
Also, kinda silly random thought, but I can’t help wondering if Fox would have actually been able to keep the end of a whodunit from probably the most popular show ever made secret (and for four months!) in this day and age, the way they did in 1995. Honestly, I kind of doubt it.
I mean, I realize that everyone involved in making the two-parter signed an NDA, and that of course that entire fake alternate ending was made, but since deleted scenes/alternate endings are so much more common now, I doubt it would make much difference. Leaks are SO pervasive nowadays since the entire world has become so technology/information savvy, plus with Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and everything else, I’m 99% sure it would have been impossible for Fox today.
So anyway I’m glad the Internet hadn’t really taken hold yet in ‘95 the way it would only a few years later. WSMB is one of my favorite episodes ever and always will be!

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Also can’t help wishing, in a way, that the eventual ‘07 Movie had been based on this story. In many ways WSMB felt very cinematic (especially part one, part two had more of an episodic feel even though it was great too). The last five minutes of part one before Mr. Burns is actually shot are, in my opinion, some of the best scenes in the entire series. The sudden silence and tension building up is just so well done.
https://youtu.be/zH18T2Jufzk
You can’t just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!