A Star Is Burns (5 Mar. 1995)

Mr. Burns hosts a film festival in Springfield to improve his image. Film critic Jay Sherman, of "The Critic" is invited, and stays with the Simpsons.

Director:

Susie Dietter

Writers:

James L. Brooks (developer), Sam Simon (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Rappin' Rabbi #2 / Homer Simpson / Grampa Simpson / Paparazzo / Krusty the Clown / Mayor Quimby / 'Marge is gonna say something....' / Heckler #1 / Heckler #2 / Airport Tannoy / Hans Moleman / Barney Gumble / 'Pure egotism!' / Beer Vendor / Itchy (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Todd Flanders / Nelson Muntz (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Rappin' Rabbi #1 / 'Hey!' / Japanese Father / Moe Szyslak / Chief Wiggum / Charles Bronson / New York Pilot / TV Announcer / Senor Spielbergo / Anthony Hopkins / William Shatner / Bumblebee Man / Apu Nahasapeemapetilon / Man in Audience #2 (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Kent Brockman / Principal Skinner / Ned Flanders / God / Rainier Wolfcastle / Montgomery Burns / Waylon Smithers / Scratchy (voice)
Jon Lovitz	...	Jay Sherman (voice)
Phil Hartman	...	Charlton Heston (voice)
Maurice LaMarche	...	Eudora Welty / George C. Scott (voice)
Doris Grau	...	Various (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Japanese Mother / Milhouse Van Houten / Rod Flanders / Woman Praising Barney's Movie (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maggie Roswell	...	Maude Flanders (voice)

Storyline

It is decided that a film festival should be held to put Springfield on the map and cinema critic Jay Sherman comes to town and stays with the Simpsons. Various people submit films that they have made to win the critics' prize, from Burns' blockbuster presenting him as an epic hero to Barney's strangely poetic monochrome short, but the most popular choice seems to be George C. Scott in 'Man Getting Hit With a Football'.

---

Plot Keywords:

film festival | jay sherman | football in the groin | 2d animation | critically bashed | 

---

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1995 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Series creator Matt Groening had his name removed in protest from the credits of this episode "A Star Is Burns", in which Jay Sherman from The Critic visits Springfield, because Groening felt that it made the episode into an advertisement for the other show. Groening stated in the L.A. Times that he didn't feel that he and The Simpsons should share any credit or blame for how the other show performed.

---

Goofs

After Jay makes his escape from an angry Rainier Wolfcastle, he calls out, "Taxi!" but his lips don't move.

---

Quotes

Smithers: Sir, the actors are here to audition for the part of you.
Montgomery Burns: Excellent.
[a policeman wheels Hannibal Lecter in]
Hannibal Lecter: Excellent.
[makes the infamous slurping sound]
Montgomery Burns: Next.
William Shatner: Exc-ell-ent.
Montgomery Burns: Next.
Homer: Exactly.
[chuckles]
[...]

---

Connections

Featured in Goodbye 2000 (2000)

---

Soundtracks

"Bridal Chorus"
(uncredited)
Composed by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Is it an ad? Maybe so, but it's a funny ad...

This is actually a controversial episode; series creator Matt Groening took his name off the credits and complained about it. The concern was that A Star is Burns is an advertisement, since a key character is the star of another cartoon- Jay Sherman from the unsuccessful 1990s series The Critic. Sherman's appearance on the show introduced Simpsons fans to the character. But the character's appearance was straightforward- you didn't need to be familiar with The Critic to appreciate it (I don't remember much of the show). With basic ideas like making movies and Homer feeling jealousy regarding Jay, I think I'd even go so far as to say that this episode is timeless, at least more so than other cultural references on The Simpsons.

I loved this episode as a kid. When I got season 6 on DVD, I rewatched it and hardly laughed. I thought I might have outgrown it- this is an episode that utilizes jokes like Hans Moleman being hit in the groin by a football. But on rewatching it again, I enjoyed it. The basic storyline of this episode is an excellent concept- movies have been a big part of Western life and to see the characters of Springfield making movies is fun. A key part is played by Mr. Burns, always an excellent character, here being compared to an ogre and making a propaganda film. Also funny and slightly sensitive was Barney's award-winning movie. Who ever said advertisements can't be art?