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Difference between revisions of "Girls Just Want to Have Sums"
Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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| − | {{Template:Tab | + | {{Tab}} |
| − | |title = Girls Just Want to Have Sums | + | {{EpisodePrevNext|The Wettest Stories Ever Told|Regarding Margie}} |
| | + | {{Icons||FE}} |
| | + | {{Episode |
| | + | |image= Girls Just Want to Have Sums promo.png |
| | + | |number=375 |
| | + | |season=17 |
| | + | |snumber=19 |
| | + | |prodcode=HABF12 |
| | + | |airdate=April 30, [[2006]] |
| | + | |couchgag= The living room is dark, with many eyes present. The lights go up, and many secondary characters appear behind a banner that reads, "Surprise!" The Simpsons come in and the characters yell, "SURPRISE!" Homer is so overwhelmed with shock, he has a heart attack and collapses. |
| | + | |guests= [[Frances McDormand]] as [[Melanie Upfoot]] |
| | + | |showrunner1= Al Jean |
| | + | |writer= [[Matt Selman]] |
| | + | |director= [[Nancy Kruse]] |
| | }} | | }} |
| − | {{episode
| |
| − | |image=220px-Girls_Just_Want_To_Have_Sums.png
| |
| − | |Episode Number=375
| |
| − | |productionCode=HABF12
| |
| − | |originalAirdate=April 30, 2006
| |
| − | |blackboardText=none
| |
| − | |couchGag=The living room is dark, with many eyes present. The lights go up, and many secondary characters appear behind a banner that reads, “Surprise!” The Simpsons come in and the characters yell, “SURPRISE!” Homer is so overwhelmed with shock, he has a heart attack and collapses.
| |
| − | |specialGuestVoices=
| |
| − | |Written By=Matt Selman
| |
| − | |Directed By=Nancy Kruse
| |
| − | }}
| |
| − | ==Plot==
| |
| − | [[Simpson family|The Simpsons]] and many other prominent [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfieldians]] go to see a performance of ''Stab-A-Lot: The [[Itchy & Scratchy|Itchy and Scratchy]] Musical''. The show pretty much comprises of the homicidal cat and mouse doing what they do best, but all in song. The audience is enthralled by the performance and give it a [[wikipedia:Standing ovation|standing ovation]]. Julianna, the director comes out on stage, accompanied by [[Principal Skinner]], to acknowledge the cheers. Skinner reveals that she used to be a student of [[Springfield Elementary]] and, while acknowledging all her accomplishments, says that she wasn't very good in [[wikipedia:Mathematics|math]], because she is a girl. Expectedly, everyone in the audience - women, in particular - is shocked.
| |
| | | | |
| − | The next day, the teachers of Springfield Elementary and other ladies stage a protest outside the school against Skinner's remark, much to the displeasure of [[Superintendent Chalmers]]. Skinner assures him that he will take care of it and holds a conference in the school's auditorium, inviting all the protesting ladies to attend. There, he tries to pacify them - by wearing a skirt (revealing his hairy legs), much to the amusement of his students, but not the ladies. He tries saying that men and women are equals, but unique. Nothing he says has a good effect on the ladies, so finally he starts hyperventilating and collapses on stage. Chalmers comes out and introduces them to their new principal - lady principal, that is. As her first act as principal, Melanie Upfoot separates the boys and girls into separate schools. The move is met with mixed reactions. Ms Upfoot seems to be slightly gender biast herself like Principal Skinner, having done up the girls half of the school to be beautiful, clean and have paintings in the hall while the boys side looks like a war zone.
| + | "'''Girls Just Want to Have Sums'''" is the nineteenth episode of [[season 17]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and seventy-fifth episode overall. It originally aired on April 30, [[2006]]. The episode was written by [[Matt Selman]] and directed by [[Nancy Kruse]]. It guest stars [[Frances McDormand]] as [[Melanie Upfoot]]. |
| | | | |
| − | The next day, [[Otto Mann|Otto]] drops off the girls at their school, and then drives a few feet ahead and releases the boys from their cage in the bus, so they can attend their school. [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] seems to feel right at home in the girl-friendly school, with the fountains, paintings, pink paint and all. She attends math class, which will be taught by the new principal herself. However, instead of usual number-crunching or the like, she starts speaking about the philosophy and magic in math. While the other girls go for it, Lisa asks whether they will get down to doing problems, to which the principal replies that is how boys look at math. Disillusioned by this pro-female bias toward one of her favorite subjects, Lisa walks out and gets into the boys' school compound, which looks like a battleground. She peeps into one of the classrooms and sees a math class in session, where actual, accurate math is being taught - exactly how she likes it. She is caught by Skinner, now an assistant to [[Groundskeeper Willie]] and told to leave.
| + | == Synopsis == |
| | + | {{Desc|After women of [[Springfield]] criticize [[Principal Skinner]] because he thinks girls are bad at maths, the school is divided into boys and girls, but the math class for girls doesn't teach real math, so [[Lisa]] disguises as a boy to infiltrate into the boy math class.}} |
| | | | |
| − | After a chat with [[Marge Simpson|Marge]], she decides to disguise herself as a boy, named "Jake Boyman" and attend the boys' school. During the math class, she gets a problem wrong, but she feels happy to have learned something. Unfortunately, being with the boys means having to act like one. She gets into a fight with [[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]] and, as much as she tries to use her intelligence to escape her situation, she gets beaten up.
| + | == Plot == |
| | + | [[Simpson family|The Simpsons]] and many other prominent [[Springfield]]ians go to see a performance of ''[[Stab-A-Lot]]: The [[Itchy & Scratchy|Itchy and Scratchy]] Musical''. The show pretty much comprises the homicidal cat and mouse doing what they do best, but all in song. The audience is enthralled by the performance and give it a standing ovation. [[Juliana Krellner|Julianna]], the director comes out on stage, accompanied by [[Principal Skinner]], to acknowledge the cheers. Skinner reveals that she used to be a student of [[Springfield Elementary]] and, while acknowledging all her accomplishments, says that she wasn't very good in math, because she is a girl. Expectedly, everyone in the audience - women, in particular - is shocked. |
| | | | |
| − | When [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] returns home that day, happy to have seen a fight, he is shocked to see Lisa, still dressed as Jake, sitting on her bed, crying quietly. He feels sorry for her and he tells her that he will teach her to act like a boy.
| + | The next day, the teachers of Springfield Elementary and other ladies stage a protest outside the school against Skinner's remark, much to the displeasure of [[Superintendent Chalmers]]. Skinner assures him that he will take care of it and holds a conference in the school's auditorium, inviting all the protesting ladies to attend. There, he tries to pacify them - by wearing a skirt (revealing his hairy legs), much to the amusement of his students, but not the ladies. He tries saying that men and women are equals, but unique. Nothing he says has a good effect on the ladies, so finally he starts hyperventilating and collapses on stage. Chalmers comes out and introduces them to their new principal - lady principal, that is. As her first act as principal, [[Melanie Upfoot]] separates the boys and girls into separate schools. The move is met with mixed reactions. Ms Upfoot seems to be slightly gender biast herself like Principal Skinner, having done up the girls half of the school to be beautiful, clean and have paintings in the hall while the boys side looks like a war zone. |
| | | | |
| − | Thanks to Bart's help, she starts acting more like a boy, including beating up poor [[Ralph Wiggum]]. However, she does well in math class. Finally, at an award ceremony, "Jake" wins an award for outstanding performance in math. Lisa then reveals her identity to the whole school, and explains why she had to disguise herself. Bart gets up and tells everyone that she did well only because she was acting like a boy. Angry at hearing this, she throws her award at Bart, but ends up hitting Ralph. Shocked at how "boy-like" she has become, she apologises to Ralph. In the end, it is assumed that Skinner is reinstated as principal.
| + | The next day, [[Otto]] drops off the girls at their school, and then drives a few feet ahead and releases the boys from their cage in the bus, so they can attend their school. [[Lisa]] seems to feel right at home in the girl-friendly school, with the fountains, paintings, pink paint and all. She attends math class, which will be taught by the new principal herself. However, instead of usual number-crunching or the like, she starts speaking about the philosophy and magic in math. While the other girls go for it, Lisa asks whether they will get down to doing problems, to which the principal replies that is how boys look at math. Disillusioned by this pro-female bias toward one of her favorite subjects, Lisa walks out and gets into the boys' school compound, which looks like a battleground. She peeps into one of the classrooms and sees a math class in session, where actual, accurate math is being taught – exactly how she likes it. She is caught by Skinner, now an assistant to [[Groundskeeper Willie]] and told to leave. |
| | | | |
| − | == Cultural References ==
| + | After a chat with [[Marge]], she decides to disguise herself as a boy, named "[[Jake Boyman]]" and attend the boys' school (Everyone calls her "Toilet", due to first appearing with toilet paper on her shoe). During the math class, she gets a problem wrong, but she feels happy to have learned something. Unfortunately, being with the boys means having to act like one. She gets into a fight with [[Nelson]] and, as much as she tries to use her intelligence to escape her situation, she gets beaten up. |
| − | *The title is a play on the song "[[wikipedia:Girls Just Want to Have Fun|Girls Just Want To Have Fun]]", by [[wikipedia:Cyndi Lauper|Cyndi Lauper]].
| |
| − | *The Broadway Version of ''[[wikipedia:The Lion King (musical)|The Lion King]]'' is completely parodied by the Itchy and Scratchy Musical, ''Stab-A-Lot''. Its title is a parody of ''[[wikipedia:Spamalot|Spamalot]]''. The song "It's Symbiotic" is a parody of the song "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from ''[[wikipedia:Jesus Christ Superstar|Jesus Christ Superstar]]''.
| |
| − | *The [[wikipedia:Book (musical theater)|book]] for the Itchy & Scratchy musical is said to have been written by acclaimed playwright [[wikipedia:Tom Stoppard|Tom Stoppard]].
| |
| − | * The song that Otto plays after he lets the girls off is "Breaking the Law" by [[wikipedia:Judas Priest|Judas Priest]].
| |
| − | * The song that Martin, "Best Flautist" plays and continues playing at the end credits is [[wikipedia:Thick as a Brick|"Thick As a Brick"]] by [[wikipedia:Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]].
| |
| − | * [[wikipedia:The Waitresses|The Waitresses]]' ''I Know What Boys Like'' is used in this episode.
| |
| − | * Seymour Skinner's remark that men are better than women at [[wikipedia:Mathematics|math]] and [[wikipedia:Science|Science]] is a reference to [[wikipedia:Lawrence Summers|Lawrence Summers]], the president of [[wikipedia:Harvard University|Harvard University]].
| |
| − | * The episode's basic storyline is similar to [[wikipedia:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[wikipedia:Twelfth Night|Twelfth Night]]''. The line "We've been [[wikipedia:Yentl|Yentld]]!" is a reference to a film with a similar storyline.
| |
| − | * The music that plays in scenes featuring the boys' playground is very reminiscent of the score from [[wikipedia:Stanley Kubrick|Stanley Kubrick]]'s film version of ''[[wikipedia:A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]''. Both ''A Clockwork Orange'' and the episode feature somewhat apocalyptic, violent settings.
| |
| − | * In the girls' section of the elementary school, paintings by [[wikipedia:Frida Kahlo|Frida Kahlo]] and [[wikipedia:Georgia O'Keeffe|Georgia O'Keeffe]] hang on the walls, joined in humorous juxtaposition by a [[wikipedia:Cathy (comic strip)|Cathy]] cartoon, implying an equivalent position in the female-artist pantheon for [[wikipedia:Cathy Guisewite|Cathy Guisewite]].
| |
| − | * Julianna, the director of "Stab-A-Lot," is based on [[wikipedia:Julie Taymor|Julie Taymor]], who won two [[wikipedia:Tony Award|Tony Awards]] for Direction and Costume Design of the original Broadway adaptation of "Disney's The Lion King."
| |
| − | * ''One Guy Named Moe'' parodies a Broadway comedy from the late 80s called ''Five Guys Named Moe''.
| |
| | | | |
| − | == Quotes ==
| + | When [[Bart]] returns home that day, happy to have seen a fight, he is shocked to see Lisa, still dressed as Jake, sitting on her bed, crying quietly. He feels sorry for her and he tells her that he will teach her to act like a boy. |
| − | *'''Chalmers:''' Skinner, you've got to deal with these kooks.<br />'''Skinner:''' Don't worry, I have a plan: pretend I agree with them.<br />'''Chalmers:''' Well, you'd better hurry. ''(pointing to his car)'' Look what they've done to your car.<br />'''Skinner:''' No, that's how its always looks.<br />'''Chalmers:''' Oh, how sad.
| |
| | | | |
| − | *'''Skinner:''' Today, we celebrate the first of many, many, many, many diversity forums. Why is it that women "appear" to be worse at math than men? What is the source of this "illusion" or as I call it, the biggest lie ever told.<br />'''Lindsey Naegle:''' You're a worse version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler Hitler]!<br />'''Skinner:''' Please believe me. I-I understand the problem of women. ''(he moves from behind the podium revealing he's wearing a purple dress and purple heels)'' See. ''(the audience gasps)''<br />'''Nelson:''' Ha, ha! ''(sing-songy)'' The principal's a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transvestism tranny].<br />'''Skinner:''' Am I wearing women's clothes? I didn't notice. When I look in my closet, I don't see male clothes or female clothes. They're all the same.<br />'''Edna Krabappel:''' Are you saying that men and women are identical?<br />'''Skinner:''' Oh, no, of course not! Women are unique in every way.<br />'''Lindsey Naegle:''' Now he's saying men and women ''aren't'' equal!<br />'''Skinner:''' No, no, no! It's the differences of which there are none that makes the sameness exceptional. Just tell me what to say! ''(he starts to breathe heavily then pass out)''<br />'''Chalmers:''' Oh dear. Um, attention students. Due to nervous exhaustion and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbal_diarrhea diarrhea of the mouth]... ''(the students start laughing)'' Yes, yes, yes. I said [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarrhea diarrhea].
| + | Thanks to Bart's help, she starts acting more like a boy, including beating up poor [[Ralph Wiggum]]. However, she does well in math class. Finally, at an award ceremony, "Jake" wins an award for outstanding performance in math. Lisa then reveals her identity to the whole school, and explains why she had to disguise herself. Bart gets up and tells everyone that she did well only because she was acting like a boy. Angry at hearing this, she throws her award at Bart, but ends up hitting Ralph. Shocked at how "boy-like" she has become, she apologises to Ralph. In the end, it is assumed that Skinner is reinstated as principal. |
| | | | |
| − | *'''Bart:''' I think it's great! Now I can walk down the hall with Bart Jr. hanging out! Isn't that right, Bart Jr.? ''(pulls out his pet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog frog])''<br />'''Frog:''' ''(subtitled)'' I thought he meant his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis penis].
| + | == Production == |
| | + | <gallery> |
| | + | File:HABF12 Script.jpg |
| | + | </gallery> |
| | | | |
| − | *'''Lisa:''' You'd do that for me? That's so sweet! ''(hugs him)''<br />'''Bart:''' ''(pushes her away)'' You're a boy. Nothing is sweet. ''(steps on her foot)''<br />'''Lisa:''' Ow! That hurt!<br />'''Bart:''' Sweet.
| + | == Reception == |
| | + | "Girls Just Want to Have Sums" was nominated for a [[2007]] Writers Guild of America award in Animation, but it lost to "[[The Italian Bob]]".<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/2007/1/ IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2007 Awards"]</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | *'''Lisa:''' Principal Skinner?<br />'''Skinner:''' That's ''Groundskeeper'' Skinner now.<br />'''Willie:''' ''Assistant'' Groundskeeper, ya moron!
| + | == References == |
| | + | {{Reflist}} |
| | | | |
| − | *'''Ralph:''' I got hit by Boy Lisa ''and'' Girl Lisa!
| + | {{Images|ep=yes}} |
| − | | + | {{season 17}} |
| − | *'''Ralph:''' ''(covered in ants)'' These dots are itchy!
| |
| − | | |
| − | *'''Cat:''' ''(singing to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_King Lion King]'s Circle of Life)'' In the circle, the circle of-<br />'''Itchy:''' (''Spoken'') Knife! ''(cuts puppets arms and legs and red [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamer streamer]s fly out)''
| |
| − | | |
| − | *''(Lisa thinks of math, as they speak to her)''<br />'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inequality Greater-than-or-equal-to] sign (≥):''' Do it Lisa! You'll be greater than or equal to boys.<br />'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_(number) Number eight]:''' Even though you're only eight ''(flips over to side to become [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity infinity] sign)'', your possibilities are infinite.<br />'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_(number) Number Twenty-Seven]:''' Twenty-seven!
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| − | | |
| − | *'''Lisa:''' What are you drawing?<br />'''Nelson:''' A robot with guns for arms shooting a plane made of guns that fires guns.
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| − | | |
| − | == Songs ==
| |
| − | === "Two Days, Two Circles" ===
| |
| − | *''Itchy, Scratchy, Itchy, Itchy, Scratchy<br />Itchy, Scratchy, Itchy, Itchy, Scratchy<br />From the day you are born in the alley<br />To the day you are hit by a car<br />There's cream to drink<br />And mice to eat<br />And great big balls of yarn<br />It's the circle...<br />The circle of...knife.''
| |
| − | | |
| − | === "It's Symbiotic" ===
| |
| − | *''sung by Itchy and Scratchy''<br />'''Scratchy:'''<br />''I don't know why I trust him''<br />''I guess some cats just never learn''<br />'''Itchy:'''<br />''I feel so good when I have crushed him''<br />''Or left him mangled, maimed, and burned''<br />'''Both:'''<br />''I supposed it's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis symbiotic]''<br />''And perhaps a bit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eroticism erotic]''<br />'''Scratchy:'''<br />'''Cause pain is my [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotic narcotic]''<br />'''Itchy:'''<br />''You really liked it?''<br />'''Scratchy:'''<br />''Yes, I loved'' it<br />'''Both:'''<br />''And that's why we're always...<br />'''Itchy:'''<br />Fighting''<br />'''Scratchy:'''<br />''and Biting''<br />'''Itchy:'''<br />''And dynamite igniting''
| |
| | | | |
| − | === "Knives Finale" ===
| + | [[Category:2006]] |
| − | *''It's the circle<br />The circle of knife<br />Yes, the circle<br />The circle of knife''
| + | [[Category:Lisa episodes]] |
| | + | [[Category:Education-themed episodes]] |
| | + | [[Category:WGA Award nominated episodes]] |
| | + | [[Category:Episodes written by Matt Selman]] |
| | + | [[Category:Episodes directed by Nancy Kruse]] |
| | | | |
| − | == Broadcasting Information ==
| + | [[sv:Girls Just Want to Have Sums]] |
| − | '''US/Canada'''
| + | [[de:HABF12]] |
| − | *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, April 30, 2006
| |
| − | *'''2nd Airdate:''' Sunday, July 9, 2006
| |
| − | '''UK'''
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| − | *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, September 17, 2006
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| − | '''Australia'''
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| − | *'''1st airdate:''' Tuesday, 15 August, 2006
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| − | | |
| − | == Characters ==
| |
| − | === Couch Gag ===
| |
| − | * [[Homer Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Marge Simpson]]
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| − | * [[Bart Simpson]]
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| − | * [[Lisa Simpson]]
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| − | * [[Maggie Simpson]]
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| − | * [[Kent Brockman]]
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| − | * [[Moe Szyslak]]
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| − | * [[Groundskeeper Willie]]
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| − | * [[Clancy Wiggum]]
| |
| − | * [[Hans Moleman]]
| |
| − | * [[Nelson Muntz]]
| |
| − | * [[Edna Krabappel]]
| |
| − | * [[Waylon Smithers]]
| |
| − | * [[Ned Flanders]]
| |
| − | * [[Barney Gumble]]
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| − | * [[Sideshow Mel]]
| |
| − | * [[Ralph Wiggum]]
| |
| − | * [[Professor Frink]]
| |
| − | * [[Dr. Julius Hibbert]]
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| − | * [[Carl Carlson]]
| |
| − | * [[Rainier Wolfcastle]]
| |
| − | * [[Charles Montgomery Burns]]
| |
| − | * [[Dr. Nick Riviera]]
| |
| − | * [[Comic Book Guy]]
| |
| − | * [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]]
| |
| − | * [[Krusty the Clown]]
| |
| − | * [[Bumblebee Man]]
| |
| − | * [[Agnes Skinner]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | === Episode ===
| |
| − | * [[Moe Szyslak]] (picture)
| |
| − | * [[Homer Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Marge Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Bart Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Lisa Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Itchy]] (puppet)
| |
| − | * [[Scratchy]] (puppet)
| |
| − | * [[Lenny Leonard]]
| |
| − | * [[Sideshow Mel]]
| |
| − | * [[Juliana Krellner]]
| |
| − | * [[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]]
| |
| − | * [[Agnes Skinner]]
| |
| − | * [[Superintendent Chalmers]]
| |
| − | * [[Edna Krabappel]]
| |
| − | * [[Lindsey Naegle]]
| |
| − | * [[Elizabeth Hoover]]
| |
| − | * [[Wendell Borton]]
| |
| − | * [[Nelson Muntz]]
| |
| − | * [[Sherri and Terri|Sherri or Terri]]
| |
| − | * [[Lewis]]
| |
| − | * [[Richard]]
| |
| − | * [[Melissa]]
| |
| − | * [[Martin Prince]]
| |
| − | * [[Milhouse Van Houten]]
| |
| − | * [[Ralph Wiggum]]
| |
| − | * [[Janey Powell|Janey]]
| |
| − | * [[Jimbo Jones]]
| |
| − | * [[Kearney Zzyzwicz]]
| |
| − | * [[Dolph Starbeam]]
| |
| − | * [[Cookie Kwan]]
| |
| − | * [[Melanie Upfoot]]
| |
| − | * [[Database]]
| |
| − | * [[Groundskeeper Willie]]
| |
| − | * [[Maggie Simpson]]
| |
| − | * [[Otto Mann]]
| |
| − | * Male Teacher (name unknown)
| |
| − | * [[Comic Book Guy]]
| |
| − | * [[Santa's Little Helper]]
| |
| − | * [[Dewey Largo]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | {{season 17}}
| |
| − | [[Category:Episodes]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Season 17]] | |
| − | [[Category:Springfield Elementary School]] | |
Latest revision as of 17:13, August 30, 2024
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375
"Girls Just Want to Have Sums"
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| "Girls Just Want to Have Sums"
|
Episode Information
| Episode number:
|
375
|
| Season number:
|
S17 E19
|
| Production code:
|
HABF12
|
| Original airdate:
|
April 30, 2006
|
| Couch gag:
|
The living room is dark, with many eyes present. The lights go up, and many secondary characters appear behind a banner that reads, "Surprise!" The Simpsons come in and the characters yell, "SURPRISE!" Homer is so overwhelmed with shock, he has a heart attack and collapses.
|
| Guest star(s):
|
Frances McDormand as Melanie Upfoot
|
| Showrunner:
|
Al Jean
|
| Written by:
|
Matt Selman
|
| Directed by:
|
Nancy Kruse
|
|
"Girls Just Want to Have Sums" is the nineteenth episode of season 17 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and seventy-fifth episode overall. It originally aired on April 30, 2006. The episode was written by Matt Selman and directed by Nancy Kruse. It guest stars Frances McDormand as Melanie Upfoot.
Synopsis[edit]
- "After women of Springfield criticize Principal Skinner because he thinks girls are bad at maths, the school is divided into boys and girls, but the math class for girls doesn't teach real math, so Lisa disguises as a boy to infiltrate into the boy math class."
The Simpsons and many other prominent Springfieldians go to see a performance of Stab-A-Lot: The Itchy and Scratchy Musical. The show pretty much comprises the homicidal cat and mouse doing what they do best, but all in song. The audience is enthralled by the performance and give it a standing ovation. Julianna, the director comes out on stage, accompanied by Principal Skinner, to acknowledge the cheers. Skinner reveals that she used to be a student of Springfield Elementary and, while acknowledging all her accomplishments, says that she wasn't very good in math, because she is a girl. Expectedly, everyone in the audience - women, in particular - is shocked.
The next day, the teachers of Springfield Elementary and other ladies stage a protest outside the school against Skinner's remark, much to the displeasure of Superintendent Chalmers. Skinner assures him that he will take care of it and holds a conference in the school's auditorium, inviting all the protesting ladies to attend. There, he tries to pacify them - by wearing a skirt (revealing his hairy legs), much to the amusement of his students, but not the ladies. He tries saying that men and women are equals, but unique. Nothing he says has a good effect on the ladies, so finally he starts hyperventilating and collapses on stage. Chalmers comes out and introduces them to their new principal - lady principal, that is. As her first act as principal, Melanie Upfoot separates the boys and girls into separate schools. The move is met with mixed reactions. Ms Upfoot seems to be slightly gender biast herself like Principal Skinner, having done up the girls half of the school to be beautiful, clean and have paintings in the hall while the boys side looks like a war zone.
The next day, Otto drops off the girls at their school, and then drives a few feet ahead and releases the boys from their cage in the bus, so they can attend their school. Lisa seems to feel right at home in the girl-friendly school, with the fountains, paintings, pink paint and all. She attends math class, which will be taught by the new principal herself. However, instead of usual number-crunching or the like, she starts speaking about the philosophy and magic in math. While the other girls go for it, Lisa asks whether they will get down to doing problems, to which the principal replies that is how boys look at math. Disillusioned by this pro-female bias toward one of her favorite subjects, Lisa walks out and gets into the boys' school compound, which looks like a battleground. She peeps into one of the classrooms and sees a math class in session, where actual, accurate math is being taught – exactly how she likes it. She is caught by Skinner, now an assistant to Groundskeeper Willie and told to leave.
After a chat with Marge, she decides to disguise herself as a boy, named "Jake Boyman" and attend the boys' school (Everyone calls her "Toilet", due to first appearing with toilet paper on her shoe). During the math class, she gets a problem wrong, but she feels happy to have learned something. Unfortunately, being with the boys means having to act like one. She gets into a fight with Nelson and, as much as she tries to use her intelligence to escape her situation, she gets beaten up.
When Bart returns home that day, happy to have seen a fight, he is shocked to see Lisa, still dressed as Jake, sitting on her bed, crying quietly. He feels sorry for her and he tells her that he will teach her to act like a boy.
Thanks to Bart's help, she starts acting more like a boy, including beating up poor Ralph Wiggum. However, she does well in math class. Finally, at an award ceremony, "Jake" wins an award for outstanding performance in math. Lisa then reveals her identity to the whole school, and explains why she had to disguise herself. Bart gets up and tells everyone that she did well only because she was acting like a boy. Angry at hearing this, she throws her award at Bart, but ends up hitting Ralph. Shocked at how "boy-like" she has become, she apologises to Ralph. In the end, it is assumed that Skinner is reinstated as principal.
Production[edit]
Reception[edit]
"Girls Just Want to Have Sums" was nominated for a 2007 Writers Guild of America award in Animation, but it lost to "The Italian Bob".[1]
References[edit]
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