Special Edna
Encyclopedia
"Special Edna" is the seventh episode of The Simpsons
' fourteenth season
. The episode aired on January 5, 2003. The episode's title is a play on Special Ed
. The plot would continue in the episode "My Big Fat Geek Wedding
".
assigns a paper on World War I
, due in three weeks. Martin Prince
suggests it should be typed and at least ten pages long; he is swiftly disposed of by Nelson. After class, Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner's apple picking
date is cancelled when Skinner's mother calls him away.
At the Simpson household, Bart
is distracted from writing his paper, first by wrestling
, later by Milhouse
showing up in a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by his uncle who "will probably be court-martialled for this". Bart goes to the library for research, but - noticing someone paid for one hundred photocopies but only used one - can not resist the opportunity to make ninety-nine photocopies of his butt. The next day, at church, the church-goers open their prayer books, only to see Bart's butt mooning them.
At the end of the three weeks, Bart still has not started the assignment. The day before the date of submission, he asks Grampa
for help. Grampa's story about his WWI experiences as a four-year-old in the trenches is anything but educational, but Bart writes it down anyway and pads it to ten pages using advertisements. Mrs. Krabappel rejects his paper and tells him he will have to do it correctly after school. As Bart finishes the assignment after school, supervised by Edna herself, he observes Skinner cancel a movie date with Mrs. K when his mother calls. Bart consoles Mrs. K, and she reluctantly accepts his offer to accompany her to the movie, though she is grateful.
Lisa
suggests that Bart nominate Mrs. K for the Teacher of the Year award. Bart's nomination is accepted when the organizers realize that Edna Krabappel actually managed to teach Bart Simpson (who was believed to be an "urban legend
") and survive. When Mrs. K is informed of her Teacher of the Year nomination, she thanks Bart at the ensuing press conference, wondering aloud if she will continue teaching if she does win. Skinner is about to congratulate Mrs. K when his mother calls again, which ends the press conference. Bart informs his family that, as nominator, he and his family are going to Orlando, Florida
. The family is excited... until they learn the awards show is being held at the EFCOT Center
.
In Orlando, at the EFCOT Center ("When all other places are booked"), Marge
and Lisa go on a "World of Tomorrow" ride, "what the people in 1965 thought the world would be like in 1987", showing a world ultimately ruled by Eastern Air Lines
, an airline which, in reality, sponsored an attraction
at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
until its bankruptcy in 1987. Homer
and Bart go on an electric car
ride based on World of Motion
and Test Track
, sponsored by "the gasoline producers of America," which tells them that it can not go very fast and it could not go very far, and "people will think you're gay
" if you drive one.
At Springfield Elementary, Skinner is despondent at the thought that Edna could leave the school. Groundskeeper Willie
lends Skinner his sports car
so he can go to Orlando, where he surprises Edna with a kiss under the fireworks display
- until they are interrupted by Agnes, whom Skinner brought along, much to Edna's ire.
During preparation for the awards ceremony, Skinner is shocked when he hears that the winner receives enough money to be able to retire. He requests Bart to help him sabotage Mrs. K's chances of winning, though he has to resort to blackmail
after Bart initially refuses. At the ceremony, presided over by Little Richard
, each finalist must ask their nominating student a question. When Bart is asked what Mrs. K would like to teach the world, he pretends to be illiterate, until Skinner guiltily tells the truth, adding Edna should be Teacher of the Year because "If she can teach me to love, she can teach anyone anything." With one of Little Richard's rings, Skinner asks Edna to marry him, and she agrees. Mrs. K loses the award, but looks forward to marrying Skinner.
Later, Homer tries to bust out of the EFCOT Center and visit the Walt Disney World Resort
, setting off alarms and searchlights, and warnings from a voice that sounds remarkably like Mickey Mouse
. He manages to buy an expensive $14.00 churro
and runs off.
, which looks identical to the real one and also included the Spaceship Earth
sphere. A sign outside the park reads "When Every Other Place is Booked," and Homer moans that EFCOT is "even boring to fly over".
Several Orlando theme parks are mentioned such as Seaworld
, Disney World, and Universal Studios
.
The Enron's Ride of Broken Dreams at EFCOT is a reference to the 2001 bankruptcy of the energy giant, Enron
.
The World Of Tomorrow ride is a parody of Epcot's Horizons.
The title of one of the attractions at EFCOT "Honey, I Squirted Goo on the Audience" is a reference to the popular 1989
movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
; this could also be a reference to a previous 3D show at Epcot, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience".
After Bart comes back from the movies Lisa asks him "What happened to the Bart who put mothballs into the beef stew". This is a reference to the song "Do The Bartman" from the "Simpsons"-Album "The Simpsons Sing the blues"
.
writers Robert Canning, Eric Goldman, Dan Iverson, and Brian Zoromski. They commented: "First and foremost, this episode, as the title implies, is a nice spotlight on poor, overworked, underpaid Mrs. Krabappel. Krabappel's relationship with Principal Skinner takes center stage [...] But there's a ton more to this episode, including Grampa's story about serving as a four year old in World War I; Milhouse showing up with his uncle to give Bart a ride in a Blackhawk Helicopter; and a trip to a very thinly veiled parody of Disney World's EPCOT Center (EFCOT Center: "When Every Other Place is Booked") that is filled with spot on parodies like the World of Tomorrow ride, which is a horribly dated 1960s take on the far future of the year 1984."
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 14)
The fourteenth season of the animated television series The Simpsons was originally broadcast on the Fox network in the United States between November 3, 2002 and May 18, 2003. The show runner for the fourteenth production season was Al Jean, who executive produced 21 of 22 episodes. The other...
. The episode aired on January 5, 2003. The episode's title is a play on Special Ed
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
. The plot would continue in the episode "My Big Fat Geek Wedding
My Big Fat Geek Wedding
"My Big Fat Geek Wedding" is the 17th episode of The Simpsons fifteenth season, first aired on April 18, 2004. The episode was originally planned to air on April 4, 2004, but due to the voice actors going on strike, FOX aired a rerun instead....
".
Plot
Mrs. KrabappelEdna Krabappel
Edna Krabappel is a fictional character from the animated TV series The Simpsons, voiced by Marcia Wallace. She is a 4th grade teacher at Springfield Elementary School. Krabappel is the only character Wallace voices on a regular basis.- Profile :...
assigns a paper on World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, due in three weeks. Martin Prince
Martin Prince
Martin Prince, Jr. is a recurring character in the Fox animated series, The Simpsons, and is voiced by Russi Taylor. Martin is Bart Simpson's classmate, and is Lisa Simpson's rival in intelligence, as well as Nelson Muntz's favorite target for bullying...
suggests it should be typed and at least ten pages long; he is swiftly disposed of by Nelson. After class, Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner's apple picking
Apple picking
Fruit picking or fruit harvesting is a seasonal activity that occurs during harvest time in areas with fruit growing wild or being farmed in orchards.-Apple Picking:Apple picking is an activity found at apple farms...
date is cancelled when Skinner's mother calls him away.
At the Simpson household, 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...
is distracted from writing his paper, first by wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, later by Milhouse
Milhouse Van Houten
Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Pamela Hayden. He is Bart Simpson's best friend in Mrs. Krabappel's fourth grade class at Springfield Elementary School....
showing up in a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by his uncle who "will probably be court-martialled for this". Bart goes to the library for research, but - noticing someone paid for one hundred photocopies but only used one - can not resist the opportunity to make ninety-nine photocopies of his butt. The next day, at church, the church-goers open their prayer books, only to see Bart's butt mooning them.
At the end of the three weeks, Bart still has not started the assignment. The day before the date of submission, he asks Grampa
Abraham Simpson
Abraham J. "Abe" Simpson, often known simply as Grampa, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and he is also the patriarch of the Simpson family, the father of Homer Simpson, and the grandfather of Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson...
for help. Grampa's story about his WWI experiences as a four-year-old in the trenches is anything but educational, but Bart writes it down anyway and pads it to ten pages using advertisements. Mrs. Krabappel rejects his paper and tells him he will have to do it correctly after school. As Bart finishes the assignment after school, supervised by Edna herself, he observes Skinner cancel a movie date with Mrs. K when his mother calls. Bart consoles Mrs. K, and she reluctantly accepts his offer to accompany her to the movie, though she is grateful.
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...
suggests that Bart nominate Mrs. K for the Teacher of the Year award. Bart's nomination is accepted when the organizers realize that Edna Krabappel actually managed to teach Bart Simpson (who was believed to be an "urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
") and survive. When Mrs. K is informed of her Teacher of the Year nomination, she thanks Bart at the ensuing press conference, wondering aloud if she will continue teaching if she does win. Skinner is about to congratulate Mrs. K when his mother calls again, which ends the press conference. Bart informs his family that, as nominator, he and his family are going to Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. The family is excited... until they learn the awards show is being held at the EFCOT Center
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
.
In Orlando, at the EFCOT Center ("When all other places are booked"), 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...
and Lisa go on a "World of Tomorrow" ride, "what the people in 1965 thought the world would be like in 1987", showing a world ultimately ruled by Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, an airline which, in reality, sponsored an attraction
If You Had Wings
Category:Wikipedia articles needing style editing If You Had Wings was one of the original attractions at Walt Disney World. It was a two-person Omnimover dark ride in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom, sponsored by Eastern Air Lines...
at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
until its bankruptcy in 1987. 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...
and Bart go on an electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
ride based on World of Motion
World of Motion
World of Motion , sponsored by General Motors, was the former tenant of the Transportation pavilion at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort...
and Test Track
Test Track
Test Track is an attraction at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, sponsored by General Motors The ride is a simulated excursion through the rigorous testing procedures that General Motors uses to evaluate its vehicles, culminating in a high-speed drive around the...
, sponsored by "the gasoline producers of America," which tells them that it can not go very fast and it could not go very far, and "people will think you're gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
" if you drive one.
At Springfield Elementary, Skinner is despondent at the thought that Edna could leave the school. Groundskeeper Willie
Groundskeeper Willie
William McDougal, usually referred to as Groundskeeper Willie, is a recurring character on The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. He is head groundskeeper at Springfield Elementary School. Willie is a Scottish immigrant, almost feral in nature and immensely proud of his homeland...
lends Skinner his sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
so he can go to Orlando, where he surprises Edna with a kiss under the fireworks display
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is an award-winning night time show performed nightly at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. The show utilizes fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser lights, fountains, and fire to create a visual production on the park's World Showcase Lagoon...
- until they are interrupted by Agnes, whom Skinner brought along, much to Edna's ire.
During preparation for the awards ceremony, Skinner is shocked when he hears that the winner receives enough money to be able to retire. He requests Bart to help him sabotage Mrs. K's chances of winning, though he has to resort to blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
after Bart initially refuses. At the ceremony, presided over by Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
, each finalist must ask their nominating student a question. When Bart is asked what Mrs. K would like to teach the world, he pretends to be illiterate, until Skinner guiltily tells the truth, adding Edna should be Teacher of the Year because "If she can teach me to love, she can teach anyone anything." With one of Little Richard's rings, Skinner asks Edna to marry him, and she agrees. Mrs. K loses the award, but looks forward to marrying Skinner.
Later, Homer tries to bust out of the EFCOT Center and visit the Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
, setting off alarms and searchlights, and warnings from a voice that sounds remarkably like Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
. He manages to buy an expensive $14.00 churro
Churro
A churro, sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut, is a fried-dough pastry-based snack that has disputed origins. Churros are also popular in Latin America, France, Portugal, Morocco, the United States, Australia, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands. There are two types of churros in Spain....
and runs off.
Cultural references
This episode features a parody of EpcotEpcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, which looks identical to the real one and also included the Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth (Disney)
Spaceship Earth is the iconic and symbolic structure of Epcot, a theme park that is part of the Walt Disney World Resort. One of the most recognizable structures at the Walt Disney World Resort, it is not only the centerpiece and main focal point of Epcot, but also the name of the attraction housed...
sphere. A sign outside the park reads "When Every Other Place is Booked," and Homer moans that EFCOT is "even boring to fly over".
Several Orlando theme parks are mentioned such as Seaworld
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group...
, Disney World, and Universal Studios
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
.
The Enron's Ride of Broken Dreams at EFCOT is a reference to the 2001 bankruptcy of the energy giant, Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
.
The World Of Tomorrow ride is a parody of Epcot's Horizons.
The title of one of the attractions at EFCOT "Honey, I Squirted Goo on the Audience" is a reference to the popular 1989
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 comedy film. The directorial debut of Joe Johnston and released through Walt Disney Pictures and Silver Screen Partners III, the film tells the story of an inventor who accidentally shrinks his and his neighbor's kids to 1/4 of an inch with his electromagnetic...
; this could also be a reference to a previous 3D show at Epcot, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience".
After Bart comes back from the movies Lisa asks him "What happened to the Bart who put mothballs into the beef stew". This is a reference to the song "Do The Bartman" from the "Simpsons"-Album "The Simpsons Sing the blues"
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
The Simpsons Sing the Blues is the first album released as an offshoot of The Simpsons. The album contains originally recorded music not featured in the series save for the first verse of the track "Moaning Lisa Blues" which was first featured in the episode "Moaning Lisa", aired February 11, 1990...
.
Reception
"Special Edna" was named the best episode of the fourteenth season of The Simpsons by IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
writers Robert Canning, Eric Goldman, Dan Iverson, and Brian Zoromski. They commented: "First and foremost, this episode, as the title implies, is a nice spotlight on poor, overworked, underpaid Mrs. Krabappel. Krabappel's relationship with Principal Skinner takes center stage [...] But there's a ton more to this episode, including Grampa's story about serving as a four year old in World War I; Milhouse showing up with his uncle to give Bart a ride in a Blackhawk Helicopter; and a trip to a very thinly veiled parody of Disney World's EPCOT Center (EFCOT Center: "When Every Other Place is Booked") that is filled with spot on parodies like the World of Tomorrow ride, which is a horribly dated 1960s take on the far future of the year 1984."
External links
- "Special Edna" at The Simpsons.com