I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh

"I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh" is the twentieth episode of the thirtieth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 659th episode overall. The episode was directed by Mike Frank Polcino and written by Jeff Martin and Jenna Martin. It aired in the United States on Fox on April 7, 2019.

"I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 30
Episode 20
Directed byMike Frank Polcino
Written byJeff Martin
Jenna Martin
Production codeYABF12
Original air dateApril 7, 2019 (2019-04-07)
Guest appearances
Episode features
Chalkboard gag"I will not write "Audit please" on Homer's tax return"
Couch gagBart, Maggie, and Lisa star in the opening of "My Three Kids", with Groundskeeper Willie as angry Uncle Angus.
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Girl's in the Band"
Next →
"D'oh Canada"
The Simpsons season 30
List of episodes

In this episode, Marge directs a musical written by Lisa about Jebediah Springfield while Homer joins a baby class with Maggie. Musician Josh Groban and Jon Lovitz guest starred. Actor John Lithgow appeared as himself. The episode received negative reviews.

Plot

edit

A disgruntled cast and crew expel short-tempered perfectionist theater director Llewellyn Sinclair from their production of Oklahoma!.[1] Marge steps up to helm a different show production written by Lisa about Springfield's founder Jebediah Springfield.[2] Her show is a parody of Hamilton: An American Musical, a sung-and-rapped through musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.[3]

Krusty plans to air Lisa's musical, Bloody, Bloody Jebediah with Sideshow Mel in the title role, on live TV, recording the open-air production. Its title is a reference to the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. However, Mel later drops out of the show so Marge recasts the part, finding Professor Frink (Josh Groban) has a stunning singing voice. However it is revealed that rain is forecast for the live performance. Bloody, Bloody Jebediah airs live and starts off successfully, however during a commercial break it starts pouring rain. Jebediah's bear (John Lithgow) starts to sink into a puddle so Lisa quickly rewrites the ending to the satisfaction of the audience. The production is nominated for twelve awards, with Marge winning a special award for best newcomer.

Meanwhile, Homer notices a popular baby class taking place and joins with Maggie. His confusion about the popularity is answered when he sees Chloe, the sexy supervisor running the "Daddy and Me" baby class. It all ends when another father named Barry divorces, allowing him to marry Chloe all to himself.

Production

edit

This episode was scheduled to air on April 28, 2019, but was moved to April 7, 2019 since "The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby" was delayed to the next season after the show's producers decided to make a short film related to the episode titled Playdate with Destiny as well.[4]

The closing credits for the episode uses a clip from the music video for the song "White Wine Spritzer" by Okilly Dokilly, a band where all members dress as Ned Flanders.[5] The producers wanted to feature the video on the show after they watched it. The band received an email in February 2019 to ask for permission. Executive producer Al Jean had previously given approval on social media when the idea for the band was first released.[6]

Musician Josh Groban guest starred as Professor Frink's singing voice.[1] Three of Groban's song were previously featured in the twentieth season episode "Lisa the Drama Queen."[7] Actor John Lithgow appeared as himself.[1]

Reception

edit

Dennis Perkins from The A.V. Club gave the episode a C− stating, "Unfortunately, the resulting episode, 'I'm Just A Girl Who Can’t Say D'oh' is a listless, carelessly plotted outing, where character and narrative logic give way to plodding storytelling, a serious lack of jokes, and one of the least interesting (and yet vaguely irritating) B-plots in recent memory."[2]

Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode 3 out of 5 stars. He highlighted the theater parody but thought Homer being attracted to the teacher was not in character.[1]

"I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh" scored a 0.7 rating with a 3 share and was watched by 1.61 million people.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Sokol, Tony (April 8, 2019). "The Simpsons Season 30 Episode 20 Review: I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Perkins, Dennis (April 7, 2019). "Marge and Lisa do Hamilton, but a plodding Simpsons doesn't do much at all". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Venable, Nick (April 9, 2019). "The Simpsons Featured The Awesome Ned Flanders Metal Band Okilly Dokilly, Check It Out". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  4. ^ Romano, Nick (February 28, 2020). "Exclusive: The story behind the secret Simpsons short heading to theaters". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Blistein, Jon (April 9, 2019). ""They Started a Ned Flanders Metal Band. Then 'The Simpsons' Called"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Masley, Ed (April 10, 2019). "How Phoenix's Ned Flanders-themed metal band Okilly Dokilly made it on the 'The Simpsons'". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Larsen, Crystal (December 18, 2019). ""The Simpsons" At 30: A Complete History Of Every Band That's Ever Rocked Springfield". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Welch, Alex (April 9, 2019). "'Ellen's Game of Games,' 'The Simpsons' repeats adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
edit