Lisa Gets the Blues

Last updated

"Lisa Gets the Blues"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 29
Episode 17
Directed by Bob Anderson
Written by David Silverman
Brian Kelley
Production codeXABF11
Original air dateApril 22, 2018 (2018-04-22)
Guest appearance
Episode features
Chalkboard gag "I will not bet with Bart on the Final Four" (written by Homer)
Couch gag The first two parts of The Tracey Ullman Show short "The Aquarium" is shown.
Homer, Marge, Bart and Maggie attempt to do a lumberjack-themed gag, but Lisa does not show up.
Episode chronology
← Previous
"King Leer"		Next →
"Forgive and Regret"
The Simpsons season 29
List of episodes

"Lisa Gets the Blues" is the seventeenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons , and the 635th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Bob Anderson and written by David Silverman and Brian Kelley. It aired in the United States on Fox on April 22, 2018.

Contents

In this episode, the Simpsons visit New Orleans to cheer up Lisa after she loses her ability to play her saxophone well. Musician Trombone Shorty appeared as himself. The episode received mixed reviews.

The episode was dedicated in memory of R. Lee Ermey who had guest starred twice on the show as Colonel Leslie "Hap" Hapablap in the episodes "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming" and "Waiting for Duffman". [1] He died on April 15, 2018.

Plot

Beginning after part of the opening sequence, Mr. Largo discourages Lisa from playing the saxophone on the account that, no matter how hard she tries, some people will be better than her, a claim supported by Principal Skinner. Meanwhile, Homer, Marge, Bart and Maggie wait for Lisa to take part in a lumberjack-themed couch gag. At home, Marge attempts to make Lisa play in front of the family, but is unable to. Looking in the Internet, she finds out she has an incurable disorder called "The YIPS", which disable an expert performer for no reason whatsoever.

Marge plans a trip to Gainesville, Florida, much to the dismay of the rest of the Simpson family, for the 100th birthday of Marge's half-great-aunt Eunice, in hopes that Lisa will regain her confidence. Homer expects that the plane is disrupted to avoid going, but not even a passenger seated between two morbidly obese passengers is willing to protest. Bart then kicks the seat before him, creating a domino effect that degenerates into a fight which finally forces the plane to change its destination to New Orleans, much to the passengers' relief. Marge decides to approach the trip to cheer Lisa up, but decides to give up after Lisa mopes about the band celebrating 98% humidity. Marge resolves that Homer would handle the situation better.

While unsuccessfully trying to make Lisa happy, Homer goes on an "eating binge" throughout the city's numerous restaurants, eventually barfing at New Orleans' "vomitoriums". While visiting the city's landmarks, he and Lisa find a statue of Louis Armstrong that comes to life upon Lisa's wish. Louis urges Lisa to enjoy the city and listen to Homer. Meanwhile, Marge tries to make New Orleans interesting for Bart, whose boredom subsides upon finding a voodoo shop, where he plots revenge against Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney after they made him act as Little Orphan Annie in front of the cafeteria (down to having his pupils whitened with correction fluid) because of a prank Bart made on Jimbo, knowing he uses his hat to cover his baldness.

The bandleader of The Spotted Cat, a jazz bar Lisa and Homer go in, calls Lisa by name, actually being "Bleeding Gums" Murphy's nephew, the deceased jazzman (whose name was apparently Oscar) telling him that Lisa was the most promising musician he knew (much to his nephew's chagrin). He finally convinces Lisa to play his sax in spite of her protests, rekindling her love for the instrument. Back in Springfield, she keeps on playing, and the ghost of Louis Armstrong reappears, sadly wishing he was alive again.

The post-credits scene features Homer, Lisa and Bart eating beignets at the Café Du Monde. Homer comments that next week's episode will surpass Gunsmoke 's episode count. When Bart mentions Gunsmoke's radio show (which lasted for 432 episodes), Homer force-feeds Bart with a beignet.

Production

Development

In July 2017 at San Diego Comic-Con, writer and consulting producer David Silverman said he was working on an episode where the Simpsons travel to New Orleans for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. [2] Unlike the fourth season episode "A Streetcar Named Marge", which created controversy with the city, executive producer Al Jean said that this episode would feature the city in a positive light. Director Bob Anderson relied on photographs and research material to make the city appear authentic. Silverman wrote a montage of Homer eating in various New Orleans restaurants. [3]

Casting

Musician Trombone Shorty appears in the episode as himself and also plays his trombone. He had previously played music with Silverman outside his New Orleans studio. [3]

Reception

Viewing figures

"Lisa Gets the Blues" scored a 4 share and was watched by 2.19 million people, making it Fox's highest rated show of the night. [4]

Critical response

Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave this episode a C+, stating, "It’s momentarily affecting, especially with Smith giving voice to Lisa’s pain, but 'Lisa Gets The Blues' quickly scatters any intention of recapturing the old Lisa Simpson tragicomic resonance over a succession of self-referential gags, inconsistently sketched character beats, and some of the most indulgent tourist rubbernecking the show has ever done." [5]

Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars. He stated that there was more respect for New Orleans than in "A Streetcar Named Marge," but it meant there were fewer jokes at its expense. He said there were some laughs, but they come up short of the classics. [1]

Kevin Allman of the New Orleans–based newspaper Gambit said the episode did not compare to classic seasons but had some laughs. He also said locals would be pleased to see local landmarks rendered in animation. [6]

Mike Scott of The Times-Picayune analyzed a promotional image of Homer and Lisa standing in the 200 block of Bourbon Street and concluded that, unlike the broad animation in "A Streetcar Named Marge," the animators were able to draw many of the details that one would see if a person was standing there. [7]

Eating montage recreation

In August 2019, Katrin von Niederhäusern of Stockholm and Janine Wiget of Zürich posted a Youtube video showing them in a live-action shot-by-shot recreation of the montage of Homer eating in various New Orleans restaurants. The food cost them approximately five hundred dollars with several restaurants opting not to charge them for food. Filming the video took seven days using a mobile phone and tripod. The video drew the attention of The Simpsons creators, who invited them to a table read of the show. [8] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

Marjorie Jacqueline "Marge" Simpson (née Bouvier) is a character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. Voiced by Julie Kavner, she first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Marge was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on Life in Hell but instead decided to create a new set of characters. He based the character on his mother Margaret Groening. After appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show for three seasons, the Simpson family received their own series on Fox, which debuted December 17, 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bart Simpson</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons

Bartholomew Jojo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional character in the American animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening created and designed Bart while waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on his comic strip, Life in Hell, but instead decided to create a new set of characters. While the rest of the characters were named after Groening's family members, Bart's name is an anagram of the word brat. After appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show for two years, the Simpson family received its own series on Fox, which debuted December 17, 1989. Bart has appeared in every Simpsons episode except "Four Great Women and a Manicure".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lionel Hutz</span> The Simpsons character

Lionel Hutz is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. He was voiced by Phil Hartman, and his first appearance was in the season two episode "Bart Gets Hit by a Car". Hutz is a stereotypical shady ambulance chasing lawyer in Springfield, with questionable competence and ethics. Nevertheless, he is often hired by the Simpsons. Following Hartman's death at the hands of Brynn on May 28, 1998, Hutz was retired; his final speaking role was five months earlier, in the season nine episode "Realty Bites", and has since occasionally cameoed in the background.

"Moaning Lisa" is the sixth episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on February 11, 1990. The episode was written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and was directed by Wes Archer. Ron Taylor guest stars in the episode as "Bleeding Gums" Murphy. The episode deals with Lisa's depression and her attempts to sublimate it by playing her saxophone.

<i>Songs in the Key of Springfield</i> 1997 soundtrack album by The Simpsons

Songs in the Key of Springfield is a soundtrack/novelty album from The Simpsons compiling many of the musical numbers from the series. The album was released in the United States on March 18, 1997, and in the United Kingdom in June 1997. This was the second album released in association with the Simpsons television series; however, the previous release, The Simpsons Sing the Blues, contained original recordings as opposed to songs featured in episodes of the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krusty Gets Kancelled</span> 22nd episode of the 4th season of The Simpsons

"Krusty Gets Kancelled" is the twenty-second and final episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 81st episode overall. It first aired on Fox in the United States on May 13, 1993. In the episode, a new show featuring ventriloquist Arthur Crandall and his dummy Gabbo premieres in Springfield and competes with Krusty the Clown's show. Krusty's show is soon canceled. Bart and Lisa decide to help Krusty get back on the air by staging a comeback special.

<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".

"Bart vs. Thanksgiving" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on Thanksgiving, November 22, 1990. In the episode, Bart runs away from home after destroying a centerpiece that Lisa makes for the Thanksgiving dinner table.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simpson family</span> Family of five fictional characters in animation series The Simpsons

The Simpson family are the main fictional characters featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. The Simpsons are a nuclear family consisting of married couple Homer and Marge and their three children, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. They live at 742 Evergreen Terrace in the fictional town of Springfield, United States, and they were created by cartoonist Matt Groening, who conceived the characters after his own family members, substituting "Bart" for his own name. The family debuted on Fox on April 19, 1987, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" and were later spun off into their own series, which debuted on Fox in the U.S. on December 17, 1989, and started airing in Winter 1990.

"A Streetcar Named Marge" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on Fox 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.

"O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" is the eighth episode of the twenty-first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. Being the last episode to air in the 2000s, it originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 13, 2009. In this episode, Bart goes on a quest to get a baby brother out of jealousy of the sisterly bond Lisa has with Maggie.

"The Real Housewives of Fat Tony" is the nineteenth episode of the twenty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 1, 2011. This episode mainly centers around Marge Simpson and one of her older sisters, Selma, who falls in love with mobster Fat Tony. Selma later begins the glamorous lifestyle associated with being in the Mafia and the couple agrees to marry each other. The marriage leads to tension between Marge and Selma. Fat Tony later invites Homer and Marge to his mansion in New Jersey, in hopes of mending the sisters' relationship. Meanwhile, Bart acquires an ability to trace the location of truffles, which leads Lisa to attest to her growing greed for eating truffles.

"Moonshine River" is the first episode of the twenty-fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. The episode was directed by Bob Anderson and written by Tim Long. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 30, 2012.

"What Animated Women Want" is the seventeenth episode of the twenty-fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 525th episode overall. The episode was directed by Steven Dean Moore and written by J. Stewart Burns. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 14, 2013. The name is a take on that of the film What Women Want.

"Luca$" is the seventeenth episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons and the 547th episode of the series. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 6, 2014. It was written by Carolyn Omine and directed by Chris Clements.

"Days of Future Future" is the eighteenth episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 13, 2014. It was written by J. Stewart Burns and directed by Bob Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treehouse of Horror XXVII</span> 4th episode of the 28th season of The Simpsons

"Treehouse of Horror XXVII" is the fourth episode of the twenty-eighth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, the 27th episode in the Treehouse of Horror series of Halloween specials, and the 600th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Steven Dean Moore and written by Joel H. Cohen. It aired in the United States on Fox on October 16, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treehouse of Horror XXVIII</span> 4th episode of the 29th season of The Simpsons

"Treehouse of Horror XXVIII" is the fourth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, the 28th episode in the Treehouse of Horror series of Halloween specials, and the 622nd episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Timothy Bailey and written by John Frink. It aired in the United States on Fox on October 22, 2017.

"3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage" is the thirteenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 631st episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Tom Gammill and Max Pross. It aired in the United States on Fox on March 25, 2018. The title is a reference to the 1973 Swedish television miniseries Scenes from a Marriage.

"No Good Read Goes Unpunished" is the fifteenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 633rd episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Mark Kirkland and written by Jeff Westbrook. It aired in the United States on Fox on April 8, 2018.

References

  1. 1 2 Sokol, Tony (April 23, 2018). "The Simpsons Season 29 Episode 17 Review: Lisa Gets the Blues". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ Stanhope, Kate (July 22, 2017). "'Simpsons' Creator Says Owner Asked for Nicer Treatment After "Racist" Fox News Joke". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Bergeron, Judy (April 18, 2018). "Woo-hoo! 'The Simpsons' do New Orleans in what producer calls 'love letter to the city'". The Advocate . Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Porter, Rick (April 24, 2018). "'Timeless,' 'Family Guy' and all others hold: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ Perkins, Dennis (April 22, 2018). "Lisa has a musical crisis, but The Simpsons is content to breeze through New Orleans". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  6. ↑ Allman, Kevin (April 22, 2018). "Review: The Simpsons do New Orleans in 'Lisa Gets the Blues'". Gambit. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Scott, Mike (April 10, 2018). "First look: 'The Simpsons' do New Orleans -- and Jazz Fest". The Times-Picayune . Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Women recreate Homer Simpson's New Orleans gobble tour". Associated Press . September 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Allman, Kevin (August 26, 2019). "Watch: Two Swiss tourists reenact Homer Simpson's culinary tour of New Orleans, shot for shot". The Advocate . Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Snadowsky, Leslie T. (September 12, 2019). "Katrin And Janine's Culinary Adventure Cooks Up 'Priceless' Publicity For New Orleans". Biz New Orleans Magazine. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
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.