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Difference between revisions of "Springfield Up"

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{{episode
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{{Icons||FE}}
|image=Declan Desmond.jpg|200px]]|
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{{Tab}}
|productionCode=JABF07
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{{EpisodePrevNext|Little Big Girl|Yokel Chords}}
|originalAirdate=Febuary 18 2007
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{{Episode
|blackboardText=
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|image=Springfield Up promo.png
|couchGag=
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|number=391
|specialGuestVoices=[[Eric Idle]] as [[Declan Desmond]]
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|season=18
|Written By=[[Matt Warburton]]
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|snumber=13
|Directed By=[[Chuck Sheetz]]
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|prodcode=JABF07
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|airdate= February 18, [[2007]]
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|couchgag=The living room is dark and then the light is turned on, each member of the family has a cockroach body and scurries off with the exception of Maggie, who goes behind the couch and peers out over the back corner.
 +
|guests=[[Eric Idle]] as [[Declan Desmond]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
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|writer=[[Matt Warburton]]
 +
|director=[[Chuck Sheetz]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''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.  
+
"'''Springfield Up'''" is the thirteenth episode of [[season 18]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and ninety-first episode overall. It originally aired on February 18, [[2007]]. The episode was written by [[Matt Warburton]] and directed by [[Chuck Sheetz]]. It guest stars [[Eric Idle]] as [[Declan Desmond]].
  
 +
== Synopsis ==
 +
{{Desc|[[Declan Desmond]] films a documentary about the lives of people of [[Springfield]] and how they changed over the years. [[Homer]] makes him believe he is rich, but he actually took [[Burns' Summer Mansion]] while [[Mr. Burns]] was out.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== 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 (Except Lenny who he found too be boring and stopped filming after the first interview). Clips from the film show a young [[Homer Simpson|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.
+
[[File:Growing Up Springfield.png|thumb|left|The ''Growing Up Springfield'' title screen.]]
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 Simpson|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.
+
[[Declan Desmond]] opens up with an introduction to his film, ''[[Growing Up Springfield]]''. The film follows several students from [[Springfield Elementary School]] as they grow up, with Declan coming back to see them every eight years. [[Clancy Wiggum]] always wanted to be a cop, playing cops and robbers in the playground with [[Homer]]. When he was 16, he became hall monitor at school. At 24, he joined the [[Springfield Police Academy]]. Clancy was terrible with his gun and only got through Police Academy by giving his superiors back rubs using his gun. At 32, Clancy became police chief after bribing [[Mayor Quimby]] with back rubs. At age 40, Chief Wiggum had gotten everything that he had ever wanted.
  
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.
+
The scene then goes back to an 8 year-old Homer, who lists all his dreams to Declan. Declan then tells Homer that he's not a genie. By age 24, Homer's dreams still hadn't come to fruition. Homer sold manure, asked questions during infomercials, and had a one-man garage band. He also was in a relationship with [[Marge]] at the time. When Declan asks if they're considering children, Homer scoffs at the idea. The scene then jumps ahead 8 years to Homer and Marge with their children, [[Bart]] and [[Lisa]]. Eight years later, in the present, Homer and his family live in a mansion. Declan is surprised that Homer is a millionaire. Homer reveals to Declan that he made his millions with a simple invention; the [[Condiment Pen]]. Declan concedes defeat over Homer, saying that there's no way he can embarrass Homer any further. He then puts text on the film saying that Homer is "barely literate" and "smells like feet".
  
== Material cut from the original American airing ==
+
The film then follows [[Professor Frink]] who tells Declan that he wants to be a rocket scientist. In the present, Frink tells Declan that he made a time machine, the [[Chrono Trike]]. He plans on using it to go back in time and tell his younger self to choose a different career. He then cycles the Chrono Trike and goes back in time. As he runs towards his younger self, Frink gets hit by two cars, and a young Carl Carlson steals the Chrono Trike.
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 Television Network|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 ==
+
At the age of 24, [[Eleanor Abernathy]] had graduated from Harvard Medical and Yale Law schools. She was a successful lawyer and doctor. At 32, Eleanor had become a little burned out, and had gotten a pet cat, [[Buster]]. She reveals that she is planning on getting another cat. Eight years later, Eleanor has become the Crazy Cat Lady and throws cats at Declan. The film then follows a young Marge, who likes photography. Marge would take pictures of all her friends. In High School, Marge was the photographer for the school newspaper, ''[[The Sentinel]]''. At 24, she had started dating Homer. Her career as a photographer never took off and she ended up taking passport photos for people.
*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 (The Simpsons)|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]].
+
In the present, [[Mr. Burns]] enters the mansion and reveals that it's [[Burns' Summer Mansion|his summer home]]. Declan realizes that Homer's story was all a lie. [[Waylon Smithers]] had been stuck in the grandfather clock for three days whilst the Simpsons had run of the house. Burns then tells Smithers to release the hounds, but they're at Burns' Winter home. Smithers goes to get the hounds and releases them on the Simpsons 90 minutes later. Declan questions why Homer lied, but Homer refuses to speak to Declan again. When Declan confronts Marge and Homer at the Simpson house, Homer tells him that he has nothing different from the last time Declan was there, so he wanted to be the cool guy in Declan's movie. Marge rants at Declan over his treatment of Homer and tells Declan that she doesn't want him anywhere near her house.
*Declan Desmond's documentary project parallels [[Michael Apted]]'s ''[[Up series]]''.
+
 
*A parody of artist [[Andrew Wyeth|Andrew Wyeth's]] painting ''[[Christina's World]]'', with Burns in the place of Christina, is visible after Burns pulls down another painting.
+
In [[Moe's Tavern]], Declan tells [[Moe]] that he feels affection for Homer. Declan then comes up with an idea and interviews people in Springfield about Homer. He then invited Homer to his editing bay where he showed the interviews to Homer. The people in the video all say positive things about Homer, which makes him feel better. Homer realizes that he has a pretty good life after all. Marge then bursts into the room and tells Homer not to kill Declan. Homer then realizes that Declan has a mixing board and decides to perform a song, "[[Satan, You're My Lady]]", along with Declan.
*Frink's time machine is nearly identical to the time machine in the 1960 film ''[[The Time Machine (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 (Doctor Who)|Doctor Who]]; Eric Idle was among [[Doctor Who (1996 film)#Casting the Doctor|a number of actors]] considered for the role of the [[Eighth Doctor]].
+
== Production ==
*The slideshow of pictures showing Moe growing up is a parody of [[Michael Jackson]]'s looks throughout the years.
+
The episode is based on {{W|Michael Apted}}'s ''{{W2|Up|film series}}'' series. Episode writer [[Matt Warburton]] wanted to show off the nervousness of people in those sorts of films when they haven't done enough when they come back to film them.<ref name="Warburton">{{Com|Warburton, Matt|Springfield Up|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Matt Warburton}}</ref> The episode has less scenes than other episodes, only having around 135, when a normal episode has 300-400.<ref name="Sheetz">{{Com|Sheetz, Chuck|Springfield Up|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Chuck Sheetz}}</ref> This is due to all the continuous shots in the episode. The interval of 8 years was chosen because 7 years would leave Homer too young or too old. 8 years also left Homer a little older than he's supposed to be. The [[Condiment Pen]] idea came from [[Dana Gould]].<ref name="Warburton"/>
*In one of the scenes from Homer's past, Homer creates a clay version of the play [[Equus]].
+
 
 +
The original airing was alongside the trailer for ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' so they had to cut parts of the episode to fit the trailer in. The original airing cut the [[couch gag]] and the final scene with Homer and Declan singing "[[Satan, You're My Lady]]".<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|Springfield Up|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Al Jean}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:JABF07 Script.jpg
 +
</gallery>
  
 
== Reception ==
 
== Reception ==
Robert Canning named "Springfield Up" as one of the three "outstanding" episodes of the eighteenth season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/796/796072p1.html|title=The Simpsons: Season 18 Review|accessdate=2007-06-15|date=2007-06-14|author=Robert Canning|publisher=IGN.com}}</ref>
+
Robert Canning named "Springfield Up" as "one of the best Simpsons episodes from the past few seasons". He praised the amount of jokes in the "great story" that was told in a "cleverly unconventional way". He went on to say that the episode was a tale that has been told "time and again, but the fresh twist of having it presented within Desmond's documentary".<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/20/the-simpsons-springfield-up-review IGN - "The Simpsons: ''Springfield Up'' Review"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
As of April [[2021]], the episode has a 7.2 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918868/ IMDb - "Springfield Up"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
== In other languages ==
 +
{{LanguageBox
 +
|es=yes
 +
|esName=Crecer en Springfield
 +
|esTrans=Growing up in Springfield
 +
|la=yes
 +
|laName=Creciendo en Springfield
 +
|laTrans=Growing up in Springfield
 +
|fr=yes
 +
|frName=Tous les huit ans
 +
|frTrans=Every Eight Years
 +
|it=yes
 +
|itName=Come eravamo... a Springfield
 +
|itTrans=The way we were... in Springfield
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
{{Reflist}}
  
 +
{{Images|ep=yes}}
 +
{{season 18}}
  
== Goofs ==
+
[[Category:2007]]
*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.
+
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes written by Matt Warburton]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes directed by Chuck Sheetz]]
  
{{Season 18}}
+
[[sv:Springfield Up]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Season 18]]
 
[[Category:Anthology]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:30, September 3, 2024

Season 18 Episode
390 "Little Big Girl"
391
"Springfield Up"
"Yokel Chords" 392
"Springfield Up"
Springfield Up promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 391
Season number: S18 E13
Production code: JABF07
Original airdate: February 18, 2007
Couch gag: The living room is dark and then the light is turned on, each member of the family has a cockroach body and scurries off with the exception of Maggie, who goes behind the couch and peers out over the back corner.
Guest star(s): Eric Idle as Declan Desmond
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Matt Warburton
Directed by: Chuck Sheetz


"Springfield Up" is the thirteenth episode of season 18 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and ninety-first episode overall. It originally aired on February 18, 2007. The episode was written by Matt Warburton and directed by Chuck Sheetz. It guest stars Eric Idle as Declan Desmond.

Synopsis[edit]

"Declan Desmond films a documentary about the lives of people of Springfield and how they changed over the years. Homer makes him believe he is rich, but he actually took Burns' Summer Mansion while Mr. Burns was out."


Plot[edit]

The Growing Up Springfield title screen.

Declan Desmond opens up with an introduction to his film, Growing Up Springfield. The film follows several students from Springfield Elementary School as they grow up, with Declan coming back to see them every eight years. Clancy Wiggum always wanted to be a cop, playing cops and robbers in the playground with Homer. When he was 16, he became hall monitor at school. At 24, he joined the Springfield Police Academy. Clancy was terrible with his gun and only got through Police Academy by giving his superiors back rubs using his gun. At 32, Clancy became police chief after bribing Mayor Quimby with back rubs. At age 40, Chief Wiggum had gotten everything that he had ever wanted.

The scene then goes back to an 8 year-old Homer, who lists all his dreams to Declan. Declan then tells Homer that he's not a genie. By age 24, Homer's dreams still hadn't come to fruition. Homer sold manure, asked questions during infomercials, and had a one-man garage band. He also was in a relationship with Marge at the time. When Declan asks if they're considering children, Homer scoffs at the idea. The scene then jumps ahead 8 years to Homer and Marge with their children, Bart and Lisa. Eight years later, in the present, Homer and his family live in a mansion. Declan is surprised that Homer is a millionaire. Homer reveals to Declan that he made his millions with a simple invention; the Condiment Pen. Declan concedes defeat over Homer, saying that there's no way he can embarrass Homer any further. He then puts text on the film saying that Homer is "barely literate" and "smells like feet".

The film then follows Professor Frink who tells Declan that he wants to be a rocket scientist. In the present, Frink tells Declan that he made a time machine, the Chrono Trike. He plans on using it to go back in time and tell his younger self to choose a different career. He then cycles the Chrono Trike and goes back in time. As he runs towards his younger self, Frink gets hit by two cars, and a young Carl Carlson steals the Chrono Trike.

At the age of 24, Eleanor Abernathy had graduated from Harvard Medical and Yale Law schools. She was a successful lawyer and doctor. At 32, Eleanor had become a little burned out, and had gotten a pet cat, Buster. She reveals that she is planning on getting another cat. Eight years later, Eleanor has become the Crazy Cat Lady and throws cats at Declan. The film then follows a young Marge, who likes photography. Marge would take pictures of all her friends. In High School, Marge was the photographer for the school newspaper, The Sentinel. At 24, she had started dating Homer. Her career as a photographer never took off and she ended up taking passport photos for people.

In the present, Mr. Burns enters the mansion and reveals that it's his summer home. Declan realizes that Homer's story was all a lie. Waylon Smithers had been stuck in the grandfather clock for three days whilst the Simpsons had run of the house. Burns then tells Smithers to release the hounds, but they're at Burns' Winter home. Smithers goes to get the hounds and releases them on the Simpsons 90 minutes later. Declan questions why Homer lied, but Homer refuses to speak to Declan again. When Declan confronts Marge and Homer at the Simpson house, Homer tells him that he has nothing different from the last time Declan was there, so he wanted to be the cool guy in Declan's movie. Marge rants at Declan over his treatment of Homer and tells Declan that she doesn't want him anywhere near her house.

In Moe's Tavern, Declan tells Moe that he feels affection for Homer. Declan then comes up with an idea and interviews people in Springfield about Homer. He then invited Homer to his editing bay where he showed the interviews to Homer. The people in the video all say positive things about Homer, which makes him feel better. Homer realizes that he has a pretty good life after all. Marge then bursts into the room and tells Homer not to kill Declan. Homer then realizes that Declan has a mixing board and decides to perform a song, "Satan, You're My Lady", along with Declan.

Production[edit]

The episode is based on Michael Apted's Up series. Episode writer Matt Warburton wanted to show off the nervousness of people in those sorts of films when they haven't done enough when they come back to film them.[1] The episode has less scenes than other episodes, only having around 135, when a normal episode has 300-400.[2] This is due to all the continuous shots in the episode. The interval of 8 years was chosen because 7 years would leave Homer too young or too old. 8 years also left Homer a little older than he's supposed to be. The Condiment Pen idea came from Dana Gould.[1]

The original airing was alongside the trailer for The Simpsons Movie so they had to cut parts of the episode to fit the trailer in. The original airing cut the couch gag and the final scene with Homer and Declan singing "Satan, You're My Lady".[3]

Reception[edit]

Robert Canning named "Springfield Up" as "one of the best Simpsons episodes from the past few seasons". He praised the amount of jokes in the "great story" that was told in a "cleverly unconventional way". He went on to say that the episode was a tale that has been told "time and again, but the fresh twist of having it presented within Desmond's documentary".[4]

As of April 2021, the episode has a 7.2 rating on IMDb.[5]

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Spain flag.png Español "Crecer en Springfield" Growing up in Springfield
Hispanic America.gif Español "Creciendo en Springfield" Growing up in Springfield
France.png Français "Tous les huit ans" Every Eight Years
Italy Flag.png Italiano "Come eravamo... a Springfield" The way we were... in Springfield

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Springfield Up".
Season 18 Episodes
The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer Jazzy and the Pussycats Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em Treehouse of Horror XVII G.I. (Annoyed Grunt) Moe'N'a Lisa Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair) The Haw-Hawed Couple Kill Gil, Volumes I & II The Wife Aquatic Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times Little Big Girl Springfield Up Yokel Chords Rome-Old and Juli-Eh Homerazzi Marge Gamer The Boys of Bummer Crook and Ladder Stop, or My Dog Will Shoot! 24 Minutes You Kent Always Say What You Want