Springfield Up

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Springfield Up
episode_no = 391
prod_code = JABF07
airdate = February 18, 2007
show runner = Al Jean
writer = Matt Warburton
director = Chuck Sheetz
guest_star = Eric Idle as Declan Desmond
couch_gag = n/a "(original airing)"
The Simpsons are cockroaches, who all scuttle away when the light comes on "(subsequent airings)".


image_caption = Homer singing with Declan Desmond at the end of the episode.
season = 18 "Springfield Up" is the thirteenth episode of the eighteenth season of "The Simpsons", which originally aired on February 18, 2007. It is based on the British documentary series Seven Up!, a compilation of seven documentary films that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were 7 years old, and return every 7 years to document their lives.

Plot

Eccentric documentary filmmaker Declan Desmond offers an inside look at his work chronicling some of Springfield's finest for his documentary. Titled "Growing Up Springfield," his film follows the lives of several Springfield residents, returning to them after eight-year intervals to examine how their lives have changed. Clips from the film show a young Homer dreaming of growing up to live in a mansion, have a pinball machine with "infinity quarters," and eight pairs of peanut-butter-and-jelly pajamas. Sixteen years later, Homer is working as a manure salesman, infomercial question-asker, and open-casket caricaturist, but dreaming of being a rock star. In an interview with him and Marge, he says they plan to have no children. After the next eight year interval, Homer has given up on his dreams of fame and fortune to support his growing family. However, when Declan Desmond returns in the present day, he discovers that Homer has become extraordinarily wealthy, and the family is living in a mansion. Homer explains that his newfound wealth is due to an invention called the condiment pen, which dispenses condiments in the same manner as a writing pen dispenses ink. Declan interviews Marge about her family's unexpected success, but she is unable to explain why the mansion's medicine cabinet is filled with "old man ointments." Suddenly, Mr. Burns bursts into the house, demanding to know what the Simpsons are doing in his summer home.

Homer confesses that his story of wealth and success was a lie. Declan begins to follow him around, wanting to find out why Homer felt the need to lie. When he finally gets Homer on camera, Homer explains that he wanted to feel like a success instead of "the guy who makes everyone else look good." Marge tells Declan off for hurting Homer's feelings and orders him to stay away. Declan suddenly begins to feel sorry for Homer but when he realizes that Moe is envious of Homer's life. Declan inspired by this decides to re-edit the film. Declan puts together footage of Homer's friends and family talking about what a good friend, husband and father he is. Homer sees the new movie and realizes that he is successful after all.

Material cut from the original American airing

Several scenes were cut from the original airing of this episode, due to the fact that it followed a new trailer for "The Simpsons Movie" during Super Bowl XLI on CBS. The entire opening sequence was cut and begins with a cold open of Declan Desmond's introduction, the usual "created by Matt Groening" credits are then shown over a shot of a playground. In subsequent airings, the couch gag from "Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)" where the Simpsons are cockroaches is used in the opening sequence. The final minute of the episode was also cut, ending after Marge and Homer hug in Desmond's recording studio. The extended ending features Homer and Desmond singing a duet 'Satan, You're my Lady.'

The version that aired in Canada on Global the same night did not feature the movie trailer and as a result, the full version of the episode was aired. When the episode reaired on April 15, 2007, the cut material was restored, along with the original opening sequence.

Cultural references

*The character of Declan Desmond is based on naturalist and documentary filmmaker David Attenborough. Idle had previously voiced the character in "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" and "Fat Man and Little Boy".
*When Declan offers to show Homer the footage of why his life is blessed Homer begs Declan in a parody of A Christmas Carol.
*Declan Desmond's documentary project parallels Michael Apted's "Up series".
*A parody of artist Andrew Wyeth's painting "Christina's World", with Burns in the place of Christina, is visible after Burns pulls down another painting.
*Frink's time machine is similar to H. G. Wells' in the 1960 film "The Time Machine".
* Declan compares Homer to English Breakfast and Lapsang Souchong, two types of tea.
*Homer seems confused by the concept of Declan's documentaries and mocks his English accent, eventually concluding that the disparate filmings are unified by time travel, and that Declan is actually Doctor Who; Eric Idle was among a number of actors considered for the role of the Eighth Doctor.
*The slideshow of pictures showing Moe growing up is a parody of Michael Jackson's looks throughout the years.
*In one of the scenes from Homer's past, Homer has created a Play-Doh version of the play Equus (which Sideshow Mel was referenced as starring in, in another episode).

Reception

Robert Canning on IGN named "Springfield Up" as one of the three "outstanding" episodes of the eighteenth season. [cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/796/796072p1.html|title=The Simpsons: Season 18 Review|accessdate=2007-06-15|date=2007-06-14|author=Robert Canning|publisher=IGN.com]

References

External links

*imdb episode|0918868
* [http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/springfield-up/episode/914683/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;12 "Springfield Up"] at TV.com