| "A Star Is Torn"
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| Episode Information
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This episode is the 18th episode of the 16th season.
Aside from Lisa, everyone in the family contracts food poisoning after eating organic produce from The Farmers’ Market. After nurturing the family back to health, Lisa agrees to participate in a Krusty sponsored “Li’l Starmaker” competition, with the first prize winner being animated into an Itchy and Scratchy episode. Lisa panics during the competition when a Christina Aguilera type performs a better rendition of “Mocking Bird” and Homer saves the day by hammering out a manipulative tune about Springfield that leads Lisa to victory. With a win under his belt, Homer becomes a stereotypical star-crazed parent and manager who ultimately drives Lisa to fire him. A distraught Homer counters by taking Lisa’s rival, Cameron, under his wing and grooming him for the finals. Lisa comes to realize that her relationship with Homer is more important than the competition and performs an apologetic song. Homer reunites with his daughter before Cameron performs an egotistical song Homer prepared to sabotage the young boy’s performance.
Cultural reference
- When Bart hits Lisa with a chicken bone, Bart says "Praise the Lord!",in a Martin Luther King style.
- Li'l Starmaker is a parody of American Idol and this is even referenced in the episode ("Not affiliated with American Idol; we've never even heard of American Idol").
- This is the third episode with the title parodying the film A Star Is Born, the other two being "A Star Is Burns" and "A Star Is Born-Again".
- This episode seems to draw heavily from Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer.
- The city Sideshow Mel asks about during "I'm Talkin' Springfield" is Jacksonville.
- Homer's line "Everything I did, I did for you" is a reference to a song from Gypsy, a musical about a vicious stage parent.
- Cameron's character could be seen as a parody of the American Idol contestant Clay Aiken.
Trivia
- When Milhouse sings his first line "When a man loves a woman", Lenny and Carl questions his sexuality, causing Milhouse to walk off.
- Homer once again shows his talents as a musician(he use to be a part of the BeSharps).
- Lurleen Lumpkin can be seen standing in the mall audience.
Guest Stars
