Haw-Haw Land: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Simpsons episode |
{{Infobox Simpsons episode |
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| image = HawHawLand.jpg |
| image = HawHawLand.jpg |
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| episode = 10 |
| episode = 10 |
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| director = [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] |
| director = [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] |
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| writer = [[Tim Long]]<br>Miranda Thompson |
| writer = [[Tim Long]]<br />Miranda Thompson |
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| production = XABF03 |
| production = XABF03 |
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| airdate = {{Start date|2018|1|7}} |
| airdate = {{Start date|2018|1|7}} |
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| guests = [[Ed Sheeran]] as Brendan Biederbecke |
| guests = * [[Ed Sheeran]] as Brendan Biederbecke |
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| blackboard = |
| blackboard = |
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| couch_gag = |
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| next = [[Frink Gets Testy]] |
| next = [[Frink Gets Testy]] |
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"'''Haw-Haw Land'''" is the tenth episode of the [[The Simpsons |
"'''Haw-Haw Land'''" is the tenth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 29|twenty-ninth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and the 628th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by [[Bob Anderson (director)|Bob Anderson]] and written by [[Tim Long]] and Miranda Thompson. It aired in the United States on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on January 7, 2018. |
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The title and the opening musical number spoof ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]'', and the close of the episode spoofs the mistake in announcing that film as the Best Picture winner at the [[89th Academy Awards]]. |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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On a rainy day, the Simpson family goes to a [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] conference, where [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] meets Brendan Beiderbecke (voiced by [[Ed Sheeran]]), a boy who is proficient in the piano, and falls in love with him. The bullies are overthrown by Brendan, including Lisa's ex-boyfriend [[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]] who tries to impress her musically at Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor, starting a conflict in her heart. |
On a rainy day, the Simpson family goes to a [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] conference, where [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] meets Brendan Beiderbecke (voiced by [[Ed Sheeran]]), a boy who is proficient in the piano, and falls in love with him. The bullies are overthrown by Brendan, including Lisa's ex-boyfriend [[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]] who tries to impress her musically at Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor, starting a conflict in her heart. |
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Meanwhile, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] discovers he has an interest in and a talent for chemistry after witnessing chemical reactions. He tries it out on his treehouse with [[Milhouse]] where they turn the leaves of the tree into rock candy after [[Homer]] and [[Marge]] leave. Homer and Marge get worried over Bart, but he seems to be doing good for once, but an accident at school, involving [[Superintendent Chalmers]] accidentally drinking a sulfuric acid-laced cup of vodka and losing the tip of his tongue, seems linked to Bart. Bart claims not to know of the incident, but Marge and Homer are unsure. |
Meanwhile, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] discovers he has an interest in and a talent for chemistry after witnessing chemical reactions. He tries it out on his treehouse with [[Milhouse]] where they turn the leaves of the tree into rock candy after [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] and [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] leave. Homer and Marge get worried over Bart, but he seems to be doing good for once, but an accident at school, involving [[Superintendent Chalmers]] accidentally drinking a [[sulfuric acid]]-laced cup of vodka and losing the tip of his tongue, seems linked to Bart. Bart claims not to know of the incident, but Marge and Homer are unsure. |
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The family goes to a talent show, where Bart will put on a chemistry demonstration, while Nelson and Brendan perform. Nelson is booed all the way through while Brendan does well. However, he is disqualified for living in West [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] and is going to be transferred to a school there. After Brendan says goodbye to Lisa, Nelson tells her he is relieved that she didn't choose him, as he needs to focus on his own skills before he can date her. Lisa ends up alone, finding herself enjoying it. As Bart begins his demonstration, the police show up to arrest him for the sulfuric incident. At first conflicted, Marge chooses to believe Bart and assists him in the demonstration, producing a vibrant and safe visual. This proves that Bart is innocent, as Willie admits to spiking the vodka in an attempt to murder [[Principal Skinner]]. However, as Marge and Bart reconcile, Bart admits that he built a prank into his demonstration, which explodes and fills the school with pink foam. |
The family goes to a talent show, where Bart will put on a chemistry demonstration, while Nelson and Brendan perform. Nelson is booed all the way through while Brendan does well. However, he is disqualified for living in West [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] and is going to be transferred to a school there. After Brendan says goodbye to Lisa, Nelson tells her he is relieved that she didn't choose him, as he needs to focus on his own skills before he can date her. Lisa ends up alone, finding herself enjoying it. As Bart begins his demonstration, the police show up to arrest him for the sulfuric incident. At first conflicted, Marge chooses to believe Bart and assists him in the demonstration, producing a vibrant and safe visual. This proves that Bart is innocent, as Willie admits to spiking the vodka in an attempt to murder [[Principal Skinner]]. However, as Marge and Bart reconcile, Bart admits that he built a prank into his demonstration, which explodes and fills the school with pink foam. |
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In the final scene at the talent show's after-party, while Willie spikes the punch with the Polonium hydride(H2PO), Marge apologizes to the viewers stating that this episode was supposed to parody ''[[Moonlight (2016 film)|Moonlight]]'', not ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]''. Homer states that nobody there has seen ''Moonlight''. When Marge offers to show him that movie as they have the DVD, Homer states that he would rather see ''[[X-Men: Apocalypse]]'' which everyone in the background is interested in seeing, except for Lisa, who'd like to see ''Moonlight''. |
In the final scene at the talent show's after-party, while Willie spikes the punch with the Polonium hydride(H2PO), Marge apologizes to the viewers stating that this episode was supposed to parody ''[[Moonlight (2016 film)|Moonlight]]'', not ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]''. Homer states that nobody there has seen ''Moonlight''. When Marge offers to show him that movie as they have the DVD, Homer states that he would rather see ''[[X-Men: Apocalypse]]'' which everyone in the background is interested in seeing, except for Lisa, who'd like to see ''Moonlight''. |
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==Production== |
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The episode is a parody of the 2016 film ''[[La La Land]]''.<ref name="Hussein">{{cite web|last=Hussein|first=Wandera|url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/ed-sheeran-simpsons-cameo-la-la-land-parody-episode-videos-8093197/|title=Watch Ed Sheeran's 'Simpsons' Cameos From the 'La La Land' Parody Episode|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> Co-writer [[Tim Long]] wanted to write an episode where Nelson sings. When he heard Nelson sing in the [[The Simpsons season 16|sixteenth season]] episode "[[Sleeping with the Enemy (The Simpsons)|Sleeping with the Enemy]]," Long thought it was crazy but moving, and he want to draw from that pain.<ref name="Snierson">{{cite web|last=Snierson|first=Dan|url=https://ew.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-29-preview|title=The Simpsons: Season 29 Features Ed Sheeran, 'Game of Thrones' Gag, Possessed Maggie|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> |
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Musician [[Ed Sheeran]] was cast as Brendan. Producer [[Mike Scully]] heard Sheeran, who has a [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Blinky|Blinky]] tattoo, was interested in appearing on the show, and the producers selected him for this role. Sheeran recorded his lines in England.<ref>{{cite web|last=Snierson|first=Dan|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/07/17/the-simpsons-ed-sheeran/|title=Ed Sheeran coming to The Simpsons next|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> Executive producer [[Al Jean]] described the character as a great musician but condescending to Lisa.<ref name="Snierson"/> Sheeran called the character a "posh English douche." Brendan takes the place of [[Ryan Gosling]]'s role in ''La La Land''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Laura |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/01/ed-sheeran-simpsons-cameo-haw-haw-land|title=The Simpsons Honored the Globes with a Timely Parody—and an Ed Sheeran Cameo|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> Brendan's last name is a nod to jazz composer [[Bix Beiderbecke]].<ref name="Hussein"/> |
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==Cultural references== |
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The episode ending is a nod to an [[89th Academy Awards#Best Picture announcement error|error]] made at the end of the [[89th Academy Awards]]. Nelson sings "[[My Funny Valentine]]" to Lisa.<ref name="Perkins"/> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Dennis Perkins of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave this episode a C+, stating, "Pegging an episode of The Simpsons directly to a specific pop cultural target requires a whole lot more imagination to pull off than ‘Haw-Haw Land’ can muster. The title, bringing in |
Dennis Perkins of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave this episode a C+, stating, "Pegging an episode of The Simpsons directly to a specific pop cultural target requires a whole lot more imagination to pull off than ‘Haw-Haw Land’ can muster. The title, bringing in Nelson's catchphrase, is at the top of the cleverness heap here, seeing as how the school bully and one-time Lisa Simpson paramour forms one point in the episode's ''La La Land'' love triangle. But if you're going to do a parody of a lavish Hollywood musical love story (and, as the episode tag jokes, accidental momentary Oscar winner), you have to bring a lot more to the enterprise than is on display."<ref name="Perkins">{{cite web|last=Perkins|first=Dennis|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-brings-in-ed-sheeran-to-parody-la-la-land-1821861289|title=The Simpsons brings in Ed Sheeran to parody La La Land, forgets about Lisa|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=January 7, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref> |
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[[Tony Sokol]] of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. He called the episode sweet and predictable but nothing stood out.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sokol|first=Tony |author-link=Tony Sokol|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-29-episode-10-review-haw-haw-land/|title=The Simpsons Season 29 Episode 10 Review: Haw-Haw Land|website=[[Den of Geek]]|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> |
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"Haw-Haw Land" was watched by 6.95 million viewers with a 2.8 rating and a 9 share, making it Fox's highest-rated show of the night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-jan-7-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110114642/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-jan-7-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2018|title='Shark Tank' adjusts up, 'Simpsons,' 'Ghosted,' Golden Globes arrivals down: Sunday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=January 9, 2018| |
"Haw-Haw Land" was watched by 6.95 million viewers with a 2.8 rating and a 9 share, making it Fox's highest-rated show of the night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-jan-7-2018/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110114642/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/sunday-final-ratings-jan-7-2018/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2018|title='Shark Tank' adjusts up, 'Simpsons,' 'Ghosted,' Golden Globes arrivals down: Sunday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=January 9, 2018|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:2018 American television episodes]] |
[[Category:2018 American television episodes]] |
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[[Category:The Simpsons |
[[Category:The Simpsons season 29 episodes]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:32, 5 May 2024
| "Haw-Haw Land" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
 Lisa playing the saxophone with Brendan Beiderbecke | |
| Episode no. | Season 29 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Bob Anderson |
| Written by | Tim Long Miranda Thompson |
| Production code | XABF03 |
| Original air date | January 7, 2018 |
| Guest appearance | |
| |
"Haw-Haw Land" is the tenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 628th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Bob Anderson and written by Tim Long and Miranda Thompson. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 7, 2018.
The title and the opening musical number spoof La La Land, and the close of the episode spoofs the mistake in announcing that film as the Best Picture winner at the 89th Academy Awards.
Plot
[edit]On a rainy day, the Simpson family goes to a STEM conference, where Lisa meets Brendan Beiderbecke (voiced by Ed Sheeran), a boy who is proficient in the piano, and falls in love with him. The bullies are overthrown by Brendan, including Lisa's ex-boyfriend Nelson who tries to impress her musically at Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor, starting a conflict in her heart.
Meanwhile, Bart discovers he has an interest in and a talent for chemistry after witnessing chemical reactions. He tries it out on his treehouse with Milhouse where they turn the leaves of the tree into rock candy after Homer and Marge leave. Homer and Marge get worried over Bart, but he seems to be doing good for once, but an accident at school, involving Superintendent Chalmers accidentally drinking a sulfuric acid-laced cup of vodka and losing the tip of his tongue, seems linked to Bart. Bart claims not to know of the incident, but Marge and Homer are unsure.
The family goes to a talent show, where Bart will put on a chemistry demonstration, while Nelson and Brendan perform. Nelson is booed all the way through while Brendan does well. However, he is disqualified for living in West Springfield and is going to be transferred to a school there. After Brendan says goodbye to Lisa, Nelson tells her he is relieved that she didn't choose him, as he needs to focus on his own skills before he can date her. Lisa ends up alone, finding herself enjoying it. As Bart begins his demonstration, the police show up to arrest him for the sulfuric incident. At first conflicted, Marge chooses to believe Bart and assists him in the demonstration, producing a vibrant and safe visual. This proves that Bart is innocent, as Willie admits to spiking the vodka in an attempt to murder Principal Skinner. However, as Marge and Bart reconcile, Bart admits that he built a prank into his demonstration, which explodes and fills the school with pink foam.
In the final scene at the talent show's after-party, while Willie spikes the punch with the Polonium hydride(H2PO), Marge apologizes to the viewers stating that this episode was supposed to parody Moonlight, not La La Land. Homer states that nobody there has seen Moonlight. When Marge offers to show him that movie as they have the DVD, Homer states that he would rather see X-Men: Apocalypse which everyone in the background is interested in seeing, except for Lisa, who'd like to see Moonlight.
Production
[edit]The episode is a parody of the 2016 film La La Land.[1] Co-writer Tim Long wanted to write an episode where Nelson sings. When he heard Nelson sing in the sixteenth season episode "Sleeping with the Enemy," Long thought it was crazy but moving, and he want to draw from that pain.[2]
Musician Ed Sheeran was cast as Brendan. Producer Mike Scully heard Sheeran, who has a Blinky tattoo, was interested in appearing on the show, and the producers selected him for this role. Sheeran recorded his lines in England.[3] Executive producer Al Jean described the character as a great musician but condescending to Lisa.[2] Sheeran called the character a "posh English douche." Brendan takes the place of Ryan Gosling's role in La La Land.[4] Brendan's last name is a nod to jazz composer Bix Beiderbecke.[1]
Cultural references
[edit]The episode ending is a nod to an error made at the end of the 89th Academy Awards. Nelson sings "My Funny Valentine" to Lisa.[5]
Reception
[edit]Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave this episode a C+, stating, "Pegging an episode of The Simpsons directly to a specific pop cultural target requires a whole lot more imagination to pull off than ‘Haw-Haw Land’ can muster. The title, bringing in Nelson's catchphrase, is at the top of the cleverness heap here, seeing as how the school bully and one-time Lisa Simpson paramour forms one point in the episode's La La Land love triangle. But if you're going to do a parody of a lavish Hollywood musical love story (and, as the episode tag jokes, accidental momentary Oscar winner), you have to bring a lot more to the enterprise than is on display."[5]
Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. He called the episode sweet and predictable but nothing stood out.[6]
"Haw-Haw Land" was watched by 6.95 million viewers with a 2.8 rating and a 9 share, making it Fox's highest-rated show of the night.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hussein, Wandera (January 8, 2018). "Watch Ed Sheeran's 'Simpsons' Cameos From the 'La La Land' Parody Episode". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Snierson, Dan (September 29, 2017). "The Simpsons: Season 29 Features Ed Sheeran, 'Game of Thrones' Gag, Possessed Maggie". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Snierson, Dan (July 17, 2017). "Ed Sheeran coming to The Simpsons next". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Bradley, Laura (January 8, 2018). "The Simpsons Honored the Globes with a Timely Parody—and an Ed Sheeran Cameo". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Perkins, Dennis (January 7, 2018). "The Simpsons brings in Ed Sheeran to parody La La Land, forgets about Lisa". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Sokol, Tony (January 8, 2018). "The Simpsons Season 29 Episode 10 Review: Haw-Haw Land". Den of Geek. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
- ^ Porter, Rick (January 9, 2018). "'Shark Tank' adjusts up, 'Simpsons,' 'Ghosted,' Golden Globes arrivals down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
