Editing Last Exit to Springfield (section)

==Production==

The idea for this episode came from [[Mike Reiss]], who thought it would be funny if the [[Springfield (The Simpsons)#Springfield Nuclear Power Plant|plant]] went on strike. The writers of the episode, [[Jay Kogen]] and [[Wallace Wolodarsky]], would later add the dental plan aspect of the plot.<ref name="Jean">{{cite video |people=Jean, Al |date=2004 |title=The Simpsons season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Last Exit to Springfield" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> During the production of this episode, an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] camera crew was allowed into the rewrite room, which [[Al Jean]] says he regrets because they were working on stage direction, and they came off as not being very funny.<ref name="Jean"/>

The producers originally asked [[Anthony Hopkins]] and [[Clint Eastwood]] to provide the voice of the dentist, Dr. Wolfe, but both declined the part.<ref name="Jean"/> [[Anthony Perkins]] was eventually cast in the role, but died before his recording session. In the end, the role went to ''Simpsons'' regular [[Hank Azaria]]. The original choice for the guest panelist on ''Smartline'' (prior to the casting of [[Dr. Joyce Brothers]]) was [[O. J. Simpson]], who turned the role down, much to the relief of the writers when [[O. J. Simpson murder case|Simpson was later tried for murder]].<ref name="Jean"/>