Lost Verizon

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Lost Verizon


image_caption = The episode's promotional image, featuring Denis Leary and Bart.
episode_no = 422
prod_code = KABF15
airdate = October 5, 2008
show runner = Al Jean
writer = John Frink
director = Raymond S. Persi
guest_star = Denis Leary
Brian Grazer
blackboard = "Teacher's diet is working."
couch_gag = The family rushes to the viewing area of a mountain, where they are carved into the mountain's face. Bart remarks "¡Ay, caramba!" upon seeing the statue.
season = 20

"Lost Verizon" is the second episode of "The Simpsons"' twentieth season, and first aired October 5, 2008.cite news | title = Primetime Listings–September 28 - October 4 | publisher = FoxFlash | date = 2008-09-12 | url = http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z4&mo=10&d=1 | accessdate=2008-09-12] Bart becomes jealous of his friends and their cell phones, which causes him to steal Denis Leary's. Marge activates the GPS system on the phone to track down Bart's every move; catching on, Bart attaches the GPS chip to a bird that migrates to Machu Picchu, Peru. Denis Leary and Brian Grazer (who also appeared in "When You Dish Upon a Star" as himself) both guest star as themselves. Directed by Raymond S. Persi, it is written by John Frink.

Plot

When Principal Skinner makes a fool of himself on a freeway, Milhouse manages to catch the whole hilarious scene on his phone. He calls most of his friends to see Skinner getting beaten up by a drunken Barney, but doesn't call Bart. When Nelson asks why, Milhouse explains it's simply because Bart doesn't have a cell phone. Later on, Bart is taunted for missing out on laughing at Skinner. Bart asks Marge for a phone; Marge explains she simply can't afford to get a phone for Bart - she also can't afford to fund a dream trip for Lisa to Machu Picchu. While a depressed Bart takes a stride past the Springfield Glen Country Club, he is promptly hit by a golf ball. Angrily, he enters the golf course to hit the golf ball against the person who threw it at him; upon entering, it turns out Dr. Hibbert had accidentally hit him. Hibbert immediately pays Bart a dollar for retrieving the ball. Surprised, Bart takes the money and gets an inspiration: retrieving golf balls for money, in order to buy a cell phone.

A gleeful Bart is only $20 short, but his glee is cut short when Groundskeeper Willie discovers Bart is cutting in on "his" job. Willie confiscates all the golf balls, prompting Bart to return to his miserable mood. However, nearby, a celebrity golf tournament is underway; as celebrity Denis Leary (guest starring as himself) prepares to go for a round, but misses brutally when his cell phone rings at the same time. Angrily, Leary throws away his phone, which lands beside Bart. Bart, thinking quickly, quits his job and takes Leary's phone all for himself. While going to inform Milhouse of his new cell, Bart receives a call from producer Brian Grazer (guest starring as himself), who asks Leary to star in the film adaption of "Everyone Poops". Bart, realizing the phone belongs to Leary, pretends to be him. A mischievious Bart makes pranks calls all over the world, has all of Leary's money spent on New York Yankees hats and uniforms, among other pranks towards Skinner. Marge overhears Bart and Milhouse's mischievousness, and finally confiscates Bart's phone. Leary recalls his cell, and Marge answers, apologizing for her son's behaviour. Leary, still angry with Bart's tricks, suggests Marge activate the GPS system on the phone and return it to Bart, meaning she could track down Bart's every move.

Albeit guiltily, Marge activates the GPS system and returns the phone to Bart. Bart happily uses the phone, though it makes Marge guilty for spying on her son. Marge, spying on her son through the GPS system, is able to prevent Bart from a rated R movie, gambling at a horse race, and prevents him (just in time) from skating down steps and hurting himself. Lisa is shocked by Marge's injustice, and immediately tells Bart. Predictably, Bart grows angry, and decides to get revenge. He ties the GPS chip to the leg of a bird, which flies away. Marge, thinking the bird is Bart, assumes that Bart is running away from her. While Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie are going through a nation-wide search for Bart, Lisa realizes that the bird is the one they had been chasing the whole time. After checking research on her laptop, she discovers the bird is migrating to Machu Picchu, her dream trip they couldn't afford. She deliberately lets the bird go free, so the family can chase it to Machu Picchu.

Meanwhile, Bart relishes his newfound freedom, but is horrified and frightened of being alone at night. When the Simpsons arrive in Machu Picchu in the morning, the family searches all over the Incans for Bart. Marge, despite being exhausted, can't give up, but Lisa convinces her to rest on an ancient sculpture, below the statue of the ancient Peruvian God of the Sky. Marge, quickly falling asleep, is pulled into a dream world where the God of the Sky shows her Ancient Peru. He teaches her how throughout history, parents who over-parented their children could never set them free, which was how they were conquered by the Conquistadors. Upon waking, Marge learns that she cannot over-mother Bart, and must let him take steps for himself. Homer discovers that the family had been following a bird the whole time, assuring Marge she knows exactly where Bart is. Upon returning to Springfield, Marge asks Bart if he missed her. Bart says he didn't notice they were gone (for two weeks), so Marge, depressed, goes upstairs. However, upon reaching the stairs, she is stopped by Bart, who quickly begs her to never leave again. The episode ends with Lisa asking Homer, "Where's Maggie?" As it turns out, the family had left her in Machu Picchu, where she is being worshipped.

Production

During the table read of the script, a role meant for Matt Damon was included, but he did not appear in the final version of the episode.cite news | author = Army Archerd | title = Matt Damon & Bart Simpson! | publisher = "Variety" | date = 2007-08-16 | url = http://www.armyarcherd.com/2007/08/matt-damon---ba.html | accessdate=2007-10-23] The episode is dedicated to the late Paul Newman, who guest starred in "The Blunder Years" and died nine days before the episode aired.cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26913988/|title=Acting legend Paul Newman dies at 83|last=AP|publisher=msnbc|accessdate=2008-09-27]

Cultural references

The Swedish barman is modelled on Ingmar Bergman. Skinner plays a human version of Frogger when trying to cross the interstate for gas.cite news | title = The Simpsons - "Lost Verizon" (Episode 2002)| publisher = The Recapist|url = http://www.recapist.com/2008/10/07/the-simpsons-lost-verizon-episode-2002 | accessdate=2008-10-07] Marge receives a collection notice from Allied Peas whos corporate mascot bares a striking resemblance to the Jolly Green Giant while paying for frozen peas on installment. Bart, Millhouse, and Nelson grill Twizzlers licorice. Bart suggests to Leary's manager, that he order New York Yankees hats and Derek Jeter jerseys. Leary is a real life Boston Red Sox fan, a large rival of the Yankees. Leary was born in Massachusetts and went to college at Emerson College in Boston.

Reception

In its original airing, the episode garnered 7.4 million viewers,cite news | author = Bill Gorman | title = Sunday Ratings: Desperate Housewives, 60 Minutes Win, CW Crashes | publisher = TV by the Numbers | date = 2008-10-06 | url = http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/10/06/sunday-ratings-desperate-housewives-nfl-steelers-win-cw-crashes/5720 | accessdate=2008-10-06] a 3.6 rating and a 10% share. Robert Canning of IGN said, "This wasn't a terrible episode, but it just wasn't funny enough for such a serpentine storyline. Throw in a wasted Denis Leary, and you really start to think that 'Lost Verizon' could have been so much more". He gave the episode a final rating of 6.7/10.cite news | author = Robert Canning | title = IGN: Lost Verizon Review | publisher = IGN | date = 2008-10-06 | url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/916/916381p1.html | accessdate=2008-10-06]

References