Difference between revisions of "Special Edna"

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"Special Edna" (also known as "Love and Marking") is the seventh episode of Season 14. The episode aired on January 5, 2003. The episode's title is a play on Special Ed.

Plot

Mrs. Krabappel assigns a paper on World War I, due in three weeks. Martin Prince suggests it should be typed and at least ten pages long. After class, Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner's apple picking date is cancelled when Skinner's mother calls him away.

At the Simpson household, Bart is distracted from writing his paper, first by wrestling, later by Milhouse showing up a Black Hawk helicopter piloted by his uncle who "will probably be court-martialled for this". Bart goes to the library for research, but - noticing someone paid for one hundred photocopies but only used one - can not resist the opportunity to make ninety-nine photocopies of his butt. The next day, at church, the church-goers open their prayer books, only to see Bart's butt mooning them.

At the end of the three weeks, Bart still hasn't started the assignment. The day before the date of submission, he asks Grampa for help. Grampa's story about his WWI experiences as a four-year-old in the trenches is anything but educational, but Bart writes it down anyway and pads it to ten pages using advertisements. Mrs. Krabappel rejects his paper and tells him he'll have to do it correctly after school. As Bart finishes the assignment after school, he observes Skinner cancel a movie date with Mrs. K when his mother calls. Bart consoles Mrs. K, and she reluctantly accepts his offer to accompany her to the movie, though she is grateful.

Lisa suggests that Bart nominate Mrs. K for the Teacher of the Year award. Bart's nomination is accepted when the organizers realize that Edna Krabappel actually managed to teach Bart Simpson (who was believed to be an "urban legend"). When Mrs. K is informed of her Teacher of the Year nomination, she thanks Bart at the ensuing press conference, wondering aloud if she will continue teaching if she does win. Skinner is about to congratulate Mrs. K when his mother calls again, which ends the press conference. Bart informs his family that, as nominator, he and his family are going to Orlando, Florida. The family is excited... until they learn the awards show is being held at the EFCOT Center (a parody of the EPCOT Center).

In Orlando, at the EFCOT Center ("When all other places are booked"), Marge and Lisa go on a "World of Tomorrow" ride, "what the people in 1964 thought the world would be like in 1987", showing a world ultimately ruled by Eastern Air Lines (which did sponsor an attraction at Disney World until its bankruptcy in 1987). Homer and Bart go on an electric car ride, sponsored by "the gasoline producers of America," which tells them that it can not go very fast and it could not go very far.

At Springfield Elementary, Skinner is despondent at the thought that Edna could leave the school. Groundskeeper Willie lends Skinner his sportscar so he can go to Orlando, where he surprises Edna with a kiss under the fireworks display - until they are interrupted by Agnes, whom Skinner brought along.

During preparation for the awards ceremony, Skinner is shocked when he hears that the winner receives enough money to be able to quit teaching. He requests Bart to help him sabotage Mrs. K's chances of winning. At the ceremony, presided over by Little Richard, each finalist must ask their nominating student a question. When Bart is asked what Mrs. K would like to teach the world, he pretends to be illiterate, until Skinner guiltily tells the truth, adding Edna should be Teacher of the Year because "If she can teach me to love, she can teach anyone anything." With one of Little Richard's rings, Skinner asks Edna to marry him, and she agrees. Mrs. K loses the award, but looks forward to marrying Skinner.

Later, Homer tries to bust out of the EFCOT Center and visit Walt Disney World, setting off alarms and searchlights, and warnings from a voice that sounds just like Mickey Mouse. He buys an expensive Churro and runs off.

Reception

Robert Canning, Eric Goldman, Dan Iverson & Brian Zoromski of IGN named the episode the best episode of fourteenth season.