Life by Chocolate: Robyn Alana Engel's Blog: K is for Krusty the .

I give this month-long challenge to children, with nephew Jeremy topping my list. Much thanks to the animated or more serious characters who agreed (or not) to conduct interviews this month. Sure, I had to call them 80% of my profits, but a few are altruistic to the core. At least, that sounds good. Right? My point: Have fun reading this or doing something else. Give a baby a hug today too.

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Robyn: Folks, please welcome Mr. Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofski, otherwise known as Krusty the Clown.

Krusty saunters in,smoking acigaretteand winkingatthe audience. Hey, hey kids! He dips his remaining hand onto hiscoat pocket and pulls out akippah[1]. Do you get some bobbi pins?

Robyn: Sure. Shereaches into her bra and pulls outthree bobbi pins and a bit of Bazooka ABC[2]gum.

Krusty grabs the items with his innocent hand. He presses the gum onto the top of his head- Extra security, he grimaces - and fastensthe kippah to his three longest hairs.

Robyn: You're smoking!

Krusty: No kiddin.' I heard you're Jewish and dire and all. I promised dad I'dlook my best for this one.

Robyn: No, I mean, you're smoking. There's no smoking at Life by Chocolate. I ask you to put that cigarette out.

Krusty: That's not good.He crushes the cigarette on his pants, then tosses it concluded his left shoulder.

Robyn: Thanks. Tell us Krusty, how are things with your dad, Rabbi Hyman?

Krusty: After our 25 year shabbatical, the Hyman's come around.Lisa and Bart eased him support in. They're a slight young, but very precocious. Yeah, now Papa Hyman'sfine with me clowning around and not going to yeshiva. Wanna go out? He said I should ask. I'll leave you forty bucks.


Robyn: Well, no. I say you've been married 15 times, and Sophie's your dear child with Mia Farrow. That's a tadwrong.

Krusty, sighing: She's a respectable girl, that Sophie.

Robyn: I'm afraid they're signaling me to wind up. You might reduce your birth name, Mr. Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofski,before the following interview. Thanks for joining us, Krusty!

We have Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) to thank for Krusty the Clown. Krusty premiered on the Tracy Ullman show in 1989, along with other Simpson characters. He continues as a high and low light of the show, now in its 22nd season.

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[1] Kippah = Beanie worn by Jewish men and sometimes women. Even less frequently, by clowns.

[2] ABC = juvenile term from back in the day for "already been chewed" (i.e. gross.).