Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life
Encyclopedia
"Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life" is the fifth episode of The Simpsons
' 22nd season
. It first aired on the Fox network
in the United States on November 14, 2010.
is upset about missing one of the collectible Happy Little Elves, Homer
drives the family to a Texxon station. This leads to Homer continually buying gas to try and win the rare Baby Must Have toy. Failing, they end up driving through the district of town where Marge grew up. While visiting her mom's old house, Lisa
discovers Marge
was a high-achieving, honor roll student. Shocked, Lisa asks Principal Skinner about it, and he confirms that Marge was very intelligent in her infancy, but this has not prevented her from ending up like a stereotypical stay at home mother. Skinner warns her that she will likely have the same future because, despite her potential, Skinner knows by experience that children often have the same fate of their father. Meanwhile, during a stunt through the poorly-drained school playground, Bart
gets mud all over Nelson
. When Nelson goes to punch him, Bart slips and inadvertently kicks Nelson in the face, leading the other kids to view Bart as the new school bully.
Lisa discovers that Marge's grades plummeted after she met Homer, and so aims not to get distracted. She clears her room of everything that might take her attentions from her goal of a "long, happy life," including her saxophone. Marge finds out Lisa wants to be nothing like her and although Lisa tries to soften her criticism, Marge becomes noticeably cold towards her daughter (and more visibly happy with Bart). At school, Nelson confronts Bart at the tetherball, and takes a swing at him. Nelson misses and strikes the ball, which comes around and hits him by mistake, knocking him over. Another similar incident occurs in the hall, where Nelson walks into a locker and gets trapped inside.
Lisa finds out about Cloisters Academy, and tries to persuade her parents to let her go. After the principal and Marge ostensibly discuss Lisa's record, she is offered a scholarship there. Taking advice from Marge, Bart tries to stop Nelson from attacking him by making Nelson feel good about himself, and Nelson actually accepts the praise, ending their dispute. Lisa discovers that she has not been offered a scholarship; she was only accepted due to Marge agreeing to do all of the school's laundry. Worse, Marge has become an overtired, overworked drudge as a result. Lisa tells Marge she does not want to go to Cloisters anymore, saying it is too elitist, and would be honored to be like her mother. Homer steals a Baby Must Have from the Texxon store to keep Maggie happy. The store manager and/or owner arrives on the scene at the Texxon and asks if the robber took any money. When told it was just the toys, he says "He did now!" and the episode ends with the guy stuffing his pockets out of the register.
Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
gave the episode a positive review calling it the "best episode of the season so far this week." and felt that "having her directly turn those feelings of inadequacy back on her mother was a nice turn, and the story made good use of the Marge and Lisa relationship as its emotional core". He rated the episode with a B+, the best grade of the night, beating Family Guy
episode, "Baby You Knock Me Out", The Cleveland Show
episode, "Little Man on Campus", and American Dad episode, "Stan's Food Restaurant
".
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
The Simpsons (season 22)
The Simpsons twenty-second season began airing on Fox on September 26, 2010 and ended on May 22, 2011. The Simpsons was renewed for at least two additional seasons during the twentieth season leading up to this season. The cast is currently signed through the 25th season. On November 11, 2010, the...
. It first aired on the Fox network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in the United States on November 14, 2010.
Plot
After finding out that MaggieMaggie Simpson
Margaret "Maggie" Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She first appeared on television in the Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Maggie was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James...
is upset about missing one of the collectible Happy Little Elves, Homer
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
drives the family to a Texxon station. This leads to Homer continually buying gas to try and win the rare Baby Must Have toy. Failing, they end up driving through the district of town where Marge grew up. While visiting her mom's old house, Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
discovers Marge
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
was a high-achieving, honor roll student. Shocked, Lisa asks Principal Skinner about it, and he confirms that Marge was very intelligent in her infancy, but this has not prevented her from ending up like a stereotypical stay at home mother. Skinner warns her that she will likely have the same future because, despite her potential, Skinner knows by experience that children often have the same fate of their father. Meanwhile, during a stunt through the poorly-drained school playground, Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
gets mud all over Nelson
Nelson Muntz
Nelson Mandela Muntz is a fictional character and bully from the animated TV series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright. Nelson was introduced in Season 1's "Bart the General" as a bully but later turned into a friend of Bart Simpson, who is best identified by his signature laugh .-Role...
. When Nelson goes to punch him, Bart slips and inadvertently kicks Nelson in the face, leading the other kids to view Bart as the new school bully.
Lisa discovers that Marge's grades plummeted after she met Homer, and so aims not to get distracted. She clears her room of everything that might take her attentions from her goal of a "long, happy life," including her saxophone. Marge finds out Lisa wants to be nothing like her and although Lisa tries to soften her criticism, Marge becomes noticeably cold towards her daughter (and more visibly happy with Bart). At school, Nelson confronts Bart at the tetherball, and takes a swing at him. Nelson misses and strikes the ball, which comes around and hits him by mistake, knocking him over. Another similar incident occurs in the hall, where Nelson walks into a locker and gets trapped inside.
Lisa finds out about Cloisters Academy, and tries to persuade her parents to let her go. After the principal and Marge ostensibly discuss Lisa's record, she is offered a scholarship there. Taking advice from Marge, Bart tries to stop Nelson from attacking him by making Nelson feel good about himself, and Nelson actually accepts the praise, ending their dispute. Lisa discovers that she has not been offered a scholarship; she was only accepted due to Marge agreeing to do all of the school's laundry. Worse, Marge has become an overtired, overworked drudge as a result. Lisa tells Marge she does not want to go to Cloisters anymore, saying it is too elitist, and would be honored to be like her mother. Homer steals a Baby Must Have from the Texxon store to keep Maggie happy. The store manager and/or owner arrives on the scene at the Texxon and asks if the robber took any money. When told it was just the toys, he says "He did now!" and the episode ends with the guy stuffing his pockets out of the register.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life" was viewed by 8.97 million households receiving a 3.9 Nielsen Rating and a 10% share of the audience among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 coming second in its timeslot after NBC Football. It was the thirteenth most viewed show of the week amongst adults 18-49.Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a positive review calling it the "best episode of the season so far this week." and felt that "having her directly turn those feelings of inadequacy back on her mother was a nice turn, and the story made good use of the Marge and Lisa relationship as its emotional core". He rated the episode with a B+, the best grade of the night, beating Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode, "Baby You Knock Me Out", The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is an American animated television series that premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox in the United States...
episode, "Little Man on Campus", and American Dad episode, "Stan's Food Restaurant
Stan's Food Restaurant
"Stan's Food Restaurant" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of American Dad!. It aired on Fox on November 14, 2010. This episode — which focused on Stan's dream of opening his own restaurant — is the 100th broadcast episode of American Dad!, an accolade currently bestowed on 100 A.D. for...
".