[The long of it]
First, we saw Bart take ballet lessons in "Homer vs. Patty and Selma (2F14)." Later, Lisa took tap-dancing lessons in "Last Tap Dance in Springfield (BABF15)." Now, Lisa tries her ballet skills in "Smoke on the Daughter." Hey, once we get the Bart tap-dancing episode, the circle will be complete! Heck, the writers could double the potential number of episodes simply by taking the ones they've written so far and reversing the Bart and Lisa roles.
Actually, "Smoke" isn't as derivative as I'm making it sound. The main story isn't really about Lisa's ballet -- it's about second-hand smoke. All the other students in Lisa's class puff away in a courtyard behind the building during breaks. Lisa, the only nonsmoker in the group, discovers that the focus and energy she gets from the second-hand smoke improves her dancing. So she spends the rest of the episode fighting her inner demons and a nascent tobacco addiction.
That's an interesting premise, but seeing Lisa fall short of her ideals isn't as shocking as it was when "My Sister, My Sitter (4F13)" and "Lisa Gets an 'A' (AABF03)" were made. The point of this plot thread is fuzzy. Cigarettes are addictive and bad for you? That's not a surprise. Perhaps it's that ballet is too demanding of its practitioners. Or maybe that it shouldn't be marketed to kids, as Lisa puts it. Or maybe the writers wanted us to consider the upside of cigarettes, although that's a weird argument to make, like saying, "Hey, at least you can lose weight if you get hooked on crack." A fair amount of this plotline wasn't that funny, either. A highlight was Lisa's dream sequence, where the ghosts of famous women smokers, Margaret Mead and Queen Elizabeth I among them, invite Lisa to join their little smokers' club. It was offbeat and just a little bit unsettling, too.
Most of this episodes laughs came from the introduction and B-plot. (Okay, the couch gag was good, too.) At the beginning of the show, the family sets out for the midnight sale of the final book of the Angelica Button series, which is both a fine spoof of the Harry Potter phenomenon and a nice callback to the subplot in "The Haw-Hawked Couple (JABF02)." It's almost a shame this had to be relegated to opening throw-away status. Later, Homer squares off against a family of raccoons who steal his homemade beef jerky. (You can make beef jerky at home?) It sounds dumb in print, but has several good moments onscreen. It helped that the raccoons were cutely drawn. Also, I just loved the statue Homer had to erect in his back yard, after he was vanquished by earthworms.
"Smoke on the Daugther" does a fine job of pacing its slightly complex plot and juggling its two stories. It even manages to find some novel ideas. Yet, it never becomes that compelling. In all, "Smoke on the Daughter" is an easier episode to respect than really love.
[The short of it]
This episode has some good comic moments and finds some novel ideas, but it never becomes as compelling as I'd hoped. Lisa struggling with her ideals isn't as shocking as it used to be, and the point of her plot is fuzzy. (Cigarettes have their upside? Ballet is bad for you?) Homer's subplot is surprisingly funny, and the cute raccoon family helped its appeal. The Angelica Button intro was funny, and a good callback to "The Haw-Hawked Couple," as well. In the end, "Smoke on the Daughter" is an easier episode to respect than really love. (C+)
[DYNs]
... Bart keeps his sneakers on the nightstand? ... the "Homer" and "Bart" raccoons have their signature hairstyles even before Homer points it out? ... the "Lisa" raccoon eats an acorn, rather than the beef jerky?
[References]
"Smoke on the Water" (song) - episode of title a spoof
Road Runner cartoons - Wile E. Coyote paints a background (the couch, in this case) on a flat surface, in the hopes his prey will mistake it for the real thing and slam into it - Maggie runs in and sticks her tongue out the way the Road Runner does
"CSI: Miami" (TV series) - the family briefly watches a show similar to this series
Busby Berkley [?] (choreographer) - may have inspired Chazz Busby's last name
"Apocalypse Now" (movie) - Bart in camouflage as he spies on his sister; The Doors' "The End" plays in the background
"I Spit on Your Grave" (movie) - one of the dancers uses this as a threat
Bob Fosse (choreographer) - as Busby exits, he resembles Fosse, or at least a character from one of his musicals
Hello Kitty (line of toys, stickers, and such) - Lisa's nicotine patches look like Hello Kitty
[Previous Episode References]
[JABF02] Lisa reads Angelica Buttons ... and so does Homer [BABF15] Lisa takes (tap) dance lessons [2F14] Bart takes ballet lessons
[FFF]
First Angelica Button book (well, first one in this episode):
Angelica Button
and the
Teacup of TerrorBart's sourpuss T-shirt:
MAGIC
ISN'T
REALFinal Angelica Button book:
Angelica
Button
And The
DEADLY
DENOUEMENTMarge's box o'disappointment:
SHATTERED
DREAMSPerforming arts schools:
CHAZZ BUSBY OPERA ACADEMY
NO FAT NO
CHICKS THIN
CHICKSHomer and Bart's presentation:
J UST THE PRODUCT YOU NEED
E XCELLENT VALUE
R ETAILER'S DREAM
K ISS YOUR CASH FLOW PROBLEMS GOODBYE
Y OUR BUSINESS WILL PROSPERFlanders's Hardy Boys book:
THE HARDY BOYS
------------------
THE MYSTERY OF THE
ODD-SHAPED ROCKMarge's bumper stickers (and license plate):
ASK ME ABOUT MY +------+ DANCER'S MOMS
DAUGHTER'S TALENT |WATA2N| DO IT IN THE WINGS
+------+(The third letter in the license plate might be a "1".)
Homer's worm statue:
WORMS ARE BETTER THAN ME
Marge's cake for Lisa:
LISA
I'M TUTU
PROUD OF YOU
Marquee for recital:
BALLET RECITAL
TONIGHT:
"SLEEPING BEAUTY" CHAZZ BUSBY
BALLET ACADEMY[Oops!]
= The first shot of Chazz Busby's academy (the one with the "No Fat Chicks" sign) is different from all the following shots of the building. (My first thought is that he had different practice and recital facilities, but both buildings seem to have the same "smokers' area" out back.)
+ Mr. Busby says Lisa has the natural talent needed to dance ballet, yet later in the episode she seems to struggle to learn it.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Lisa Kudrow: One of the six main players in the "Friends" ensemble; she played the spacey Phoebe Buffay. ("Simpsons" tie-in: She was in "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," which, I think, was directed by David Mirkin.)
Margaret Mead: An anthropologist who rose to fame with her studies of primitive tribespeople in the Pacific Island area.
Queen Elizabeth I: One of the most popular English monarchs. Her reign in the late 16th century saw England cement her claim as one of the world's major powers, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Lauren Bacall: Actress. She was perhaps best known as spouse of Humphrey Bogart, but has had a well-respected screen career of her own.
Simone de Bouvier and Lillian Hellman: I've heard the names, but don't know these two, sad to say. (I do know Ms. Hellman didn't invent mayonnaise; it has been around for centuries.)