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Left Alone Again

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14th episode of the eleventh flavour of The Simpsons

"Solitary Again, Natura-Diddily"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no. Flavor 11
Episode 14
Directed by Jim Reardon
Written by Ian Maxtone-Graham
Production lawmaking BABF11
Original air date February xiii, 2000 (2000-02-13)
Guest appearance
Shawn Colvin every bit Rachel Jordan
Episode features
Chalkboard gag "My interruption was not "mutual""
Burrow gag The Simpsons come up in on bumper cars. Homer is and then pinned to the wall and slammed repeatedly.
Commentary Mike Scully
George Meyer
Ian Maxtone-Graham
Matt Selman
Jim Reardon
Marker Kirkland
Episode chronology
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The Simpsons (flavour eleven)
List of episodes

"Lonely Again, Natura-Diddily" is the fourteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American television series The Simpsons, and marks the last regular advent of the character Maude Flemish region. In the episode, she is killed in an accident while watching an auto race, devastating Ned Flemish region and prompting Homer to find a new adult female for his grieving friend. After a series of unsuccessful dates, Ned begins to question his faith in God. Nonetheless, his faith is restored after hearing the female lead vocaliser of a Christian stone band, played by guest star Shawn Colvin, sing in church building. The episode's championship is a parody of the song title "Solitary Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.

The episode was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham and directed by Jim Reardon. Maude was voiced by Marcia Mitzman Gaven later regular vocalisation role player Maggie Roswell had left the show over a pay dispute, and the producers decided to kill off the graphic symbol to open up up for new storylines. The episode was viewed in 10.8 1000000 households during its original broadcast on February xiii, 2000, and was the highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.

A commercial for "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" that aired before the episode was broadcast was criticized by many viewers because it appeared the episode would be parodying an incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N Carolina that left three spectators dead. Then-Pull a fast one on affiliate WCCB in Charlotte, N Carolina refused to show the commercial, but later viewing the episode they came to the conclusion that information technology was not making fun of the incident.

Reviews of "Alone Once again, Natura-Diddily" from tv critics have been mixed.

Plot [edit]

On a trip to the bird sanctuary, the Simpson family discovers that an oval racing track built effectually the sanctuary is opening that day, to Lisa's dismay. The family watches the stock car race from the stand up and sees Ned Flemish region and his family unit, who claims to enjoy the high levels of safety the drivers use. Afterwards, a squad of cheerleaders fires costless T-shirts from air cannons into the crowd, and Homer rudely demands ane. Irritated, Maude leaves to buy hot dogs. The cheerleaders send a full salvo of T-shirts in Homer's management, but at the terminal second, he spots a bobby pin and bends over to pick it up, just every bit Maude returns. The T-shirts hit Maude and she falls over the bleachers to the ground, where Dr. Hibbert declares her dead.

Anybody offers their condolences to a devastated Ned, and Bart reluctantly plays a Christian video game with Rod and Todd. Homer accompanies Ned dorsum abode subsequently the funeral and talks with him later that night when Ned is unable to slumber due to his loneliness and business over having to raise his sons alone (during which Homer confesses that he parked in the ambulance zone, making it incommunicable for Maude to be resuscitated). Feeling bad for his part in Maude'southward death, Homer secretly makes a videotape of Ned to show to single women across Springfield in gild to help him get on with his life. In spite of the amateur editing (including footage of Maggie's birth that Homer could non tape over) Ned gets to date several women thank you to the tape, including Lindsey Naegle and Edna Krabappel, simply none of them are successful.

On a Saturday nighttime, Ned prays to God, but becomes angry when he feels he is not getting any response. The next morning, Ned is still angry and tells his sons he will not be going to church building, scaring them. Guilt-ridden, he afterward rushes to church and upon entering, sees a Christian rock band, Kovenant, performing. He is attracted to the vocalist, Rachel Jordan, who sings about non losing faith in God considering He is always in that location for people. Inspired by the song, Ned afterward assists Rachel in loading some equipment onto her truck and confides in her of his loss, with which she sympathizes. He and Rachel become acquainted, but she has to go out for the next finish on the band's tour, promising to come back and meet upwardly with him subsequently.

Production [edit]

"Solitary Again, Natura-Diddily" was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham and directed past Jim Reardon as part of the eleventh flavour of the show (1999–2000).[1] When the writing staff conceived the idea for the speedway parts, they were thinking that information technology would be a great opportunity for them to become several NASCAR drivers to make invitee appearances in the episode. All the same, according to Scully, they could non get a single one considering "they were all concerned about the fashion we were portraying NASCAR".[two] Speedway racing is depicted in a negative light in the episode, with an overemphasis on crashes.[2]

The episode features the decease of the graphic symbol Maude Flemish region,[3] who had previously been voiced past cast member Maggie Roswell. This kill-off was the result of Roswell leaving The Simpsons in jump 1999 afterward a pay dispute with the Play a joke on Broadcasting Company, which airs the testify.[iv] [5] Since 1994, she had been flying between her Denver home and Los Angeles twice a calendar week to tape episodes of The Simpsons.[half-dozen] [seven] She eventually grew tired of this, and the price of airplane tickets was constantly increasing.[four] [8] [9] As a result, she asked Fox for a pay heighten from $2,000 per episode to $half dozen,000 per episode. Still, Fox only offered her a $150 raise, which did not comprehend the travel costs, and then she decided to quit.[ten] [11] [12]

Vocalization actress Marcia Mitzman Gaven was hired to fill in for Roswell's characters,[13] including Maude in this episode and the earlier episodes of the eleventh flavor,[14] although the producers decided to kill her off to open new storylines for the evidence.[xiii] Executive producer Mike Scully said it "was a chance for one of our regular characters [Ned Flanders] to face a challenge and grow in a new direction. The thought came up quickly, we all latched on to it, and it just felt correct. We didn't want to kill a character for the sake of killing. We wanted it to accept consequences for surviving characters to deal with in future episodes."[15] Roswell returned to The Simpsons in 2002[16] subsequently reaching a deal with Play a trick on to record her lines from her home in Denver.[17] Since returning, she has voiced Maude in flashbacks and equally a ghost.[16] [18] When asked by The Denver Mail service on how she idea Ned was doing without Maude, she replied: "OK. But Maude was such a vulnerable character. Maude and Lisa and Marge were the only vulnerable characters, really, everybody else has an edge. Then they [the staff] discovered that arc was lost, and now there are a lot of flashbacks with Maude."[eighteen]

Scully has noted that "there was a lot of give-and-take well-nigh making sure nosotros [the staff] did bargain with some of the emotional ramifications of expiry [in the episode] and non only make it all joke, joke, joke. But at the same time, nosotros're a comedy, they're animated, they're not real."[19] In one of the showtime scripts for the episode in that location was a scene in which Rod and Todd discuss their female parent'south death. Nonetheless, according to Maxtone-Graham, the writing staff decided to cut it considering "it just never played anything but pitiful." He added that the writers "actually wanted to accost how [the children] would feel" only they "could never pull it off without it just being sad."[20] Scully has commented that it was a "very sweet scene" but it was too difficult to "go out of it comedically to the side by side scene."[2]

American musician Shawn Colvin invitee starred in the episode equally Rachel Hashemite kingdom of jordan,[21] [22] a character that she would later return to phonation in the episode "I'm Goin' to Praiseland" (2001) from season twelve.[23] In that episode, she stays at the Flanders' firm with Ned, and leaves briefly after he attempted to mold her in the prototype of his deceased wife. At the end of the episode, yet, she returns and has a engagement with him.[24] Colvin told the Seattle Mail service-Intelligencer that being raised in Carbondale, Illinois meant she did non have to do much enquiry for the guest advent: "It'southward just very isolated [in Carbondale]. There was church music and that was nearly it. [...] I didn't have to dig too deep for the role. I suppose the whole 'Simpsons' affair is kind of similar a hick boondocks."[25] Colvin has shown a segment of her guest role on The Simpsons during some of her concerts, including ane at Cape Cod Melody Tent in 2007.[26] She has also performed the song that she sings in "Solitary Again, Natura-Diddily" in concert.[27] [28] The Wisconsin State Journal reported that during her 2001 concert at Barrymore Theatre, the "loudest audience response came after she sang a ditty that she performed as a character on The Simpsons."[28] The song, called "He's the Man", later on appeared on the 2007 soundtrack album The Simpsons: Testify.[29]

Broadcast and ratings [edit]

Co-ordinate to executive producer Mike Scully, one of the reasons for killing off Maude was to increase ratings.

The episode originally aired on the Fox network in the Usa on February thirteen, 2000.[30] It tied Dateline NBC for the 17th place (compared the flavor average of 37) in the ratings for the calendar week of February 7–13, 2000, with a Nielsen rating of 10.7.[31] The episode was the highest-rated show on Play a joke on that week, and was viewed in approximately x.8 million households.[31]

Scully has admitted that some other reason for killing off Maude was to increase ratings for The Simpsons during the Feb sweeps.[15] To bring in even more than viewers for the broadcast, the Simpsons producers chose not to reveal beforehand who the graphic symbol that would exist killed off was to create speculation.[30] Trick likewise decided not to transport out screener tapes to television set critics to continue information technology a hush-hush.[32] Yet, according to an commodity in the Contra Costa Times that was published on the day the episode aired, "all the advance rumors advise that Ned Flemish region' wife, Maude, should sentry her back."[xxx] The revelation of the episode's championship, "Alone Again, Natura-Diddly", was i of the reasons that the media and many people suspected Maude.[32] As The Post-Standard 's William LaRue writes, "diddly" is the "familiar greeting of Maude's husband, Ned Flanders."[33] Roswell's announced difference strengthened this suspicion.[32]

Reception [edit]

The episode has received mixed reviews from television critics.

Gregory Hardy of the Orlando Sentinel placed it at number xi on his list of the show'south fifteen all-time episodes that target the world of sports.[34]

Writing for IGN, Robert Canning gave the episode a seven out of 10 rating, commenting that he thought the three acts felt disconnected. He wrote: "First Maude dies, then Ned dates and now Ned questions his religion. To me, these three storylines would have been improve served had they been the focus of their ain individual episodes."[35] Canning added that he felt "the episode made a poor choice by rushing through the mourning period and moving right into Ned dating," simply that "the dating stuff, while, again, feeling hurried, was quite funny, especially Ned'southward engagement with Edna Krabappel."[35]

DVD Motion-picture show Guide's Colin Jacobson commented on the episode in a negative way, writing that it was "a harsh and contemptuous motion [to kill off Maude considering of Roswell'south difference], though I could forgive the determination if it produced a more satisfying episode. Perhaps the writers made this one super-sincere to counteract the inherent pessimism backside its origins, merely the show but seems sappy and lame."[36]

Winnipeg Free Printing columnist Randall King wrote in his review of the eleventh season of The Simpsons that there is "something undeniably funny about having Maude Flanders dice past a barrage of T-shirts fired by air cannons at a speedway. But the episode Alone Again Natura-Diddily was proof that the dependably brilliant series could – and did – go seriously wrong when it turned 11. Killing off Maude was a sin [...]".[37]

Controversy [edit]

Before "Lone Once more, Natura-Diddily" was broadcast, a promotional commercial aired on television that featured, among other things, the annunciation that "one of Springfield'south nigh beloved will die"[38] and a snippet of a scene from the episode with the character Lenny, sitting in the speedway spectator stand, being striking by a car tire,[39] giving the impression that he would be the one who would die.[xl] Many viewers of the commercial, including Speedway Motorsports, Inc. owned Lowe'due south Motor Speedway president and public address journalist Jerry Gappens, expressed their concern as it appeared the episode was parodying an actual incident that happened during a speedway race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina, when flying droppings in a crash killed 3 spectators. Gappens said that doing a parody of that was "a real insensitive affair to do, pretty irresponsible. Obviously what might appear funny in Fifty.A. or New York isn't funny here in Charlotte."[38] Lowe'south Motor Speedway announced to WSOC-TV'southward Channel 9 Eyewitness News on February 7, 2000 that they were thinking of placing a complaint to the Pull a fast one on Dissemination Company.[38] WCCB, the then-Play a trick on affiliate in Charlotte, refused to continue showing the commercial for the episode.[38] As a upshot, Play a trick on distributed a new commercial to the affiliate on February ix that did not contain the scene with Lenny.[39]

Antonia Coffman, a spokeswoman for The Simpsons, told The Charlotte Observer that "the Lowe'due south incident didn't inspire the scene" and that the episode was non meant to offend anyone.[40] Afterwards WCCB had gotten the opportunity to actually see the episode they decided that they would air it, realizing that the original commercial was misleading and that they did not think the episode was making fun of the incident.[39] In the episode, the viewers can meet that Lenny tries to get the attention of the cheerleaders by raising his hand so that they aim a T-shirt with the cannon at him. However, he is hit by a car tire instead.[39] Unlike what the commercial unsaid, Lenny is not killed and is soon back in his seat.[xl] WCCB told the Associated Printing that their estimation of the scene was that someone threw the tire to Lenny because he was raising his manus, and that the tire did not actually come from a car crash on the rail. Despite this, the affiliate announced that they would start the broadcast of the episode with a bulletin warning viewers of the scene anyway.[39] [41]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Simpsons - Solitary Over again Natura-Diddly". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2011-09-xxx. Retrieved 2011-07-xix .
  2. ^ a b c Scully, Mike. (2008). Commentary for "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fob.
  3. ^ Seifert, Andy. "Indiana Man says no to the White Sox T-shirt cannons". The A.Five. Club. 2009-04-26. Archived from the original on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-08-08 .
  4. ^ a b "Vox Of 'Maude' Disputes Written report". The Columbian. 2000-02-05. p. E6.
  5. ^ Cartwright, Nancy (2000). "Lady, that ain't no gutterball!". My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy. New York City: Hyperion. p. 96. ISBN0-7868-8600-5.
  6. ^ Purdy, Penelope (1995-07-23). "Bart Simpson'due south neighbor is mad at DIA". The Denver Post. p. D-3.
  7. ^ Lopez, Greg (1994-12-18). "It'southward all in the throat for blithe couple". Rocky Mountain News. p. 16A.
  8. ^ "Character killed off". The Cincinnati Mail. 2000-02-01. p. 12A.
  9. ^ McDaniel, Mike (2000-02-11). "Not true, 'Maude' says". Houston Chronicle.
  10. ^ Brownfield, Paul (2000-02-05). "Actress: Greed killed Simpsons character". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 17.
  11. ^ Husted, Bill (2000-01-27). "D'oh! Denver voice gets killed on "The Simpsons'". The Denver Mail. p. A-02.
  12. ^ Koha, Nui Te (2000-02-06). "Ned faces life alone". Sunday Herald Sun. p. 25.
  13. ^ a b "Maude Flemish region volition likely get out Simpsons". The Record. 2000-02-05. p. F04.
  14. ^ "Will corporate greed kill Maude of 'Simpsons'?". Pittsburgh Mail-Gazette. 2000-02-07. p. D8.
  15. ^ a b Close-up of the episode in a February 2000 issue of TV Guide.
  16. ^ a b Basile, Nancy. "In that location'south a New Maude in Town". About.com. Retrieved 2010-08-06 .
  17. ^ Husted, Beak (2003-06-01). "Maggie's back". The Denver Post. p. F-02.
  18. ^ a b Husted, Pecker (2011-04-21). "She's wanted dead or alive by folks on 'Simpsons'". The Denver Mail.
  19. ^ Elber, Lynn (Associated Press) (2000-02-04). "'Simpsons' grapheme to be rubbed out for good". The Albany Herald. p. 9C.
  20. ^ Maxtone-Graham, Ian. (2008). Commentary for "Solitary Again, Natura-Diddily", in The Simpsons: The Consummate Eleventh Flavour [DVD]. 20th Century Play tricks.
  21. ^ Newhouse News Service (2000-02-11). "Character to be killed off on 'Simpsons'". The Cincinnati Post. p. 11C.
  22. ^ Jordan, Marker (2006-10-xiii). "Colvin is dorsum, ready to motility on -- Vocalist-songwriter deals with fame in the '90s, depression". The Commercial Appeal.
  23. ^ Gilmore, Molly (2011-01-21). "Soloists join forces in Oly Shawn Colvin Loudon Wainwright III". The Olympian. p. iii.
  24. ^ "I'm Goin' to Praiseland". The Simpsons. Season 12. Episode nineteen. 2001-05-06. Trick network.
  25. ^ Stout, Gene (2002-07-05). "A 'Whole New' Colvin Still Probes The Complexities Of Human being Relationships". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. 10.
  26. ^ Miller, Jay (2007-08-27). "Concert Review - Life lessons posing as songs bring downwards the house for Hiatt". The Patriot Ledger.
  27. ^ Moorhouse, Donnie (2000-07-17). "3 performers suggestion passion in the Pines". Union-News.
  28. ^ a b Alesia, Tom (2001-05-10). "Colvin's low-cal impact notwithstanding lovable". Wisconsin State Periodical. p. E3.
  29. ^ "David Byrne, B-52's for Simpsons compilation". NME. 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2011-07-19 .
  30. ^ a b c "The 'A' List". Contra Costa Times. 2000-02-13. p. C03.
  31. ^ a b Associated Press (2000-02-27). "Weekly Nielsen Ratings". The Stuart News. p. P10.
  32. ^ a b c Brantley, Mike (2000-02-13). "'Simpsons:' And so there'due south Maude". Mobile Register. p. 08.
  33. ^ LaRue, William (2000-02-11). "TV all-time bet on WSYT: 'The Simpsons'". The Post-Standard. p. 21.
  34. ^ Hardy, Gregory (2003-02-16). "Hitting 300 - For sporting comedy, 'The Simpsons' always score". Orlando Sentinel. p. C17.
  35. ^ a b Canning, Robert (2008-08-04). "The Simpsons Flashback: 'Solitary Once more Natura-Diddly' Review". IGN . Retrieved 2022-01-24 .
  36. ^ Jacobson, Colin (2008-11-19). "The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Flavor (1999)". DVD Picture Guide. Retrieved 2011-07-17 .
  37. ^ Randall, King (2008-10-09). "dvd with Randall Kin". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 50. Retrieved 2012-08-eleven .
  38. ^ a b c d "Some say 'The Simpsons' speedway episode goes likewise far". Aqueduct 9 Eyewitness News (WSOC-TV). 2000-02-07. Archived from the original on 2000-04-17. Retrieved 2010-08-08 .
  39. ^ a b c d due east Nowell, Paul (Associated Printing) (2000-02-12). "'Simpsons' scene revs upwardly raceway". Star-News.
  40. ^ a b c Goldberg, Jon (2000-02-11). "Fox evidence, ads echo accident, trouble some". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
  41. ^ "Simpsons episode disturbs some in Charlotte". The Post and Courier. 2000-02-12. p. 6-B.

External links [edit]

  • "Lone Again, Natura-Diddily episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
  • "Alone Once again, Natura-Diddily" at IMDb

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_Again,_Natura-Diddily

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