The Simpsons has plenty of ideas that never made it to fruition, going through the writing process but never seeing the light of day. Sometimes, these unproduced episodes are missed opportunities. In one particular case, it was for the best that the idea never made it across the finish line — as it would have been a sequel to an episode that’s been quietly removed from circulation.
An episode of The Simpsons guest-starring Prince was almost made, with the iconic musician close to signing on. But it would have been a follow-up to Michael Jackson’s appearance on The Simpsons, which is now one of the show’s only banned episodes. As a result, the potentially progressive episode would have been overshadowed by its predecessor.
Michael Jackson’s Episode of The Simpsons, Explained
Season 3’s “Stark Raving Dad” ( directed by Rich Moore and written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss) was one of The Simpsons‘ biggest swings when it was released in 1991. The episode focused on Homer Simpson being sent to a mental institution, where he befriended a large burly man named Leon Kompowsky. Leon had been committed for claiming that he was noted Simpsons fan Michael Jackson. Jackson voiced Leon, who quickly befriended the whole Simpson family, even writing a birthday song for Lisa with Bart before finally coming to terms with his identity.
The episode became increasingly controversial over time due to the accusations of sexual abuse and misconduct levied against Jackson. Further allegations following the 2019 release of the documentary Leaving Neverland led to the producers of The Simpsons requesting the episode be pulled from air, as reported by The Guardian. “Stark Raving Dad” remains unavailable on Disney+ and was also removed from a reprint of The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season on DVD. However, before all of that controversy, there were plans for a sequel with the character of Leon Kompowsky returning with another famous alter ego.
How Prince Almost Appeared on The Simpsons
After the initial positive reception to “Stark Raving Dad,” a follow-up was proposed that would have Leon Kompowsky believe he was Prince. The proposed episode, entitled “Prince Comes to Springfield,” was written by Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk, with then-staff writer Conan O’Brien doing a polish on the story. As explained by Mike Reiss during the audio commentaries included on The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season, the plot focused on Leon-as-Prince coming to Springfield and setting off something of a sexual revolution in the town. Pages from the script were posted to social media by showrunner Al Jean following Prince’s death in 2016, further hinting at the story’s direction.
Prince’s arrival would have seen him flirt with characters like Marge Simpson’s antagonistic sister Selma, and included a couple self-deprecating shots at Prince’s filmography. Prince was initially open to the idea — but according to Jean and Reiss on the DVD commentary, he disliked the script. Instead, he and his team provided their own draft, and when the producers refused to use it, the musician backed out of the project. Jean also believed that Prince didn’t want to be seen copying Jackson. As a result, Prince’s only appearances on the show were in moments parodying the singer, such as being one of the celebrities targeted by Homer in Season 20’s “Treehouse of Horror XIX.”
Why It’s Good Prince’s Simpsons Episode Was Never Made
The Prince episode of The Simpsons would have been unique. The show has never been afraid to comment on sexuality, with Homer and Marge’s sexual chemistry being touched on in episodes like Season 6’s “Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy” and Season 9’s “Natural Born Kissers.” A general cultural liberation in Springfield would be the focus of Season 5’s “Bart’s Inner Child.” Prince would have also been a fun addition to the show’s deep bench of guest stars — though he wasn’t the only celebrity to reject The Simpsons.
But the connection to the Michael Jackson episode would’ve made it a sequel to something that essentially no longer exists in Simpsons canon. Season 26’s “Walking Big & Tall” referenced “Stark Raving Dad,” but specifically to comment on how its plot only worked in “different times.” And while that wasn’t something Simpsons producers could’ve predicted in the early 1990s, it’s also worth noting how the starting pieces of the plot are very similar to the Jackson installment, so the Prince episode may also have seemed a little repetitive. Creatively and culturally, “Prince Goes to Springfield” is a Simpsons idea that was best left off-screen.
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on Fox and streams on Hulu and Disney+.