"Behind the Laughter" is an episode from the eleventh season of The Simpsons. It is presented in a narrative format, parodying VH1's Behind the Music. The episode portrays the Simpson family as actors playing themselves on a sitcom, and tells the (fictional) story of how The Simpsons began.

Episode details

Production Number: BABF19
Original Air Date: May 21, 2000
Writers: Tim Long , George Meyer , Mike Scully and Matt Selman
Director: Mark Kirkland
Blackboard: "I will not obey the voices in my head"
Couch Gag: The couch is replaced with a vibrating bed
Guest Voices: Willie Nelson and Jim Forbes as the narrator