Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" | |
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| Episode no. | 95 |
| Prod. code | 1F12 |
| Orig. Airdate | February 17, 1994 |
| Show Runner(s) | David Mirkin |
| Written by | Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Lynch |
| Couch gag | The family gets crushed by a foot a la the opening of Monty Python's Flying Circus. |
| Guest star | Kathleen Turner as Stacy Lavelle |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening David Mirkin Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein David Silverman |
| Season 5 September 30, 1993 – May 19, 1994 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" is the fourteenth episode from the fifth season of The Simpsons, in which Kathleen Turner guest stars.
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[edit] Synopsis
The episode begins at the Grand Opening for the Center for Geriatric Medicine where Dr. Hibbert introduces a frail Ben Matlock to a crowd of excited seniors. But after seeing his idol mobbed to the ground by fans, Abe becomes aware, perhaps fearful, of his future death and gives the family their inheritances early: To Lisa he leaves his lifetime collection of correspondence, most seemingly by telegraph, while he leaves to Homer and his family a box of old silver dollars. The family leaves to spend them at the mall right away.
At the mall, Lisa sees the new Talking Malibu Stacy doll in a toystore. She warns Marge that she may get a little crazy, then rushes the display, shoving aside everyone in her path.
Throughout the trip, Abe won't stop telling stories and spouting useless advice, making the family shun him. He appeals to Homer for help, and while on the couch he sees an ad for Buzz Cola with dancing, scantily-clad seniors on a beach, inspiring him.
Lisa is anxious to hear what Talking Malibu Stacy has to say, but is disappointed with her sexist phrases. "Right on, say it sister!" says an eavesdropping Bart, launching Lisa into a tirade decrying sexist attitudes and their effect on young girls, ending with her hurling the doll through the window, resulting in causing Grampa falling off his bike and into an open grave.
Lisa is angry that no one else, friends or family, can see the ridiculousness of the doll. She calls the company to complain, and after getting some resistance from Marge who wishes she wouldn't complain so much, she signs up for the factory tour. There she sees assembly lines and a video detailing the doll's history, as well as the sexist inner workings of the company.
Lisa and Grampa sit at the kitchen table, bemoaning how they are treated because of their age. In walks Homer, saying how glad he is to be a white male, aged 18-49 (everyone listens to him, no matter how stupid the ideas). Abe decides to get a job, and Lisa decides to find Malibu Stacy's creator.
Lisa visits Waylon Smithers, owner of the world's biggest Malibu Stacy collection and asks for help in finding Stacy Lovelle. She bikes to Stacy Lavelle's house (built exactly like Malibu Stacey's dream house), and plays the doll's phrases over the intercom... the gate immediately opens.
Lisa and Stacy Lavelle decide to create a new talking doll, Lisa Lionheart, voiced by Lisa herself. The doll is quietly released, and even Kent Brockman spends his whole newcast talking about the doll, ignoring breaking news that the President was arrested for murder. However, the creators of Malibu Stacy view Lisa's doll as a real threat, and plan to sink Lisa Lionheart.
Meanwhile Grampa struggles at Krusty Burger, suffering a war flashback at the drive-in and losing his false teeth making burgers. He soon becomes angry at the way seniors are treated, and quits, leading a group of angry seniors out of the restaurant.
As kids (and Smithers) rush out to buy Lisa Lionheart, a cart of the new Malibu Stacy dolls with a new hat is wheeled right into the path of the group running for the Lisa display. Lisa appeals to them that it's just the same doll with a new hat, but they all prefer to stick with Malibu Stacy... except for one little girl, who leaves with a Lisa Lionheart doll.
[edit] Trivia
- Lisa Lionheart possesses the wisdom of Gertrude Stein, the wit of Cathy Guisewite, the tenacity of Nina Totenberg, the common sense of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the down-to-earth good looks of Eleanor Roosevelt. Her hair is not based upon any of the Simpsons' as every member of the family has hideous hair (from a design point of view).
- It cost Stacey Lavelle $46,000 to produce the Lisa Lionheart dolls.
- Stacey Lavelle is shown with five fingers, the only other Simpsons character besides God to be shown like this.
[edit] Cultural references
- The entire plotline is based on the "Teen Talk Barbie" line of talking dolls and how they caused controversy.
- Homer dances on giant piano keys recessed in the floor of the toy store, spoofing a scene from the film Big. Unfortunately, while attempting to play "Rock Around the Clock" and The Simpsons theme he destroys it twice during the course of the episode.
- One of the Talking Malibu Stacy dolls owned by one of Lisa's friends says "My Spidey-sense is tingling. Anyone call for a webslinger?" This is one of Spider-man's catchphrases.
- The doll with the Spider-man voice also references the activities of underground groups that secretly switch of voice boxes of talking G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls in order to protest traditional masculine and feminine ideals. [1]
[edit] External links
- "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
