I Love Lisa
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "I Love Lisa" | |
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| Episode no. | 74 |
| Prod. code | 9F13 |
| Orig. Airdate | February 11, 1993 |
| Show Runner(s) | Al Jean & Mike Reiss |
| Written by | Frank Mula |
| Directed by | Wes Archer |
| Chalkboard | 'I will not call the principal "spud head."' |
| Couch gag | The family dances along with elephants and various circus performers. |
| Guest star | None |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening Al Jean Frank Mula Wes Archer David Silverman |
| Season 4 September 24, 1992 – May 13, 1993 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"I Love Lisa" is an episode from the fourth season of The Simpsons, in which the dim-witted and socially-awkward Ralph Wiggum plays a prominent role.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
On Valentine's Day in Springfield, Lisa's class begins constructing paper mailboxes for all the cards they are about to receive. When Ralph gets no cards and begins to cry, Lisa hastily gives him a card out of sympathy. Ralph immediately cheers up, and develops a romantic interest in his classmate.
Ralph begins to annoy Lisa at every turn, following her home and discussing his medical maladies. Lisa tries to escape the situation, but Ralph uses his position as the police chief's son to get her tickets to Krusty's upcoming 29th Anniversary Special, as well as a leading part for himself in a President's Day Pageant in which Lisa also stars. In a dramatic upset, Ralph received the role of George Washington in a segment about that president's life, beating out an obviously more talented classmate, who complained to no avail. Conveniently, Lisa as Martha Washington will be Ralph's "wife."
With Homer having convinced Lisa that nothing can go wrong at Krusty's show, Lisa and Ralph go together. On live air, Krusty begins interviewing audience members, and Ralph takes the opportunity to declare that Lisa is the love of his life and that he intends to marry her. Lisa finally loses her temper and angrily tells Ralph they are not boyfriend and girlfriend, that she never liked him, and that the only reason she gave him a valentine was because she felt sorry for him.
Ralph is humiliated and hurt, and Lisa soon regrets her actions, particularly after Bart replays the incident on videotape, pinpointing the exact moment where Ralph's heart breaks. Ralph bemoans his situation to his father, but the only way Chief Wiggum can respond is to break out Homer's tail light after a traffic stop.
On the night of the play, students sing about the lesser-known U.S. Presidents, and Bart plays John Wilkes Booth, perhaps modelling his performance after The Terminator. Surprisingly, Ralph proves to be a very good actor, inspiring the school bullies to study American history. He even moves Groundskeeper Willie to tears. The play ends with an animatronic Mount Rushmore singing "From sea to shining sea."
Afterward, Ralph signs autographs and greets well-wishers. Lisa also approaches, and gives him a new card, reading "Let's bee [be] friends." Ralph accepts the offer. Chief Wiggum watches his son and Lisa sitting together on the swings over the music of the Monster Mash.
[edit] Valentine's Day in Springfield
- Grampa scoffs at the holiday, until he sees Jasper enjoying a card from his granddaughter.
- Bart paints insults on candy hearts. Principal Skinner catches on and reminds the school that Valentine's Day is no joke, and in the process lapses into a Vietnam flashback where his best friend, Johnny, was shot by the Viet Cong while addressing a Valentine to his girlfriend.
- Moe receives a Valentine's Day card from a "secret admirer", who turns out to be Barney.
- KBBL DJ's Bill & Marty accidentally play "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett instead of a love song; they make the mistake again on President's Day.
- Lunchlady Doris serves beef hearts for lunch, despite their being dumped on the dirty school kitchen floor. Bart uses one of the beef hearts in a gross lunch room prank.
[edit] Trivia
- This episode establishes Ralph as Chief Wiggum's son.
- Al Jean, (show runner for this episode), really did receive a Valentine from a girl in third grade that read "I Choo-choo-choose you." Subsequently, his wife had it inscribed on his wedding band.
- Willie mentions that his father was sentenced to death and executed. However, his father is seen alive in a later episode in Scotland.
- Principal Skinner's orange drink would later make an appearance in New Kids on the Blecch.
- The characters dress in their regular attire even though the episode takes place in February. This is addressed in Another Simpsons Clip Show, with Lisa explaining it was unseasonably warm that February 14 and the kids walked home without jackets.
- Fox's original broadcast of this episode had an opening sequence recycled from Homer Defined.
- When Ralph enters the auditorium and tells Lisa he is going to play George Washington, he sits in a wheelchair with a cigarette holder, which is actually the character traits of FDR.
- After the play where Ralph played George Washington he was giving autographs to the girls. This was the only time in the series where Ralph had some popularity from his friends and even from the girls.
- This title is a possible reference to the TV show "I Love Lucy".
[edit] External links
- "I Love Lisa" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
