[The long of it]
I owe Fox's promotions department some thanks. They positioned "A Star is Torn" as a showdown between Lisa Simpson and Fantasia Barrino, "American Idol's" latest big winner. I wasn't overjoyed at the prospect of listening to this pair swap schmaltzy pop songs for half an hour, and went into this episode with lowered expectations. What a pleasant turn of events it was when "A Star is Torn" evolved into a different -- and better -- story.
The plot revolves around the "Li'l Starmaker" contest, a thinly- disguised version of "American Idol." Lisa, with the encouragement of her family, joins the throng of people auditioning for the show. She's up against Clarissa Wellington, who sings like Fantasia Barrino (probably because Barrino does indeed provide her voice). At first, Lisa's prospects look bleak, but Homer hastily writes an original song for her that wows the audience and gets her on the show. From then on, Homer becomes a one-man management team, writing more new material, and "encouraging" the stagehands to go the extra mile in providing lighting and backdrops.
To some people, what is essentially another Homer-Lisa bonding episode sounds even less appealing than a revival of "All Singing, All Dancing (5F24)." The writers (led by Carolyn Omine) wisely downplay this aspect, giving us just enough bonding to provide a point and a direction for the show. More attention is paid to Homer's transformation from supportive dad to out-of-control stage parent. In one amusing scene, he forcefully threatens a stagehand when he brings Lisa the wrong kind of candy, only to instantly brighten up when the candy turns out to be the correct variety, after all. Eventually, Lisa has enough and dismisses Homer. While we know a reconciliation scene is inevitable, the one in "A Star is Torn" still manages to be surprising -- an impressive achievement.
This being a Lisa episode, it's interesting to see how the writers interpret her complex personality. I think the writers do well here. The third act presents Lisa with an ethical situation were she can either take the high road and protest, or just accept the well- intentioned action graciously. Either choice would be plausible, and the show presented Lisa's decision convincingly.
Last week, I mentioned that Lisa's personality was creeping towards the PC realm again. The advocate side of Lisa is handled better in this episode. Lisa imagines herself as part of an "Itchy & Scratchy" show ("Starmaker's" grand prize in lieu of a record contract). She rides in on a pink unicorn and decapitates the cat and mouse duo, then lectures against the evils of animal cruelty. She's violent and moralizing at the same time, and it works because her cartoon-y actions lighten up the seriousness of her words.
For someone who once claimed to feel uncomfortable singing, Yeardley Smith does a wonderful job (and since she's singing as Lisa, she has he added degree of difficulty that comes with using someone else's voice). Her version of the mockingbird song ("Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird / and if that mockingbird don't sing / papa's going to buy you a diamond ring ...") is like a warm comforting blanket, and the original song "My Kitty Died" is touching. Fantasia Barrino belts out a nicely jazzed-up version of the mockingbird song, but people who *wanted* to hear sing for half an hour will be disappointed that it's her only song. (Indeed, the character is bumped from "Li'l Starmaker" -- and the episode -- really early in the show.)
Come to think of it, I think the writers may have missed a trick by not showing up more of the, um, singing-impaired contestants. I can picture Nelson and Jimbo trying renditions of things, for example. But then, I'm the kind of guy who first few of weeks of "Idol" to see the really bad singers, and then drops out when we get down to the people who can carry a tune.
"A Star is Torn" is possibly Omine's best work so far on the show. Usually, bait-and-switch is a bad thing, but when the results are as good as this, I'm willing to let it pass.
[The short of it] What the promos set up as a showdown between Lisa and Fantasia Barrino turns into a fine Homer-Lisa show. The writers wisely downplay the father-daughter bonding a bit, allowing Homer's transformation into a push stage hand to command our attention. The reconciliation scene is creatively done. As for the actual sing, Barrino and Yeardley Smith both do well (although Barrino has only one song before her quick exit). I liked Lisa's version of "Mockingbird," and "My Kitty Died," an original tune. Lisa's PC tendencies are lightened up a little, to the benefit of her and the audience. Fox's promotion department may have engaged in a bit of bait-and-switch when touting this show, but when the results are as good as this, I'm willing to let it pass. (B+)
[DYNs]
... Maggie imitates Bart's "Praise the Lord" hand-wave? ... Sherri and Terri hold hands while in line? ... Krusty immediately contradicts his assertion about the audience always being right? ... Lisa seems to have missed her father's metaphor about sausages? ... not only does Homer drive off with the car doors flapping in the breeze, but they're still open when he parks in the driveway? ... Lisa has no ethical compunctions about Homer sabotaging another contestant? ... a subtle animation detail: inside the theater, everyone's colored a little darker than usual, except for their eyes (which seem super-bright by comparison)?
[References]
"A Star is Born" (movie) - title a spoof
"Get Smart" (TV series) - couch gag imitates "Get Smart's" opening credits
"Batman" (TV series) - when Lisa convinces the family to try a vegetarian meal, the scene transitions with the whirling background and trumpet flourish we often saw in the 60s series (instead of a bat symbol, however, we see a broccoli floret)
"American Idol" (TV series) - "Li'l Starmaker" contest a direct rip-off, in spite of the disclaimer. Points of similarity include: - same tryout and elimination format - Krusty encourages "funny-looking kids with no talent" to apply; the actual show draws a fair amount of eccentric-looking people who can't sing - the audition often draws a huge crowd that camps out the night (or several nights) before - the disclaimer guy admits there was trouble with the balloting, something that occasionally happens with "Idol's" voting - cola maker a prominent sponsor - and hey -- wasn't there a version of this show for young children?
opera singer breaking glasses - supposedly, soprano opera singers can shatter a wine glass with the sound of a high note, loudly sung. Lisa can't accomplish that herself (yet), so Homer helps out with a BB gun
~Van Halen (rock group) - according to popular lore, trashed a dressing room because someone forgot to pick the brown M&M's out of their candy bowl; the incident reminds me of Homer's rage over the Twizzlers
~John Cougar Mellencamp (singer) - early in his career, his label wanted him to record under the pseudonym, "Johnny Rainbow," er, I mean, "Johnny Cougar"
Col. Tom Parker - like Elvis' manager, Homer wants to be called Colonel, as in "Col. Cool"
[Previous Episode References]
[9F13] Lisa and Ralph "dated" [3F03] Ralph says he can't believe he dated Lisa
[FFF]
Audition sign at the mall:
SPRINGFIELD
MALL LI'L STARMAKER
AUDITIONS
WARNING:
WE'RE LOOKING FOR CUTE
NOT CREEPYApplause meter:
SARCASTIC THUNDEROUS
+-------------------------------+
| ^ | | | | | | | | <- the gauge is actually
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | curved
+-------------------------------+
A P P L A U S E - O - M E T E RPiano store sign:
THE TOOTHLESS ELEPHANT
PIANO [ man playing piano in ]
STORE [front of tuskless elephant]Homer's coaching sign:
10%
SADDERTrap door sponsorship logo:
BUZZ
COLA
BROWN, FIZZY, REALSpringfield Shopper headlines:
LI'L STARMAKER FEVER 10-YEAR-OLD BOY LI'L STARMAKER DOWN
SWEEPS SPRINGFIELD DISQUALIFIED TO THREE FINALISTS IS ACTUALLY
PAUL SIMONSecond sponsorship logo:
The Official Cola
of Prison[Personal Comments & Observations]
Cameron's first song is the traditional folk tune, "Greensleeves."
The grand prize in the "Li'l Starmaker" contest was a chance to be animated into an Itchy & Scratchy cartoon. Does this sound familiar to you? It might if you were watching "The Simpsons" in 1995, when Fox and MCI ran a contest designed to promote both "The Simpsons" and MCI's 1-800-COLLECT service. (This allowed you to make collect calls, back in the days before cell phones provided long-distance service for an essentially flat fee.) The prize was a chance to be animated into the show -- maybe. Sources varied as to the exact nature of the prize. Depending on whom you believed, the winner was to be given a cel showing him or her with the Simpsons, or animated as part of a couch gag, or even given a small guest role on the show itself. "Simpson" fans never got the chance to find out for sure, because the winner -- chosen randomly from MCI's 1-800-COLLECT customers and not a fan of the show -- opted for a simple cash prize instead.
Whitney Houston -- Bart says Clarissa sings like "Whitney Houston brought to life." Pop diva who reached her zenith in the 80s, with songs like "I Will Always Love You" (a.k.a. the love theme from "The Bodyguard"). Since then, Houston has had struggles with eating disorders and drug addictions, giving her the appearance of someone not quite alive.
Paul Simon -- Simon, on the other hand, has aged better. A pop/folk singer who first gained fame as one half of Simon and Garfunkel, he has kept both an active career and most of his boyish looks.
The red convertible heading into Krustylu Studios looks like a late 90s Mercedes-Benz SL.
Ivory, once used for piano keys, comes from the tusks (which are actually elongated teeth) of elephants.
The University of Syracuse has a highly-respected school of broadcast journalism, which is probably why Homer thinks he can use it for an endless supply of interns.