A Star Is Born-Again

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The Simpsons episode
"A Star is Born-Again"
Episode no.	304
Prod. code	EABF08
Orig. Airdate	March 2, 2003
Writer(s)	Brian Kelley
Director	Michael Marcantel
Chalkboard	None
Couch gag	Each family member is a marionette as they enter the living room. The camera then pans upward to show Matt Groening controlling the marionettes.
Guest star(s)	Helen Fielding and Marisa Tomei
SNPP capsule
Season 14 November 3, 2002 – May 18, 2003
Treehouse of Horror XIII How I Spent My Strummer Vacation Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade Large Marge Helter Shelter The Great Louse Detective Special Edna The Dad Who Knew Too Little Strong Arms of the Ma Pray Anything Barting Over I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can A Star is Born-Again Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington C.E. D'oh 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky Three Gays of the Condo Dude, Where's My Ranch? Old Yeller Belly Brake My Wife, Please Bart of War Moe Baby Blues
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A Star is Born-Again is an episode from The Simpsons' 14th season.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cultural References 3 Trivia 4 Quotes

[edit] Synopsis

During the annual Jellyfish Festival, Ned Flanders becomes depressed because he doesn't have anyone to be with anymore. Ned goes to the Leftorium to work out his problems, and talks to a beautiful woman (voiced by Marisa Tomei) at the store who asks him for a date. Ned later spots a movie poster with the woman's face on it; she is Sara Sloane, a movie star! Sara and Ned hit it off, and go on several dates. They encounter some problems (Sara is much, much more uninhibited than Ned), especially from tabloid reporters.

When her movie finishes filming, Sara asks Ned to come back to Hollywood with her. Ned has a horrible dream about the evils of Hollywood (in a sequence that includes a cameo by series producer James L. Brooks and also the "Hollywood" sign reading "Hollyweird") and refuses. Sara tries staying in Springfield to be with Ned, but the relationship doesn't work out. They break up and Ned finds that he is now more attractive to women because of his famous relationship.

[edit] Cultural References

• The episode title is both a play on the 1937 film A Star is Born and the term Born again Christian
• The little song Ned sings when he first meets Miss Sloane at the Leftorium goes along to the tune of A Horse With No Name by America.
• Following the book club meeting and at the end of the episode, Helen Fielding runs around the garden a la Benny Hill.
• Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1" and "Clair de Lune" was used as the background music for several scenes.

[edit] Trivia

• James L. Brooks is credited as Jim Brooks in the closing credits.
• Lionel Hutz's 'I Can't Believe its a Law Firm' can be seen in the background when Sara Sloane first walks into the 'Leftorium'.
• A new theme is introduced in this episode, which can be heard playing when Ned is walking down the street and lying down with Sara.

[edit] Quotes

• Ralph (floating away): I'm going to Africa, to meet lions and tigers and monkeys and giraffes and Santa and gorillas and...(voice fades in the distance)
• Bart: Come on, Mom, let's go!
  Marge: (tired) Hold your horses. I was up all night trying to put the string back into your father's swim trunks.
  Homer: (holding the string) Marge! It came out again!
  (Marge groans)
• Ned: What's the problem, officer?
  Wiggum: The problem is that I can't seem to get an agent. Can you show your girlfriend some of my headshots? (shows them his pictures) That's me as a greaser, Emperor of China, Eleanor Roosevelt - very regal, and just plain old me with an eye patch.
  Sara: I'll talk to my agent! (they drive away)
  Wiggum: I don't do TV!
• Ned: Well, forgive my language, but I'm one happy camper!
• Ned: I'm in a bit of a pickle, Homer. Sara wants us to have (whispers) S-E-X.
  Homer: Stupid Flanders! I'm not giving you any of my special moves!
• Sara: Whoa! That made me completely forget about Bob Balaban!
  Ned: That's what Maude used to say.
• Ned: It sure is nice to be shopping for a woman again. The last thing I bought for a lady was a casket.
• (in Ned's fantasy about Hollywood)
  James L. Brooks: Hi, Ned, I'm James L. Brooks.
  Ned: Oh, can I call you Jim?
  James L. Brooks: James L. Brooks is good. Would you like some sponge cake?
  Ned: Oh, well...
  James L. Brooks: (opens the box) With a brandy glaze? (snickers wickedly)
  Ned: No!
  James L. Brooks: Or maybe you'd like to go to a football game.
  Ned: Well...
  James L. Brooks: We don't have a team!
  Ned: No!
  (James L. Brooks laughs and disappears into fire)
  (Rod and Todd drive up to Ned in a convertible with two busty women)
  Todd: Hey, Daddy baby. We're movie producers!
  Rod: And we're Jewish! Yaaaay! (they drive away)
  Ned: NOOOOOOOOOOO!