Difference between revisions of "Springfield Up"

Revision as of 19:32, December 13, 2007

"Springfield Up" is the thirteenth episode of the eighteenth season of The Simpsons. It is based on the British documentary series Seven Up!, a compilation of seven documentary films that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old, and return every seven years to document their lives.

Plot

Eccentric documentary filmmaker Declan Desmond offers an inside look at his work chronicling some of Springfield's finest for his documentary. Titled "Growing Up Springfield," his film follows the lives of several Springfield residents, returning to them after eight-year intervals to examine how their lives have changed. Clips from the film show a young Homer dreaming of growing up to be rich and famous. Eight years later, Homer is dating Marge but dreaming of being a rock star. After the next eight year interval, Homer has given up on his dreams of fame and fortune to support his growing family. However, when Declan Desmond returns in the present day, he discovers that Homer has become extraordinarily wealthy, and the family is living in a mansion. Homer explains that his newfound wealth is due to an invention called the condiment pen, which dispenses condiments in the same manner as a writing pen dispenses ink. Declan interviews Marge about her family's unexpected success, but she is unable to explain why the mansion's medicine cabinet is filled with "old man ointments." Suddenly, Mr. Burns bursts into the house, demanding to know what the Simpsons are doing in his summer home.

Homer confesses that his story of wealth and success was a lie. Declan begins to follow him around, wanting to find out why Homer felt the need to lie. When he finally gets Homer on camera, Homer explains that he wanted to feel like a success instead of "the guy who makes everyone else look good." Marge tells Declan off for hurting Homer's feelings and orders him to stay away. Declan suddenly begins to feel sorry for Homer and decides to make a new movie. He puts together footage of Homer's friends and family talking about what a good friend, husband and father he is. Homer sees the new movie and realizes that he is successful after all.

Material cut from the original American airing

Due to the fact that a new trailer for The Simpsons Movie aired during the original American broadcast, several scenes were cut from the episode that aired on FOX:

• The opening credits and couch gag were cut. The American version started with Declan Desmond's introduction, and the usual "created by Matt Groening" credits were shown over a shot of a playground.
• In the first airing, the final minute of the episode was cut, ending after Marge and Homer hugged. The extended ending featured Homer and Desmond singing a duet.

The version that aired in Canada on Global the same night did not feature the Movie trailer and as a result, the full version of the episode was aired. When the episode reaired on April 15, 2007, the cut material was restored, along with the original opening sequence.

Cultural references

• The character of Declan Desmond is based on naturalist and documentary filmmaker David Attenborough. Idle had previously voiced the character in "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" and "Fat Man and Little Boy".
• When Declan offers to show Homer the footage of why his life is blessed Homer begs Declan in a parody of A Christmas Carol.
• Declan Desmond's documentary project parallels Michael Apted's Up series.
• A parody of artist Andrew Wyeth's painting Christina's World, with Burns in the place of Christina, is visible after Burns pulls down another painting.
• Frink's time machine is nearly identical to the time machine in the 1960 film The Time Machine.
• Homer seems confused by the concept of Declan's documentaries and mocks his English accent, eventually concluding that the disparate filmings are unified by time travel, and that Declan is actually Doctor Who; Eric Idle was among a number of actors considered for the role of the Eighth Doctor.
• The slideshow of pictures showing Moe growing up is a parody of Michael Jackson's looks throughout the years.
• In one of the scenes from Homer's past, Homer creates a clay version of the play Equus.

Reception

Robert Canning named "Springfield Up" as one of the three "outstanding" episodes of the eighteenth season.^[1]

Goofs

• In the scene where Marge and Homer are interviewed the first time with children, a photo showing Lisa and Maggie is visible in the background, though Lisa is still a baby and Maggie is still unborn.