"The Simpsons" Lisa's Substitute (1991)

Director:

Rich Moore

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator)
James L. Brooks (developer) ...

TV Series:

"The Simpsons" (1989)

Original Air Date:

25 April 1991 (Season 2, Episode 19)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

Plot:

Lisa has a crush on her substitute teacher, who seemingly represents everything that Homer is not. Meanwhile, Bart decides to run for class president, and becomes the overwhelming favorite.

Plot Keywords:

Nuclear Power | Dysfunctional Family | Principal | Satire | Pacifier

Cast

Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Montgomery Burns / Waylon Smithers / Ned Flanders / Kent Brockman / Rev. Lovejoy / Principal Skinner / Dr. Hibbert / Rainer Wolfcastle / Others (voice)
Jo Ann Harris	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as Jo Anne Harris)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Rod Flanders / Others (voice)
Maggie Roswell	...	Miss Hoover (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Martin Prince / Others (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Edna Krabappel (voice)
Dustin Hoffman	...	Mr. Bergstrom (voice) (as Sam Etic)

Runtime:

Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Dustin Hoffman is credited here under the name Sam Etic. This is most likely a reference to the word "Semitic", since his character here is Jewish.

Goofs:

Continuity: According to Bart's narration of his "kittens" video he shows his class, Snowball II was a kitten that the first Snowball had. But in "The Simpsons: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (#1.1)" (1989), it's clearly stated that Snowball II was bought.

Quotes:

Marge Simpson: Homer! Did you take care of...
Homer: Ah-ah-ah. Don't say anything, Marge. Let's just go to bed. Right now I'm on the biggest roll of my life.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Graduate (1967)

Soundtrack:

Home on the Range

One of the Best Ever

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

If I were to choose the most beautiful, heartwarming, tear-jerking episode of The Simpsons, it would be this one. Lisa finds part of herself through an unconventional teacher, and you can't help but cry along with Lisa as she reads that special note- "You Are Lisa Simpson." Bart also has his spotlight in the episode; he runs for class president and, being the Bart he is, he forgets to vote. Homer is there the whole time, and comforts all his kids (including sweet little Maggie) at the end. "Whoa, talk about parenting!" Lisa emotes wonderfully in Lisa's Substitute, and it really would be cool to have a teacher like Mister Bergstrom, who can teach that life is worth living. They could've had a strong friendship together, but as Mister Bergstrom states wisely, people you care about have to leave to care for other people. If he were real, he would've touched all, but he is saved for the prettiest, most deserving little girl of all- Lisa.

On a scale of 1 to 10, this is a 1,000,000.