: Jim Varney (as Cooder) and Bobby Slayton (as Spud) provide solid voice work. Varney, in particular, brings a gravelly authenticity to his role that makes the carny characters feel like more than just one-dimensional villains.
: After Bart and Lisa are traumatized by a "carnival of horrors," Homer and Marge try to help them face their fears. This leads to the discovery that the carnival workers (carnies) are living in squalor. Homer, in a rare moment of misguided generosity, invites a father-son carny duo, Cooder and Spud, to stay at the Simpson home. [S21E9] Carny Knowledge
: Predictably, the carnies take over the house, locking the Simpsons out. The family must then use their own "carny knowledge" to trick the grifters into giving back their home. Critical Analysis : Jim Varney (as Cooder) and Bobby Slayton