Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington
"Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"
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Episode Information
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"Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington" was the second episode aired in Season 3.
Synopsis
When a copy of Reading Digest arrives at the Simpson home, and Homer begins to become engrossed in its pages. It advertises an patriotic essay contest for children and Lisa decides to enter it. Lisa wins the regional finals with her essay, "The Roots of Democracy", and the family travels to Washington DC for the finals.
Prior to the finals, two politicians hammer out a bribe deal to level the Springfield National Park, just before Lisa shows up at his office for a photo op. The next day, while on a solo sightseeing walk, she discovers the two politicians making the money exchange, and Lisa is crushed. She seeks comfort from the Lincoln Memorial, (and later, the Jefferson Memorial), but when that fails to raise her spirits, she decides to rewrite her speech and call attention to the corruption she feels permeates the house of congress, and she entitles it, "Cesspool On The Potomac". When she reads it, she receives confusion and outrage from the audience, but a spectator watching the event makes a few calls, and very quickly, an investigation is completed and the congressman who received the bribe is expelled from congress. Lisa hears about all of this, and is once again heartened. Although she does not win the essay contest, she receives notoriety for her efforts.
Trivia
- In keeping with the mystery of which state Springfield is in, this episode gives misleading clues. The map shown during the essay reading montage shows Springfield's state as being NT. The junk mail Homer receives shows the state as TA, and an enigmatic 6-digit zip code of 192005.
- The office of the congressman from the state that Springfield is in sports a state seal. It depicts an ear of corn, a star, a beaver and a nuclear power symbol.
- Mrs. Bush wears a pearl necklace in the bathtub.
- In Dulles Airport, there is a sign reading "Bus Info" and then a phone number. This was the real phone number of the Simpsons' Art Director, and was drawn there without his knowledge.
Quotes
- Lisa: Mr. Jefferson, my name is Lisa Simpson, and I have a problem.
- Jefferson: I know your problem. The Lincoln Memorial was too crowded.
- Lisa: Sorry, sir. It's just...
- Jefferson: No one ever comes to see me. I don't blame them. I never did anything important. Just the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, the dumbwaiter...
- Lisa: Uh, maybe I should be going. I've caught you at a bad time... [leaves]
- Jefferson: Wait! Please don't go. I get so lonely...
