Moaning Lisa
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Moaning Lisa" | |
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|---|---|
| Promotional artwork for "Moaning Lisa". | |
| Episode no. | 6 |
| Prod. code | 7G06 |
| Orig. Airdate | February 11, 1990 |
| Show Runner(s) | James L. Brooks Matt Groening Sam Simon |
| Written by | Al Jean & Mike Reiss |
| Directed by | Wes Archer |
| Chalkboard | "I will not instigate revolution" |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons pile on to the couch, Maggie pops up in the air and Marge catches her. |
| Guest star | Ron Taylor as Bleeding Gums Murphy |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening Wes Archer Al Jean Mike Reiss |
| Season 1 December 17, 1989 – May 13, 1990 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Moaning Lisa" is the sixth full-length episode of The Simpsons. The episode deals with Lisa's depression and her attempts to sublimate it by playing her saxophone.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Lisa awakens one morning with a potent case of the blues. She attempts to exorcise some of her sadness with a burst of "creativity" which is unwelcomed by band teacher Mr. Largo. Her gym teacher, also unsympathetic, has a note home to Lisa's parents regarding her refusal to participate in dodgeball. Homer and Bart, meanwhile, are playing a video boxing game. Undefeated with forty-eight wins, Bart takes only one round to knock off the head of Homer's boxer. While Homer is down for the count, Marge gives him the note from Lisa's teacher. Lisa's existential anxiety puzzles Homer's simple emotional sensibilities, and Marge attempts to administer the advice she was given by her mother regarding happiness. Nothing her parents say can bring Lisa out of her depression.
Hearing distant music one night, Lisa sneaks out of her room to follow it. She finds a soulful saxophone player, Bleeding Gums Murphy, playing some hard blues. Murphy teaches Lisa how to express her sadness on the sax and plays with her until Marge. Afterwards, Marge drops off Lisa at school and tells her to smile no matter what she feels inside. She sees Lisa hiding her true feelings and classmates taking advantage of her and tells Lisa that it is best to be herself. When Lisa hears this, she feels happy again.
Meanwhile, Homer takes lessons from a local video game wizard named the Champ for a rematch with Bart. Just as he starts to win, Marge unplugs the TV to announce Lisa's recovery. Seizing the opportunity to maintain his undefeated status as boxing champ, Bart gleefully announces retirement from the ring, much to Homer's disappointment. Afterwards, the Simpsons visit a jazz club to hear Bleeding Gums Murphy sing a blues number written by Lisa.
[edit] Trivia
- Lisa brushes her teeth with "Glum Toothpaste".
- In the script, the opening scene with Lisa looking into the mirror is called "an Ingmar Bergman moment."
- Lisa finds Bleeding Gums Murphy on the same bridge Homer was going to jump off of in order to commit suicide in "Homer's Odyssey".
- Bart's prank call to Moe: Bart calls Moe's Tavern and asks for Jacques, last name Strap. Moe's response: "When I find you I am going to gut you like a fish and drink your blood." This is the second prank call. Moe's hair is now gray.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Ralph Wiggum, however his appearance, his mannerisms, and his voice are different from how he would be for the rest of the series.
- The season 18 episode "Moe'N'a Lisa"'s title may have been a slight reference to this episode's title.
- Lisa is wailing out for "the homeless family living out of its car, the Iowa farmer whose land has been taken away by unfeeling bureaucrats, the West Virginia coal miner..."
- The note from Principal Skinner says, "Lisa refuses to play dodgeball because she is sad."
- Games at the Noise Land Video Arcade, the games include Eat My Shorts, PAC-RAT II, Itchy vs. Scratchy, Escape from Grandma's House, and Robert Goulet Destroyer.
- The Ullman era Lisa Simpson can be seen in the gym where Lisa plays dodgeball
[edit] Cultural references
- The episode title is a play on Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa.
- The video game Bart & Homer play is based on Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!.
- The background noise of the arcade is the music from the Tetris arcade machine.
- Lisa's school band is practicing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", the patriotic American song, based on the melody of the British national anthem "God Save the Queen". Mr. Largo says to Lisa, "There's no room for crazy bebop in My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
- The controllers being used on Bart's video game system resemble Atari 2600 joysticks, but the graphics on the TV would suggest a newer model console.
[edit] External links
