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| | Season = 9 | | Season = 9 | ||
| | airdate = October 19, 1997 | | airdate = October 19, 1997 | ||
| | |
|show runner=]<br>] | ||
| | writer = ] | | writer = ] | ||
| | director = ] | | director = ] | ||
| | |
|blackboard="I no longer want my ]"<ref name="Book">{{cite book| last = Gimple | first = Scott M. | title = ] | publisher = ]| date =1999-12-01| isbn = 978-0060987633}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |couch_gag=Homer is a ] that twists himself off and reveals each family members’s top halves.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season9/page3.shtml|title=Lisa's Sax|accessdate=2007-12-02|author=Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian |date=2000|publisher=BBC}}</ref> | ||
| | last = Gimple | first = Scott M. | title = ] | publisher = ]| date = December 1, 1999 | isbn = 978-0060987633}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | | |
||
| | guest_star = ] as himself playing ] | | guest_star = ] as himself playing ] | ||
| | image = ] | | image = ] | ||
| | image_caption = Lisa playing her sax as a toddler. | | image_caption = Lisa playing her sax as a toddler. | ||
| | commentary |
| commentary=Al Jean<br>Mike Reiss<br>Dominic Polcino | ||
| | season = 9 | | season = 9 | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''Lisa's Sax'''" is the third episode of '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ] and originally aired on the ] network on October 19, 1997 to overwhelmingly positive reviews.<ref name="officialsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0903.htm|title=Lisa's Sax|accessdate=2007-12-02|publisher=The Simpsons.com}}</ref> In the series' sixth flashback episode, it is explained how ] got her saxophone. The episode was executive produced by ] and ] and was the first episode Jean wrote by himself as all of his previous writing credits has been shared with Reiss. It was directed by ] and guest stars ], who appeared as himself portraying ] in a film.<ref name=bbc/> | "'''Lisa's Sax'''" is the third episode of '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ] and originally aired on the ] network on October 19, 1997 to overwhelmingly positive reviews.<ref name="officialsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0903.htm|title=Lisa's Sax|accessdate=2007-12-02|publisher=The Simpsons.com}}</ref> In the series' sixth flashback episode, it is explained how ] got her saxophone. The episode was executive produced by ] and ] and was the first episode Jean wrote by himself as all of his previous writing credits has been shared with Reiss. It was directed by ] and guest stars ], who appeared as himself portraying ] in a film.<ref name=bbc/> | ||
| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| ] and ] watch a TV movie called ''The Krusty the Clown Story: Booze, Drugs, Guns, Lies, Blackmail and Laughter'', which reveals that Krusty won four ] but they keep getting interrupted by ] playing her ] in her bedroom. Homer asks her to stop and Lisa responds that she has to have an hour of practice everyday. Bart enters Lisa's bedroom and tries to grab the saxophone from her but he inadvertently tosses it out the window. It lands in the middle of the street and is run over by a car, a truck and stomped on by Nelson Muntz. In a period of mourning, Lisa reveals she cannot remember ever ''not'' having that saxophone, so Homer recounts the instrument's origins. | ] and ] watch a TV movie called ''The Krusty the Clown Story: Booze, Drugs, Guns, Lies, Blackmail and Laughter'', which reveals that Krusty won four ] but they keep getting interrupted by ] playing her ] in her bedroom. Homer asks her to stop and Lisa responds that she has to have an hour of practice everyday. Bart enters Lisa's bedroom and tries to grab the saxophone from her but he inadvertently tosses it out the window. It lands in the middle of the street and is run over by a car, a truck and stomped on by Nelson Muntz. In a period of mourning, Lisa reveals she cannot remember ever ''not'' having that saxophone, so Homer recounts the instrument's origins. | ||
| In a flashback to 1990, Bart goes to his first day of school, but things do not go so well for him. Bart's initial enthusiasm was crushed by an uncaring teacher and he drew a violent sketch of his feelings. Marge became worried that something was truly wrong with him. It was during discussions of Bart's future that the school ] realized the young Lisa completed a complicated puzzle of ]. The psychologist told Homer and Marge that they needed to nurture her gifted spirit. They tried to send Lisa to a private school but the tuition fee cost $6,000. Meanwhile, a terrible heat wave hit Springfield and Homer saves $200 to buy an ]. Marge asks Homer not to buy one until they figure out how to help Lisa. At the school, Bart talks with his future friend ] and makes a funny gesture, which Milhouse finds funny. He entertains a group of children with rude words and when ] tells him to stop, Bart replies with his infamous catchphrase, "eat my shorts". | In a flashback to 1990, Bart goes to his first day of school, but things do not go so well for him. Bart's initial enthusiasm was crushed by an uncaring teacher and he drew a violent sketch of his feelings. Marge became worried that something was truly wrong with him. It was during discussions of Bart's future that the school ] realized the young Lisa completed a complicated puzzle of ]. The psychologist told Homer and Marge that they needed to nurture her gifted spirit. They tried to send Lisa to a private school but the tuition fee cost $6,000. Meanwhile, a terrible heat wave hit Springfield and Homer saves $200 to buy an ]. Marge asks Homer not to buy one until they figure out how to help Lisa. At the school, Bart talks with his future friend ] and makes a funny gesture, which Milhouse finds funny. He entertains a group of children with rude words and when ] tells him to stop, Bart replies with his infamous catchphrase, "eat my shorts". | ||
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| ==Production== | ==Production== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| "Lisa's Sax" is the first episode that ] had ever been credited as having written by himself. Before this episode, all of his writing credits had been shared with ].<ref name="Reiss">{{cite video | people=Reiss, Mike |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode was written with a small staff that consisted of Jean, Reiss and ], among others. According to Jean, the final episode contained 80-90% of Jean's original script.<ref name="Jean">{{cite video | people=Jean, Al |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> It is the sixth flashback episode done by the show. "]" was the first flashback episode and in it, Homer graduated from high school in 1974 and that made it difficult to have a realistic timeframe as this episode is set in 1990.<ref name="Jean"/> Jean conceived the idea for the '']'' style opening while waiting to get tickets to the ].<ref name="Jean"/> The episode was very short and the clip of Lisa playing the sax at the end was added to lengthen it.<ref name="Jean"/> | "Lisa's Sax" is the first episode that ] had ever been credited as having written by himself. Before this episode, all of his writing credits had been shared with ].<ref name="Reiss">{{cite video | people=Reiss, Mike |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The episode was written with a small staff that consisted of Jean, Reiss and ], among others. According to Jean, the final episode contained 80-90% of Jean's original script.<ref name="Jean">{{cite video | people=Jean, Al |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> It is the sixth flashback episode done by the show. "]" was the first flashback episode and in it, Homer graduated from high school in 1974 and that made it difficult to have a realistic timeframe as this episode is set in 1990.<ref name="Jean"/> Jean conceived the idea for the '']'' style opening while waiting to get tickets to the ].<ref name="Jean"/> The episode was very short and the clip of Lisa playing the sax at the end was added to lengthen it.<ref name="Jean"/> | ||
| The pastel drawing of Krusty was drawn entirely by Dominic Polcino. It was an easy episode for Polcino to direct due to the lack of crowds and being a "grounded episode".<ref name="Polcino">{{cite video | people=Polcino, Dominic |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> This is the last episode in which ] has a speaking role as ], although this episode aired nearly two years after her death. It would also mark the final time the character would speak until ]'s "]" when she was voiced by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003039/filmoseries#tt0096697|title=Lunchlady Doris (Character)|accessdate=2007-11-20|publisher=]}}</ref> | The pastel drawing of Krusty was drawn entirely by Dominic Polcino. It was an easy episode for Polcino to direct due to the lack of crowds and being a "grounded episode".<ref name="Polcino">{{cite video | people=Polcino, Dominic |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> This is the last episode in which ] has a speaking role as ], although this episode aired nearly two years after her death. It would also mark the final time the character would speak until ]'s "]" when she was voiced by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003039/filmoseries#tt0096697|title=Lunchlady Doris (Character)|accessdate=2007-11-20|publisher=]}}</ref> | ||
| ==Cultural references== | ==Cultural references== | ||
| While telling Bart and Lisa about 1990, Homer says "'']'' was entertaining America with...crudely-drawn filler material". This is a reference to ] as "bumpers" airing before and after the show's commercials.<ref name=bbc/> The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the television show '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> One of the people who run over the saxophone is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to the show '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> At the beginning of the flashback, the song "]" by ] can be heard.<ref name="Jean"/> In the flashback, ] fashioned his hair and attire like ] in '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> Homer can be seen watching '']'' and ] is then shown waltzing with a white horse.<ref name=bbc/> Al Jean bears a stiking resemblance to the kid who eats worms, on the commentary track he explains that he used to eat worms as a kid and this was a joke Mike Reiss had put in. In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to ]'s "Frankenstrat" guitar.<ref name="Reiss"/> The song that plays when Lisa gets her new sax is ] by ]. | While telling Bart and Lisa about 1990, Homer says "'']'' was entertaining America with...crudely-drawn filler material". This is a reference to ] as "bumpers" airing before and after the show's commercials.<ref name=bbc/> The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the television show '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> One of the people who run over the saxophone is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to the show '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> At the beginning of the flashback, the song "]" by ] can be heard.<ref name="Jean"/> In the flashback, ] fashioned his hair and attire like ] in '']''.<ref name="Jean"/> Homer can be seen watching '']'' and ] is then shown waltzing with a white horse.<ref name=bbc/> Al Jean bears a stiking resemblance to the kid who eats worms, on the commentary track he explains that he used to eat worms as a kid and this was a joke Mike Reiss had put in. In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to ]'s "Frankenstrat" guitar.<ref name="Reiss"/> The song that plays when Lisa gets her new sax is ] by ]. | ||
| ==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
| The authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, called it "a terrific episode, full of amusing self-referential wit and it is especially nice to finally discover what it was that caused Bart to go down the path to the darkside."<ref name="bbc"/> A review of ''The Simpsons'' season 9 DVD release in '']'' highlighted "Lisa's Sax" along with "]" and "]" as some of the more memorable episodes of the series.<ref>{{cite news | last =Dixon | first =David |
The authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, called it "a terrific episode, full of amusing self-referential wit and it is especially nice to finally discover what it was that caused Bart to go down the path to the darkside."<ref name="bbc"/> A review of ''The Simpsons'' season 9 DVD release in '']'' highlighted "Lisa's Sax" along with "]" and "]" as some of the more memorable episodes of the series.<ref>{{cite news | last =Dixon | first =David | title =ON DVD: 'The Simpsons – The Complete Ninth Season' | work =] | pages = || publisher =Union-Tribune Publishing| date =2007-01-06| url =http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070106/news_lz1c06ratedg.html | accessdate = 2007-12-11 }}</ref> Stephen Becker of '']'' noted that season 9 "has a special affinity for Lisa," and highlighted this episode along with "]" and "]" in his review of the DVD.<ref>{{cite news | last =Becker | first =Stephen | coauthors = | title =DVD review: The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season | work =] | pages = | publisher =The Dallas Morning News| date =2006-12-22| url =http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-simpsons_1219gl.ART.State.Edition1.3e5aabd.html | accessdate = 2007-12-11 }}</ref> A segment of the episode where two schoolgirls chant the digits of ] while playing ] is used by mathematicians Sarah J. Greenwald of ] and Andrew Nestler of ] in a website on the ] of ''The Simpsons''.<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | first = | coauthors = | title =Tune into math The Simpsons way.(Grades 9-12) | work =Curriculum Review | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = December 1, 2003 | url = | accessdate = }}(See also their website, http://www.simpsonsmath.com/)</ref> IGN recently gave it a 9/10. | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 04:46, 20 October 2009
Episode of the 9th season of The Simpsons| "Lisa's Sax" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:The Simpsons 3G02.png | |
| Episode no. | Season 9 |
| Directed by | Dominic Polcino |
| Written by | Al Jean |
| Original air date | October 19, 1997 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I no longer want my MTV" |
| Couch gag | Homer is a Russian nesting doll that twists himself off and reveals each family members’s top halves. |
| Commentary | Al Jean Mike Reiss Dominic Polcino |
| Episode chronology | |
| The Simpsons season 9 | |
| List of episodes | |
"Lisa's Sax" is the third episode of The Simpsons' ninth season and originally aired on the Fox network on October 19, 1997 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. In the series' sixth flashback episode, it is explained how Lisa got her saxophone. The episode was executive produced by Al Jean and Mike Reiss and was the first episode Jean wrote by himself as all of his previous writing credits has been shared with Reiss. It was directed by Dominic Polcino and guest stars Fyvush Finkel, who appeared as himself portraying Krusty in a film.
Plot
Homer and Bart watch a TV movie called The Krusty the Clown Story: Booze, Drugs, Guns, Lies, Blackmail and Laughter, which reveals that Krusty won four Emmys but they keep getting interrupted by Lisa playing her saxophone in her bedroom. Homer asks her to stop and Lisa responds that she has to have an hour of practice everyday. Bart enters Lisa's bedroom and tries to grab the saxophone from her but he inadvertently tosses it out the window. It lands in the middle of the street and is run over by a car, a truck and stomped on by Nelson Muntz. In a period of mourning, Lisa reveals she cannot remember ever not having that saxophone, so Homer recounts the instrument's origins.
In a flashback to 1990, Bart goes to his first day of school, but things do not go so well for him. Bart's initial enthusiasm was crushed by an uncaring teacher and he drew a violent sketch of his feelings. Marge became worried that something was truly wrong with him. It was during discussions of Bart's future that the school psychologist realized the young Lisa completed a complicated puzzle of Taj Mahal. The psychologist told Homer and Marge that they needed to nurture her gifted spirit. They tried to send Lisa to a private school but the tuition fee cost $6,000. Meanwhile, a terrible heat wave hit Springfield and Homer saves $200 to buy an air conditioner. Marge asks Homer not to buy one until they figure out how to help Lisa. At the school, Bart talks with his future friend Milhouse and makes a funny gesture, which Milhouse finds funny. He entertains a group of children with rude words and when Principal Skinner tells him to stop, Bart replies with his infamous catchphrase, "eat my shorts".
Meanwhile, Homer discovers that a musical instrument is a way to encourage a gifted child. He sacrifices his air conditioner money to buy Lisa her first saxophone. He asked the clerk to engrave on the sax: "Dear Lisa. Never forget your daddy loves d'oh!", as Homer drops the saxophone. In the present, Marge mentions that there's some money in the air conditioner account. Homer complains that the house has had no air conditioner for many years, but decides to buy another saxophone for Lisa, which was inscribed, Dear Lisa: May your new saxophone bring you many years of D'oh! Lisa then plays the saxophone hook from the song "Baker Street."
Note: This episode shows a flashback which included Snowball 1.
Production
"Lisa's Sax" is the first episode that Al Jean had ever been credited as having written by himself. Before this episode, all of his writing credits had been shared with Mike Reiss. The episode was written with a small staff that consisted of Jean, Reiss and David Stern, among others. According to Jean, the final episode contained 80-90% of Jean's original script. It is the sixth flashback episode done by the show. "The Way We Was" was the first flashback episode and in it, Homer graduated from high school in 1974 and that made it difficult to have a realistic timeframe as this episode is set in 1990. Jean conceived the idea for the All in the Family style opening while waiting to get tickets to the O.J. Simpson murder trial. The episode was very short and the clip of Lisa playing the sax at the end was added to lengthen it.
The pastel drawing of Krusty was drawn entirely by Dominic Polcino. It was an easy episode for Polcino to direct due to the lack of crowds and being a "grounded episode". This is the last episode in which Doris Grau has a speaking role as Lunchlady Doris, although this episode aired nearly two years after her death. It would also mark the final time the character would speak until Season 18's "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" when she was voiced by Tress MacNeille.
Cultural references
While telling Bart and Lisa about 1990, Homer says "The Tracey Ullman Show was entertaining America with...crudely-drawn filler material". This is a reference to The Simpsons' debut as "bumpers" airing before and after the show's commercials. The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the television show All in the Family. One of the people who run over the saxophone is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to the show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. At the beginning of the flashback, the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin can be heard. In the flashback, Dr. Hibbert fashioned his hair and attire like Mr. T in The A-Team. Homer can be seen watching Twin Peaks and The Giant is then shown waltzing with a white horse. Al Jean bears a stiking resemblance to the kid who eats worms, on the commentary track he explains that he used to eat worms as a kid and this was a joke Mike Reiss had put in. In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstrat" guitar. The song that plays when Lisa gets her new sax is Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.
Reception
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, called it "a terrific episode, full of amusing self-referential wit and it is especially nice to finally discover what it was that caused Bart to go down the path to the darkside." A review of The Simpsons season 9 DVD release in The San Diego Union-Tribune highlighted "Lisa's Sax" along with "All Singing, All Dancing" and "Trash of the Titans" as some of the more memorable episodes of the series. Stephen Becker of The Dallas Morning News noted that season 9 "has a special affinity for Lisa," and highlighted this episode along with "Das Bus" and "Lisa the Simpson" in his review of the DVD. A segment of the episode where two schoolgirls chant the digits of pi while playing patty-cake is used by mathematicians Sarah J. Greenwald of Appalachian State University and Andrew Nestler of Santa Monica College in a website on the mathematics of The Simpsons. IGN recently gave it a 9/10.
References
- Gimple, Scott M. (1999-12-01). The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060987633.
- ^ Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Lisa's Sax". BBC. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Lisa's Sax". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
- ^ Reiss, Mike (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Jean, Al (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- Polcino, Dominic (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa's Sax" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- "Lunchlady Doris (Character)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- Dixon, David (2007-01-06). "ON DVD: 'The Simpsons – The Complete Ninth Season'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Union-Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - Becker, Stephen (2006-12-22). "DVD review: The Simpsons: The Complete Ninth Season". The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Staff (December 1, 2003). "Tune into math The Simpsons way.(Grades 9-12)". Curriculum Review.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)(See also their website, http://www.simpsonsmath.com/)
External links
- "Lisa's Sax episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
- "Lisa's Sax" at The Simpsons.com
- "Lisa's Sax" at IMDb
- "Lisa's Sax", at TV.com