Lard of the Dance

I actually thought I had seen this episode already when I decided to re-watch season 10.

The moment the new girl gets introduced I immediately new who had a cameo in this episode. Her voice is very ''grown up'' which didn't really suit the 9-year old character they were portraying.

Really liked seeing Homer and Bart together like that instead of fighting all the time.

Great ending to the episode as well.

Funny how Homer's ''schemes'' always seem to end like that.

I sometimes do miss the old Simspons episodes as I thought the humor and the actual storyline at times was better than the new modern episodes, but I'll be a Simpsons fan for life.

A new student ruffles Lisa's feathers as Homer goes into the grease business.

This has a good character-driven plot that plays out strongly, particularly as everything comes together at the final scenes in Springfield Elementary. As a father of two daughters I can very much identify with the themes regarding the girls growing up too quickly.

Several characters are used well, such as Lisa, guest character Alex, Skinner, Homer, Bart, and Groundskeeper Willy. Easily the funniest bit is the gag involving Homer's eye.

Some have said it is a retread of Lisa's rival, but I think it puts a different spin on the concept.

It's a 7.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Homer learns that there is a market for used grease. He drags Bart from school and they go about collecting. Unfortunately, there is a kind of grease syndicate that is threatening them. The other plot involves a very worldly girl who comes to Springfield Elementary. She is way more mature and with it than Lisa and soon all the kids are following her lead. No sparkle to this episode.

Not a great episode in my opinion,if anything just average. It did have it's odd funny moment like the boys on one side of the dance floor and girls on the other, (been there, done that), but the grease sub plot was pretty lame. It's only the first episode in the 10th Season, so hopefully it will pick up in the remaining 22 episodes.

Love this Episode with Lisa Kudrow. I know a lot of Simpsons episodes cast a long shadow, but I really enjoy this episode and remember a lot of the gags. Granted, having Kudrow adds a lot of instant comedic timing to the already strong script. I love her on the Comeback and this is very much her at the top of her game in a sit com role.

Lisa being a very dorky throwback is funny because she is giving 1961 wanting to play with jacks and hanging out by the school tree when actual 2000s kids did like trendy clothes, early cell phones and mall culture. It is fun to see her get to be the model of resilience even as her friends dismiss and then come to appreciate her down to earth demeanor.