Production Whacking Day

barry white voiced himself in episode, singing original version of can t enough of love, babe .

writer george meyer, animal conscious , interested in writing episode related annual ritual held in texan town, townspeople beat rattlesnakes sticks. meyer did not have time pen episode himself, idea given john swartzwelder. subject matter of beating snakes worried staff thought many deem cruel, though episode s message against mistreatment of snakes. episode s first act 1 of shortest staff had ever written @ time, ten pages in length, no ideas expand, left was. due this, main plot not start until beginning of second act, writers not come material it.

in order speed animation, director jeffrey lynch begged storyboard artists kevin o brien , steve markowski him episode. 3 spent months on episode. barry white wanted guest star on show, written plot. sang can t enough of love, babe specially episode, rather using recorded version.

the song grampa supposed sing in flashback, showing how posed german cabaret singer in world war ii, lili marlene marlene dietrich. staff not rights because, according people own song, makes fun of . of flashback pitched conan o brien. episode marks first appearance of superintendent chalmers. staff wanted introduce boss skinner, , wallace wolodarsky pitched name. of dialogue , interactions between skinner , chalmers ad-libbed harry shearer , hank azaria.