Lisa's Substitute
"Lisa's Substitute"
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Episode Information
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"Lisa's Substitute" is the 19th episode of the second season of The Simpsons. The episode is about Lisa developing feelings for an unconventional substitute teacher.
Synopsis
When Ms. Hoover falls ill with a suspected case of Lyme disease, she is replaced by substitute teacher Mr. Bergstrom. Because of his unorthodox teaching methods, Lisa quickly takes a liking to him; he is the only teacher, and perhaps the only adult, who has ever challenged, respected, and liked her. Just as Lisa is about to ask Mr. Bergstrom over to her parents house for dinner, Ms. Hoover returns, stating her Lyme disease was psychosomatic. Rushing to the train station, Lisa confesses to Mr. Bergstrom (who is taking a job in another city) that she will be lost without him. To comfort her, he writes her a note with a message that will always support her. When he is gone, she finds that the note says "You are Lisa Simpson."
Meanwhile, Bart runs for class president against Martin Prince. With his shock-based campaign, he seems to be the sure winner, but still loses due to the fact that nobody in the class (including himself) votes, with the exception of Martin himself and one other student, Wendell.
At dinner that evening, Bart is miserable and Lisa is very upset. Lisa explains to Homer that Mr. Bergstrom is gone, but Homer responds in his usual uncaring manner which enrages Lisa, causing her to decidedly call her own father a baboon before running to her room in tears. Marge furiously orders Homer upstairs to apologize and to console Lisa, explaining how her daughter is very hurt emotionally and in need of her father. He enters Lisa's room and finds her crying over her desk. He is uncertain of how to deal with Lisa's sadness, and is noticeably uncomfortable seeing his daughter crying. Homer finds his inspiration from the music of a musical ballerina jewelry box and explains to Lisa how he can't really understand how it feels to lose someone important because he tells Lisa how everyone he has ever loved and cared about lives with him still. Homer then alludes to Lisa calling him a baboon,and in a loving manner mimics a monkey and Lisa is cheered up. Lisa then apologizes to Homer for that earlier lash-out. Finding Bart still seething over the election result, Homer reminds his son that all the job of class president would have meant was extra work with little reward. Bart became happy that he lost. Finally going by Maggie's room, he places her pacifier in her mouth.
Proud that he helped all three of his children, Homer goes to bed happy that night.
Trivia
- This is one of the only two episodes in which the guest star uses a pseudnym instead of thier real name (the other being Stark Raving Dad)
- Dustin Hoffman's pseudnym Sam Etic was chosen as reference to his character being Jewish or "semetic".
