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Difference between revisions of "Lisa the Skeptic"
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| − | {{episode | + | {{Icons||FE}} |
| − | |image=cq.jpg | + | {{Tab}} |
| − | |productionCode=5F05 | + | {{EpisodePrevNext|The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons|Realty Bites}} |
| − | |originalAirdate=November 23, 1997 | + | {{Episode |
| − | |blackboardText="I will not tease fatty" | + | |image=Lisa the Skeptic.png |
| − | |couchGag= | + | |number=186 |
| − | |specialGuestVoices=Stephen Jay Gould as himself | + | |season=9 |
| − | |Written By=David S. Cohen | + | |snumber=8 |
| − | |Directed By=Niel Affleck | + | |prodcode=5F05 |
| − | |Episode Number=186 | + | |airdate=November 23, [[1997]] |
| | + | |blackboard="I will not tease fatty" |
| | + | |couchgag=The family arrives in the room in towels, finding three old men in towels using the couch as a sauna. One of the men pours water onto the coals as the Simpsons leave. |
| | + | |guests=[[Stephen Jay Gould]] as {{Ch|Stephen Jay Gould|himself}}<br>[[Phil Hartman]] as [[Lionel Hutz]] |
| | + | |showrunner1= Mike Scully |
| | + | |writer=[[David S. Cohen]] |
| | + | |director=[[Neil Affleck]] |
| | + | |DVD features=yes |
| | }} | | }} |
| | | | |
| − | "Lisa the Skeptic" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons' ninth season, first aired on November 23, 1997. On an archaelogical dig with her class, Lisa discovers a skeleton that resembles an angel. All of the townspeople believe that the skeleton actually came from an angel, but skeptical Lisa attempts to persuade them that there must be a rational scientific explanation. The skeleton is later revealed to be a publicity stunt for a new mall going up in Springfield, and the townspeople forget their concerns about the skeleton to go shopping. | + | "'''Lisa the Skeptic'''" is the eighth episode of [[season 9]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the one-hundred and eighty-sixth episode overall. It originally aired on November 23, [[1997]]. The episode was written by [[David S. Cohen]] and directed by [[Neil Affleck]]. It guest stars [[Stephen Jay Gould]] as {{Ch|Stephen Jay Gould|himself}} and [[Phil Hartman]] as [[Lionel Hutz]]. |
| | | | |
| − | Writer David S. Cohen had the inspiration for the episode after visiting the American Museum of Natural History, and decided to loosely parallel themes from the Scopes Monkey Trial. The episode has been discussed in the context of concepts involving virtual reality, ontology, existentialism, and skepticism. The episode received mixed reviews, but has since been used in Christian religious education clases - to form a discussion around angels, skepticism, and the balance between science and faith.
| + | == Synopsis == |
| | + | {{desc|While [[Lisa]] and her classmates conduct an archaeological survey, a [[Angel Skeleton|skeleton]] with abnormal bone structures growing from the shoulders is uncovered, leading the townspeople to conclude the remains are that of an angel.}} |
| | | | |
| | == Plot == | | == Plot == |
| − | As [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] attempts to get a [[motorboat]], a new [[shopping mall]] in [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] is being built on an area where a large number of [[fossil]]s were found. [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] condemns and protests the building of the mall. Thanks to her protest, it prompts the school to conduct an archaeological dig. When Lisa is digging, it reveals a human [[skeleton]] with wings. Springfield's residents are convinced it is an [[angel]], and Homer cashes in by moving the skeleton into the family's garage; however, Lisa is skeptical, believing it may not actually be an angel, and even has [[Stephen Jay Gould]] test a sample of the skeleton. The next day, Dr. Gould runs to the Simpson house and said the tests came out inconclusive and after Lisa on television compares belief in angels to belief in [[unicorn]]s and [[leprechaun]]s, Springfield's religious zealots riot and destroy all of the scientific [[institution]]s. In keeping with the typical collective Springfield intelligence, the victims of this rampage include a [[Christian Science]] library. Lisa goes into the garage to destroy the skeleton; however, it has disappeared. A mob soon converges on The Simpson household, and Lisa is promptly arrested and put on trial for stealing the skeleton. However, before the trial can proceed, the courtroom's attention is diverted when the skeleton appears outside.
| + | [[Homer]] receives a letter that he won in a boat giveaway from the [[Springfield Police Department]] so the family goes to the [[Police Station]] to collect his prize. When Homer goes to retrieve his boat, he is instead restrained and made to pay off all his unpaid parking tickets. The family then drives home again, without a new boat. On the way home, [[Lisa]] notices that they're building a new mall on [[Sabertooth Meadow]], which has previously had fossils found in it. Lisa gets [[Lionel Hutz]] and the two of them go to the management of the new mall to request that they be allowed to dig up any more fossils that may be there. {{ap|Sid|Lisa the Skeptic}} and his PR man discuss it and decide that it would be good publicity to let Lisa look for fossils. Lisa calls in a favor she has with [[Principal Skinner]], who arranges for the honor students and detention students to go to the dig site. |
| | | | |
| − | When the skeleton reappears, it carries a foreboding message that [[Apocalypse|The End]] will come at sundown. As for science vs. religion, Judge Snyder issues a [[injunction|restraining order]] that keeps science and religion 500 yards apart at all times. Sundown approaches, and Springfield's citizens are frightened, but nothing catastrophic occurs. Lisa gets prepared to tell off everyone and when she begins, the skeleton suddenly yells "Prepare for the end... the end of high prices!" and is hoisted over to the entrance of a new discount shopping mall. Lisa realizes that the "end is near" saga was actually a [[publicity stunt]] for the mall as a way to exploit the deepest beliefs of people, and calls for a [[boycott]] of the mall. However, the bargain-hunting public still go shopping immediately. Dr. Gould also confesses to Lisa that he actually did not do any testing. In the end Marge points out to Lisa that, despite all her skepticism, for a few seconds while the Angel was rising Lisa really did believe the Angel was real. Lisa denies this, but thanks her mother for her support in her moment of weakness.<ref name="officialsite" /><ref name="parvin">{{cite book | last = Parvin | first = Samuel F. | coauthors = Mark I. Pinsky | title = The Gospel According to the Simpsons: Leader's Guide for Group Study | publisher = Westminster John Knox Press |date=2002| isbn = 066422590X}}, Pages 15-18.</ref><ref name="irwin">{{cite book | last = Irwin | first = William | authorlink = | coauthors = Aeon J. Skoble, Mark T. Conard | title = The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer | publisher = Open Court Publishing |date=2001 | location = | pages = Pages 16, 32, 55, 138, 287 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0812694333}}</ref><ref name="turner">{{cite book | last = Turner | first = Chris | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation | publisher = Da Capo Press |date=2005 | location = | pages = Page 172, 227, 267 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 030681448X}}</ref><ref name="brown">{{cite book | last = Brown | first = Alan S. | authorlink = | coauthors = Chris Logan | title = The Psychology of the Simpsons: D'oh! | publisher = BenBella Books, Inc. |date=2006 | location = | pages = Page 116 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1932100709}}</ref><ref name="booker">{{cite book | last = Booker | first = M. Keith | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Drawn to Television: Prime-Time Animation from the Flintstones to Family Guy | publisher = Greenwood Press |date=2006 | location = | pages = Page 65 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0275990192}}</ref>
| + | The children at the dig site fail to find anything at first and the entire day passes without any big finds. As they all get ready to leave, Lisa discovers what looks like a human skull. This turns out to be attached to an [[Angel Skeleton]], which shocks Lisa as it shouldn't be possible. As the townspeople see the angel and believe it to be real, Lisa tries to come up with other theories, but is unsuccessful in persuading anyone. As the people discuss who should get the Angel Skeleton, Homer straps it to his car and drives home with it. |
| | + | |
| | + | Back at the Simpson house, [[Ned Flanders]] rings the doorbell, wanting to see the Angel Skeleton with his family. However, Homer sends him away. [[Agnes Skinner]] then rings the bell, also wanting to see the skeleton, but is also sent away. When a large crowd of people then arrive at the house, Homer decides to start charging people to see the skeleton. Lisa dislikes the fact that Homer refers to it as an angel, and wants to do a DNA test on the skeleton to find out if it's real or not. However, Homer refuses to let Lisa take it because he would lose out on money. That night, Lisa takes a sample of the skeleton to {{Ch|Stephen Jay Gould}} at the [[Springfield Museum of Natural History]] who decides to run tests on it. The next day, Lisa tells everyone that she had Dr. Gould run tests on it, just as he arrives at the house. However, he tells Lisa that the tests were inconclusive. Lisa gets annoyed at how stupid everyone is, believing in angels, but Marge reveals that she also believes in angels. This leads to an argument between the two of them. |
| | + | |
| | + | After Lisa appears on ''[[Smartline]]'' talking about the angel, the angel supporters decide to go around destroying every scientific institute in Springfield. Upon seeing this on the news, Lisa decides to destroy the angel skeleton. When she goes to the garage, she finds that the skeleton has disappeared. When the angel supporters show up, they accuse Lisa of destroying it and she is arrested. Lisa is then taken to court to be put on trial for destroying the angel. However, as the trial begins, [[Lenny]] notices that the angel skeleton is outside, on a hill. Everyone rushes to the skeleton to find that a message is now written on the base of it; "the end will come at sundown". |
| | + | |
| | + | Everyone prepares for the coming apocalypse, with Lisa not believing it will happen. This leads to another conflict with Marge, who does believe it. As everyone gathers at the skeleton, sundown arrives and nothing happens. As Lisa tries to tell everyone that she was right, a booming voice silences her and the angel rises into the air. The angel skeleton then turns around and reveals the grand opening of the [[Heavenly Hills Mall]], revealing that the whole thing was a publicity stunt by the mall. It then follows a rail until it ends up on top of the mall's sign. As everyone rushes to the new mall to buy things, Lisa asks Dr. Gould why the tests didn't show the angel was fake and he tells Lisa that he didn't actually run the tests. Lisa and Marge make up and walk off together. |
| | | | |
| | == Production == | | == Production == |
| − | "Lisa the Skeptic" was written by [[David S. Cohen]], and directed by [[Neil Affleck]].<ref name="alberti">{{cite book | last =Alberti | first =John | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture | publisher =[[Wayne State University|Wayne State University Press]] | date =2004 | location = | pages =305, 320| url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0814328490}}</ref> Cohen was inspired to write the episode after a trip to [[Manhattan]]'s [[American Museum of Natural History]], where he decided to turn the visit into a "business trip", and think of a possible episode connection to the museum.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite video | people=Cohen, David S. |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa the Skeptic"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He initially wanted Lisa to find a "[[missing link]]" skeleton, and do an episode reminiscent of the [[Scopes Trial|Scopes Monkey Trial]].<ref name="Cohen" /> Writer [[George Meyer]] convinced him to instead have the focus be on an angel skeleton, while keeping an emphasis on the [[Relationship between religion and science|conflict between religion and science]].<ref name="Cohen" /> Both Cohen and Meyer acknowledged how silly the "angel skeleton" idea was due to simple questions raised such as why an angel died and why bones were left behind - but they went forward with the idea anyway.<ref name="Cohen" />
| + | Episode writer [[David X. Cohen]] came up with the idea for the episode after a trip to the {{W|American Museum of Natural History}}. His original idea was for Lisa to find a "{{W|Transitional fossil|missing link}}" skeleton, but [[George Meyer]] suggested that it be changed to an angel skeleton. A big part of the episode was then decided to focus on science vs. religion.<ref name="Cohen">{{Com|Cohen, David X.|Lisa the Skeptic|Ninth|(2006).|link=David X. Cohen}}</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | In an earlier draft of the script, the angel skeleton was revealed to have been made out of dough by the mall's window dresser. However, this scene ended up getting cut. The original draft of the script also didn't mention Stephen Jay Gould, and just referred to the character as a "scientist" or "paleontologist" as Cohen didn't know they would be able to get Gould for the show. Cohen had previously taken Dr. Gould's class when he was in college.<ref name="Cohen"/> Executive producer [[Mike Scully]] said that Gould was an excellent actor for the show, but wanted to change one line.<ref name="Scully">{{Com|Scully, Mike|Lisa the Skeptic|Ninth|(2006).|link=Mike Scully}}</ref> His introduction called him the "world's most foremost" or "brilliant paleontologist", which he didn't like.<ref name="Cohen"/> |
| | | | |
| − | In an early draft of the script, the skeleton was made of baked pasty dough, baked by the mall's window dresser.<ref name="Cohen" /> Cohen had initially written Steven Jay Gould's part as being a generic scientist or [[paleontologist]], not knowing that they would eventually get Gould. He had taken Gould's Introduction to Paleontology class at [[Harvard University]].<ref name="Cohen" /> The only phrase Gould had objected to in the script was a line that introduced him as the "world's most brilliant paleontologist."<ref name="Scully">{{cite video | people=Scully, Mike |year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Lisa the Skeptic"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> His original final line was "I didn't do the test. I had more important work to do" but was cut because the writers felt it would be better to give him a short final line. Also, some thought it was too mean.<ref name="Cohen" /> In an earlier version of the episode, Marge would have ended up apologizing to Lisa for not supporting her, letting the ending be more of a nod to Lisa's correct assumptions all along.<ref name="Cohen" />
| + | The court scene was originally a much bigger part of the episode. However, it ended up getting cut down to a much shorter scene in the final draft. An earlier draft also had the episode ending with Marge apologizing to Lisa, but this ended up getting changed. Dr. Gould's final line was also longer, with him saying he didn't do the tests because he had more important work to do. This ended up getting cut down because the producers felt it was too mean.<ref name="Cohen"/> |
| | | | |
| − | == Themes == | + | == Reception == |
| − | Author Joley Wood compared "Lisa the Skeptic" to an [[virtual reality|alternate reality game]], in analyzing the affects of watching the television program ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'' on contemporary culture and our own perceptions of reality.<ref>{{cite book | last =Wood | first =Joley | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Living Lost: Why We're All Stuck on the Island | publisher =Garrett County Press | date =2006 | location = | pages =12 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1891053027}}</ref> Dan O'Brien cited the episode in a discussion of [[ontology]], skepticism and religious faith, in his book ''An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge''.<ref name="obrien">{{cite book | last =O'Brien | first =Dan | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge | publisher =Polity | date =2006 | location = | pages =189 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0745633161}}</ref> O'Brien leaves it up to the reader to decide whether or not Lisa was justified in her skepticism.<ref name="obrien" /> In ''The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer'', "Lisa the Skeptic" is cited as a prime example of why Lisa is seen as the epitome of a [[nerd]].<ref name="irwin" /> The book also cited the episode in noting that Lisa is not infallible - for when the Angel appeared to speak at the end of the episode, she became as frightened as everyone else.<ref name="irwin" /> Lisa's frustration with the marketing gimmick used by the mall developers is seen by Turner's ''Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Defined a Generation'' as yet another example of her conflict with [[corporation]]s throughout the series.<ref name="turner" /> Like O'Brien, Turner also analyzed the episode in the context of Lisa's questions about [[existentialism]], self-absorption and [[consumption]].<ref name="turner" /> In ''The Psychology of the Simpsons: D'oh!'', the authors discuss Lisa's level of anger displayed in the episode, noting that in this particular case her anger gave her the wherewithal to both confront [[social injustice]], and keep her mind clear for [[critical thought|critical thinking]].<ref name="brown" /> Mark Demming of ''[[All Movie Guide]]'' noted that Lisa symbolically stood for the side of reason, while her mother Marge symbolized belief and spirituality in the episode.<ref>{{cite news
| + | Upon its original airing, "Lisa the Skeptic" was watched by 9.3 million viewers, making it the third highest-rated show on the [[FOX]] that week.<ref>{{cite news |title=CBS no. 1 as sweeps month nears end |work=Sun-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |page=4E |date=November 28, [[1997]]}}</ref> |
| − | | last =Demming | first =Mark | coauthors = | title =The Simpsons: Lisa The Skeptic (1997), Review Summary | work =[[All Movie Guide]] | pages = | language = | publisher =[[The New York Times]] | date = | url =http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/229056/The-Simpsons-Lisa-The-Skeptic/overview | accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref>
| |
| | | | |
| − | Parvin's ''The Gospel According to the Simpsons: Leader's Guide for Group Study'' is a group study guide companion to Pinsky's ''The Gospel According to the Simpsons.''<ref name="parvin" /> In the section pertaining to "Lisa the Skeptic," a skeptic is defined as: "a person who doubts, questions or suspends judgment on ideas generally accepted by others.<ref name="parvin" /> The group study group is asked to debate the episode in the context of skepticism as related to other unexplained phenomena, including [[Unidentified flying object|UFOs]], the [[Loch Ness Monster]], the [[Abominable Snowman]], the [[Bermuda Triangle]], [[Atlantis]], [[near-death experiences]], [[reincarnation]], [[Mediumship]], [[psychic]]s, and [[fortune telling]].<ref name="parvin" /> In Pinsky's book itself, he noted that Lisa faced the difficult task of confronting [[zealotry|religious hysteria]] and [[faith|blind faith]], and also attempted to reconcile science within her own belief system.<ref name="pinsky" /> He also notes that when Lisa asks Stephen Jay Gould to estimate the age of the skeleton, the issue is never raised of why angels or other spiritual entities would even leave skeletons behind in the first place.<ref name="pinsky" />
| + | As of December [[2023]], the episode has an 8.1 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701156/ IMDb - "Lisa the Skeptic"]</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | == Cultural references == | + | == References == |
| − | The scene in Judge Snyder's courtroom where Lisa is put on trial for stealing the skeleton is seen as a reference to the 1920s [[Scopes Trial|Scopes Monkey Trial]] in [[Dayton, Tennessee]], which dealt with issues of [[separation of church and state]] and the debate between [[creationism]] and [[evolutionism]].<ref name="pinsky">{{cite book | last =Pinsky | first =Mark I. | authorlink = | coauthors =Tony Campolo | title =The Gospel According to the Simpsons: The Spiritual Life of the World's Most Animated Family | publisher =Westminster John Knox Press | date =2001 | location = | pages =43, 133, 182 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =0664224199 }}</ref> The publicity stunt created by the mall developers in the episode has been compared to scientific [[hoax]]es such as the [[Cardiff Giant]] and the [[Piltdown Man]].<ref name="pinsky" /> When Lisa asks if the townspeople are outraged at the end of the episode for being fooled by a publicity stunt, [[Clancy Wiggum|Police chief Wiggum]] is about to answer her but is distracted when he catches sight of a [[Pottery Barn]] in the new Heavenly Hills mall.<ref name="turner" />
| + | {{Reflist}} |
| | | | |
| − | == Reception ==
| + | {{Images|ep=yes}} |
| − | Donald Liebenson wrote for the ''[[Amazon.com]]'' movie review that "[[Bart Sells His Soul]]" and "Lisa the Skeptic" were not among the best episodes of ''The Simpsons'', however he also noted that: "Without being preachy (or particularly funny), this episode is pretty potent stuff," citing its theme of [[Apocalypse]] towards the end of the episode.<ref>{{cite news | last =Liebenson | first =Donald | coauthors = | title =The Simpsons Trick Or Treehouse: Vol. 3 Heaven & Hell (vhs): Amazon.com movie review | work =[[Amazon.com]] | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096697/amazon | accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref> "Lisa the Skeptic" was utilized in a [[Salt Lake City, Utah]] [[Episcopal Church]] [[Sunday school]] class in 2003, to stimulate a discussion among fourteen-year olds about belief in angels, and the juxtaposition of science and faith.<ref name="jarvik">{{cite news | last =Jarvik | first =Elaine | coauthors = | title =Sun-Doh! School — Teachers use pop culture to appeal to masses | work = Deseret Morning News | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =December 12, 2003 | url =http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,565038276,00.html | accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref> The episode was compared and contrasted with a passage from [[Proverbs]] 14:15.<ref name="jarvik" /> The episode is used by the Farmington Trust (UK) for Christian religious education, to teach children about skepticism.<ref name="farmington">{{cite book | last =Taylor | first =Tessa | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =An Introduction to Philosophy: The Wit and Wisdom of Lisa Simpson | publisher =Farmington Institute | date =August Term 2004 | location =[[St Mary's College, Durham]] | pages =Pages 30-32 | url =http://www.farmington.ac.uk/documents/new_reports/ME17.pdf | doi = | id = | isbn = }}</ref> The episode is used as a tool, to involve the students in a debate about religion and science, as well as to discuss Lisa's own skepticism, and her respect towards others.<ref name="farmington" />
| + | {{season 9}} |
| | + | [[sv:Lisa the Skeptic]] |
| | | | |
| − | {{Season 9}}
| + | [[Category:1997]] |
| − | [[Category:Episodes]] | + | [[Category:Lisa episodes]] |
| − | [[Category:Season 9]] | + | [[Category:Religion-themed episodes]] |
| | + | [[Category:Episodes written by David X. Cohen]] |
| | + | [[Category:Episodes directed by Neil Affleck]] |
Revision as of 11:24, April 14, 2024
| "Lisa the Skeptic"
|
| Episode Information
|
"Lisa the Skeptic" is the eighth episode of season 9 of The Simpsons and the one-hundred and eighty-sixth episode overall. It originally aired on November 23, 1997. The episode was written by David S. Cohen and directed by Neil Affleck. It guest stars Stephen Jay Gould as himself and Phil Hartman as Lionel Hutz.
Synopsis
- "While Lisa and her classmates conduct an archaeological survey, a skeleton with abnormal bone structures growing from the shoulders is uncovered, leading the townspeople to conclude the remains are that of an angel."
Plot
Homer receives a letter that he won in a boat giveaway from the Springfield Police Department so the family goes to the Police Station to collect his prize. When Homer goes to retrieve his boat, he is instead restrained and made to pay off all his unpaid parking tickets. The family then drives home again, without a new boat. On the way home, Lisa notices that they're building a new mall on Sabertooth Meadow, which has previously had fossils found in it. Lisa gets Lionel Hutz and the two of them go to the management of the new mall to request that they be allowed to dig up any more fossils that may be there. Sid and his PR man discuss it and decide that it would be good publicity to let Lisa look for fossils. Lisa calls in a favor she has with Principal Skinner, who arranges for the honor students and detention students to go to the dig site.
The children at the dig site fail to find anything at first and the entire day passes without any big finds. As they all get ready to leave, Lisa discovers what looks like a human skull. This turns out to be attached to an Angel Skeleton, which shocks Lisa as it shouldn't be possible. As the townspeople see the angel and believe it to be real, Lisa tries to come up with other theories, but is unsuccessful in persuading anyone. As the people discuss who should get the Angel Skeleton, Homer straps it to his car and drives home with it.
Back at the Simpson house, Ned Flanders rings the doorbell, wanting to see the Angel Skeleton with his family. However, Homer sends him away. Agnes Skinner then rings the bell, also wanting to see the skeleton, but is also sent away. When a large crowd of people then arrive at the house, Homer decides to start charging people to see the skeleton. Lisa dislikes the fact that Homer refers to it as an angel, and wants to do a DNA test on the skeleton to find out if it's real or not. However, Homer refuses to let Lisa take it because he would lose out on money. That night, Lisa takes a sample of the skeleton to Stephen Jay Gould at the Springfield Museum of Natural History who decides to run tests on it. The next day, Lisa tells everyone that she had Dr. Gould run tests on it, just as he arrives at the house. However, he tells Lisa that the tests were inconclusive. Lisa gets annoyed at how stupid everyone is, believing in angels, but Marge reveals that she also believes in angels. This leads to an argument between the two of them.
After Lisa appears on Smartline talking about the angel, the angel supporters decide to go around destroying every scientific institute in Springfield. Upon seeing this on the news, Lisa decides to destroy the angel skeleton. When she goes to the garage, she finds that the skeleton has disappeared. When the angel supporters show up, they accuse Lisa of destroying it and she is arrested. Lisa is then taken to court to be put on trial for destroying the angel. However, as the trial begins, Lenny notices that the angel skeleton is outside, on a hill. Everyone rushes to the skeleton to find that a message is now written on the base of it; "the end will come at sundown".
Everyone prepares for the coming apocalypse, with Lisa not believing it will happen. This leads to another conflict with Marge, who does believe it. As everyone gathers at the skeleton, sundown arrives and nothing happens. As Lisa tries to tell everyone that she was right, a booming voice silences her and the angel rises into the air. The angel skeleton then turns around and reveals the grand opening of the Heavenly Hills Mall, revealing that the whole thing was a publicity stunt by the mall. It then follows a rail until it ends up on top of the mall's sign. As everyone rushes to the new mall to buy things, Lisa asks Dr. Gould why the tests didn't show the angel was fake and he tells Lisa that he didn't actually run the tests. Lisa and Marge make up and walk off together.
Production
Episode writer David X. Cohen came up with the idea for the episode after a trip to the American Museum of Natural History. His original idea was for Lisa to find a "missing link" skeleton, but George Meyer suggested that it be changed to an angel skeleton. A big part of the episode was then decided to focus on science vs. religion.[1]
In an earlier draft of the script, the angel skeleton was revealed to have been made out of dough by the mall's window dresser. However, this scene ended up getting cut. The original draft of the script also didn't mention Stephen Jay Gould, and just referred to the character as a "scientist" or "paleontologist" as Cohen didn't know they would be able to get Gould for the show. Cohen had previously taken Dr. Gould's class when he was in college.[1] Executive producer Mike Scully said that Gould was an excellent actor for the show, but wanted to change one line.[2] His introduction called him the "world's most foremost" or "brilliant paleontologist", which he didn't like.[1]
The court scene was originally a much bigger part of the episode. However, it ended up getting cut down to a much shorter scene in the final draft. An earlier draft also had the episode ending with Marge apologizing to Lisa, but this ended up getting changed. Dr. Gould's final line was also longer, with him saying he didn't do the tests because he had more important work to do. This ended up getting cut down because the producers felt it was too mean.[1]
Reception
Upon its original airing, "Lisa the Skeptic" was watched by 9.3 million viewers, making it the third highest-rated show on the FOX that week.[3]
As of December 2023, the episode has an 8.1 rating on IMDb.[4]
References
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