| "A Streetcar Named Marge" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Rich Moore |
| Written by | Jeff Martin |
| Production code | 8F18[1] |
| Original air date | October 1, 1992 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "My name is not "Dr. Death""[1] |
| Couch gag | The couch turns into a tentacled brown monster.[2] |
| Commentary | Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Reiss Jeff Martin Hank Azaria Jon Lovitz |
"A Streetcar Named Marge" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on Fox in the United States on October 1, 1992. In the episode, Marge wins the role of Blanche DuBois in a community theatre musical version of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Homer offers little support for his wife's acting pursuits, and Marge begins to see parallels between him and Stanley Kowalski, the play's boorish lead male character. The episode contains a subplot in which Maggie Simpson attempts to retrieve her pacifier from a strict daycare owner.
The episode was written by Jeff Martin and directed by Rich Moore. Jon Lovitz made his fourth guest appearance on The Simpsons, this time as musical director Llewellyn Sinclair, as well as Llewellyn's sister, who runs the Ayn Rand School for Tots. The episode generated controversy for its original song about New Orleans, which contains several unflattering lyrics about the city. One New Orleans newspaper published the lyrics before the episode aired, prompting numerous complaints to the local Fox affiliate; in response, the president of Fox Broadcasting issued an apology to anyone who was offended. In the chalkboard gag of the next episode, "Homer the Heretic", Bart writes "I will not defame New Orleans."[3]
Despite the controversial song, the episode was well received by many fans, and show creator Matt Groening has named it one of his favorite episodes.