The Simpsons - "All About Lisa" - Talkback [5/18]

The opener with a narration and the scene freezing as Lisa was about to receive an award was similar to the Pinky and the Brain cartoon "Broadway Malady," which opened the same way.

There must be a parody of an old movie I'm missing here.
 
This episode was very loosely based on the Academy award winning All about Eve. This episode borrowed a similar theme regarding the vicious and fleeting cycle that exists in such a career on Broadway as well as the element of a understudy newcomer eventually replacing the aging star. The segments with the award show ar probably the closest homages and Sideshow Mel plays the part of Addison DeWitt, although his role is much different here.
 
I wish to amend my score for the wishing well joke that I forgot about last night. A gratuitous, stereotypical and poorly executed joke that is not in the spirit of making fun of a country.

Knocked down a notch for that: 7/10
 
Well. It is well known that the Irish are portrayed in the Simpsons in a very stereotypical fashion. Normally as either drunks, leprechauns or both. Unfortunately, Ireland ceased to be a place resembling such ideas long ago and is now the second richest country in Europe (in terms of per capita GDP). I've learned to live with such scenes from the Simpsons over the years . Some were indeed funny (U2 being a prime example), but to be honest, I'm really tired of seeing them at this stage. The Simpsons Movie pretty much made up for all that went before it (Lisa's friend Seamus or whatever he was called), but I can see that things have returned to the way they are.

Not to say that the prejudices of the past are still evident. Indeed, the Irish assimilated into Amercan life much quicker than other nationalities. But the notion that the Irish in general are just a bunch of alcoholic wife-beating farmers is a load of nonsense. I know the Simpsons thrive on satire (more so in the past than today), but c'mon, they could at least treat every country with the same attitude. I feel that Ireland has been singled out one multiple occasions for no real reason other than a cheap laugh that serves no purpose. Hence the knocking of a whole point.
 
I'm still having trouble with the fact that you think leprechauns are supposed to be a portrayal of Irish people, some sort of old belief that's been disproven in this more tolerant era. They are and always have been regarded as fictional beings. The mere presence of a leprechaun says nothing at all about Ireland, unless it's an episode where they go to Ireland and it's full of leprechauns. Or if they're talking to an Irish guy who believes in leprechauns.

Are you a leprechaun?
 
The only reason I remember it to this day, is because I saw an add stating that Scotty was going to be in it. I still have that on tape, heh.
 
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