Smart and Smarter

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Smart and Smarter


image_caption = The episode's promotional image, featuring Simon Cowell, Homer and Maggie.
episode_no = 326
prod_code = FABF09
airdate = February 22, 2004
show runner = Al Jean
writer = Carolyn Omine
director = Steven Dean Moore
guest_star = Simon Cowell
blackboard =
couch_gag = The living room is a moving rack seen in dry cleaning shops, with the Simpsons in five dry-cleaning bags.
season = 15

"Smart and Smarter" is the thirteenth episode of "The Simpsons"' fifteenth season, and originally aired on February 22, 2004.cite news | title = Simon Cowell Guest Stars on "Simpsons"| publisher = About | date = 2008-02-15 | url = http://animatedtv.about.com/b/2003/07/08/simon-cowell-guest-stars-on-simpsons.htm| accessdate=2008-02-15] When Maggie takes an IQ test, she is informed that she may be smarter than Lisa, who worries that her life will go no where. The episode was written by Carolyn Omine and directed by Steven Dean Moore. Simon Cowell also has a guest-voice appearance, playing the role of a brutally honest judge.

Plot

The family, after visiting a pancake house, visits Mrs. Wickerbottom's Pre-Nursery School, where Apu and Manjula are sending two of their octuplets. Homer and Marge have a talk with Dr. Hibbert about getting in, and decide to have Maggie go in. However, Maggie fails the initial screening because she cannot talk, until Lisa discovers some traits of intelligence. Homer and Marge make another screening. The results show that not only is Maggie brilliant, but her IQ of 167 is higher than Lisa's IQ of 159. Lisa is no longer considered "the smart one" of the Simpson family. Her attempts to find a new identity, including a goth named Ravencrow Neversmiles, a cheerleader, a rapper, a soccer player, a cowgirl, and even a stand-up comedian, do not work out well.

At home, Lisa teaches Maggie false information. Homer (with the Phonics Frog) and Marge denounce her for trying to sabotage her sister's education. She leaves the house and hides in the Natural History Museum, where there is no chance of Homer and Marge finding her, until Chief Wiggum, Lou and Eddie find her in there. The family goes in the human body, but Maggie accidentally presses the swallow button, swallowing Homer, Marge and Bart. Maggie presses many buttons until she finally presses the evacuate button, following a visual cue from Lisa as to its color. Ironically, after Maggie saves Homer, Marge, and Bart, she no longer has a secret to her intelligence — Henry (the owner of Mrs. Wickerbottoms) reveals a video tape of Maggie's audition and it turns out Lisa was subconsciously showing her answers. Henry starts criticizing Maggie which leads an angry Homer to start punching him (while Henry criticizes his punches). Maggie, however, plays Lisa's saxophone in the end, also puts her pacifier into Lisa's mouth. Showing another sign of intelligence; a worried Lisa reclaims her saxophone and tells her that it is not for babies.

Cultural references

The episode's title is a reference to the film, "Dumb and Dumber".. [http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/smart-and-smarter/episode/305207/summary.html The Simpsons: Smart and Smarter - TV.com ] ] In this episode, Henry quotes, "She's as common as an angry woman in an Ibsen play," perhaps referencing Nora in "A Doll's House". The revelation that Maggie is only smart because she's watching Lisa is similar to the case of Clever Hans at the turn of the century. When Marge gives Lisa the paper quoting "You are Lisa Simpson" is a reference to the season two episode, "Lisa's Substitute", where the character Mr. Bergstrom gave her a similar paper. Lisa's nightmare of her pushing a wheelchair bound Maggie down the stairs is a reference to the 1962 film "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?". Lisa staying in the Natural History Museum is a reference to the book "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler", in which kids ran away from home and lived in the local museum. The song playing during these moments is Moon River.

References