I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can/References

2026-03-01T19:57:33Z

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== Cultural references ==
*The title of the episode is a reference to the 1981 book ''{{W|I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can}}'', by {{W2|Barbara Gordon|filmmaker}}. The book describes Gordon's addiction to prescription medication and her rehabilitation. This episode depicts Lisa's addiction to fame and longing for acceptance.
*Portions of this episode were a parody of a Darren Aronofsky film called ''{{W|Requiem for a Dream}}''. The use of a 'hip-hop montage' around a central theme, in the film and this episode, addiction (the Ribwich); also the visuals when Homer eats the Ribwich (dialating pupils, blood pulsing through veins, etc.).
*[[Booberella]] is a parody of television personalities {{W|Maila Nurmi|Vampira}} and/or {{W|Elvira, Mistress of the Dark|Elvira}}.
*{{Ch|Ray Romano}} stars in the film ''[[Frankenstein and the Harlem Globetrotters Meet the Mummy and the Washington Generals]]''. The [[Frankenstein's Monster]] says that he was made from the corpses of the {{W|Denver Nuggets}}.
*The song "[[Tastes Like Liberty]]", in the [[Ribwich]] commercial, is a parody of "{{W2|Like a Rock|song}}" by [[Bob Seger]].
*The Ribwich is a parody of the [[McDonald's]] {{W|McRib}} sandwich, which was also noted for its intermittent availability and the less than obvious origin of its meat.
*While opening the school, Principal Skinner sings "[[School's Back]]", a parody of "{{W2|School's Out|song}}" by [[Alice Cooper]].
*The shirt that [[Martin]] wears when he meets [[Bart]] and [[Nelson]] shows a picture of him and [[Nelson]] in ''[[Star Trek]]'' costumes.
*After [[Lisa]] wins the school spelling bee, she yells "{{W|Free Tibet}}".
*This episode contains some {{W|Grateful Dead}} references. "Ribheads" are touring the country in devotion to the Ribwich and end up in [[San Francisco]]. At the end of the episode, Krusty says, "What a long strange product rollout it's been".
*The lawsuit against the [[Spellympics]] by the Olympics (for using -lympics) is a parody of the law made by Congress which says that the Olympic Committee can sue anyone who uses "Olympics" or makes an arrangement of the five rings.
*[[Otto]] asks Lisa to spell [[AC/DC]].
*[[Barney]], with some help from Lisa, sings "[[Relapse]]", a parody of "{{W2|Respect|song}}" by [[Aretha Franklin]].
*The stairs Lisa runs up are similar to the ''{{W|Rocky}}'' steps.
*{{Ch|George Plimpton}} says that he's the founder of ''{{W|The Paris Review}}''.
*The Blue Angels are a parody of the {{W|Red Arrows}}.
*Homer references [[ESPN]] with a sign saying "English Spelling Promotes Nowledge".
*The song played during the Spellympics is "{{W|I Put a Spell on You}}" by {{W|Screamin' Jay Hawkins}}.
*Bart says that he didn't bring a [[Game Boy]] to the Spellympics.
*When [[Homer]] wants to justify to [[Lisa]] for his desire to go to the last Ribwich day in San Francisco he tells her "''It's about brotherhood..It's about freedom''" phrases that are a quote from [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s "''{{W|I have a dream}}''" speech.
*The framed number 0 jersey in George Plimpton's office is in the style of the {{W|Detroit Lions}}, the team Plimpton practiced with in his book ''{{W|Paper Lion}}''.
*George Plimpton says that students would rather watch [[Ozzy Osbourne]].
*This episode is often noted for its famous parody of the Seven Sister Colleges (as they were prior to the 1970s; Vassar College is now coeducational and Radcliffe college merged with Harvard) who appear to Lisa Simpson in a dream:<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cic/about/12812.shtml Seven Sisters, Mount Holyoke College]</ref>
**'''Barnard College:''' ''(wearing glasses)'': We are the Seven Sisters. And you can attend any one of us! Like Barnard, Columbia's "girl next door."
**'''Radcliffe College:''' Come to Radcliffe and meet Harvard men.
**'''Wellesley College:''' Or come to Wellesley and marry them.
**'''Mount Holyoke College:''' ''(slurring, champagne glass in hand)'' No. Party with me! ''(Falls face first.)''
**'''Vassar College:''' Or nonconform with me! ''(Raises arms, reveals hairy armpits.)''
**'''Smith College:''' ''(muscular, carries lacrosse stick, husky voice)'' Play lacrosse with me!
**'''Bryn Mawr College:''' Or explore with me! ''(She and Smith kiss with passion.)''
*The song that plays during the Spellympics finale is "{{W|Get Ready for This}}" by {{W|2 unlimited}}.

== Trivia ==
*An alternate version of the first scene is used in 17th season episode "[[The Monkey Suit]]".
*George Plimpton later appears on the movie in "[[Bart Gets a "Z"]]".
*In Lisa's dream, the girl who represents {{W|Bryn Mawr College}} proposes to "''..or explore with me''" by kissing the girl representative of {{W|Smith College}}, giving an evident sexual connotation to her proposal.
*The UK broadcasts omitted lines where Bart said the word "wank", to which Seymour responded "If by wank you mean educational fun, then stand back, it's wanking time".

== Goofs ==
*[[Jaffee Ziswhisky]] is seen with blond hair instead of red hair.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Season 14|R}}

[[Category:Cultural references]]
[[Category:Trivia]]
[[Category:Goofs]]

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I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can/References