All About Lisa
Encyclopedia
"All About Lisa" is the twentieth episode and season finale of The Simpsons
' nineteenth season
, and first aired on May 18, 2008. Lisa Simpson
becomes Krusty the Clown's newest assistant and steals his spotlight. She wins Entertainer of the Year at the Springfield Media awards, but is warned that with her sudden fame comes a new attitude towards others and herself. Meanwhile, Homer
and Bart
bond over their newfound love of coin collecting. The episode features narration by Sideshow Mel. It was written by John Frink
and directed by Steven Dean Moore
. Drew Carey
guest voices as himself, appearing as a guest on Krusty's show.
The episode begins at the 38th Annual Springfield Media Awards, and is narrated by Sideshow Mel. Inside the hall, the Entertainer of the Year Award goes to Lisa Simpson
. Mel then explains how Lisa became an entertainer. At Krusty the Clown's 4,000th episode, Krusty decides to hire brand-new "Krustkateers", children who used to star alongside Krusty in his early episodes. Bart has the best performance of all the children auditioning, but Krusty chooses Nelson Muntz
instead. Lisa decides to defend Bart and demands Krusty hire him. However, Krusty decides to hire Lisa as his intern instead. As Krusty's intern, Lisa is frequently bullied by Krusty. Noticing how Krusty degrades Lisa, Mel tells her that Krusty is very conceited, so in order to bear Krusty's rudeness, Lisa must compliment him. Lisa takes Sideshow Mel's advice, and a conceited Krusty finally praises Lisa's assistance.
Meanwhile, Bart and Homer decide to sell all of Krusty's merchandise in Bart's room. Comic Book Guy
trades a coin album and a bicentennial quarter
for the collection. Bart and Homer start coin collecting. When the two believe they have filled the entire collection book, they discover a secret coin slot for the rare 1917 "Kissing Lincolns" penny.
When Krusty fails to entertain the audience at one of his shows, Lisa attempts to make Krusty look better. After pushing Krusty off the diving board, the entire audience laughs at Krusty and praises Lisa, whose mind is swept with fame and fortune. Krusty is warned by his agent that Lisa's popularity may steal his spotlight. Later, Krusty discovers the network executives have hired Lisa to replace him, and have renamed the show "The Lisa Show". Lisa becomes an overnight success, but Sideshow Mel warns Lisa not to overdo her pride. Krusty is relegated to a local late-night talk show.
Bart and Homer head to a coin auction house in an attempt to buy the "Kissing Lincolns" penny, but Mr. Burns
buys it instead. Mr. Burns does not willingly give Homer the penny, but unknowingly gives it to Homer as part of change for a nickel.
The flashback concludes, and Lisa is shown proudly accepting her award. After the awards show, Mel reveals to Lisa that he had previously won the Entertainer of the Year Award. But he also tells Lisa that nobody who won the award has ever received any long lasting fame. Lisa realizes that she needs to get out of the business while she still can. She runs back out on stage and calls Krusty up, giving him a chance to be in the spotlight again. The episode ends with Krusty regaining his reputation and his show, where he continues to torture Mel to make people laugh.
said the episode lacked the normal spark and was an average season finale. He also criticized the premise of the main plot for being identical to that of "Bart Gets Famous
". Although he gave it a lackluster review, he said Homer's storyline, despite being a "time filler", had more laughs. He gives the episode a final 5.8. In its original run, the episode was watched by 6.11 million viewers. At the Springfield Showbiz Awards, the MC's quote, "We now come to our final award: Entertainer of the Year. An award so prestigious that it recently won the 'Award of the Year' Award at the 2007 Awardie Awards," was nominated for Best Quote of the Week.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
The Simpsons (season 19)
The Simpsons nineteenth season originally aired on the Fox network between September 23, 2007 and May 18, 2008.-Production:The nineteenth season of The Simpsons is the first one produced after the movie and contained seven hold-over episodes from season 18's JABF production line...
, and first aired on May 18, 2008. Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
becomes Krusty the Clown's newest assistant and steals his spotlight. She wins Entertainer of the Year at the Springfield Media awards, but is warned that with her sudden fame comes a new attitude towards others and herself. Meanwhile, Homer
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
and Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
bond over their newfound love of coin collecting. The episode features narration by Sideshow Mel. It was written by John Frink
John Frink
John Frink is an American television writer and producer. He has written several episodes of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, many of which he co-wrote with his former writing partner Don Payne. Frink and Payne started their career in television writing for the short-lived sitcom Hope...
and directed by Steven Dean Moore
Steven Dean Moore
Steven Dean Moore is an animation director who has directed 35 episodes of The Simpsons, in addition to several episodes of the long running Nicktoon programme Rugrats...
. Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
guest voices as himself, appearing as a guest on Krusty's show.
Plot
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
. Mel then explains how Lisa became an entertainer. At Krusty the Clown's 4,000th episode, Krusty decides to hire brand-new "Krustkateers", children who used to star alongside Krusty in his early episodes. Bart has the best performance of all the children auditioning, but Krusty chooses Nelson Muntz
Nelson Muntz
Nelson Mandela Muntz is a fictional character and bully from the animated TV series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright. Nelson was introduced in Season 1's "Bart the General" as a bully but later turned into a friend of Bart Simpson, who is best identified by his signature laugh .-Role...
instead. Lisa decides to defend Bart and demands Krusty hire him. However, Krusty decides to hire Lisa as his intern instead. As Krusty's intern, Lisa is frequently bullied by Krusty. Noticing how Krusty degrades Lisa, Mel tells her that Krusty is very conceited, so in order to bear Krusty's rudeness, Lisa must compliment him. Lisa takes Sideshow Mel's advice, and a conceited Krusty finally praises Lisa's assistance.
Meanwhile, Bart and Homer decide to sell all of Krusty's merchandise in Bart's room. Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria, and first appeared in the second-season episode "Three Men and a Comic Book", which originally aired on May 9, 1991. He is the proprietor of a comic book store, The...
trades a coin album and a bicentennial quarter
United States bicentennial coinage
The United States Bicentennial coinage was a set of circulating commemorative coins, consisting of a quarter, half dollar and dollar struck by the United States Mint in 1975 and 1976...
for the collection. Bart and Homer start coin collecting. When the two believe they have filled the entire collection book, they discover a secret coin slot for the rare 1917 "Kissing Lincolns" penny.
When Krusty fails to entertain the audience at one of his shows, Lisa attempts to make Krusty look better. After pushing Krusty off the diving board, the entire audience laughs at Krusty and praises Lisa, whose mind is swept with fame and fortune. Krusty is warned by his agent that Lisa's popularity may steal his spotlight. Later, Krusty discovers the network executives have hired Lisa to replace him, and have renamed the show "The Lisa Show". Lisa becomes an overnight success, but Sideshow Mel warns Lisa not to overdo her pride. Krusty is relegated to a local late-night talk show.
Bart and Homer head to a coin auction house in an attempt to buy the "Kissing Lincolns" penny, but Mr. Burns
Montgomery Burns
Charles Montgomery "Monty" Burns, usually referred to as Mr. Burns, is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer and previously Christopher Collins. Burns is the evil owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and is Homer...
buys it instead. Mr. Burns does not willingly give Homer the penny, but unknowingly gives it to Homer as part of change for a nickel.
The flashback concludes, and Lisa is shown proudly accepting her award. After the awards show, Mel reveals to Lisa that he had previously won the Entertainer of the Year Award. But he also tells Lisa that nobody who won the award has ever received any long lasting fame. Lisa realizes that she needs to get out of the business while she still can. She runs back out on stage and calls Krusty up, giving him a chance to be in the spotlight again. The episode ends with Krusty regaining his reputation and his show, where he continues to torture Mel to make people laugh.
Cultural references
- The episode's title and plot as well as certain elements and scenes are references to the film All About EveAll About EveAll About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve", by Mary Orr.The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but aging Broadway star...
. - The pig dressed in the suit is Spider Pig from Simpsons Movie.
- The Krustkateers are a reference to the Mouseketeers from The Mickey Mouse Club.
- The comic book Radioactive Man vs. Muhammad AliMuhammad AliMuhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
is a parody of the 1978 comic book Superman vs. Muhammad AliSuperman vs. Muhammad AliSuperman vs. Muhammad Ali is an oversize comic book published by DC Comics in 1978. The 72-page book features Superman teaming up with the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali to defeat an alien invasion of Earth...
. - Last Gasp with Krusty the Clown is a reference to Last Call with Carson DalyLast Call with Carson DalyLast Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
. - The dance Nelson practises for Krusty's show is a parody of the famous routine from FlashdanceFlashdanceAnother song used in the film, "Maniac", was also nominated for an Academy Award. It was written by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky, and was inspired by the 1980 horror film Maniac. The lyrics about a killer on the loose were rewritten so that it could be used in Flashdance...
. - Sideshow Mel's narration breaks the fourth wall just before the ad break, saying, "Lisa didn't know it yet, but she had just dipped her first toe, into the business of showShowbiz-Charts and certifications:-Release history:-Personnel:Muse*Matthew Bellamy – vocals; guitars; piano; Hammond organ on "Falling Down", "Unintended" and "Escape"; mellotron on "Muscle Museum" and "Unintended", Wurlitzer electric piano on "Fillip" and "Hate This & I'll Love You"; synthesizers...
! And it is a business, as you will find out in three...two...one..."
Reception
Robert Canning of IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said the episode lacked the normal spark and was an average season finale. He also criticized the premise of the main plot for being identical to that of "Bart Gets Famous
Bart Gets Famous
"Bart Gets Famous" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons fifth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 3, 1994. In the episode, Bart gets a job as Krusty the Clown's production assistant. However, he soon becomes sick of the job and comes close to quitting....
". Although he gave it a lackluster review, he said Homer's storyline, despite being a "time filler", had more laughs. He gives the episode a final 5.8. In its original run, the episode was watched by 6.11 million viewers. At the Springfield Showbiz Awards, the MC's quote, "We now come to our final award: Entertainer of the Year. An award so prestigious that it recently won the 'Award of the Year' Award at the 2007 Awardie Awards," was nominated for Best Quote of the Week.