The Simpsons: All About Lisa
The Simpsons Recycles Another Old Storyline – Doh!
Photo courtesy of Fox
May 21st, 2008 - Here’s the thing about us Simpsons nerds – we remember what happened in every old episode, and we get upset when plots are reused. For example, there was an episode in Season Five called “Bart Gets Famous,” where Bart works as Krusty’s assistant but than accidentally becomes a star himself who goes on to outshine Krusty. In this “new” episode, Lisa gets a job as Krusty’s intern who then uses some scheming to become a star herself who quickly outshines Krusty. There are a few minor changes there, but you don’t have to look very hard to see the similarities. This episode adds a narration by Sideshow Mel which, while an interesting concept, doesn’t really add much to the episode.
The opening jabs at awards shows are mildly funny, but the comment on Boobarella’a “twins” could have stood to be a tad more clever. (Although given that the character is named “Boobarella,” maybe it was perfectly appropriate.) Gabbo, Spiderpig, and Drew Carey all made pretty random cameo appearances, and the reference to the Kruskateers also failed to deliver any laughs. But things started getting a little better when Krusty held tryouts for a new member of his squad, as Bart’s routine was pretty entertaining. Nelson ends up with the job over Bart, because his mom is sleeping with Krusty, and Lisa’s outrage ends up with Krusty hiring her as his new intern. While the turn was random and sudden, the run through of what Krusty’s secret codes mean was a decent gag.
Lisa has to fill in on a Krusty sketch when Mr. Teeny is stuck in traffic, and she quickly becomes drunk on the laughter and applause she gets as a performer. Krusty’s agent correctly warns that Lisa will try to replace Krusty, and the way that she goes behind his back to steal Krusty’s spotlight was downright deceitful. Yeah, fame is treated like a drug, which explains why Lisa would act like this, but it still feels odd and out of character for her to be so conniving. Of course, in the end, Mel warns her about what happens to people who are unhealthily addicted to celebrity, himself included, and Lisa goes out of her way to prop up Krusty’s career and leave the limelight.
Despite the mediocre A-plot, the B-story of Bart and Homer bonding over coin collecting was absolutely brilliant. I enjoy the rare stories when members of the dysfunctional Simpson family genuinely get along, and this thread was not only sweet, but it also made for some very quotable Homer fatherly advice lines, the most memorable being “All hobbies suck.” Homer and Bart began collecting coins with a visit to the Android’s Dungeon, and they were soon on a quest for the elusive “kissing Lincolns” penny. This whole storyline worked very well, from the opening montage to Homer conning Mr. Burns out of his recently purchased penny. The Mel-narrated scene of Homer and Bart putting on their tuxedos, strangling each other, and then making peace was one of the funniest moments on the show in recent memory.
In the end, this episode had an immediate strike against it because of the similar story to an old episode. And it’s a shame, because even when this episode is funny, you still have a bitter “been there, seen that” taste in your mouth. Fortunately, the secondary story was entertaining enough to make the show not a total waste, though it could have been much funnier and more original. Hopefully The Simpsons will come up with more original ideas for the main stories in their historic Twentieth Season. (Assuming of course that Fox agrees to pay their voice-actors what they’re asking.)
Alan’s Score: 7.0 out of 10
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