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Difference between revisions of "A Star Is Torn"

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(replaced: May 8, 2005 → May 8, 2005)
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{{Episode
|image = A Star Is Torn Promo.jpg
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|image= A Star Is Torn Promo.jpg
|Episode Number = 353
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|number= 353
|productionCode = GABF13
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|season=16
|originalAirdate = May 8, [[2005]]
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|snumber=18
|blackboardText =
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|prodcode= GABF13
|couchGag = Homer walks through a bunch of doors, then into a telphone booth, which makes him land on the couch.
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|airdate= May 8, [[2005]]
|specialGuestVoices = [[Fantasia Barrino]] as [[Clarissa Wellington]]
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|couchgag= Homer walks through a bunch of doors, then into a telephone booth, which makes him land on the couch.
|Written By = [[Carolyn Omine]]
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|guests= [[Fantasia Barrino]] as [[Clarissa Wellington]]
|Directed By = [[Nancy Kruse]]
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|showrunner=[[Al Jean]]
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|writer= [[Carolyn Omine]]
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|director= [[Nancy Kruse]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
'''A Star is Torn''' is the eighteenth episode of the [[season 16]].
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"'''A Star is Torn'''" is the eighteenth episode of [[season 16]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and fifty-third episode overall. It originally aired on May 8, [[2005]]. The episode was written by [[Carolyn Omine]] and directed by [[Nancy Kruse]]. It guest stars [[Fantasia Barrino]] as [[Clarissa Wellington]].
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== Synopsis ==
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{{desc|After singing a song to her ill family, [[Lisa]] enters ''[[Krusty's Li'l Starmaker]]'' in the hopes of winning, with [[Homer]] as her songwriter. However, Homer's cutthroat attitude towards the competition puts a strain on their relationship.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
[[File:Clarissa Wellington.png|thumb|left|Alternate promo image]]
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[[File:A Star Is Torn Clarissa Promo.png|thumb|left|Alternate promo image]]
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 the Clown|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 “{{w|Hush, Little Baby}}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. Lisa is grateful that Homer sabotage Cameron for her. Homer states "I'll always be there, not even DEATH will stop me" while hugging Lisa.
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The [[Simpson family]] go shopping at the [[Kwik-E-Mart]], only to find it being robbed by [[Snake]]. They decide to go to the farm stand next door, run by [[Cletus]] and [[Brandine]] where they buy organic vegetables. Whilst eating dinner, the entire family, except Lisa, get ill from not being used to eating vegetables and being used to eating processed food. Lisa then looks after the rest of the family, bringing them tea and crackers. She then sings "{{ap|Hush, Little Baby|Lisa's version}}" to them to help them get to sleep. The next morning, Lisa finds the family all better and eating [[Shakespeare's Fried Chicken]]. They then see an advert on TV for ''Krusty's Li'l Starmaker'', a singing competition, with the winner getting animated into an episode of ''[[The Itchy & Scratchy Show]]''. [[Bart]] tells Lisa that she should enter because she has a great singing voice.
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That night, the family then camps outside the [[Springfield Mall]], where the auditions will be held. Lisa has a dream where she appears on ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' and gives people advice on how to look after their pets. She then wakes up and the family enters the Mall, ready for the auditions. [[Ralph]] auditions first and gets a sarcastic applause from the audience. After Ralph, [[Clarissa Wellington]] auditions, singing "{{ap|Hush, Little Baby|Clarissa's version}}", the song that Lisa was going to sing. Clarissa impresses the audience and they all applaud and cheer her on. Homer then rushes off to write Lisa a new song and brings it to her just as her audition is about to start. Lisa sings "[[I'm Talkin' Springfield]]" and receives a huge applause from the audience, with the needle breaking off the [[Applause-O-Meter]]. Lisa is then put through into the next stage of the show.
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Lisa and Homer practice to get Lisa ready for the next stage. During the show, they watch [[Cameron]], who had a lot of young fans, sing a version of "[[Greensleeves]]", which gets him a great cheer and applause from the audience. Lisa then sings her next song, "[[My Kitty Died]]", which moves the audience to tears. [[Katie Anderson]] is then the first contestant to be eliminated from the show. The show continues, leaving only three contestants remaining; Lisa, Cameron and Clarissa. Clarissa is then the next contestant to be eliminating, leaving Lisa to face off against Cameron in the final.
  
== Guest Stars ==
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Backstage, Lisa gets concerned with Homer's aggressiveness and cutthroat attitude when it comes to helping Lisa to win. She fires him as her songwriter, which causes problems between the two of them. Homer then joins Cameron as his songwriter and manager, changing his stage name of "Johnny Rainbow". Homer then trains Cameron, which upsets Lisa. When preparing on stage, Homer tells Lisa that she should look into the spotlight when she finishes as it makes her eyes twinkle, which makes Lisa happy as he's still helping her.
*[[Fantasia Barrino]]
 
  
== Songs ==
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The final performances then go underway, with Lisa having written her own song, "[[Always My Dad]]". This moves the audience again and they cheer her on. Homer also cries at the song. When Lisa walks off the stage, she tells Homer that the best part of the whole show was that she spent time with her dad. Homer then told Lisa that Cameron was going to learn to not trust people in the music business. Cameron goes on stage and sings "[[Privileged Boy]]", which angers the audience and loses him his fans. Cameron runs off crying, leaving Lisa as the winner. Homer then tells Lisa that he'll always be there for him and not even death will stop him.
*[[I'm Talkin' Springfield]]
 
*[[My Kitty Died]]
 
*[[Always My Dad]]
 
*[[Privileged Boy]]
 
  
{{episode stub}}
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During the credits, Homer and Lisa practice jazz hands together, with [[Maggie]] attempting to take part too, falling over constantly.
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== Production ==
 +
[[Al Jean]] went to [[Carolyn Omine]] with the idea for the episode. He wanted to do an episode based on ''{{W|American Idol}}'' and wanted Homer to be good at something and wanted to go down a route similar to how {{W|Helen Kushnick}} was with [[Jay Leno]], where she went overboard as Leno's manager.<ref name="Omine">{{Com|Omine, Carolyn|A Star Is Torn|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref> The episode also came around as [[Yeardley Smith]] has a good singing voice. So, they wanted Lisa to sing in more episodes.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|A Star Is Torn|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref> Yeardley Smith's Lisa voice makes it hard to sing, so Lisa can only sing in about four notes. Songs were pitched too high for her singing voice, which is a lower pitch. As a result of this, she flip-flops between Lisa's singing voice and her own singing voice as Lisa's singing is so limited.<ref name="Smith">{{Com|Smith, Yeardley|A Star Is Torn|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref>
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Clarissa was named after one of the daughters of writer and producer [[J. Stewart Burns]].<ref name="Omine"/> The [[Paul Simon]] joke was written as a joke about Paul Simon being small. [[Michael Price]] pitched the jazz hands segments in the show.<ref name="Jean"/>
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<gallery>
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File:GABF13 Script.jpg|Script for the Episode
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</gallery>
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== Reception ==
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As of February 2020, the episode has a 6.6 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701047/ IMDb - "A Star Is Torn"]</ref>
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== In other languages ==
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{{LanguageBox
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|it=yes
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|itName=Nascerà una Stellina
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|itTrans=A Star Will Be Born}}
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== References ==
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{{Reflist}}
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
 
{{season 16}}
 
{{season 16}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Star is Torn, A}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Is Torn, A}}
  
[[Category:Musical episodes]]
 
 
[[Category:2005]]
 
[[Category:2005]]
 
[[Category:Lisa episodes]]
 
[[Category:Lisa episodes]]
 
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
 
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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[[Category:Musical episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Carolyn Omine]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Carolyn Omine]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Nancy Kruse]]
 
[[Category:Episodes directed by Nancy Kruse]]
  
 
[[sv:A Star is Torn]]
 
[[sv:A Star is Torn]]

Revision as of 10:24, November 1, 2022

Season 16 Episode
352 "The Heartbroke Kid"
353
"A Star Is Torn"
"Thank God It's Doomsday" 354
"A Star Is Torn"
A Star Is Torn Promo.jpg
Episode Information
Episode number: 353
Season number: S16 E18
Production code: GABF13
Original airdate: May 8, 2005
Couch gag: Homer walks through a bunch of doors, then into a telephone booth, which makes him land on the couch.
Guest star(s): Fantasia Barrino as Clarissa Wellington
Showrunner(s): Al Jean
Written by: Carolyn Omine
Directed by: Nancy Kruse


"A Star is Torn" is the eighteenth episode of season 16 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and fifty-third episode overall. It originally aired on May 8, 2005. The episode was written by Carolyn Omine and directed by Nancy Kruse. It guest stars Fantasia Barrino as Clarissa Wellington.

Synopsis

"After singing a song to her ill family, Lisa enters Krusty's Li'l Starmaker in the hopes of winning, with Homer as her songwriter. However, Homer's cutthroat attitude towards the competition puts a strain on their relationship."


Plot

Alternate promo image

The Simpson family go shopping at the Kwik-E-Mart, only to find it being robbed by Snake. They decide to go to the farm stand next door, run by Cletus and Brandine where they buy organic vegetables. Whilst eating dinner, the entire family, except Lisa, get ill from not being used to eating vegetables and being used to eating processed food. Lisa then looks after the rest of the family, bringing them tea and crackers. She then sings "Hush, Little Baby" to them to help them get to sleep. The next morning, Lisa finds the family all better and eating Shakespeare's Fried Chicken. They then see an advert on TV for Krusty's Li'l Starmaker, a singing competition, with the winner getting animated into an episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Bart tells Lisa that she should enter because she has a great singing voice.

That night, the family then camps outside the Springfield Mall, where the auditions will be held. Lisa has a dream where she appears on The Itchy & Scratchy Show and gives people advice on how to look after their pets. She then wakes up and the family enters the Mall, ready for the auditions. Ralph auditions first and gets a sarcastic applause from the audience. After Ralph, Clarissa Wellington auditions, singing "Hush, Little Baby", the song that Lisa was going to sing. Clarissa impresses the audience and they all applaud and cheer her on. Homer then rushes off to write Lisa a new song and brings it to her just as her audition is about to start. Lisa sings "I'm Talkin' Springfield" and receives a huge applause from the audience, with the needle breaking off the Applause-O-Meter. Lisa is then put through into the next stage of the show.

Lisa and Homer practice to get Lisa ready for the next stage. During the show, they watch Cameron, who had a lot of young fans, sing a version of "Greensleeves", which gets him a great cheer and applause from the audience. Lisa then sings her next song, "My Kitty Died", which moves the audience to tears. Katie Anderson is then the first contestant to be eliminated from the show. The show continues, leaving only three contestants remaining; Lisa, Cameron and Clarissa. Clarissa is then the next contestant to be eliminating, leaving Lisa to face off against Cameron in the final.

Backstage, Lisa gets concerned with Homer's aggressiveness and cutthroat attitude when it comes to helping Lisa to win. She fires him as her songwriter, which causes problems between the two of them. Homer then joins Cameron as his songwriter and manager, changing his stage name of "Johnny Rainbow". Homer then trains Cameron, which upsets Lisa. When preparing on stage, Homer tells Lisa that she should look into the spotlight when she finishes as it makes her eyes twinkle, which makes Lisa happy as he's still helping her.

The final performances then go underway, with Lisa having written her own song, "Always My Dad". This moves the audience again and they cheer her on. Homer also cries at the song. When Lisa walks off the stage, she tells Homer that the best part of the whole show was that she spent time with her dad. Homer then told Lisa that Cameron was going to learn to not trust people in the music business. Cameron goes on stage and sings "Privileged Boy", which angers the audience and loses him his fans. Cameron runs off crying, leaving Lisa as the winner. Homer then tells Lisa that he'll always be there for him and not even death will stop him.

During the credits, Homer and Lisa practice jazz hands together, with Maggie attempting to take part too, falling over constantly.

Production

Al Jean went to Carolyn Omine with the idea for the episode. He wanted to do an episode based on American Idol and wanted Homer to be good at something and wanted to go down a route similar to how Helen Kushnick was with Jay Leno, where she went overboard as Leno's manager.[1] The episode also came around as Yeardley Smith has a good singing voice. So, they wanted Lisa to sing in more episodes.[2] Yeardley Smith's Lisa voice makes it hard to sing, so Lisa can only sing in about four notes. Songs were pitched too high for her singing voice, which is a lower pitch. As a result of this, she flip-flops between Lisa's singing voice and her own singing voice as Lisa's singing is so limited.[3]

Clarissa was named after one of the daughters of writer and producer J. Stewart Burns.[1] The Paul Simon joke was written as a joke about Paul Simon being small. Michael Price pitched the jazz hands segments in the show.[2]

Reception

As of February 2020, the episode has a 6.6 rating on IMDb.[4]

In other languages

Language Name Translation
Italy Flag.png Italiano "Nascerà una Stellina" A Star Will Be Born


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Omine, Carolyn (2013). Commentary for "A Star Is Torn", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jean, Al (2013). Commentary for "A Star Is Torn", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  3. Smith, Yeardley (2013). Commentary for "A Star Is Torn", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  4. IMDb - "A Star Is Torn"


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "A Star Is Torn".
Season 16 Episodes
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