Blazed And Confused
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"Blazed and Confused" is the seventh episode of the twenty-sixth season of the American animated television series ''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'', and 559th episode in the series. The episode was directed by
Rob Oliver Rob Oliver (born 1977) is a director for ''The Simpsons''. He has also been a character layout artist, storyboard artist, assistant director, second unit director, and technical director over the course of his long career on the show. He graduat ...
and written by
Carolyn Omine Carolyn Omine is an American television writer. She has won four Emmy Awards for her writing work on ''The Simpsons''. Writing credits ''The Simpsons'' episodes Omine has written the following episodes: *" Little Big Mom" (2000) *" Treeho ...
and William Wright. It originally broadcast on the
Fox network Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC (commonly known as Fox; stylized in all caps) is an American commercial broadcast television network serving as the flagship property of Fox Corporation and operated through Fox Entertainment. Fox is based at Fo ...
in the United States on November 16, 2014. In this episode, Bart seeks revenge on his new teacher, Mr. Lassen, after he humiliates him.
Willem Dafoe William James "Willem" Dafoe ( ; born July 22, 1955) is an American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films, he is the recipient of various accolades including a Volpi Cup Award for ...
guest starred as Jack Lassen. The episode received mixed reviews.


Plot

The Springfield school district holds its annual "Dance of the Lemons," in which each school chooses its worst tenured teacher to be randomly reassigned to another campus.
Springfield Elementary School Springfield is the primary fictional setting of the American animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' and related media. It is an average-sized, fictional city within an unknown state in the United States. The fictional city's geography, surroundings ...
receives Jack Lassen, who is put in charge of Bart's class. Having deliberately cut his cheek to give himself an intimidating scar, Lassen bullies
Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...
and gives Bart an embarrassing haircut. Bart schemes to bring him down with help from Milhouse. Using a fake social network profile under Miss Hoover's name, they discover that Lassen has been chosen to ignite the eponymous effigy at the year's " Blazing Guy" desert festival. Meanwhile, the Simpsons have planned to go camping at a site that requires reservations a year in advance.
Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...
has forgotten to book a spot, upsetting
Marge Marge is a feminine given name, a shortened form of Marjorie, Margot or Margaret. Notable Marges include: People * Marge (cartoonist) (1904–1993), pen name of Marjorie Henderson Buell, American cartoonist * Marge Anderson (1932–2013), Ojibwe ...
, but Bart solves both of their problems by suggesting that they attend Blazing Guy instead. At the festival, Marge drinks a cup of tea provided by a fellow attendee in order to relax, not knowing that it contains
hallucinogen Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, entheogens, or historically as psychotomimetics, are a large and diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mo ...
s which cause a prolonged delirium. Bart and Milhouse spray the effigy with fire-retardant chemicals to prevent Lassen from being able to light it, ruining his important moment. The boys climb the effigy to keep clear of an enraged Lassen as he blows fire at them from a burning
tuba The tuba (; ) is the largest and lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, the sound is produced by lip vibrationa buzzinto a mouthpiece (brass), mouthpiece. It first appeared in th ...
. Homer tries to save them by launching himself from a catapult, but instead hits the effigy's leg and triggers its collapse. Lassen is shunned by the festival crowd, while Bart and Milhouse escape safely. The Simpsons start for home but inadvertently forget Marge, who finds herself alone in the desert and the festival long over once the effects of the tea finally wear off. Upon learning of Lassen's behavior at the festival,
Superintendent Chalmers The American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' contains a wide range of minor and supporting characters like co-workers, teachers, students, family friends, extended relatives, townspeople, local celebrities, and even animals. The writ ...
and
Principal Skinner Principal Seymour Skinner is a recurring fictional character in the animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'', who is voiced by Harry Shearer. He is the principal of Springfield Elementary School, which he struggles to control, and is constantly enga ...
fire him. Lassen gets a new job as a
prison guard A prison officer (PO) or corrections officer (CO), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as a prison guard, is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation ...
and soon makes the acquaintance of inmate
Sideshow Bob Robert Underdunk "Bob" Terwilliger Jr., Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, better known as Sideshow Bob, is a recurring antagonist in the animated television series ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Kelsey Grammer and first appeared in the episode "The ...
. The two begin making plans to kill Bart, having discovered their mutual hatred of him, but Bob rejects the deal after Lassen suggests that they share the actual kill.


Production

In July 2014, it was reported that
Willem Dafoe William James "Willem" Dafoe ( ; born July 22, 1955) is an American actor. Known for his prolific career portraying diverse roles in both mainstream and arthouse films, he is the recipient of various accolades including a Volpi Cup Award for ...
would guest star as
Bart Simpson Bartholomew Jo-Jo "Bart" Simpson is a character in the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' who is part of the titular family. Bart made his television debut in the short " Good Night" on '' The Tracey Ullman Show'' on Apri ...
's new teacher. Dafoe previously guest starred in ''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'' as a different character in the eighth season episode " The Secret War of Lisa Simpson".


Reception

The episode received an audience of 6.70 million, making it the most watched show on Fox that night. Dennis Perkins of ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' gave the episode a B−, commenting that Lassen "fell flat" because Dafoe's reputation as a menacing actor comes from his physicality rather than his voice. He also observed that the series increasingly used Bart's misbehavior for jokes and plot development rather than emotional impact, but that this episode featured “classic Milhouse" moments in the episode, including urinating himself on Lassen's entrance and joining in with Lassen in bullying Nelson.
Tony Sokol Tony Sokol (born March 23, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American playwright, writer and composer, best known for writing the theatrical horror series La Commedia Del Sangue: Vampyr Theatre in New York City. As a musician, So ...
of ''
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
'' gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars. He stated that there were plenty of laughs that were not tired or forced.


References


External links

* {{Simpsons Sideshow Bob 2014 American television episodes The Simpsons season 26 episodes Television episodes about bullying Burning Man Television episodes about vacationing Television episodes written by Carolyn Omine Television episodes directed by Rob Oliver