There is a quick visual gag showing him slipping through a manhole Jimbo and his gang leave open. Prison really is a revolving door system in Springfield for Sideshow Bob. There are also a lot of great short sight gags, like the spit valve overflow tub Willie carries out, and how we came to Springfield for Whacking Day but stayed for the Snake Chowder. Telling his dog Sir Winston there will be no cigar for him and greeting the teacher as “Lord Grumpy of the morning breath.” Towards the end, Dewey decides to move Dewey out of his house and all his lover can see is the mover, and is thrilled to think he’s being the man. We also get to see the arc between Dewey Largo and his lover Dewy, who reminds me of Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters. Still, it’s better than Chief Wiggum’s son Ralph’s position in the assembly. It seems everyone needs a buffer chair between themselves and Skinner.
Even Superintendent Chalmers is moved by the performance, enough to ask Principal Skinner to move to a father seat. This is probably why she never notices her husband is usually listening to a game. The promise pays off as with what we think is Homer’s punchline, “oh my gosh it’s bearable,” before we get the true revelation Marge wears ear plugs through the recitals. If they play wonderfully, he promises they will never see him again. He finds the words to inspire his band of children to give the performance of his life. But after the letter from the Capitol City Philharmonic, he decides he’s actually going to try and do something. He doesn’t even know what Millhouse plays. He’s not exactly known for his enthralling lessons, and the performances he stages have no luster at all. His last name is the musical term for slower than adagio, which is pretty slow. Voiced by Harry Shearer, Dewey Largo can make any piece of music uninteresting. His prediction is a wonderful nightmare, reminiscent of Harry Potter, playing out with only the blandest of notes for accompaniment. The presenter has a momentary peak into the future. Back when Largo graduated with the Class of 1999, he was tied with another musical genius for an impressive future conductor award. The episode and segment begins with a flashback to the crushing of his spirit, and we see why he’s been stifling creativity ever since. Then everything changes, and this deserves a classic reference. He does this while he’s conducting, he’s so bored.
He’s just going through the notes at this point. Springfield Elementary School’s music teacher and band leader Dewey Lugar is bored. It opens with a masterful nod to Bugs Bunny. “Girl’s in the Band” is filled with tributes. Not onlike whatever it is Millhouse plays in the Springfield Elementary School band. Someday she might even play for Utah Jazz, but that’s a different instrument entirely. Lisa’s talent is recognized and she is called to play in the big little leagues. Outside characters are filled in and a fantastic new character is introduced, though we’ll probably never see him again because he’s a sixty minute drive from Springfield to Capital City. The family dynamic is explored on a more intimate and insider-informed way. The Simpsons, season 30, Episode 19, “Girl’s in the Band” hits all the right notes, especially the blue ones. This The Simpsons review contains spoilers.