealed by Homer. Lisa is upset when she realizes that Bart has yet again failed to acknowledge her birthday, due to finding out that Michael was coming. After hearing Lisa writing an angry letter to Bart, Michael convinces Bart to let him help. Together they write and perform a song specifically for Lisa's birthday called "Happy Birthday Lisa". Lisa is thrilled and hugs her brother, saying that he has given her the best present ever. Suddenly, Michael reveals that he is Leon Kompowsky, a brick-layer from Paterson, New Jersey. He explains that he does his Michael voice due to the fact he felt angry for the majority of his life and that he earned people's respect when he did the vocal impersonation. With his confidence renewed after composing a good song, he soon bids farewell to the Simpsons, singing Lisa's birthday song to himself as he strolls off down the road.
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