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"A Star Is Born Again"
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| "A Star Is Born Again"
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| Episode Information
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"A Star Is Born Again" is the thirteenth episode of season 14. It was written by Brian Kelley and directed by Michael Marcantel and originally aired on March 2, 2003. Helen Fielding, Marisa Tomei and James L. Brooks guest star.
Synopsis
Ned Flanders starts dating a the famous movie star, Sara Sloane, but Ned has difficulties with the tabloids following them everywhere.
Plot
On the third Tuesday of May, the Simpson family attend the Jellyfish Festival to see the return of the Stinging Red Jellyfish. That night at a cotillion, Ned Flanders realizes he can no longer bear his single life and goes for a sad walk around the town to the tune of Debussy's Clair De Lune. Back at the Leftorium a woman enters the store and flatters Ned with an offer of a date using the pseudonym Selma Fitzgerald. Ned ventures out only to learn from a poster she is a sultry movie star called Sara Sloane, he then proclaims he has a date with a movie star much to the disbelief of an Irish mall guard. Homer then gives advice to Ned followed by the date where she is confronted by Lenny asking for a mold of her breasts. On the pier front the new couple kiss.
The following morning a tabloid contacts Homer and swarms of journalists rally at Flanders' house questioning the legitimacy of his mustache and the status of their relationship. At the Polystar Pictures studio Ned desists she act in topless roles for a romantic film. The two then attend a dinner with the Simpsons only to be confronted by more Paparazzi and Sara's ex-boyfriend Rainier Wolfcastle. Sara asks Ned to join her in Hollywood but Ned declines the offer as he can only picture a football - teamless town with drug abuse, alcoholism, sleazy adult productions, Jewish actors, and heretic publications. Sara stays in Springfield only to be constantly bothered by the aspiring male population, mainly Moe, Chief Wiggum and Apu. Sara then attends an all Girl Book Club with the former members of the Cheery Red Tomatoes girl group which has author Helen Fielding at their meeting.
Ned then becomes angry at Sara's revealing fashion which is commented on by half the town at a concert; Sara then pressures Ned for sex but in line with his religious beliefs Ned pressures Sara for marriage, their instant split is witnessed by participants of a fun run and it makes news within minutes. Whilst gardening Ned receives an offer form West Side property mogul Cookie Kwan. The episode ends with Helen Fielding being chased in a cartoon style frame with jazz music as the titles then roll to the Jellyfish song from the cotillion earlier.
Reception
In a 2008 article, Entertainment Weekly named Marisa Tomei's role as Sara Sloane as one of the sixteen best guest appearances on The Simpsons.
