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.
Contents
Synopsis
- "Ned Flanders starts dating a famous movie star, Sara Sloane, but Ned has difficulties with the tabloids following them everywhere."
Plot
The Simpson family gets ready to go to the beach for the Jellyfish Festival which is taking place. At the festival, the Stinging Red Jellyfish wash up on the shore to the delight of most Springfieldians. That night, all the couples attend a dance on the beach front where Ned Flanders feels left out due to the death of Maude. Ned decides to go to The Leftorium to fill out forms rather than feel lonely on the beach.
At The Leftorium, a woman comes into the store and asks Ned for some left-handed eyelash curlers. When Ned tells her that they don't have any, she buys a left-handed crimper instead. She then asks Ned out on a date, saying she doesn't know anyone in town. When Ned left the store, he noticed a poster for the movie My Best Friend's Gay Baby and recognized the woman as Sara Sloane, a famous actress. Ned went to Homer to ask for his advice before he went on the date. The date ended at the Springfield Squidport where he and Sara made out.
The next day, Ned introduced Sara to Rod and Todd before the tabloids showed up wanting information about their relationship. The tabloids stormed into the house and wrecked it, causing Ned, Sara and the boys to flee. Later, Sara goes to film The Zookeeper's Wife at Polystar Pictures. When she was about to start a nude scene, Ned interrupted and he and Sara convinced Sam, the director, to rewrite the scene so she didn't have to be nude in it. Sara then told Ned that whilst the public wouldn't see her naked, he would get to.
Later, Ned and Sara have dinner at the Simpsons, after setting up a "Cher-crow" to distract the tabloids. Rainier Wolfcastle then comes into the house and asks Sara to take him back, but Sara refuses. That night, Sara and Ned go out for a walk where Sara asks Ned to go to Hollywood with her. Ned fantasizes about Hollywood then decides that he can't do it. Sara then tells Ned that she will move to Springfield instead.
Sara and Ned's relationship continues and they become the talk of the town. Marge then decides to invite Sara to her book club, where they were supposed to read Bridget Jones's Diary. Sara invited author Helen Fielding along to talk about the book, only to learn nobody had read it. That night, Sara, Ned and the boys get ready to attend a concert at the Springfield Bowl. Sara comes downstairs in a revealing dress, which Ned doesn't like. She refuses to change and they attend the concert anyway. At the concert, Sara's dress turns many heads, including Homer's. After the concert, Sara and Ned decide to have sex on a hill nearby. The following morning, they are woken up by the Lupus Fun Run. Ned then asks Sara if she would marry him but Sara refused, saying she didn't want to be tied down. They then split up.
Ned was then watching Publicity Tonight where they ran a story about Sara Sloane getting married and divorced from Bob Balaban after only three hours. Ned said that he thinks that he and Sara would have lasted twice as long as that.
Production
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.
