[The long of it]
Way back in the mists of time, admirers of Lisa Simpson roamed through a.t.s. In terms of popularity, she easily gave even Homer a run for his money. Her fans would sometimes play a game among themselves speculating about what might happen to her as she grew up. Would she find acceptance? Would she get married? What career path would she follow -- scientific or musical? Will she escape from Springfield? What college would she go to? The last question was a frequently- asked one, perhaps because many of the people asking it were themselves in college and wondered what it might be like to meet Lisa, or at least somebody like her. What would Lisa be like as a college girl? Now, thanks to "Little Girl in the Big Ten," we know. She'd be a lot like she is today.
I can say this with a great deal of certainty because "Little Girl" finds Lisa attending (more or less) Springfield University, where her fellow university classmates are convinced that she's as old as they. (Insert your own joke about the caliber of today's students here.) I have to admit that I wasn't certain this premise could be carried off plausibly, so I was interested in seeing what Jon Vitti (lead writer for this episode) and the gang came up with. Here's their solution: Lisa, needing to avoid a failing grade in gym, takes an outside gymnastics class. There, a pair of college-age students mistake Lisa for a student herself. After all, because of their tiny gymnast's physiques, they look "way younger" than they actually are. Uh ... huh. I remember watching gymnast Dominique Dawes, who actually was college-age at the time, during the Olympics and believe me, she looked considerably older than eight. Okay, so the plot may not be entirely believable, but at least it makes a cute comment on the state of women's gymnastics today, where girls are often forced to grow up before their time.
Once you accept the idea that everyone around Lisa thinks she's ten years older than she really is, "Little Girl" is an enjoyable episode. Lisa proves quite adept at improvising answers to keep the fa�ade going, as a scene riding in one of her college friend's car proves. I also liked her visit to the local coffeehouse, where Robert Pinsky gives a reading and debunks the assumption that all poets are stuffy and ponderous. But the best thing about Lisa's foray into higher education is that it lets her be intellectual without being pedantic or moralizing, which had been the case too often recently. Instead, she acts like a bright little girl who gets the opportunity to live a dream of hers. It's a joy to watch her just be excited about her new campus surroundings -- the kiosks! the outdoor study groups! -- as she concludes she must be in Heaven. (And no wonder. She experiences all the high points of college -- intellectual stimulation and exciting friends -- with none of the drawbacks like tuition increases or grading pressures. On the other hand, she does have to pull an all-nighter, complete with funny hallucinations.)
Bart gets an equally good subplot. After a bite from a Chinese mosquito, he has to spend a week isolated in a plastic bubble, lest he infect the town. The plot could have been a borderline-exploitative excuse for physical humor, but the writers handle it skillfully. After an initial period of adjustment, and a good scene of Nelson mocking him, Bart discovers there's an upside to the bubble life. For instance, he's able to literally bowl over the schoolyard bullies. Later, there's a good scene where Bart uses his bubble to help Lisa out of a social mess at her school. (Her regular school, that is.)
A real college student, given this show, could probably point out quite a few plot holes. A picky student might also notice, as I did, that the ending was kind of pat, even if it did tie together the main and sub plots. And yet "Little Girl in the Big Ten" makes up for most of it. The characters are well-tuned, displaying their individual flaws while still remaining likeable, as in the earlier seasons. The dialogue is generally clever. The Lisa- and Bart- centered plots keep the humor level up, and divide things nicely between dialogue-driven and physical jokes.
If Lisa in college is this much fun now, imagine what she'll be like in ten years when she gets to go for real. And then we can guess what might happens if she gets married. And what career path would she follow -- scientific or musical? I wonder if she'll escape from Springfield ...
[The short of it]
Here's the episode that answers the question of what Lisa's college experience will be like -- sort of. The idea of Lisa passing as a student is almost believable, but finding the plot holes isn't that difficult. Better to spend your time admiring the social commentary about women's gymnastics, the fine characterization of the family (especially Lisa), Robert Pinsky's fine guest performance, and Bart's funny subplot. Overall, a charming show that makes up for most of its flaws. (A-)
[DYNs]
... Francine (from "Bye Bye Nerdie (CABF11)") is at the back of the line of girls Lisa knocks down? ... three of Cletus's girls are in Lisa's gym class? (and one of them is in Lisa's "regular" class) ... the ring that Willie cuts to free Milhouse remains cut in the background when Mr. Skinner talks to Brunella? ... Grampa falls asleep in Dr. Hibbert's office? ... the classic "I&S" has p-code DABF06, same as "The Bart Wants What It Wants"? ... Lisa somehow earned 16 credits, which is a full semester for most people?
[References]
the Olympic games - the gym teacher almost repeats the Olympic slogan: "Faster, Higher, Stronger"
Bela Karoli [sic] (gymnastics coach) - Lugash modeled after his personality and looks
Take Your Daughter to Work Day - in China, it's "Force Your Daughter to Work Day"
Tylenol (over-the-counter headache remedy) - now available in College Strength!
"I Get Knocked Down [?]" - Homer mangles the lyrics to the Chumbawumba hit
hantavirus - Bart contracts Chinese "pandavirus"
Franz Kafka (author) - coffeehouse named for him - house mascot is a roach, and there are at least two stylized bug paintings in the building, suggesting Kafka's story "Metamorphosis"
Georg Hegel (philosopher) - Caf� Kafka offers Hegel's bagels
Underdog (cartoon superhero) - after Bart saves the day, he makes up a little rhyme, like Underdog
"Harriet the Spy" (book) - one of the nerdy boys feels like the (female) title character from this book
university "Simpson" classes - at least one university offers a class in "Simpsons" appreciation; while others include the show in general popular culture classes (cf. Anthro 101: The "I&S" class)
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! (margarine) - Itchy makes "I Can't Believe It's Not Scratchy!" spread [and you *shouldn't* believe it, because it *is* Scratchy!]
"Doogie Howser" (TV series) - series about a child prodigy who becomes a doctor at something like fourteen years old. Lisa tries to cite him as a precedent for going to college
[Previous Episode References]
[2F15] Lisa in college [2F05] Lisa in danger of flunking gym ... [2F05] ... but is saved by a surprise talent in one sport [CABF11] Francine appears [CABF16] How's that anger management class working out, Lugash? [9F14] Kennedy er, uh, appears [BABF21] "Cathy" comic strip mentioned
[FFF]
Brunella's student roster:
Renquist, Francine _
Simpson, Lisa \/ -
Spuckler, Brittany
---ckler, Tiffany _
Spuckler, Heather \/_+
Taylor, Allison \/ + [Dashes indicate part obscured by the gym teacher's hand.
Presumably, this is the "Spu" in "Spuckler"]Lugash's gym:
LUGASH'S GYM
[portrait]
I MAKE YOU STAR
I AM LUGASH["Star" and second "LUGASH" are in red]
Toy sweatshop:
KRUSTYCO
SWEATSHOP TODAY: FORCE YOUR
DAUGHTER TO WORK DAYTina's book:
GRAVITY'S
RAINBOW THOMAS
PYNCHONLicense plate and things from Carrie's car:
+-------+ SPRINGFIELD NORTH
|3NS 992| UNIVERSITY QUAD
+-------+ PARKING COLLEGE YES,
STRENGTH [tassel] WE'RE
TYLENOL COLLEGE
STUDENTS!Signs outside coffeehouse:
CAF� KAFKA [roach holding]
[a cup of java] NOW WITH:
HEGEL'S BAGELSSign inside coffeehouse:
TONIGHT:
POET
LAUREATE
ROBERT
PINSKYMs. Hoover's student roster:
D Brittany Spuckler
A- Lisa Simpson
Francine RenqLisa's bumper stickers:
I AM AN U. S.
HONOR STUDENT OUT OF
AT SPRINGFIELD EVERYWHERE!
ELEMENTARYCat spread:
I Can't Believe
It's Not [Scratchy pic]
Scratchy!Lisa's class notes:
/-----\
|BIRDS|-----
\-----/ /
/
/
/
--------> TWEET
-----
-----
-----Banner at school:
SEYMOUR SKINNER DAY
Skinner's plaque:
SEYMOUR SKINNER
[portrait, profile]
1953 - 2010
Skinner's card:
"Yes I am!"
(Hold for applause)
And finally, Skinner's cake:
CONGRATULATIONS
SEYMOUR[Goofs]
* Most gymnastics classes separate their students into age brackets, so Lisa shouldn't have been in the same class as Tina and Carrie.
- Even at eight, isn't Lisa a bit old for "Blue's Clues?"
* I always thought the plastic bubble prevented people on the outside from infecting the person on the inside, not the other way around.
- Part of Wendell's shirt appears to be flesh-colored when Kearney picks him up.
- Nobody notices Lisa's absent for part of the school day.
= Bart bubble has one of those magic cartoon doors that is invisible when you don't need it.
* Lisa doesn't give a second thought about walking into Bart's bubble, even though he's supposed to be highly infectious.
* So, will Lisa be facing any consequences at all for her bubble stunt?
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Years ago, I wrote a short, one-act script about Bart caught in a bubble. Other than this concept, it bears no resemblance to tonight's episode, but if you'd like to read it anyway, I'll find it and repost it shortly.
We now return you to the conclusion of, "A review of 'Little Girl in the Big Ten (DABF15).'"
The theme to "The Pink Panther" plays when Lisa transforms her bike to "college student" guise.
As Bart gets ready to tip the bubble off the school roof, the theme to "2001: A Space Odyssey" plays.
Ever notice how hardly anybody in "women's" gymnastics appears to be older than 18? Part of the answer has to do with biology and physics: As a girl matures into a woman and her body develops, her center of gravity shifts. This subtly throws off her balance and takes the edge off her performance. At the Olympic level (which is the only level that 90% of the U.S. notices), the difference between winning and losing is a few tenths of a point, so a girl's career is usually over by the time she can legally drink.
In response, gymnastic coaches have concentrated on grooming ever- younger students for competition. It can be a Faustian bargain for the girl. In exchange for a shot at fame and fortune, she risks emotional and physical trauma from abusive coaches (Lugash isn't that far off the real-life pace, I understand), grueling training regimens, and the usual isolation that comes from intense preparation. There is growing concern about this, but with the pressure to win as strong as ever, don't look for substantial change any time soon.
John F. Kennedy was a former President of the United States. Most relevant to this episode, he was a vigorous and physically fit man, in contrast to the usual sixty-something old guy who holds the office. Kennedy promoted physical fitness, and started a nationwide exercise fad. (Which, in a way, never ended.)
Liberace was a flamboyant pianist. He usually wore gaudy and elaborate sequined costumes, with a cape that trailed behind him as he walked. In case the costume came off as too subtle, Liberace could dazzle his audience with his shiny pianos. One was decorated with cut mirrored tile, for that extra-sparkly effect.
Robert Pinsky was indeed the poet laureate during the Clinton administration, but that's probably not the only reason he was picked for this episode. Pinsky has gone on record as being a big fan of -- you guessed it -- "The Simpsons." Obviously, he's a man of taste and distinction.
I don't know if this happens anywhere outside the U.S., but "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" is a semi-official event, typically in April, in a growing number of companies. It got started when sociologists released several studies showing girls felt there was no place for them in the business world. "Ms." magazine, a feminist periodical, took matters into their own hands, calling for a day where parents can take their daughters to the workplace and (hopefully) inspire them to pursue rewarding careers later on in life. "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" has its critics -- stay-at-home-by-choice moms, people with resentful sons, and so on -- but a number of major companies now host their employee's children one day a year.
Carrie's car -- I assume it's hers because she's driving -- is a Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. This one's an older model, perfect for the college gymnast on a budget.