Papa Don't Leech

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Papa Don't Leech


image_caption = Promotional image featuring Homer (in his "Colonel Homer" attire) and The Dixie Chicks.
episode_no = 416
prod_code = KABF09
airdate = April 13, 2008
show runner = Al Jean
writer = Reid Harrison
director = Chris Clements
guest_star = Beverly D'Angelo
The Dixie Chicks
blackboard =
couch_gag = The Simpson family is painted on the couch.
season = 19

"Papa Don't Leech" is the sixteenth episode of "The Simpsons"' nineteenth season. It was first broadcast on April 13, 2008.cite news | title = Primetime Listings (April 6 - April 13)| publisher = FoxFlash | date = 2008-03-21 | url = http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z4&ID=91 | accessdate=2008-03-21] It features the return of Lurleen Lumpkin (Beverly D'Angelo) from the third season episode "Colonel Homer", after an absence of sixteen years. The Dixie Chicks also appear as themselves. It was written by Reid Harrison and directed by Chris Clements. [Noted during the credits.]

Plot

Lisa tries to sell Girl Scout cookies to Mayor Quimby, but finds the entire town treasury empty. Quimby explains the city spent their money on a new slogan, "Springfield: Good." A town meeting is held to inform the town they have to raise money. They try faking a natural disaster in order to get relief money from FEMA, but the officials turn out to be fakes. They are tricked and end up in more debt than before. Lisa then reveals Springfield has millions in uncollected taxes, and Springfield soon starts hitting up its most notorious tax evaders. In a news report, Kent Brockman reveals that all tax evaders have been caught, and the only one remaining is Lurleen Lumpkin, a country music star who was once managed by Homer and fell in love with him. As the city searches for her, Homer finds Lurleen hiding in his car, and learns that after leaving her, her life had spun out of control.

Homer comforts the nerve-wracked Lurleen, who says she has no money. Homer agrees to take her home, but Marge remembers how Lurleen caused a huge rift in her marriage, and demands that she gets out. Angrily driving her away, she discovers that Lurleen lives with the homeless. Marge begins to pity her. Marge reluctantly allows her to stay with the family. As a thank you, Lurleen cooks a barbecue for the family, and Marge apologizes about the argument earlier. Lurleen forgives her, and the two become friends. Soon, though, Lurleen is found, arrested, and taken to court. Judge Snyder decides to go easy on her, with one exception: Lurleen must find an immediate way to pay off her debt to society. When the trial finishes, she explains how she can't pay off her taxes because all her money went to her ex-husbands (who all resemble Homer).

Lurleen becomes depressed, and the whole family soon hears Lurleen singing through the vent about her father. Marge realizes that after her Lurleen's father left her, she had given up faith in all men. Marge decides to get the two Lumpkins back on a proper parent-child relationship. Scouring Springfield, she finally finds him. Royce Lumpkin left Lurleen because he realized he could never be a great father. He is now deadbeat. Lurleen forgives him for leaving her, however, and she writes a new song to celebrate their reunion. The two appear to have a newfound happiness, and spend a lot of time together. But Royce eventually decides to leave Lurleen again. Lurleen is now more depressed than ever. Soon, a new song from the Dixie Chicks plays on TV. Lurleen's father is in the music video, and one of the Dixie Chicks claims that he wrote the song, which is a clear plagiarism of the song Lurleen wrote for their reunion. She goes to the basement to sulk. Homer, in his Colonel Homer attire and "Major Marge" come to her, and tell her to take control of her destiny. Lurleen tells the Dixie Chicks that her father stole her song and they proceed to hit him with their instruments. Lurleen becomes the new opening act for the Dixie Chicks. She has a new husband (who also has a resemblance to Homer), and Marge and Lurleen embrace. Silently, Marge then threatens her if she ever comes near Homer again.

Cultural references

The episode's title is a take-off of singer Madonna's song, "Papa Don't Preach". [http://firefox.org/news/articles/1394/1/Review----The-Simpsons-quotPapa-Don039t-Leechquot/Page1.html Review - The Simpsons "Papa Don't Leech" ] ] Lurleen is shown singing the song, "bunk with me tonight" (from "Colonel Homer") with Kermit; another Muppet, Miss Piggy appears and drop-kicks him. The opening scene where Homer suffocates his father parodies "The Sopranos" episode "Kennedy and Heidi", in which Tony suffocates Christopher in a similar manner. Bart is seen playing with Mr. Potato Head. Marge's bodywash is Estée Lauder. Lurleen's song, "Daddy's Back", sounds slightly like the Dixie's "Not Ready to Make Nice".

Reception

The episode received very poor reviews. Richard Keller of TV Squad expressed dislike for the episode stating that he hopes the show will reconsider the next time they decide to give a solo opportunity to a supporting character many people don't remember.cite web| last = Keller| first = Richard
title = Papa Don't Leech| url = http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/04/13/the-simpsons-papa-dont-leach/| publisher = TV Squad| accessdate = 2008-04-14 ] Robert Canning of IGN said, "there were too few laugh-out-loud moments in this lackluster episode. Overall, it was nice to see Lurleen again, but she'd probably get more laughs in future cameos than in carrying an entire episode." He gave the episode a 6/10.cite news|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/866/866216p1.html|title=The Simpsons: "Papa Don't Leech" Review|accessdate=2008-04-15|date=2008-04-14|publisher=IGN|author=Robert Canning] The opening sequence where Homer murders Grampa in a dream was criticized, being called "the least funny thing I've ever seen on the show" by IGN, "very un-Homer-like" by TV Squad, and "going too far" by FireFox.org.

The episode was the third lowest watched episode in the history of "The Simpsons". It had a 3.2 Nielsen rating and a 9% audience share in its time slot. [cite news|author=James Hibberd|title=Disappointing return for 'Housewives' |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i745f0e46da86e5a05748658e4c28ac5e|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|date=2008-04-14|accessdate=2008-04-15]

References