| "A Star Is Born Again" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 14 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Michael Marcantel |
| Written by | Brian Kelley |
| Production code | EABF08 |
| Original air date | March 2, 2003 |
| Guest appearances | |
| James L. Brooks as himself Helen Fielding as herself Marisa Tomei as Sara Sloane Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel | |
| Episode features | |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons are marionettes, who fail to reach the couch when they get caught up in each other’s strings. The camera pans up to reveal Matt Groening as the puppet master, who throws down his marionettes in frustration. |
| Commentary | Al Jean Brian Kelley Ian Maxtone-Graham Matt Selman Dan Castellaneta Michael Marcantel Mike B. Anderson David Silverman |
"A Star Is Born Again" is the thirteenth episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 2, 2003. The episode was written by Brian Kelley and directed by Michael Marcantel.
In this episode, Ned Flanders begins dating a movie star who is in town to film a movie. Marisa Tomei guest starred as Sara Sloane. Writer Helen Fielding and Simpsons executive producer James L. Brooks appeared as themselves. The episode received positive reviews.
The episode owes much of its plot to Notting Hill (1999). While that film is about an actress finding happiness with the owner of an independent bookstore, the episode features Hollywood movie star Sara Sloane (Marisa Tomei) falling for Ned Flanders after visiting the Leftorium. The episode title doubles as a reference to the film A Star Is Born and being born again, meaning a person who has converted to Christianity, particularly in American evangelism.
This is the only Simpsons episode in which the same person has been accredited with two different names, where James L. Brooks is credited as the Executive Producer and Executive Creative Consultant, and again as Jim Brooks as a Special Guest Voice.