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Difference between revisions of "Last Tap Dance in Springfield"

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{{unreferenced|date=March 2008}}
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{{Tab}}
{{Infobox Simpsons episode
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{{EpisodePrevNext|Kill the Alligator and Run|It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge}}
| episode_name = Last Tap Dance in Springfield
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{{Episode
| image_caption= <!-- Deleted image removed, former caption: "Promotional Artwork for {{Pagename}}" -->
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|image= Last Tap Dance in Springfield promo.png
| image       = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Last Tap Dance in Springfied.png|220px]] -->
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|number= 246
| episode_no  = 246
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|season=11
| prod_code    = BABF15
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|snumber=20
| airdate     = [[May 7]], [[2000]]
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|prodcode= BABF15
| show runner  = [[Mike Scully]]
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|airdate= May 7, [[2000]]
| writer      = [[Julie Thacker]]
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|blackboard= "I will not dance on anyone's grave"
| director    = [[Nancy Kruse]]
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|couchgag= The living room is a jungle. Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie swing in on vines gracefully, like {{W|Tarzan}}. Homer, swings too far and crashes, like {{W|George of the Jungle}}.
| blackboard   = "I will not dance on anyone's grave."
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|showrunner1= Mike Scully
| couch_gag    = The living room is a jungle. Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie swing in on a vine gracefully, like [[Tarzan]]. Homer, however, swings past the couch and crashes, like [[George of the Jungle]].
+
|writer= [[Julie Thacker]]
| season      = 11
+
|director= [[Nancy Kruse]]
 +
|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''Last Tap Dance in Springfield'''" is the twentieth episode of the [[List of The Simpsons episodes#Season 11|eleventh season]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the second one written by (then) showrunner Mike Scully's wife, Julie Thacker. It aired on [[May 7]], [[2000]].
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"'''Last Tap Dance in Springfield'''" is the twentieth episode of [[season 11]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the two-hundred and forty-sixth episode overall. It originally aired on May 7, [[2000]]. The episode was written by [[Julie Thacker]] and directed by [[Nancy Kruse]].
  
__TOC__
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== Synopsis ==
==Plot==
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{{Desc|After seeing "Tango de la Muerto" at the local theatre, [[Lisa]] is inspired to learn the art of the dance, tutored by none other than former child actress Little Miss [[Vicky Valentine]]. Meanwhile, [[Homer]] decides to increase his visual acuity with laser eye surgery.}}
On a trip to the mall, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] sees an [[optometrist]] to get his eyes examined, and at the same time, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] find items for a camping trip [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] is going to take. Marge sees a marquee for the film ''[[Tango music|Tango]] de La Muerte'' and she and Lisa decide to see it. Lisa identifies with the main female character, a bookworm named "Lisabella" whom the Tango champion asks to be his partner. This interests Lisa, who wants to take dance lessons. She eventually does and chooses [[tap dance]], but her hopes of being a dancer are crushed when it turns out she can not dance. Worse yet, her teacher, "Little"  Vicki Valentine, makes her a curtain puller in an upcoming recital.
 
  
Meanwhile, Bart and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] sneak out of their camping trip after seeing that [[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]] is also going to the camping. They decide to hide in the mall and spend a week there, stealing toys and filling their stomachs with candy and cookie dough. This prompts [[Chief Wiggum]] to do an investigation of the shenanigans at the mall, which Wiggum at first thinks is caused by a giant rat. He then releases a [[Cougar|puma]] inside the mall to catch the rat, but Bart and Milhouse use a ball of [[yarn]] to distract the puma. Chief Wiggum, seeing the a piece of yarn hanging from the puma's mouth think it's the rat's tail and decides the case is closed.
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== Plot ==
 +
The Simpsons are visiting the mall, buying equipment for Bart's upcoming camping trip. [[Homer]] gets his eyes examined at the {{W|optometrist}}, while Marge and Lisa go to see ''{{W|Tango}} de La Muerte'', a romantic film. Lisa is entranced by a character called "Lisabella", a plain and bookish woman who is revealed to be beautiful when she is chosen to be the lead male's dance partner. The film charms Lisa so much that she now wants to become a dancer. Homer, meanwhile, takes the laser surgery and neglects the eyedrops used to prevent crusting and as a result has his eyes crusted, so he can't see. He is later tricked by Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney (who pretends to be Marge) into buying them cigarettes and Jack Daniels.
  
Lisa's recital is coming up, and she has a problem. That is, until [[Professor Frink]] attaches a device to her shoes, making them automatically tap at any percussive sound. She becomes a star at the show, but when the audience applauds her, her shoes go out of control. She is later exposed, and at Homer and Marge's suggestion, decides to be a playwright instead, choosing to write a play about people coming to terms with things (and to "load it up with lots of swears" in the vein of [[David Mamet]]). The credits is shown in a black and white style.
+
Marge takes her to the Dance School of "Little" Vicky Valentine, a former child actor (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Shirley Temple) who made her fortune tap dancing through many movies. Lisa says that she wants to learn the Tango, but Vicky forces her into tap lessons.
  
==Cultural references==
+
Bart and [[Milhouse]] are excited about their camping trip, until they are informed that [[Nelson]] will beat them up all week. They jump off the [[School Bus|bus]], and decide to go camp in the mall instead. They have a wonderful time, eating all the candy and playing with the sports goods, until [[Chief Wiggum]] is called in to catch the vandals. The chief thinks that it's a giant rat's fault, and after some failed booby traps, sets a {{W|Cougar|Puma}} loose to catch it. The Puma finds the boys, who escape after distracting it with a ball of pink yarn. Wiggum sees the end of the yarn protruding from the Puma's mouth, and decides the case is closed, believing the rat has been eaten.
*[[ACME Corporation]] — Chief Wiggum uses rat traps (to catch whom he thinks is the culprit of the mall vandalism) from the same company [[Wile E. Coyote]] patronized.
 
*''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'' — Wiggum's remark about being "crazy about the safety of the public" is taken from the 1975 thriller.
 
*[[Korg]] and [[Moog synthesizer]] — The "MORG" synthesizer at Stan's Keyboards (a store at Springfield Mall) combines the brand names of the synthesizer and keyboard.
 
*''[[Last Tango in Paris]]'' — The episode title is a play on the movie.
 
*''[[RoboCop]]'' — The "Cyborganizer" show Homer watches is a spoof of the 1980s science fiction-police movie.
 
*[[Shirley Temple]] — Former [[child actress]] Lil' Vicki Valentine is based on Temple.<ref name="calendar">{{cite book|last=Groening |first=Matt|title=The Trivial Simpsons 2008 366-Day Calendar|year=2007 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0061231304|pages=}}</ref>  Like Temple, Valentine has remained active in her profession since a series of childhood movies. Other Temple references:
 
**"[[On the Good Ship Lollipop]]" — "Spaceship Lollipop" is a parody.
 
  
==References==
+
Lisa is upset to learn that she simply cannot dance (even [[Ralph]] is a natural), and is relegated to "curtain puller" for the classes first dance recital. She doesn't tell her parents out of shame, but then [[Professor Frink]] appears with a solution - a couple of motors, which when attached to her shoes, will make them tap for her whenever a loud sound is made. He also reveals that his next project was transforming a ball-&-weasel toy into a deadly weapon. The show begins, and her shoes pick up the tapping of the other performers. She becomes the star, matching an envious Little Vicky tap for tap, but when the audience applauds the shoes go haywire.
{{reflist}}
 
  
== External links ==
+
The truth is revealed, and after some failed reassurances, Homer and Marge suggest that Lisa become a playwright, writing a play about people coming to terms with things (and to "load it up with lots of swears" in the vein of {{W|David Mamet}}). However, the ball-&-weasel toy, apparently fully turned into a weapon, managed to escape from its matrix, causing Frink to warn everyone to stay back. Homer foolishly ignores Frink, thinking it was simply a harmless ferret, and ends up being electrocuted as the ending screen comes on (in a similar fashion to old movies).
{{wikiquote|The_Simpsons#Last_Tap_Dance_in_Springfield_.5B11.20.5D|"Last Tap Dance in Springfield"}}
 
{{portal|The Simpsons}}
 
*{{snpp capsule|BABF15}}
 
*{{imdb episode|id=0767444|episode=Last Tap Dance in Springfield}}
 
  
[[Category:The Simpsons episodes, season 11]]
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== Production ==
[[Category:2000]]
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According to the DVD commentary, episode writer Julie Thacker came up with the story when she started enrolling her five daughters into dance classes during the summer. She noted that she didn't particularly like the teachers' methods and the other children's rude parents.
 +
<gallery>
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File:BABF15 Script.jpg
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</gallery>
 +
 
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== Gallery ==
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Last Tap Dance In Springfield.png
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File:Last Tap Dance in Springfield.png
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File:Last dance spring.png
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</gallery>
  
[[es:Last Tap Dance in Springfield]]
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
[[fr:Tais-toi et danse !]]
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{{season 11}}
  
 +
[[Category:2000]]
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[[Category:Bart episodes]]
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[[Category:Lisa episodes]]
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[[Category:Milhouse episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Julie Thacker]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Nancy Kruse]]
  
{{Season 11}}
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[[sv:Last Tap Dance in Springfield]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Season 11]]
 

Latest revision as of 13:11, March 28, 2024

Season 11 Episode
245 "Kill the Alligator and Run"
246
"Last Tap Dance in Springfield"
"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge" 247
"Last Tap Dance in Springfield"
Last Tap Dance in Springfield promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 246
Season number: S11 E20
Production code: BABF15
Original airdate: May 7, 2000
Chalkboard gag: "I will not dance on anyone's grave"
Couch gag: The living room is a jungle. Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie swing in on vines gracefully, like Tarzan. Homer, swings too far and crashes, like George of the Jungle.
Showrunner: Mike Scully
Written by: Julie Thacker
Directed by: Nancy Kruse
DVD features


"Last Tap Dance in Springfield" is the twentieth episode of season 11 of The Simpsons and the two-hundred and forty-sixth episode overall. It originally aired on May 7, 2000. The episode was written by Julie Thacker and directed by Nancy Kruse.

Synopsis[edit]

"After seeing "Tango de la Muerto" at the local theatre, Lisa is inspired to learn the art of the dance, tutored by none other than former child actress Little Miss Vicky Valentine. Meanwhile, Homer decides to increase his visual acuity with laser eye surgery."


Plot[edit]

The Simpsons are visiting the mall, buying equipment for Bart's upcoming camping trip. Homer gets his eyes examined at the optometrist, while Marge and Lisa go to see Tango de La Muerte, a romantic film. Lisa is entranced by a character called "Lisabella", a plain and bookish woman who is revealed to be beautiful when she is chosen to be the lead male's dance partner. The film charms Lisa so much that she now wants to become a dancer. Homer, meanwhile, takes the laser surgery and neglects the eyedrops used to prevent crusting and as a result has his eyes crusted, so he can't see. He is later tricked by Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney (who pretends to be Marge) into buying them cigarettes and Jack Daniels.

Marge takes her to the Dance School of "Little" Vicky Valentine, a former child actor (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Shirley Temple) who made her fortune tap dancing through many movies. Lisa says that she wants to learn the Tango, but Vicky forces her into tap lessons.

Bart and Milhouse are excited about their camping trip, until they are informed that Nelson will beat them up all week. They jump off the bus, and decide to go camp in the mall instead. They have a wonderful time, eating all the candy and playing with the sports goods, until Chief Wiggum is called in to catch the vandals. The chief thinks that it's a giant rat's fault, and after some failed booby traps, sets a Puma loose to catch it. The Puma finds the boys, who escape after distracting it with a ball of pink yarn. Wiggum sees the end of the yarn protruding from the Puma's mouth, and decides the case is closed, believing the rat has been eaten.

Lisa is upset to learn that she simply cannot dance (even Ralph is a natural), and is relegated to "curtain puller" for the classes first dance recital. She doesn't tell her parents out of shame, but then Professor Frink appears with a solution - a couple of motors, which when attached to her shoes, will make them tap for her whenever a loud sound is made. He also reveals that his next project was transforming a ball-&-weasel toy into a deadly weapon. The show begins, and her shoes pick up the tapping of the other performers. She becomes the star, matching an envious Little Vicky tap for tap, but when the audience applauds the shoes go haywire.

The truth is revealed, and after some failed reassurances, Homer and Marge suggest that Lisa become a playwright, writing a play about people coming to terms with things (and to "load it up with lots of swears" in the vein of David Mamet). However, the ball-&-weasel toy, apparently fully turned into a weapon, managed to escape from its matrix, causing Frink to warn everyone to stay back. Homer foolishly ignores Frink, thinking it was simply a harmless ferret, and ends up being electrocuted as the ending screen comes on (in a similar fashion to old movies).

Production[edit]

According to the DVD commentary, episode writer Julie Thacker came up with the story when she started enrolling her five daughters into dance classes during the summer. She noted that she didn't particularly like the teachers' methods and the other children's rude parents.

Gallery[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Last Tap Dance in Springfield".
Season 11 Episodes
Beyond Blunderdome Brother's Little Helper Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? Treehouse of Horror X E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt) Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder Eight Misbehavin' Take My Wife, Sleaze Grift of the Magi Little Big Mom Faith Off The Mansion Family Saddlesore Galactica Alone Again, Natura-Diddily Missionary: Impossible Pygmoelian Bart to the Future Days of Wine and D'oh'ses Kill the Alligator and Run Last Tap Dance in Springfield It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge Behind the Laughter