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Difference between revisions of "A Tale of Two Springfields"

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{{Quote|We're officially a city. Now we just sit back and wait for an NFL franchise.|[[Homer Simpson]]}}
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|Episode Number=250
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{{Episode
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|productionCode=BABF20
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|image= A Tale of Two Springfields.png
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|originalAirdate=November 5, 2000
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|number= 250
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|blackboardText="I will not plant sublimin<span style="color: green;">'''al'''</span> messa'''[[Al Gore|<span style="color: green;">gore</span>]]'''s"
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|season=12
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|couchGag=Bart reaches the couch first and slips a whoopee cushion underneath Homer’s side. When the family runs in, Homer predictably sets off the whoopee cushion’s farting sound, causing him to grin sheepishly at a frowning Marge and Lisa while Bart laughs uproariously.
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|snumber=2
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|specialGuestVoices=The Who as themselves, except for Pete Townshend (see ''[[A_Tale_of_Two_Springfields/References|Trivia]]'' below)
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|prodcode= BABF20
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|Written By=[[John Swartzwelder]]
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|airdate= November 5, [[2000]]
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|Directed By=[[Shaun Cashman]]
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|blackboard= "I will not plant sublimin<span style="color: green;">'''al'''</span> messa'''[[Al Gore|<span style="color: green;">gore</span>]]'''s"
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|couchgag= Bart reaches the couch first and slips a whoopee cushion underneath Homer's side. When the family runs in, Homer predictably sets off the whoopee cushion's farting sound, causing him to grin sheepishly at a frowning Marge and Lisa while Bart laughs uproariously.
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|guests= [[The Who]] as {{Chs|The Who|themselves}}<br>[[Frank Welker]] as [[Flanders' pet woodpecker]]
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|showrunner1= Mike Scully
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|writer= [[John Swartzwelder]]
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|director= [[Shaun Cashman]]
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|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
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"'''A Tale of Two Springfields'''" is the second episode from [[List of The Simpsons episodes#Season 12 (2000-2001)|season twelve]] of the animated TV series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. The title is a spoof of Charles Dickens' classic book, ''A Tale of Two Cities''.
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"'''A Tale of Two Springfields'''" is the second episode of [[season 12]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the two-hundred and fiftieth episode overall. It originally aired in November 5, [[2000]]. The episode was written by [[John Swartzwelder]] and directed by [[Shaun Cashman]]. It guest stars [[The Who]] as {{Chs|The Who|themselves}} and [[Frank Welker]] as the [[Flanders' pet woodpecker]].
 +
 
 +
== Synopsis ==
 +
{{Desc|While calling Animal Control over a badger taking residence in [[Santa's Little Helper]]'s doghouse, [[Homer]] discovers that [[Springfield]] has two different area codes—and ends up leading a revolt that splits the town in two.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
−
While feeding [[Santa's Little Helper]], [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] finds a badger in his doghouse. Bart and [[Lisa Simpson]] try to get rid of it themselves, but are unsuccessful. After [[Homer]] suggests they blow up the doghouse with dynamite , Lisa tells him to call animal control instead. When Homer calls them, he gets a tri-tone and a recording indicating that he did not enter the correct area code. Marge informs him that the phone company ran out of numbers, so they had to split [[Springfield]] into two area codes. One half keeps the old 636 and the Simpsons' half get the new 939. He is outraged that they changed the code so suddenly (even though [[Lenny Leonard|Lenny]] and [[Carl Carlson|Carl]] say that they had weeks of advance warnings, including two weeks at area code camp). While at a town meeting, with Homer wearing a suicide belt, [[Lindsey Naegle]] shows a film (starring talking telephone Phony McRing-Ring) that attempts to convince the audience two area codes are better. The whole town agrees with it. However, Homer stands up, reminding them how terrible it was and points out that the original 636 code was kept by the rich side of town. When Homer fails to blow himself up, he leads a rebellion of the poor and goes off to form a new town.
+
When trying to feed [[Santa's Little Helper]], [[Bart]] finds a badger is living in the dog house. After some unsuccessful attempts at getting the badger out, including trying to feed it the [[Flanders' pet woodpecker]], Homer decides to call Animal Control. However, Homer can't get through as the area code has changed, with Springfield now having two area codes. Homer gets annoyed at this and complains about it to his friends at work. Later, Homer is listening to [[KBBL Radio]] where they are giving away tickets to see {{Chs|The Who}}. They read out Homer's number, but the call goes to [[Mr. Burns]] instead, as the area code was no longer his.
  
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Homer names the town with the new 939 code "New Springfield", while the half of the town with 636 is now called "Olde Springfield". Homer is appointed mayor of New Springfield, but shows disrespect for the office by using his sash as a napkin. Rivalry quickly ensues between the two towns. When Olde Springfield insults the inefficiency of his half of town, Homer cuts power to Olde Springfield. Olde Springfield retaliates by hijacking a beer truck and dumping its contents in the river. Homer and New Springfield strike back by cutting off the river into Olde Springfield; however this causes its inhabitants to find gold in the riverbed and buy the Evian bottled water factory. Homer decides to build a giant wall right through town, just like the one Berlin had. When he tells his citizens they do not have enough supplies to get past tomorrow, and that a wave of disease will kill the weak (afterwards, they'll be forced to eat certain breeds of dogs), everyone except the Simpsons leave.
+
A town meeting was called about the area codes, with [[Lindsey Naegle]] being the representative from the phone company. Naegle points out Homer in particular as being annoyed as he showed up wearing dynamite. To try and placate the crowd, she shows a movie featuring [[Phony McRing-Ring]] which satisfies most people without providing any answers. However, Homer isn't satisfied and goes on stage, and attempts to blow himself up. When this doesn't work, he riles up the crowd of people who had the area code changed and decides to form a new town, [[New Springfield]]. Homer is then made the mayor shortly after. At first, things seem to be going well, despite the rivalry between New Springfield and [[Olde Springfield]]. However, people start to get uncomfortable, with [[Marge]] feeling like people were glaring at her when she went shopping in Olde Springfield. Marge went home again, only feeling relaxed when she was back in New Springfield. The family then sat down to watch the news, where [[Kent Brockman]] insults the people of New Springfield.
  
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Now the mayor of a empty town, Homer boasts to himself that The Who is coming to their town, when they are actually performing in Olde Springfield. Together, he and Bart get them to perform in New Springfield. When Olde Springfield is waiting for the band, they find them in New Springfield and prepare to riot. Just before a major conflict, The Who suggests they get speed-dial to solve their rivalry. They also agree to play if Springfield tears down the wall, which Pete Townshend (voiced by his brother, Paul Townshend) ends up destroying by playing the famous outro to "Won't Get Fooled Again]".
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In retaliation for Kent Brockman insulting them, Homer turns the power off to Olde Springfield. Olde Springfield then retaliated back, dumping a shipment of beer headed for New Springfield in the river. In retaliation to this, the people of New Springfield cut off the water supply to Olde Springfield, drying up the river. The people of Olde Springfield then find gold at the bottom of the river and use it to buy a water plant for the town. With tensions rising, Homer decides to build a wall between the two towns, cutting off all routes into and out of town. When the rest of the people figure this out, they all climb over the wall, escaping to Olde Springfield, leaving only the Simpsons in New Springfield.
  
 +
To try and draw the people back to New Springfield, Homer goes to see The Who to convince them to perform in New Springfield instead. He gets them to accept and they start to put on a show on the wall between New and Olde Springfield. When the rest of the Springfieldians hear the music, they confront Homer and start to fire flaming trash over the wall at him. The Who then stop the angry crowd and convince them to knock down the wall and get on with each other again. They then play "[[Won't Get Fooled Again]]" to help with the demolition whilst performing. Meanwhile, on the edge of town, a large army of badgers gather to attack the people of Springfield whilst they are dancing.
  
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=== Cuts ===
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== Production ==
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Several parts of this episode are cut when it airs in syndication on Sky1 in the UK and Ireland:
+
[[John Frink]] and [[Don Payne]] pitched the idea of the town splitting in two. The episode was inspired by Don Payne's mother's neighborhood, where each side of the neighborhood would spread rumors about the other side. [[Larry Doyle]] then came up with the idea of the town splitting due to the area codes.<ref name="Payne">{{Com|Payne, Don|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref> After the episode, a website was set up called whatbadgerseat.com<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref> which has since been redirected to fox.com. The producers didn't want the episode to become "snobs vs. sloths", which eventually did happen with the rich and poor divide in the town.<ref name="Scully">{{Com|Scully, Mike|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref> [[George Meyer]] pitched the chalkboard gag for the episode, which was a reference to the {{W|2000 United States presidential election}} which was happening at the time.<ref name="Scully"/>
  
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* When [[KBBL]] are talking about a mattress on the freeway, the line 'Joan Collins must be in town' is cut.
+
The Who was the first choice for the band in the episode. The line of the split was changed several times, with one of the lines being between Homer and Ned's houses.<ref name="Scully"/> Bart keeping his pants off in the scene after he had them taken was not in the script but was done by the animators.<ref name="Cashman">{{Com|Cashman, Shaun|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref> The Who recorded their lines in [[London]], with [[Mike Scully]] and [[Dan Castellaneta]] going there to record. Pete Townshend didn't voice his character as he thought it would have been like ''{{W2|Yellow Submarine|film}}'' where [[The Beatles]] had other actors imitate their voices.<ref name="Scully"/> [[Roger Daltrey]] then got the idea to call Pete's brother [[Paul Townshend]] who looked and sounded like Pete and offered him money to voice Pete.<ref name="Castellaneta">{{Com|Castellaneta, Dan|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref> Roger Daltrey had talked Pete Townshend into voicing his character, but on the day of recording, he didn't show up, having changed his mind.<ref name="Daltrey">{{Com|Daltrey, Roger|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref>
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* When Homer phones the radio station, it cuts from that scene to the town hall, missing out the scene with Homer strangling Bart, and Bart retaliating by hitting Homer on the head with the phone.
 
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* [[Kent_Brockman|Kent's]] 'Golden Showers' line is cut.
 
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* All of the badger scenes (with the exception of the first) are cut.
 
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* In other parts of the world, there is a scene right after the guard throws Homer and [[Bart Simpson]] into The Who's room, where Homer smashes a lamp to the ground, and Bart starts to kick the drum set.
 
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* The entire episode was in fact heavily cut for syndication. Originally 22 minutes and 11 seconds long, two minutes and 10 seconds were cut, and the episode was expanded 46 seconds to a length of 20:47. This is still about a half-minute shorter than most syndicated versions.
 
  
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== External links ==
+
The animators based the look of The Who on how they looked in the '80s.<ref name="Cashman"/> The band wanted them to put {{W|Keith Moon}} in, rather than their current drummer {{W|Zak Starkey}}, to immortalize him after Moon passed away in 1978. The Who also helped with the designs for their costumes.<ref name="Scully"/>
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*{{imdb episode|id=0701049|episode=A Tale of Two Springfields}}  
 
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*[http://www.whatbadgerseat.com/ Whatbadgerseat.com] A spoof site created  after the episode.
 
  
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{{Season 12}}
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== Reception ==
 +
According to producer [[George Meyer]], there was online backlash against the episode over the scene where Homer gets disemboweled by the badger, with fans finding it too disgusting for ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="Meyer">{{Com|Meyer, George|A Tale of Two Springfields|Twelfth|(2009).}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
As of January [[2020]], the episode has a 7.5 rating on {{W|IMDb}}<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701049/ IMDb - "A Tale of Two Springfields"]</ref> and a 7.9 rating on {{W|TV.com}}.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/shows/the-simpsons/a-tale-of-two-springfields-3805/ TV.com - "A Tale of Two Springfields"]</ref>
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== In other languages ==
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{{LanguageBox
 +
|de=yes
 +
|deName=Die Geschichte der zwei Springfields
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|deTrans=The story of the two Springfields
 +
|es=yes
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|esName=Historia de dos ciudades
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|esTrans=A Tale of Two Cities
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|la=yes
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|laName=El cuento de dos ciudades
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|laTrans=The Tale of Two Cities
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|fr=yes
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|frName=La Bataille des deux Springfield
 +
|frTrans=The Battle of the Two Springfields
 +
|qu=yes
 +
|quName=Un code, une ville
 +
|quTrans=One code, one city
 +
|it=yes
 +
|itName=La storia di due Springfield
 +
|itTrans=A Tale of Two Springfields
 +
|jp=yes
 +
|jpName=ホーマー市長の聖域なき構造計画
 +
|jpTrans=Mayor Homer's No Sacred Sites Structure Plan
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
== Promotional images ==
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<gallery>
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File:A Tale of Two Springfields promo 1.png
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File:A Tale of Two Springfields promo 2.png
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File:A Tale of Two Springfields promo 3.png
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</gallery>
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
{{Reflist}}
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
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{{season 12}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tale of Two Springfields, A}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tale of Two Springfields, A}}
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[[Category:Episodes]]
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[[Category:Season 12]]
 
 
[[Category:2000]]
 
[[Category:2000]]
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[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by John Swartzwelder]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by one time directors]]
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[[sv:A Tale of Two Springfields]]

Latest revision as of 12:17, August 30, 2024

Season 12 Episode
← 249 "Treehouse of Horror XI"
250
"A Tale of Two Springfields"
"Insane Clown Poppy" 251 →
"We're officially a city. Now we just sit back and wait for an NFL franchise."
―Homer Simpson
"A Tale of Two Springfields"
A Tale of Two Springfields.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 250
Season number: S12 E2
Production code: BABF20
Original airdate: November 5, 2000
Chalkboard gag: "I will not plant subliminal messagores"
Couch gag: Bart reaches the couch first and slips a whoopee cushion underneath Homer's side. When the family runs in, Homer predictably sets off the whoopee cushion's farting sound, causing him to grin sheepishly at a frowning Marge and Lisa while Bart laughs uproariously.
Guest star(s): The Who as themselves
Frank Welker as Flanders' pet woodpecker
Showrunner: Mike Scully
Written by: John Swartzwelder
Directed by: Shaun Cashman
DVD features


"A Tale of Two Springfields" is the second episode of season 12 of The Simpsons and the two-hundred and fiftieth episode overall. It originally aired in November 5, 2000. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Shaun Cashman. It guest stars The Who as themselves and Frank Welker as the Flanders' pet woodpecker.

Synopsis[edit]

"While calling Animal Control over a badger taking residence in Santa's Little Helper's doghouse, Homer discovers that Springfield has two different area codes—and ends up leading a revolt that splits the town in two."


Plot[edit]

When trying to feed Santa's Little Helper, Bart finds a badger is living in the dog house. After some unsuccessful attempts at getting the badger out, including trying to feed it the Flanders' pet woodpecker, Homer decides to call Animal Control. However, Homer can't get through as the area code has changed, with Springfield now having two area codes. Homer gets annoyed at this and complains about it to his friends at work. Later, Homer is listening to KBBL Radio where they are giving away tickets to see The Who. They read out Homer's number, but the call goes to Mr. Burns instead, as the area code was no longer his.

A town meeting was called about the area codes, with Lindsey Naegle being the representative from the phone company. Naegle points out Homer in particular as being annoyed as he showed up wearing dynamite. To try and placate the crowd, she shows a movie featuring Phony McRing-Ring which satisfies most people without providing any answers. However, Homer isn't satisfied and goes on stage, and attempts to blow himself up. When this doesn't work, he riles up the crowd of people who had the area code changed and decides to form a new town, New Springfield. Homer is then made the mayor shortly after. At first, things seem to be going well, despite the rivalry between New Springfield and Olde Springfield. However, people start to get uncomfortable, with Marge feeling like people were glaring at her when she went shopping in Olde Springfield. Marge went home again, only feeling relaxed when she was back in New Springfield. The family then sat down to watch the news, where Kent Brockman insults the people of New Springfield.

In retaliation for Kent Brockman insulting them, Homer turns the power off to Olde Springfield. Olde Springfield then retaliated back, dumping a shipment of beer headed for New Springfield in the river. In retaliation to this, the people of New Springfield cut off the water supply to Olde Springfield, drying up the river. The people of Olde Springfield then find gold at the bottom of the river and use it to buy a water plant for the town. With tensions rising, Homer decides to build a wall between the two towns, cutting off all routes into and out of town. When the rest of the people figure this out, they all climb over the wall, escaping to Olde Springfield, leaving only the Simpsons in New Springfield.

To try and draw the people back to New Springfield, Homer goes to see The Who to convince them to perform in New Springfield instead. He gets them to accept and they start to put on a show on the wall between New and Olde Springfield. When the rest of the Springfieldians hear the music, they confront Homer and start to fire flaming trash over the wall at him. The Who then stop the angry crowd and convince them to knock down the wall and get on with each other again. They then play "Won't Get Fooled Again" to help with the demolition whilst performing. Meanwhile, on the edge of town, a large army of badgers gather to attack the people of Springfield whilst they are dancing.

Production[edit]

John Frink and Don Payne pitched the idea of the town splitting in two. The episode was inspired by Don Payne's mother's neighborhood, where each side of the neighborhood would spread rumors about the other side. Larry Doyle then came up with the idea of the town splitting due to the area codes.[1] After the episode, a website was set up called whatbadgerseat.com[2] which has since been redirected to fox.com. The producers didn't want the episode to become "snobs vs. sloths", which eventually did happen with the rich and poor divide in the town.[3] George Meyer pitched the chalkboard gag for the episode, which was a reference to the 2000 United States presidential election which was happening at the time.[3]

The Who was the first choice for the band in the episode. The line of the split was changed several times, with one of the lines being between Homer and Ned's houses.[3] Bart keeping his pants off in the scene after he had them taken was not in the script but was done by the animators.[4] The Who recorded their lines in London, with Mike Scully and Dan Castellaneta going there to record. Pete Townshend didn't voice his character as he thought it would have been like Yellow Submarine where The Beatles had other actors imitate their voices.[3] Roger Daltrey then got the idea to call Pete's brother Paul Townshend who looked and sounded like Pete and offered him money to voice Pete.[5] Roger Daltrey had talked Pete Townshend into voicing his character, but on the day of recording, he didn't show up, having changed his mind.[6]

The animators based the look of The Who on how they looked in the '80s.[4] The band wanted them to put Keith Moon in, rather than their current drummer Zak Starkey, to immortalize him after Moon passed away in 1978. The Who also helped with the designs for their costumes.[3]

Reception[edit]

According to producer George Meyer, there was online backlash against the episode over the scene where Homer gets disemboweled by the badger, with fans finding it too disgusting for The Simpsons.[7]

As of January 2020, the episode has a 7.5 rating on IMDb[8] and a 7.9 rating on TV.com.[9]

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Die Geschichte der zwei Springfields" The story of the two Springfields
Spain flag.png Español "Historia de dos ciudades" A Tale of Two Cities
Hispanic America.gif Español "El cuento de dos ciudades" The Tale of Two Cities
France.png Français "La Bataille des deux Springfield" The Battle of the Two Springfields
Flag of Quebec.svg.png Français "Un code, une ville" One code, one city
Italy Flag.png Italiano "La storia di due Springfield" A Tale of Two Springfields
Flag of Japan.png 日本語 "ホーマー市長の聖域なき構造計画" Mayor Homer's No Sacred Sites Structure Plan

Promotional images[edit]

  • A Tale of Two Springfields promo 1.png
  • A Tale of Two Springfields promo 2.png
  • A Tale of Two Springfields promo 3.png

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Payne, Don (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  2. ↑ Jean, Al (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Scully, Mike (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cashman, Shaun (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  5. ↑ Castellaneta, Dan (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  6. ↑ Daltrey, Roger (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  7. ↑ Meyer, George (2009). Commentary for "A Tale of Two Springfields", in The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season.
  8. ↑ IMDb - "A Tale of Two Springfields"
  9. ↑ TV.com - "A Tale of Two Springfields"


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "A Tale of Two Springfields".
Season 12 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror XI • A Tale of Two Springfields • Insane Clown Poppy • Lisa the Tree Hugger • Homer vs. Dignity • The Computer Wore Menace Shoes • The Great Money Caper • Skinner's Sense of Snow • HOMЯ • Pokey Mom • Worst Episode Ever • Tennis the Menace • Day of the Jackanapes • New Kids on the Blecch • Hungry, Hungry Homer • Bye, Bye, Nerdie • Simpson Safari • Trilogy of Error • I'm Goin' to Praiseland • Children of a Lesser Clod • Simpsons Tall Tales
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