A Star Is Burns

"A Star Is Burns" is the 18th episode of The Simpsons' sixth season. It is the first of many to see Al Jean and Mike Reiss return as executive producers during another showrunner's term. The story involves a crossover with the short-lived animated series The Critic, for which it has been subject of some controversy between the show's producers.

1 Plot
2 Cultural references
3 Controversy
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Plot

The episode opens with a report by Kent Brockman depicting Springfield as the least cultural city in the United States. The town holds a meeting to decide on a course of action, where they adopt Marge's proposal to launch a film festival, and she is made head of a panel of judges to preside over the event. Among the other judges Marge chooses to be on the panel is Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz), the main character from another animated Gracie Films series, The Critic.

Sherman stays at the Simpson house, which proves problematic, as his popularity with the family makes Homer feel inadequate. In order to make him feel better, Marge winds up giving him a spot on the panel of judges (in place of Martin Scorsese). On the night of the festival, the panel is deadlocked, because some members had been bribed to vote for Mr. Burns' self-glorifying biopic, and the rest support Barney's touching film about alcoholism ("unfortunately entitled Pukahontas"). Homer ends up being the deciding vote.

Homer, originally supporting Hans Moleman's film Man Getting Hit by Football, is convinced to look into his heart and vote for Barney's film.

In a short epilogue, we see another attempt by Burns to buy an award, this time an Academy Award — but he loses out to a remake of Man Getting Hit by Football starring George C. Scott.

[edit] Cultural references

This episode is one of three whose titles are a play on the musical film A Star Is Born. The other two are "A Star Is Born-Again" and "A Star Is Torn".
The scene were everybody is at the film festival and where Patty and Selma pitch an idea to change their town name to Seinfeld, a rendition of the show's bass theme music plays.
When the plane from New York lands it forces its way in front of another plane. The pilot of the New York plane yells out "Hey! I'm landin' here!", which is a nod to the film Midnight Cowboy.
Several parts of Barney's film are based on the 1945 classic film The Lost Weekend about an alcoholic writer. The soprano-tune sung in Barney's film is called "Un Bel Dì Vedremo", from Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. The film's title, Puke-ahontas, refers to the movie Pocahontas. In the commentary the creators also state that some of the effects in the film, such as the time lapse and the music, are a nod to koyaanisqatsi.
Krusty states that he has to leave the jury debate early to go on a date with Eudora Welty
The Imperial March from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is played as Mr. Burns is introduced.^[1]
The title of Moe's film, Moe Better Booze, is a reference to Mo' Better Blues. The movie itself is a parody of the 1972 film Cabaret.
The title of Apu's film, Bright Lights, Beef Jerky, is a reference to Bright Lights, Big City.
The Itchy and Scratchy film is called Four Funerals and a Wedding, a parody of Four Weddings and a Funeral.
At the beginning of the film festival, we see Dr. Hibbert, who says he thought The Rocky Horror Picture Show was being shown that night. He is dressed like Frank-N-Furter, as is the custom at screenings of the cult film.
Señor Spielbergo is a Mexican film director who parodies Steven Spielberg.
Mr. Burns' film, "A Burns For All Seasons" (parody of A Man For All Seasons) is a parody of Ben-Hur (the opening titles with Michelangelo's painting of God creating Adam, the desert scene where an exhausted Ben-Hur gets something to drink by Mr. Burns (in the original film: Jesus Christ)) and E.T..
Jay Sherman says to Patty and Selma that Harvey Fierstein and MacGyver are gay.

[edit] Controversy

The episode has been subject to some controversy, as some viewers saw it as a mere thirty-minute advertisement for The Critic. Indeed, James L. Brooks was involved in the production of both shows. Among the fiercest critics of the Simpsons episode was Simpsons creator Matt Groening himself, who promptly removed his name from the credits (which is why only James L. Brooks' and Sam Simon's names are in the TV part of the credits after the couch gag and why David Mirkin's name appears as the third name in the closing credits). In response, Brooks labelled Groening a "gifted, adorable, cuddly ingrate."^[2] On the sixth season DVD, Groening is notably absent from the cast and crew commentary on this episode. On a previous DVD commentary including both Jon Lovitz (The Critic) and Matt Groening, Jon Lovitz pointedly mentioned Groening's "support" of The Critic, to all of the participants' consternation.