All Singing, All Dancing

Last updated

"All Singing, All Dancing"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 9
Episode 12
Directed byMark Ervin
Written by Steve O'Donnell
Production code5F24
Original air dateJanuary 4, 1998 (1998-01-04)
Guest appearances
Episode features
Couch gag The floor is a treadmill. Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie successfully dismount from the treadmill onto the couch, while Homer gets stuck on it, yelling "Marge, stop this crazy thing!" [1]
Commentary Matt Groening
David Mirkin
Steve O'Donnell
Hank Azaria
Yeardley Smith
Steven Dean Moore
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Miracle on Evergreen Terrace"		Next →
"Bart Carny"
The Simpsons (season 9)
List of episodes

"All Singing, All Dancing" is the eleventh episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons . It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 4, 1998. In the fourth Simpsons clip show, Homer claims he hates singing, so Marge shows family videos of musical numbers from previous seasons. The episode is in the form of a sung-through musical, featuring spoken dialogue only at the start and end of the episode. The original material was directed by Mark Ervin and written by Steve O'Donnell. It was executive produced by David Mirkin. It features guest appearances from George Harrison, Patrick Stewart and Phil Hartman, although these are all clips and none of them recorded original material for the episode. [1]

Contents

Plot

Homer and Bart rent the film Paint Your Wagon , expecting it to be a shoot-em-up Western. Homer is dismayed to find out that it is actually a musical, and expresses his distaste for such films. Marge is baffled by this, saying that he ironically loves singing. The family starts delivering their dialogue in song form, and Marge decides to prove that Homer loves to sing by showing family videos. Several clips are shown of various songs from past episodes, but Homer is not convinced. At this moment, Snake breaks into their house and holds them hostage. However, once he hears them singing, Snake decides that they would not make good hostages and leaves.

The family continues to sing and more videos are shown. Snake again breaks into the house and claims that he got a song stuck in his head and the only way to get rid of it is to kill the Simpsons. He tries to shoot them but discovers that his gun is out of ammunition and leaves again.

After more clips, Snake returns for a final time, with ammunition, and aims his gun at them, but the family reveals that they are done singing. Snake declares that he has no problem with them and leaves. When Marge starts humming a tune, however, he fires a warning shot through the window.

During the closing credits, Snake, still annoyed by all the music, shoots at the orchestra as they try to play the show's closing theme song. The third and final time they try to play, it is at a very soft volume, but Snake is not fooled and proceeds to shoot again, and once more when the Gracie Films logo music plays.

Songs

The clip show features several full songs from previous episodes of The Simpsons. [1]

EpisodeSeasonSong
" Homer's Barbershop Quartet " 5 "Baby on Board"
" Bart After Dark " 8 "We Put the Spring in Springfield"
" Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood " 5 "Springfield, Springfield"
" Homer and Apu " 5 "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?"
" Krusty Gets Kancelled " 4 Krusty's version of "Send In the Clowns"
" Two Dozen and One Greyhounds " 6 "See My Vest"
" Marge vs. the Monorail " 4 "The Monorail Song"
" Bart Sells His Soul " 7 "In the Garden of Eden" (really "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly)
" Homer the Great " 6 "We Do"

Many of them are among the most popular songs from the show. [2] "Who Needs The Kwik-E-Mart?" and "We Do" had previously been nominated for best song at the Primetime Emmy Awards, and "We Put the Spring in Springfield" won the award in 1997. [3]

Production

The episode is the fourth and penultimate clip show episode of The Simpsons. It was put together by Steve O'Donnell, who wrote this episode and "The Joy of Sect" (which, in production order, preceded this episode). [4] Executive producer David Mirkin hated doing clip shows and "wouldn't do them if we had a choice" and this is referenced at the end of the episode. [2] The episode contains two "screw the audience act breaks" in which a major problem is presented before the commercial but suddenly ends after the break. The episode also had problems with the censors as they objected to scenes of Snake pointing his shotgun at the Simpsons' baby daughter, Maggie. In spite of this, "All Singing, All Dancing" is one of the few episodes of The Simpsons that has been given a G-rating on American television. [2]

Cultural references

Clint Eastwood is dressed as the Man with No Name from the Dollars Trilogy films. [5] The film Paint Your Wagon is referenced at the beginning of the episode. The film does star Eastwood and Lee Marvin and was directed by Joshua Logan, but the writers did not base their parody or the song on the film at all. [2] The man in the film that confronts Eastwood is modelled after Lee Van Cleef and his character Colonel Douglas Mortimer from the Dollars film For a Few Dollars More . [6]

Several of the songs featured in the episode are references to actual musicals. "Springfield, Springfield", sung by Bart and Milhouse, is a reference to "New York, New York", from On the Town . [7] Krusty's "Send in the Clowns" uses different lyrics from the original version by Stephen Sondheim. [7] Lyle Lanley's "The Monorail Song" takes references from a performance by character Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man , including Lanley's costume and "the crowd's mindless acceptance of his deceitful proposal". [7] "See My Vest" is a parody of the song "Be Our Guest", sung by Jerry Orbach in the 1991 film Beauty and the Beast . [8] While at the First Church of Springfield, Bart substitutes the lyrics from Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" to "In the Garden of Eden". [7]

Reception

In its original broadcast, "All Singing, All Dancing" finished 26th in ratings for the week of December 29, 1997 – January 4, 1998, with a Nielsen rating of 9.1, equivalent to approximately 8.9 million viewing households. It was the second highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following The X-Files . [9]

Although he normally dislikes clip shows, Mirkin liked this episode because of the singing and dancing and called the clips "truly wonderful". [2] The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, wrote "for a clips show, it's not bad. The only one missing really is "Dr Zaius" from "A Fish Called Selma". [1] In his book Planet Simpson , author Chris Turner wrote, "when songs spring up one at a time, you might notice a clever line or two, or the way that they serve the same kind of plot-advancing or energy-generating purposes they do in Singin' in the Rain or Cats , but piled together in ["All Singing, All Dancing"], they amount to a sort of Simpsonian side project: Springfield: The Musical. And ... it's a very impressive side project at that." [10] The episode was nominated for a 1998 Emmy Award, in the "Music Direction" category. [11] [12] A review of The Simpsons season 9 DVD release in the Daily Post noted that it includes "super illustrated colour commentaries" on "All Singing, All Dancing" and "Lost Our Lisa". [13] Isaac Mitchell-Frey of the Herald Sun cited the episode as a "low moment" of the season, noting it "recycles parts of previous episodes". [14]

Michael Dunne analyzed the episode in his book American Film Musical Themes and Forms, and gave examples from it while explaining that singing and dancing performances are generally not seen as acceptable in the television medium. [7] He notes that Homer calls singing "fruity" and "the lowest form of communication" during the episode. [7] However, Dunne also notes the fact that Homer himself sings "his objection that musicals are fake and phony". [7] Dunne describes the frame narrative as establishing Marge as "more favorably disposed toward musicals than the males in her house". [7] Dunne concluded that "musicals come out on top in this episode, but the victory is marginal at best". [7] Of the episode itself, Dunne wrote that "the parodies contained in the show demonstrate that its creators are familiar enough with various forms of musical performance to echo them and confident enough that their viewers will catch the references". [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Weinstein</span> American television writer and producer

Josh Weinstein is an American television writer and producer, known for his work on the animated comedy series The Simpsons. Weinstein and Bill Oakley became best friends and writing partners at St. Albans School; Weinstein then attended Stanford University and was editor-in-chief of the Stanford Chaparral. He worked on several short-term media projects, including writing for the variety show Sunday Best, but was then unemployed for a long period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homer the Great</span> 12th episode of the 6th season of The Simpsons

"Homer the Great" is the twelfth episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 8, 1995. In the episode, Homer joins an ancient secret society known as the Stonecutters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marge vs. the Monorail</span> 12th episode of the 4th season of The Simpsons

"Marge vs. the Monorail" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 14, 1993. The plot revolves around Springfield's impulse purchase of a faulty monorail from a conman, and how it subsequently falls to Marge to stop the train from destroying the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Joy of Sect</span> 13th episode of the 9th season of The Simpsons

"The Joy of Sect" is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 8, 1998. In the episode, a cult takes over Springfield, and the Simpson family become members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treehouse of Horror IV</span> 5th episode of the 5th season of The Simpsons

"Treehouse of Horror IV" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons and the fourth episode in the Treehouse of Horror series of Halloween specials. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 28, 1993, and features three short stories called "The Devil and Homer Simpson", "Terror at 5+1⁄2 Feet", and "Bart Simpson's Dracula".

"Life on the Fast Lane", also known as "Jacques to Be Wild" in the UK, is the ninth episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 18, 1990. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman. Albert Brooks guest starred as Jacques, a French bowling instructor, with him being credited as "A. Brooks".

"Whacking Day" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 29, 1993. The episode revolves around the fictional holiday "Whacking Day", celebrated annually, in which the citizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, then fatally club them. After Bart is expelled from school as punishment for injuring Superintendent Chalmers, he applies the knowledge he gains from Marge's homeschooling to help Lisa expose the fraudulent and cruel nature of the holiday.

"The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 3, 1995. As the title suggests, it is the 138th episode and the third clip show episode of The Simpsons, after "So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show" and "Another Simpsons Clip Show".

"Marge Simpson in: 'Screaming Yellow Honkers'" is the fifteenth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 21, 1999. After Homer purchases a Canyonero sports utility vehicle, he discovers he bought the model intended for women, so he gives the vehicle to Marge. Despite disliking it at first, Marge grows fond of it, and quickly develops road rage against other motorists. The episode was written by David M. Stern and directed by Mark Kirkland.

"Lady Bouvier's Lover" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 12, 1994. In the episode, Abe Simpson falls in love with Marge's mother, Jacqueline Bouvier, and they start dating. However, on a night out in town, she is charmed by Mr. Burns. Abe is brokenhearted when he learns that Jacqueline is going to marry Mr. Burns.

"Bart Gets an Elephant" is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 31, 1994. In this episode, Bart wins a radio contest and is awarded a full-grown African elephant that he names Stampy. After Stampy wrecks the Simpsons' house and eats all the food, Homer decides to sell Stampy to an ivory dealer. Bart runs away with Stampy to save his pet, but the family finds the two at a museum exhibit, where Homer sinks into a tar pit. Homer is saved by Stampy, and so gives the elephant away to an animal refuge instead.

"A Streetcar Named Marge" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 1, 1992. In the episode, Marge wins the role of Blanche DuBois in a community theatre musical version of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Homer offers little support for his wife's acting pursuits, and Marge begins to see parallels between him and Stanley Kowalski, the play's boorish lead male character. The episode contains a subplot in which Maggie Simpson attempts to retrieve her pacifier from a strict daycare owner.

"Marge on the Lam" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 4, 1993. After Marge invites her neighbor Ruth Powers to attend the ballet, they become friends. Homer grows jealous of their friendship and pursues them, resulting in a police chase led by Chief Wiggum that ends in near-disaster.

"Another Simpsons Clip Show" is the third episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 25, 1994. In the episode, Marge reads a romance novel in bed, and it prompts her to have a family meeting, where the Simpson family recall their past loves in form of clips from previous episodes.

"Fear of Flying" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It was first broadcast on the Fox network in the United States on December 18, 1994. In the episode, the family attempts to go on a vacation but soon discovers that Marge is afraid of flying.

"Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" is the twentieth episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 9, 1995. The episode was written by Mike Scully and directed by Bob Anderson. Frank Welker guest stars as Santa's Little Helper and various other dogs. In the episode, Santa's Little Helper has puppies with a dog that he met at the greyhound racetrack.

"The Springfield Connection" is the twenty-third episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 7, 1995. In the episode, Marge deals with corruption and crime when she joins the Springfield police force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homer and Apu</span> 13th episode of the 5th season of The Simpsons

"Homer and Apu" is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 10, 1994. In the episode, Homer participates in a hidden-camera investigation of spoiled food being sold at the Kwik-E-Mart. The chain's corporate office fires Apu and replaces him with actor James Woods, who is doing research for an upcoming film role. Apu misses his job, so he and Homer travel to India to persuade the head of the Kwik-E-Mart corporation to rehire him.

Media is a recurring theme of satire on The Simpsons. The show is known for its satire of American popular culture and especially television culture, but has since its inception covered all types of media such as animation, journalism, commercials, comic books, movies, internet, and music. The series centers on a family and their life in a typical American town but the town of Springfield acts as a complete universe. The town features a vast array of media channels—from kids' television programming to local news, which enables the producers to make jokes about themselves and the entertainment industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Shot Mr. Burns?</span> Two-part episode of The Simpsons

"Who Shot Mr. Burns?" is a two-part episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons.Part One is the twenty-fifth and final episode of the sixth season and originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 21, 1995, while Part Two is the season premiere of the seventh season and aired on September 17, 1995.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Martyn, "All Singing, All Dancing".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Mirkin, David (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "All Singing, All Dancing" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  3. ↑ "Primetime Emmy Awards Advanced Search". Emmys.org. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  4. ↑ O'Donnell, Steve (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "All Singing, All Dancing" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  5. ↑ Azaria, Hank (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "All Singing, All Dancing" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  6. ↑ Gimple, Pp. 24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Dunne, Pp. 177–179.
  8. ↑ Scully, Mike (2005). The Simpsons The Complete Sixth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
  9. ↑ "Angels and oranges for CBS". Sun-Sentinel. Associated Press. January 10, 1998. p. 9D.
  10. ↑ Turner 2004, pp. 69–70.
  11. ↑ Staff (July 24, 1998). "Emmy nominations bring the unexpected". The Houston Chronicle . Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspapers Partnership, LP. p. Page 1.
  12. ↑ Associated Press (July 24, 1998). "Emmy Awards '98". Los Angeles Daily News . pp. Page L36.
  13. ↑ Staff (January 26, 2007). "Film: DVD view". Daily Post . Trinity Mirror. pp. Page 6: Film Extras.
  14. ↑ Mitchell-Frey, Isaac (February 11, 2007). "Comedy – The Simpsons, Series 9". Herald Sun . p. E12.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.