Once Upon a Time in Springfield
"Once Upon a Time in Springfield" | |
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The Simpsons episode | |
Episode no. | Season 21 Episode 10 |
Directed by | Matthew Nastuk |
Written by | Stephanie Gillis |
Production code | LABF20[1] |
Original air date | January 10, 2010 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
Episode features | |
Couch gag | The couch is seen inside a human egg. Each family member is a sperm cell swimming towards and penetrating the egg to sit on the couch. The zygote then divides multiple times, forming a Mr. Burns embryo, whose first words are, "Ex-cellent!" |
"Once Upon a Time in Springfield" is the tenth episode of the twenty-first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 10, 2010.[2] It was promoted as the 450th episode of the series, but is actually the 451st, and aired alongside The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!. The episode is dedicated to posthumous guest star Eartha Kitt, who died December 25, 2008, over one year before the episode first aired.
In the episode, The Krusty the Clown Show is once again reconstructed. This time, in a bid to get girls to watch the show, a female character named Princess Penelope is hired as
The episode has received positive reviews from critics, and in 2014, showrunner Al Jean selected it as one of five essential episodes in the show's history.[3]
It received a
Plot
Krusty follows Bart's advice and confronts Penelope in her
In the subplot, budgeting issues cause
As Homer, Lenny, and Carl carry their personal possessions from Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Mr. Burns confronts them. After begging is unsuccessful, Burns offers to reinstate even better donuts if they return to work at his power plant. The trio then accepts the offer.
Production
The episode features Anne Hathaway's return to the show, this time voicing Princess Penelope.[4] Jackie Mason returns to voice Krusty the Clown's father Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky.[5] This is one of Eartha Kitt's final television appearances, who posthumously guest-starred as herself, being an ex-wife of Krusty's.[4] Hathaway said that she grew up watching The Simpsons with her brothers, and said that "it stuck with me...high school, college, post, everything. I always stop whenever it's on."[6]
Cultural references
The title is in reference to Once Upon a Time in America. The opening chalkboard gag makes a reference to the 2012 phenomenon in which the world was supposed to end on December 21, 2012.[7] Homer, Lenny, and Carl get to see a comic from the comic series The Far Side (but not the audience) which includes a lion and an X-ray.[8]
While Penelope is playing the guitar in
Lisa's teacher, who was wearied by all of the reports by the girls of her class about various princesses as inspirational women, said there had been one report on Princess Anne, fifteen on Princess Diana, two on "baby Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway" and one on Princess Leia.[citation needed]
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" earned a 6.8
The episode has received positive reviews from critics.
IGN's Robert Canning wrote that "it may not be turning out classic after classic after classic, but The Simpsons can still deliver smart and solid entertainment" and rated the episode 8/10.[8]
Jason Hughes of
Tom Maurstad of The Dallas Morning News gave the episode a positive review writing "tonight's 450th episode, 'Once Upon a Time in Springfield' is rock solid. Maybe it's not one for the ages, but it's full of quotable lines and casually hilarious moments."[14]
TV Fanatic stated "Well, as compared to any other episode, "Once Upon a Time in Springfield," was a fantastic outing by The Simpsons".[15] TV Fanatic gave the episode an A, calling it "An excellent episode, though its flaws won’t allow me to give it an A+. Nevertheless, it rates a solid A from me."[7]
The episode was nominated for
References
- ^ Reg. # PAu003371153 in the U.S. Copyright Records database Retrieved on February 12, 2009.
- ^ "Fox announces 2009–2010 midseason schedule". FoxFlash. November 24, 2009. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- ^ Ayers, Mike (August 20, 2014). "5 Things: Essential Simpsons Episodes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Snierson, Dan (July 24, 2009). "'The Simpsons': Coldplay's Chris Martin, Sarah Silverman among season 21 guests". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "The Simpsons". Fox Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
- ^ New Video: Anne Hathaway guests on 'The Simpsons'. Entertainment Tonight. April 18, 2009. Event occurs at 0:00. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Ponywether, Ariel (January 13, 2010). "Review – The Simpsons: "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"". Firefox News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
- ^ a b Canning, Robert (January 10, 2010). "The Simpsons: "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" Review". IGN. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Kissell, Rick (January 11, 2010). "Football powers Fox, 'Simpsons'". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (January 11, 2010). "TV Ratings Sunday: Football Overrun Boosts Gigantic Simpsons; Chuck Premieres Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (January 12, 2010). "TV Ratings: Pro and College Football and The Simpsons and NCIS top weekly viewing". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- VanDerWerff, Emily (January 11, 2010). ""Once Upon a Time in Springfield"/The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice/"Love Rollercoaster"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Jason (January 10, 2010). "Review: The Simpsons – Once Upon a Time in Springfield". HuffPost TV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Maurstad, Tom (January 10, 2010). "'The Simpsons' celebrates 20 years with 450th episode". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ Hochberger, Eric (January 11, 2010). "The Simpsons Review: "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"". TV Fanatic. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
- ^ "62nd Primetime Emmy Award Nominations". CBS News. July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Day, Patrick Kevin; Fung, Lisa (August 29, 2010). "2010 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations & winners list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
External links
- "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" at TheSimpsons.com
- "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" at IMDb