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Difference between revisions of "The President Wore Pearls"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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{{Episode
 
{{Episode
 
|image= The President Wore Pearls.png
 
|image= The President Wore Pearls.png
|Episode Number= 316
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|number= 316
|productionCode= EABF20
+
|season=15
|originalAirdate= November 16, [[2003]]
+
|snumber=3
|couchGag= A camera click can be heard as an Polaroid photo lands to the couch. It develops to show the Simpsons family.
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|prodcode= EABF20
|specialGuestVoices= [[Michael Moore]] as {{Ch|Michael Moore|himself}}
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|airdate= November 16, [[2003]]
|Written By= [[Dana Gould]]
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|couchgag= A camera click can be heard as an Polaroid photo lands to the couch. It develops to show the Simpson family.
|Directed By= [[Mike B. Anderson]]
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|guests= [[Michael Moore]] as {{Ch|Michael Moore|himself}}
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
 +
|writer= [[Dana Gould]]
 +
|director= [[Mike B. Anderson]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''The President Wore Pearls''' is the third episode of [[season 15]]. It first aired on November 16, [[2003]]. It was written by [[Dana Gould]] and directed by [[Mike B. Anderson]]. [[Michael Moore]] guest stars as {{ch|Michael Moore|himself}}.
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"'''The President Wore Pearls'''" is the third episode of [[season 15]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and sixteenth episode overall. It originally aired on November 16, [[2003]]. The episode was written by [[Dana Gould]] and directed by [[Mike B. Anderson]]. It guest stars [[Michael Moore]] as {{Ch|Michael Moore|himself}}.
  
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
Line 22: Line 25:
 
The [[Simpson family]] attend a casino night at the [[Springfield Elementary School]]. Whilst [[Marge]] goes crazy with her gambling, [[Homer]] places a big bet and wins. When he goes to cash in his chips, he finds out that no real money is being exchanged. When everyone finds this out, they go wild and destroy the casino hall. After this disaster, [[Principal Skinner]] tells [[Martin]], whose idea it was, that he has to step down as class president due to this failure. The school then gets ready to elect a new class president.
 
The [[Simpson family]] attend a casino night at the [[Springfield Elementary School]]. Whilst [[Marge]] goes crazy with her gambling, [[Homer]] places a big bet and wins. When he goes to cash in his chips, he finds out that no real money is being exchanged. When everyone finds this out, they go wild and destroy the casino hall. After this disaster, [[Principal Skinner]] tells [[Martin]], whose idea it was, that he has to step down as class president due to this failure. The school then gets ready to elect a new class president.
  
Upon seeing the sign-up sheet, Lisa decided to run for president. However, [[Nelson]] also does so. Nelson proves to be a very popular candidate, winning over the other students. On stage during a debate, Nelson wins over the students whilst Lisa's ideas fail to gain any traction. Upon realizing that there was no hope left, Lisa started to sing "[[A Vote For a Winner]]". This song moved the audience and won over the students. Nelson then came up with a song too, "[[I Am Iron Man]]", which was ignored.
+
Upon seeing the sign-up sheet, Lisa decided to run for president. However, [[Nelson]] also does so. Nelson proves to be a very popular candidate, winning over the other students. On stage during a debate, Nelson wins over the students whilst Lisa's ideas fail to gain any traction. Upon realizing that there was no hope left, Lisa started to sing "[[A Vote for a Winner]]". This song moved the audience and won over the students. Nelson then came up with a song too, "[[I Am Iron Man]]", which was ignored.
  
 
The day of the vote, Lisa ended up winning, to Nelson's surprise. Lisa was then invited to the teachers' lounge and given a makeover because the school president had to look the part too. Lisa took to her role quickly, posing for photo ops and proving to be popular. She then went to the teachers' lounge to give a list of things she wanted changed with the school, which all proved unpopular with the teachers. Skinner then gave Lisa a key to the school to get her to stop suggesting changes. Lisa went home and excitedly told her family all about her role. However, [[Bart]] told Lisa that Skinner was just using her.
 
The day of the vote, Lisa ended up winning, to Nelson's surprise. Lisa was then invited to the teachers' lounge and given a makeover because the school president had to look the part too. Lisa took to her role quickly, posing for photo ops and proving to be popular. She then went to the teachers' lounge to give a list of things she wanted changed with the school, which all proved unpopular with the teachers. Skinner then gave Lisa a key to the school to get her to stop suggesting changes. Lisa went home and excitedly told her family all about her role. However, [[Bart]] told Lisa that Skinner was just using her.
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== Production ==
 
== Production ==
[[Michael Moore]] recorded his lines at a studio in [[Michigan]], which is also the same studio that [[Julie Kavner]] uses often.<ref name="Moore">{{Com|Moore, Michael|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> The episode was made as a parody of ''{{W|Evita (musical)|Evita}}'' because [[Al Jean]] liked [[Yeardley Smith]]'s singing voice and thought that using her in a political musical would be a good idea. At the table read, Yeardley sang to the original melodies of the songs they parodied but they changed the tunes later for legal reasons.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> [[Mike B. Anderson]] said that Lisa's makeover hair was really hard to draw and that the animators drew it looking a lot wackier.<ref name="Anderson">{{Com|Anderson, Mike B.|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> It was Al Jean's idea to get Michael Moore into the episode in the news broadcast.<ref name="Jean"/>
+
[[Michael Moore]] recorded his lines at a studio in [[Michigan]], which is also the same studio that [[Julie Kavner]] uses often.<ref name="Moore">{{Com|Moore, Michael|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> The episode was made as a parody of ''{{W2|Evita|musical}}'' because [[Al Jean]] liked [[Yeardley Smith]]'s singing voice and thought that using her in a political musical would be a good idea. At the table read, Yeardley sang to the original melodies of the songs they parodied but they changed the tunes later for legal reasons.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> [[Mike B. Anderson]] said that Lisa's makeover hair was really hard to draw and that the animators drew it looking a lot wackier.<ref name="Anderson">{{Com|Anderson, Mike B.|The President Wore Pearls|Fifteenth|(2012).}}</ref> It was Al Jean's idea to get Michael Moore into the episode in the news broadcast.<ref name="Jean"/>
  
 
== Reception ==
 
== Reception ==
 
In 2007, {{W|Vanity Fair}} called "The President Wore Pearls" the tenth best episode of The Simpsons, the most recent episode on the list. John Orvted said, "It may seem ludicrous to include anything later than season 8 in this list, but this one is brilliant. The musical numbers are astoundingly good, and Lisa's comeuppance is so well constructed it harkens back to the golden years of the show."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070712145315/https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 Vanity Fair - "Springfield's Best"] archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}}</ref>
 
In 2007, {{W|Vanity Fair}} called "The President Wore Pearls" the tenth best episode of The Simpsons, the most recent episode on the list. John Orvted said, "It may seem ludicrous to include anything later than season 8 in this list, but this one is brilliant. The musical numbers are astoundingly good, and Lisa's comeuppance is so well constructed it harkens back to the golden years of the show."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070712145315/https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 Vanity Fair - "Springfield's Best"] archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}}</ref>
  
The episode was also nominated for a [[2004]] {{W|Emmy}} award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics and Lyrics but lost to ''{{W|V-Day: Until the Violence Stops}}''.<ref>[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2004/outstanding-original-music-and-lyrics 2004 Emmys - "Nominees and Winners Outstanding Music and Lyrics"]</ref>
+
The song "[[A Vote for a Winner]]" was nominated for a {{W|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics}} in the {{W|56th Primetime Emmy Awards}}. However, it lost to "Because You Are Beautiful" from ''{{W|V-Day: Until the Violence Stops}}''.<ref>[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2004/outstanding-original-music-and-lyrics Television Academy - "Outstanding Music and Lyrics – 2004"]</ref>
  
 
As of October [[2019]], the episode has a 6.9 rating on {{W|IMDb}}<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701256/ IMDb - "The President Wore Pearls"]</ref> and a 8.1 rating on {{W|TV.com}}.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/shows/the-simpsons/the-president-wore-pearls-207763/ TV.com - "The President Wore Pearls"]</ref>
 
As of October [[2019]], the episode has a 6.9 rating on {{W|IMDb}}<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701256/ IMDb - "The President Wore Pearls"]</ref> and a 8.1 rating on {{W|TV.com}}.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/shows/the-simpsons/the-president-wore-pearls-207763/ TV.com - "The President Wore Pearls"]</ref>
 
== Promotional images ==
 
<gallery>
 
File:The President Wore Pearls promo 2.jpg
 
File:The President Wore Pearls promo 3.jpg
 
File:The President Wore Pearls promo 4.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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{{season 15}}
 
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[[Category:2003]]
 
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[[Category:Lisa episodes]]
 
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[[Category:Principal Skinner episodes]]
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[[Category:Musical episodes]]
 
[[Category:Education-themed episodes]]
 
[[Category:Education-themed episodes]]
 
[[Category:12-rated episodes]]
 
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[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award nominated episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Dana Gould]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Dana Gould]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Mike B. Anderson]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Mike B. Anderson]]
 
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Latest revision as of 13:42, November 5, 2024

Season 15 Episode
315 "My Mother the Carjacker"
316
"The President Wore Pearls"
"The Regina Monologues" 317
"The President Wore Pearls"
The President Wore Pearls.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 316
Season number: S15 E3
Production code: EABF20
Original airdate: November 16, 2003
Couch gag: A camera click can be heard as an Polaroid photo lands to the couch. It develops to show the Simpson family.
Guest star(s): Michael Moore as himself
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Dana Gould
Directed by: Mike B. Anderson


"The President Wore Pearls" is the third episode of season 15 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and sixteenth episode overall. It originally aired on November 16, 2003. The episode was written by Dana Gould and directed by Mike B. Anderson. It guest stars Michael Moore as himself.

Synopsis[edit]

"Lisa is elected student-body president at Springfield Elementary and immediately falls foul of Principal Skinner, who fools her into taking popular classes off the curriculum. Angry at his deception, she retaliates by calling her classmates out on strike."


Plot[edit]

Lisa after her makeover

The Simpson family attend a casino night at the Springfield Elementary School. Whilst Marge goes crazy with her gambling, Homer places a big bet and wins. When he goes to cash in his chips, he finds out that no real money is being exchanged. When everyone finds this out, they go wild and destroy the casino hall. After this disaster, Principal Skinner tells Martin, whose idea it was, that he has to step down as class president due to this failure. The school then gets ready to elect a new class president.

Upon seeing the sign-up sheet, Lisa decided to run for president. However, Nelson also does so. Nelson proves to be a very popular candidate, winning over the other students. On stage during a debate, Nelson wins over the students whilst Lisa's ideas fail to gain any traction. Upon realizing that there was no hope left, Lisa started to sing "A Vote for a Winner". This song moved the audience and won over the students. Nelson then came up with a song too, "I Am Iron Man", which was ignored.

The day of the vote, Lisa ended up winning, to Nelson's surprise. Lisa was then invited to the teachers' lounge and given a makeover because the school president had to look the part too. Lisa took to her role quickly, posing for photo ops and proving to be popular. She then went to the teachers' lounge to give a list of things she wanted changed with the school, which all proved unpopular with the teachers. Skinner then gave Lisa a key to the school to get her to stop suggesting changes. Lisa went home and excitedly told her family all about her role. However, Bart told Lisa that Skinner was just using her.

At school the next day, Skinner put his evil plan in motion. He got Lisa to sign off on allowing him to take away gym, art and music subjects and activities from the school. When these got taken away, everyone was shocked to find that Lisa signed off on it. At home, Lisa was upset with what happened and blamed herself. Homer told Lisa that she has to stand up to the teachers for what they did. Lisa went back to school the next day and confronted Skinner over it. She then asked to make an announcement to the school and called a student strike. This strike drew the attention of the police, the local news and Michael Moore, with the police joining in with the strike. Eventually, the teachers came up with an idea and transferred Lisa to the Springfield Magnet School. Upon arriving at the school, Lisa decided that she liked it and wanted to stay until Homer pulled up in his car and took her away, saying he wasn't going to drive forty-five minutes a day to take Lisa to school.

Before the end credits, subtitles on the screen said that Springfield Elementary found the money to restore music, gym and art by canceling flu shots and selling loose cigarettes. The subtitles then said that on the advice of their lawyers, they have never heard of a musical based on the life of Eva Perón.

Production[edit]

Michael Moore recorded his lines at a studio in Michigan, which is also the same studio that Julie Kavner uses often.[1] The episode was made as a parody of Evita because Al Jean liked Yeardley Smith's singing voice and thought that using her in a political musical would be a good idea. At the table read, Yeardley sang to the original melodies of the songs they parodied but they changed the tunes later for legal reasons.[2] Mike B. Anderson said that Lisa's makeover hair was really hard to draw and that the animators drew it looking a lot wackier.[3] It was Al Jean's idea to get Michael Moore into the episode in the news broadcast.[2]

Reception[edit]

In 2007, Vanity Fair called "The President Wore Pearls" the tenth best episode of The Simpsons, the most recent episode on the list. John Orvted said, "It may seem ludicrous to include anything later than season 8 in this list, but this one is brilliant. The musical numbers are astoundingly good, and Lisa's comeuppance is so well constructed it harkens back to the golden years of the show."[4]

The song "A Vote for a Winner" was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards. However, it lost to "Because You Are Beautiful" from V-Day: Until the Violence Stops.[5]

As of October 2019, the episode has a 6.9 rating on IMDb[6] and a 8.1 rating on TV.com.[7]

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "The President Wore Pearls".
Season 15 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror XIV My Mother the Carjacker The President Wore Pearls The Regina Monologues The Fat and the Furriest Today I Am a Clown 'Tis the Fifteenth Season Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays I, (Annoyed Grunt)-bot Diatribe of a Mad Housewife Margical History Tour Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore Smart and Smarter The Ziff Who Came to Dinner Co-Dependent's Day The Wandering Juvie My Big Fat Geek Wedding Catch 'Em If You Can Simple Simpson The Way We Weren't Bart-Mangled Banner Fraudcast News