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Difference between revisions of "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"

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{{for2|the quest in [[The Simpsons: Tapped Out]]|Once Upon a Time in Springfield (Tapped Out quest)}}
|image = OnceUponTimeInSpringfield.jpg
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{{Episode
|Episode Number = 451
+
|image= Once Upon a Time in Springfield promo.png
|productionCode = LABF20
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|number= 451
|originalAirdate = January 10, 2010
+
|season=21
|blackboardText = The world may end in 2012 but this show won't
+
|snumber=10
|couchGag = The Simpsons are sperm and the couch is in an ovary, the Simpsons swin into the ovary and sit on the couch and a baby Mr Burns forms and says excellent
+
|prodcode= LABF20
|billboard = The Fox network, still Sucking after 20 years
+
|airdate= January 10, [[2010]]
|titlescreen = [[Ralph]] flies by hanging onto a kite
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|blackboard= The world may end in 2012 but this show won't
|specialGuestVoices = [[Jackie Mason]] as [[Hyman Krustofsky]]<br/>[[Anne Hathaway]] as [[Princess Penelope]]<br/>[[Eartha Kitt]] as [[Eartha Kitt (character)|herself]]<br/>[[Gary Larson]] as [[Gary Larson (character)|himself]]
+
|couchgag= The Simpsons are sperm and the couch is in an ovary, the Simpsons swim into the ovary and sit on the couch and a baby Mr Burns forms and says excellent
|Written By = [[Stephanie Gillis]]
+
|billboard = The Fox network, still Sucking after 20 years
|Directed By = [[Matthew Nastuk]]
+
|titlescreen= [[Ralph]] flies by hanging onto a kite
|Show Runner = [[Al Jean]]
+
|guests= [[Jackie Mason]] as [[Hyman Krustofsky]]<br>[[Anne Hathaway]] as [[Princess Penelope]]<br>[[Eartha Kitt]] as {{Ch|Eartha Kitt|herself}}<br>[[Gary Larson]] as {{Ch|Gary Larson|himself}}<br>[[Maurice LaMarche]] as the [[Power plant guard supervisor]]
 +
|showrunner1= Al Jean
 +
|writer= [[Stephanie Gillis]]
 +
|director= [[Matthew Nastuk]]
 
}}
 
}}
"'''Once Upon a Time in Springfield'''" is the tenth episode of [[Season 21]].
 
  
==Synopsis==
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"'''Once Upon a Time in Springfield'''" is the tenth episode of [[season 21]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the four-hundred and fifty-first episode overall. It originally aired on January 10, [[2010]]. The episode was written by [[Stephanie Gillis]] and directed by [[Matthew Nastuk]]. It guest stars [[Jackie Mason]] as [[Hyman Krustofsky]], [[Anne Hathaway]] as [[Princess Penelope]], [[Eartha Kitt]] as {{Ch|Eartha Kitt|herself}}, [[Gary Larson]] as {{Ch|Gary Larson|himself}}, and [[Maurice LaMarche]] as the [[Power plant guard supervisor]].
[[Krusty]] is forced to add a female character named Princess Penelope to his show in order to attract more female viewers. She immediately overshadows Krusty as the ratings improve. [[Bart]] and [[Milhouse]] want to get the show back to the way it was, but the situation gets more complicated when Krusty and Penelope fall in love and decide to get married. Meanwhile, [[Homer]], [[Lenny]], and [[Carl]] consider working at a competing nuclear plant when [[Mr. Burns]] cuts off their daily doughnut service.
+
 
 +
== Synopsis ==
 +
{{Desc|[[Krusty]] is forced to add a female co-star named [[Princess Penelope]] to his show in order to attract more female viewers. She immediately overshadows Krusty as the ratings improve. Meanwhile, [[Homer]], [[Lenny]], and [[Carl]] consider working at a competing nuclear plant when [[Mr. Burns]] cuts off their daily donut service.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
[[Krusty]], after performing a show, is approached by two network executives who tell him they need to make big changes in the show to increase ratings of girls. Krusty refuses, but they are ready to make a reality show to find his replacement. Desperate to stay in this sweet gig, he agrees. The next show, he introduces Princess Penelope, who sings her first song, ''[[A Princess Knows]]''. Girls like [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] are fascinated with Penelope, but boys like [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] are almost sick watching it.
+
Krusty finishes up an episode of ''{{Krusty show}}'' and is then approached by two show executives who tell Krusty that they want to add a female co-star to the show to gain a higher female audience. Krusty is at first against this, until he is told that there is a talent show, ''[[America's Next Krusty]]'', in the works to find a replacement for him should he refuse. Krusty then begrudgingly accepts. The next morning, [[Marge]] offers to make the family donuts using her new [[Fry Girl]] fryer. [[Homer]] refuses since he gets donuts at work. However, when Homer gets to work,  
 +
he finds out the donuts are no longer being bought by [[Mr. Burns]] as he is trying to cut costs in the power plant, to the annoyance of Homer, [[Lenny]] and [[Carl]].
 +
 
 +
On the next episode of ''The Krusty the Clown Show'', Krusty introduces his new female co-star, [[Princess Penelope]]. Her acts involve singing and performing on fantasy sets, which the female viewers, including [[Lisa]], enjoy. However, the male viewers, such as [[Bart]] and [[Milhouse]] hate the new co-star. That evening at [[Moe's Tavern]], Homer, Lenny, and Carl are drinking away their sadness when they are approached by [[Gator McCall]], who is a corporate recruiter. Gator asks if they would want to work for [[Capital City Nuclear]] and the three friends decide to check it out.
 +
 
 +
Princess Penelope continues to be a hit with the girls and Lisa starts to attend the live shows. When Homer and Bart go to pick Lisa up, Bart goes to the [[Krustylu Studio Store]] and finds all the Krusty merchandise has been replaced by Princess Penelope merchandise. Bart then finds Krusty out the back, in an alley, and convinces Krusty to do something about Princess Penelope. Later that day, Homer, Lenny, and Carl go to Capital City Nuclear to check out the place. Here they meet {{Ch|Gary Larson}}, who reveals that he came out of retirement to work at the power plant as the in-house cartoonist.
  
Meanwhile, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] gets a fryer and starts making donuts. [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] doesn't eat, expecting there are going to be donuts at work. However Mr Burns removes them saying he needs to cut the exspenses since he still in the 1930s depression, he, [[Lenny Leonard|Lenny]] and [[Carl Carlson|Carl]] decide to go drinking at [[Moe's Tavern|Moe's Tavern.]] There they meet a business man, who's looking for new Nuclear Power Plant workers. He leads the trio on a guided tour of Capital City's power plant, which turns out to be much better. When they go to quit, [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]] manages to convince them to stay by providing them 'special' donuts at the plant.
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Krusty decides to confront Penelope over her taking over the show and Penelope tells Krusty that she loves him and has done since she was twelve. The two of them make out then start to do shows together, singing together on stage. A princess fad then takes over Springfield. Meanwhile, in [[Capital City]], [[Smithers]] finds out that Homer, Lenny, and Carl are being poached by a rival power plant and tells Mr. Burns about it. During another episode of ''The Krusty the Clown Show'', Krusty proposes to Princess Penelope and she says yes. This annoys Bart and Milhouse, who decide to break up the wedding. That night, Mr. Burns bribes Homer, Lenny, and Carl to stay at the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]] by giving them fancy donuts.
  
Meanwhile, Krusty and Princess Penelope's relationship grows, and before long, Krusty asks for his co-star’s hand in marriage. Bart and Milhouse explain that Krusty has married many women before, and all of them had become very unhappy. Krusty agrees and breaks up with Penelope, which then she leaves. She begins singing in Paris, and begins showing signs of missing Krusty. She then goes to a nearby bridge, looking down at the water. A boat passes by, and she sees Krusty's reflection in the water. She turns around, expecting to see him, only to see nothing. Krusty is actually there though, he was just in the water. She flings herself in the water, and the two float down the river, staying afloat using Penelope's wooden guitar's case.
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The day of the wedding, Bart takes over as the ring bearer and reveals that Krusty's first wife, [[Holly Hippie]], was in the room. Holly tells Princess Penelope about how bad a husband Krusty was. A video of another of Krusty's ex-wives, {{Ch|Eartha Kitt}}, was also shown. Penelope decides that she wants to marry Krusty anyway, as she knows all about his past. However, Krusty decides that he can't go through with the wedding as Penelope is too good for him and deserves better. Penelope then leaves [[Springfield]].
  
== Behind the Laughter==
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In [[Paris]], Penelope is performing "{{ap|Moon River|Once Upon a Time in Springfield}}" to people at night. She then goes to a bridge over the river and looks sadly into the water as a boat goes by. Penelope thinks she sees Krusty, then realizes it's her imagination. Penelope then notices that Krusty is really there, just in the water, struggling to swim. Penelope dives in after him and the two of them float down the river on Penelope's guitar case. Krusty tells Penelope that he'd rather be happy than noble so he changed his mind.
*Anne Hathaway won an Emmy for her performance as Princess Penelope.
 
  
==Reception==
+
== Reception ==
This episode gathered 21.01 million viewers on its premiere<ref>http://www.simpsonschannel.com/2010/01/ratings-once-upon-a-time-in-springfield/</ref>, the highest for quite a while.
+
This episode gathered 21.01 million viewers on its premiere.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100327181339/http://www.simpsonschannel.com/2010/01/ratings-once-upon-a-time-in-springfield/ Simpsons Channel] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref>
  
{{Season 21}}
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Robert Canning of {{W|IGN}} gave the episode an 8.0 rating. He called the episode "another solid episode" and said that "The Simpsons can still deliver smart and solid entertainment".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180402163712/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/11/the-simpsons-once-upon-a-time-in-springfield-review IGN - "The Simpsons: "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" Review"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref>
  
[[Category:Season 21]]
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Emily VanDerWerff of {{W|The A.V. Club}} gave the episode a B rating. She criticized the amount of guest stars in the episode, singling out Gary Larson in particular. However, she went on to say "It was a funny episode with a nice amount of heart".<ref>[https://tv.avclub.com/once-upon-a-time-in-springfield-the-simpsons-20th-ann-1798164209 The A.V. Club - ""Once Upon a Time in Springfield"/The Simpsons 20th Anniversay Special in 3-D on Ice/"Love Rollercoaster""]</ref>
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"Once Upon a Time in Springfield" was nominated for a {{W|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program}} in the {{W|62nd Primetime Emmy Awards}}. However, it lost to ''{{W|Prep & Landing}}''.<ref>[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2010/outstanding-animated-program Television Academy - "Outstanding Animated Program - 2010"]</ref> [[Anne Hathaway]] also won a {{W|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance}} for voicing [[Princess Penelope]].<ref>[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2010/outstanding-voice-over-performance Television Academy - "Outstanding Voice-Over Performance - 2010"]</ref>
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== References ==
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{{Reflist}}
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
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{{season 21}}
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[[sv:Once Upon a Time in Springfield]]
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[[Category:2010]]
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[[Category:Krusty the Clown episodes]]
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[[Category:Bart episodes]]
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[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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[[Category:Musical episodes]]
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[[Category:Romance-themed episodes]]
 
[[Category:TV PG episodes]]
 
[[Category:TV PG episodes]]
[[Category:Krusty the Clown episodes]]
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[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award nominated episodes]]
[[Category:Real world articles]]
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[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winning episodes]]
[[Category:2010]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Stephanie Gillis]]
[[Category:Outstanding Animated Program Emmy nominated episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Matthew Nastuk]]
[[Category:Voice-Over Performance Emmy winning episodes]]
 
[[sv:Once Upon a Time in Springfield]]
 

Latest revision as of 08:25, August 31, 2024

Season 21 Episode
450 "Thursdays with Abie"
451
"Once Upon a Time in Springfield"
"Million Dollar Maybe" 452
For the quest in The Simpsons: Tapped Out, see Once Upon a Time in Springfield (Tapped Out quest).
"Once Upon a Time in Springfield"
Once Upon a Time in Springfield promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 451
Season number: S21 E10
Production code: LABF20
Original airdate: January 10, 2010
Title screen: Ralph flies by hanging onto a kite
Billboard gag: The Fox network, still Sucking after 20 years
Chalkboard gag: The world may end in 2012 but this show won't
Couch gag: The Simpsons are sperm and the couch is in an ovary, the Simpsons swim into the ovary and sit on the couch and a baby Mr Burns forms and says excellent
Guest star(s): Jackie Mason as Hyman Krustofsky
Anne Hathaway as Princess Penelope
Eartha Kitt as herself
Gary Larson as himself
Maurice LaMarche as the Power plant guard supervisor
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Stephanie Gillis
Directed by: Matthew Nastuk


"Once Upon a Time in Springfield" is the tenth episode of season 21 of The Simpsons and the four-hundred and fifty-first episode overall. It originally aired on January 10, 2010. The episode was written by Stephanie Gillis and directed by Matthew Nastuk. It guest stars Jackie Mason as Hyman Krustofsky, Anne Hathaway as Princess Penelope, Eartha Kitt as herself, Gary Larson as himself, and Maurice LaMarche as the Power plant guard supervisor.

Synopsis[edit]

"Krusty is forced to add a female co-star named Princess Penelope to his show in order to attract more female viewers. She immediately overshadows Krusty as the ratings improve. Meanwhile, Homer, Lenny, and Carl consider working at a competing nuclear plant when Mr. Burns cuts off their daily donut service."


Plot[edit]

Krusty finishes up an episode of The Krusty the Clown Show and is then approached by two show executives who tell Krusty that they want to add a female co-star to the show to gain a higher female audience. Krusty is at first against this, until he is told that there is a talent show, America's Next Krusty, in the works to find a replacement for him should he refuse. Krusty then begrudgingly accepts. The next morning, Marge offers to make the family donuts using her new Fry Girl fryer. Homer refuses since he gets donuts at work. However, when Homer gets to work, he finds out the donuts are no longer being bought by Mr. Burns as he is trying to cut costs in the power plant, to the annoyance of Homer, Lenny and Carl.

On the next episode of The Krusty the Clown Show, Krusty introduces his new female co-star, Princess Penelope. Her acts involve singing and performing on fantasy sets, which the female viewers, including Lisa, enjoy. However, the male viewers, such as Bart and Milhouse hate the new co-star. That evening at Moe's Tavern, Homer, Lenny, and Carl are drinking away their sadness when they are approached by Gator McCall, who is a corporate recruiter. Gator asks if they would want to work for Capital City Nuclear and the three friends decide to check it out.

Princess Penelope continues to be a hit with the girls and Lisa starts to attend the live shows. When Homer and Bart go to pick Lisa up, Bart goes to the Krustylu Studio Store and finds all the Krusty merchandise has been replaced by Princess Penelope merchandise. Bart then finds Krusty out the back, in an alley, and convinces Krusty to do something about Princess Penelope. Later that day, Homer, Lenny, and Carl go to Capital City Nuclear to check out the place. Here they meet Gary Larson, who reveals that he came out of retirement to work at the power plant as the in-house cartoonist.

Krusty decides to confront Penelope over her taking over the show and Penelope tells Krusty that she loves him and has done since she was twelve. The two of them make out then start to do shows together, singing together on stage. A princess fad then takes over Springfield. Meanwhile, in Capital City, Smithers finds out that Homer, Lenny, and Carl are being poached by a rival power plant and tells Mr. Burns about it. During another episode of The Krusty the Clown Show, Krusty proposes to Princess Penelope and she says yes. This annoys Bart and Milhouse, who decide to break up the wedding. That night, Mr. Burns bribes Homer, Lenny, and Carl to stay at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant by giving them fancy donuts.

The day of the wedding, Bart takes over as the ring bearer and reveals that Krusty's first wife, Holly Hippie, was in the room. Holly tells Princess Penelope about how bad a husband Krusty was. A video of another of Krusty's ex-wives, Eartha Kitt, was also shown. Penelope decides that she wants to marry Krusty anyway, as she knows all about his past. However, Krusty decides that he can't go through with the wedding as Penelope is too good for him and deserves better. Penelope then leaves Springfield.

In Paris, Penelope is performing "Moon River" to people at night. She then goes to a bridge over the river and looks sadly into the water as a boat goes by. Penelope thinks she sees Krusty, then realizes it's her imagination. Penelope then notices that Krusty is really there, just in the water, struggling to swim. Penelope dives in after him and the two of them float down the river on Penelope's guitar case. Krusty tells Penelope that he'd rather be happy than noble so he changed his mind.

Reception[edit]

This episode gathered 21.01 million viewers on its premiere.[1]

Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode an 8.0 rating. He called the episode "another solid episode" and said that "The Simpsons can still deliver smart and solid entertainment".[2]

Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B rating. She criticized the amount of guest stars in the episode, singling out Gary Larson in particular. However, she went on to say "It was a funny episode with a nice amount of heart".[3]

"Once Upon a Time in Springfield" was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. However, it lost to Prep & Landing.[4] Anne Hathaway also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for voicing Princess Penelope.[5]

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Once Upon a Time in Springfield".
Season 21 Episodes
Homer the Whopper Bart Gets a "Z" The Great Wife Hope Treehouse of Horror XX The Devil Wears Nada Pranks and Greens Rednecks and Broomsticks Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou? Thursdays with Abie Once Upon a Time in Springfield Million Dollar Maybe Boy Meets Curl The Color Yellow Postcards from the Wedge Stealing First Base The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed American History X-cellent Chief of Hearts The Squirt and the Whale To Surveil with Love Moe Letter Blues The Bob Next Door Judge Me Tender