"A Star Is Burns" is the 18th episode of The Simpsons' sixth season. It is the first of many to see Al Jean and Mike Reiss return as executive producers during another showrunner's term. The story involves a crossover with the short-lived animated series The Critic, for which it has been subject of some controversy between the show's producers. Simpsons redirects here. ... This article is about the day. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... Al Jean (left) and David Mirkin (right), have both been writers for The Simpsons for more than ten years. ... Keeler at the 2003 Writers Guild Awards, after winning in the animation category. ... The three people are caricatures of (left to right) Rich Moore, Wes Archer and David Silverman[1] The following is a list of directors who have worked on the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... Susan E. Dietter, mainly known as Susie Dietter, is a television director. ... The couch gag is a running visual joke in the opening credits of the animated television series The Simpsons. ... (left to right) Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Keith Richards, Homer, Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz and Brian Setzer guest starred in the heavily promoted season 14 episode How I Spent My Strummer Vacation. This is a list of guest stars who appeared on The Simpsons. ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor and former stand up comedian. ... For the composer, see Antony Hopkins. ... William Alan Shatner (born on March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor who gained fame for playing James Tiberius Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the television show Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 and in seven of the subsequent movies. ... George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 - September 22, 1999) was a stage and film actor, director, and producer. ... The Simpsons DVD season boxsets have been released since 2001 in different regions all over the world. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... Keeler at the 2003 Writers Guild Awards, after winning in the animation category. ... Daniel Louis Dan Castellaneta (born October 29, 1957) is an Emmy award winning American voice actor, actor and comedian best known for providing the voice of Homer Simpson and other characters on the long-running Fox animated series The Simpsons. ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... Susan E. Dietter, mainly known as Susie Dietter, is a television director. ... The standard Season 6 DVD box. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Bart of Darkness is the first episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which originally aired September 4, 1994. ... Lisas Rival is the second episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which originally aired September 11, 1994. ... Another Simpsons Clip Show is the third episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which originally aired September 25, 1994. ... Itchy & Scratchy Land is the fourth episode of The Simpsons sixth season and first aired on October 2, 1994. ... Sideshow Bob Roberts is the fifth episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Treehouse of Horror V is the sixth episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which originally aired October 30, 1994. ... Barts Girlfriend is the seventh episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Lisa on Ice is the eighth episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Homer Badman, also known as Homer: Bad Man[2] is the ninth episode of The Simpsons sixth season and originally aired November 27, 1994. ... Grampa vs. ... Fear of Flying is an episode of The Simpsons from the sixth season. ... Homer the Great is the 12th episode of The Simpsons’ sixth season. ... And Maggie Makes Three is the thirtenth episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Barts Comet is the 14th episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... This article is about The Simpsons episode. ... Bart vs. ... Homer vs. ... Lisas Wedding is the 19th episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which originally aired March 19, 1995. ... Two Dozen and One Greyhounds is the 20th episode of The Simpsons sixth season. ... Another Simpsons Clip Show is an episode from the sixth season of The Simpsons. ... Round Springfield is the twenty-second (22) episode of the sixth season of The Simpsons, and the 125th episode overall. ... The Springfield Connection is the 23rd episode of the sixth season of The Simpsons. ... Lemon of Troy is the 24th episode of The Simpsons sixth season, which premiered on the Fox network on May 14, 1995. ... Who Shot Mr. ... The following is an episode list for the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... The Simpsons Season 1 DVD Digipak. ... The Simpsons second season originally aired between October 1990 and July 1991, beginning on October 11, 1990. ... The Simpsons Season 3 DVD. The Simpsons 3rd season (September 1991 – May 1992) began on September 19, 1991. ... The Simpsons Season 4 Digipak The Simpsons fourth season originally aired between September 1992 and May 1993, beginning on September 24, 1992. ... The Simpsons Season 5 DVD Digipak. ... The standard Season 6 DVD box. ... The Simpsons Season 7 DVD Digipak. ... The Simpsons Season 8 DVD Digipak. ... The Simpsons Season 9 DVD Digipak. ... The Simpsons tenth season originally aired between August 1998 and May 1999, beginning on Sunday, August 23, 1998. ... The Simpsons 11th season (September 1999 - May 2000) began on Sunday, September 26, 1999 with Beyond Blunderdome. ... The Simpsons 12th season (November 2000 - May 2001) began on Sunday, November 1, 2000 with Treehouse of Horror XI. The season contains three hold-over episodes from the season 11 (BABF) production line. ... The Simpsons 13th season (November 2001 - May 2002) began on Tuesday, November 6, 2001 with Treehouse of Horror XII. The season contains five hold-over episodes from the season 12 (CABF) production line. ... The Simpsons 14th season (November 2002 - May 2003) began on Sunday, November 3, 2002 with Treehouse of Horror XIII. The season contains five hold-over episodes from the season 13 (DABF) production line. ... The Simpsons 15th season (November 2003 - May 2004) began on Sunday, November 2, 2003 with Treehouse of Horror XIV. The season contains five hold-over episodes from the season 14 (EABF) production line. ... The Simpsons 16th season (November 2004 - May 2005) began on Sunday, November 7, 2004 with Treehouse of Horror XV. The season contains six hold-over episodes from the season 15 (FABF) production line. ... The Simpsons celebrate Labor Day in this promotional artwork for the series 17th season. ... The Simpsons 18th season (2006 - 2007) began on Fox on September 10, 2006[1] and ended on May 20, 2007. ... The Simpsons 19th season (2007 - 2008) began airing on Fox on September 23, 2007. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... The following is an episode list for the Fox animated television series The Simpsons. ... Al Jean is a TV comedy writer most known for his work on The Simpsons. ... Mike Reiss is an American TV comedy writer. ... It has been suggested that Gaming crossovers be merged into this article or section. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... For the play by Sheridan, see The Critic (play). ...

Plot

The episode opens with a report by Kent Brockman depicting Springfield as the least cultural city in the United States. The town holds a meeting to decide on a course of action, where they adopt Marge's proposal to launch a film festival, and she is made head of a panel of judges to preside over the event. Among the other judges Marge chooses to be on the panel is Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz), the main character from another animated Gracie Films series, The Critic. Kenton Kent Brockman, (nee Brockelstein), is a recurring fictional character from the animated TV series The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (née Bouvier) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons and is voiced by Julie Kavner. ... A film festival is the presentation or showcasing of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues. ... The Critic is an American animated television series that was originally broadcast on the ABC network in 1994 (and later on the Fox Network in 1995). ... Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957 in Tarzana, California) is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live and for his show The Critic. ... Gracie Films logo Gracie Films is an American film and television production company, created by James L. Brooks in 1986. ... For the play by Sheridan, see The Critic (play). ...

Sherman stays at the Simpson house, which proves problematic, as his popularity with the family makes Homer feel inadequate. In order to make him feel better, Marge winds up giving him a spot on the panel of judges (in place of Martin Scorsese). On the night of the festival, the panel is deadlocked, because some members had been bribed to vote for Mr. Burns' self-glorifying biopic, and the rest support Barney's touching film about alcoholism ("unfortunately entitled Pukahontas"). Homer ends up being the deciding vote. Homer Simpson is also a character in the book and film The Day of the Locust. ... Martin Marcantonio Luciano Scorsese (IPA: AmE: ; Ita: []) (b. ... Mr. ... A biographical film or biopic is a film about a particular person or group of people, based on events that actually happened. ... Barnard Barney Gumble is a character on The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... For other uses, see Pocahontas (disambiguation). ...

Homer, originally supporting Hans Moleman's film Man Getting Hit by Football, is convinced to look into his heart and vote for Barney's film. Hans Moleman is a fictional character on The Simpsons and is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ...

In a short epilogue, we see another attempt by Burns to buy an award, this time an Academy Award — but he loses out to a remake of Man Getting Hit by Football starring George C. Scott. Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 - September 22, 1999) was a stage and film actor, director, and producer. ...

Cultural references

• This episode is one of three whose titles are a play on A Star Is Born. The other two are A Star Is Born-Again and A Star Is Torn.
• When the plane from New York lands it forces its way in front of another plane. The pilot of the New York plane yells out "Hey! I'm landin' here!", which is a nod to the film Midnight Cowboy.
• Several parts of Barney's film are based on the 1945 classic film The Lost Weekend about an alcoholic writer. The soprano-tune sung in Barney's film is called "Un Bel di Vedremo", from Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. The film's title, Puke-ahontas, refers to the movie Pocahontas. In the commentary the creators also state that some of the effects in the film, such as the time lapse and the music, are a nod to koyaanisqatsi.
• When we first see Burns's office, we hear The Imperial March from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
• The title of Moe's film, Moe Better Booze, is a reference to Mo' Better Blues.
• The title of Apu's film, Bright Lights, Beef Jerky, is a reference to Bright Lights, Big City.
• The Itchy and Scratchy film is called Four Funerals and a Wedding, a parody of Four Weddings and a Funeral.
• At the beginning of the film festival, we see Dr. Hibbert, who says he thought The Rocky Horror Picture Show was being shown that night. He is dressed like Frank-N-Furter, as is the custom at screenings of the cult film.
• Señor Spielbergo is a Mexican film director who parodies Steven Spielberg.
• Jay Sherman says to Patty and Selma that Harvey Fierstein and MacGyver are gay.
• The World Trade Center can be briefly seen in Manhattan but it is now gone.

DVD cover showing stars Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. ... A Star Is Born - Again is the 13th episode from The Simpsons fourteenth season, which first aired on March 2, 2003. ... A Star Is Torn is the eighteenth episode of The Simpsons sixteenth season. ... This article is about the 1969 film. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article is about the voice-type. ... Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. ... Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire. ... Pocahontas is the thirty-third animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. ... Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by minimalist composer Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke. ... The Imperial March (Darth Vaders Theme) is a musical theme recurring in the Star Wars films. ... Movie poster Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is the sequel to the first released Star Wars movie, and the second film released in the original trilogy. ... Mo Better Blues is a 1990 drama film starring Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee, who also directed. ... For the 1984 novel, see Bright Lights, Big City (novel). ... Itchy and Scratchy The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a fictional television cartoon show within the television cartoon show The Simpsons (see show-within-a-show). ... Four Weddings and a Funeral is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. ... This article contains a list of recurring characters from The Simpsons with descriptions. ... The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 musical comedy film that parodies horror films. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... The Bouvier Sisters (Patricia Patty and Selma, voiced by Julie Kavner) are fictional characters on The Simpsons. ... Harvey Forbes Fierstein (born June 6, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is a Jewish Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning [1] American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. ... MacGyver is an American adventure television series, produced in Canada, about a laid-back, extremely resourceful secret agent, played by Richard Dean Anderson. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... For other uses, see World Trade Center (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly...

Controversy

The episode has been subject to some controversy, as some viewers saw it as a mere thirty-minute advertisement for The Critic. Indeed, James L. Brooks was involved in the production of both shows. Among the fiercest critics of the Simpsons episode was Simpsons creator Matt Groening himself, who promptly removed his name from the credits (which is why only James L. Brooks' and Sam Simon's names are in the TV part of the credits after the couch gag and why David Mirkin's name appears as the third name in the closing credits). In response, Brooks labelled Groening a "gifted, adorable, cuddly ingrate."^[1] On the sixth season DVD, Groening is notably absent from the cast and crew commentary on this episode. On a previous DVD commentary including both Jon Lovitz (The Critic) and Matt Groening, Jon Lovitz pointedly mentioned Groening's "support" of The Critic, to all of the participants' consternation. Generally speaking, advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas by an identified sponsor. ... James L. Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is a three-time Academy Award, nineteen-time Emmy and Golden Globe-winning American producer, writer, and film director. ... Matthew Abram Groening is an American cartoonist (Life in Hell) and the Emmy Award-winning creator of the animated series, The Simpsons and Futurama. ...

References

1. ^ Brennan, Judy (1995-03-03). Matt Groening's Reaction to The Critic's First Appearance on The Simpsons. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.

Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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