Principal Skinner is one of Springfield’s greatest residents.
His immortality in Simpsons cannon would be secured by just the Steamed Hams scene alone – but he’s also given us other wonderful moments, like reminding that it’s the children who are out of touch, and the brilliant relationship with his overbearing mother.
Skinner is also at the centre of probably the show’s most controversial episode. In ‘The Principal and the Pauper’, it is revealed that Skinner isn’t actually who he claims to be – in truth he was a teenage delinquent named Armin Tamzarian, who assumed the identity of his Vietnam Sergeant, the real Seymour Skinner, and is rumbled when the previously-thought-deceased Skinner returns. The episode ends with the whole revelation being brushed under the carpet, and everything back to normal. Many hardcore fans felt this essentially broke the show, and is often cited as when The Simpsons  went into decline.
One of show’s former showrunners has now revealed how that could never had happened, if they’d stuck with the original plan for Skinner. Josh Weinstein – along with writing partner Bill Oakley – wrote many classic episodes, including the landmark one hundredth episode ‘Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Baadasssss Song’ – that’s the one where Seymour gets fired, and Bart helps him get his job back.
Weinstein often shares pages form old scripts on Twitter – this week he posted a page from that episode, and revealed something very interesting: Skinner was originally meant to have two brothers.
Whoa, here's something I totally forgot! For a very brief period – that of the table read – Skinner had two brothers! (A good cut I think) pic.twitter.com/pZWYspm0Tn
— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) September 22, 2017
That would have made the character very different – the dynamic of this lonely 40-something living with his elderly mother is so vital to what makes Skinner Skinner, and it’s impossible to imagine him having brothers to talk to. It also would have made the revelations of The Principal and the Pauper’ a lot harder to pull off – and since that episode was so divisive, the decision could possibly be seen as changing the course of Simpsons history.
We cut a lot from "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasss Song" including Homer actually trying his plan to get out of work. Here's cut 2nd scene: pic.twitter.com/1Fk9guEvg8
— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) September 22, 2017
Here's a scene we cut from "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasss Song" when Bart's hanging out with the fired Skinner & they visit a carnival: pic.twitter.com/M6KbAW03JW
— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) September 22, 2017
