{{Distinguish|Dairy Queen}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 32 | episode = 12 | director = [[Matthew Nastuk]] | writer = [[Jeff Westbrook]] | music = * "[[Battle Hymn of the Republic]]" * "[[Hail to the Chief]]" * "Shameika" by [[Fiona Apple]] * "Diary" by [[Bread (band)|Bread]] | production = QABF05 | airdate = {{Start date|2021|02|21}} | guests = *[[Joe Mantegna]] as [[Fat Tony (The Simpsons)|Fat Tony]] *[[Marcia Wallace]] as [[Edna Krabappel]] (archive recordings) *Mario Jose as [[Julio (The Simpsons)|Julio]]'s singing voice | blackboard = "I will never be a teacher's pet" is seen before the closing credits. | couch_gag = The couch is on [[Mars]] and gets crushed by a spaceship. [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] and [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]] come out of the spaceship, while the rest of the family come on foot, hover bike and skateboard. However, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] doesn't have his space helmet on; Marge asks where it is, and Homer's head explodes. | prev = [[The Dad-Feelings Limited]] | next = [[Wad Goals]] }} "'''Diary Queen'''" is the twelfth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 32|thirty-second season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the 696th episode overall.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Listings - SIMPSONS, THE on FOX {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210122fox16/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=[[The Futon Critic]]|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419211946/https://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js|url-status=live}}</ref> It aired in the United States on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on February 21, 2021. The episode was directed by [[Matthew Nastuk]]<ref name="QABF05D">{{Cite tweet|title=Matthew Nastuk|number=1260320651157463041|access-date=2023-06-11|user=AlJean|first=Al|last=Jean|author-link=Al Jean}}</ref> and written by [[Jeff Westbrook]].<ref name="Diary Queen">{{Cite tweet|title=.@TheSimpsons Today’s video read!|number=1250867267920777218|access-date=2023-06-11|user=AlJean|first=Al|last=Jean|author-link=Al Jean}}</ref>

In this episode, Bart finds his former teacher's diary and believes that she thought he was her most improved student. The episode received positive reviews.

==Plot== When [[Ned Flanders]] holds a yard sale, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] buy several books as part of a scheme to record a stunt. When that backfires, the boys discover their late teacher [[Edna Krabappel]]'s old diary among the books. They then escape [[Fat Tony (The Simpsons)|Fat Tony]] and his mob and prank the school staff.

Despite Milhouse repeatedly urging him not to invade Edna's privacy, Bart heads to his treehouse and starts reading the diary, discovering a page where Edna had written that she thought Bart had potential in succeeding in school. Convinced that he is the most improved student, Bart starts doing well in school. After Bart passes a test, the [[Simpsons family|family]] celebrates with a cake, but [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] look around his room, suspecting him of cheating. With the help of [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]], Lisa finds the diary at the treehouse and discovers that Edna was actually referring to her pet cat. Lisa hides this from Bart, which soon stresses her out. When Bart decides to enter the school spelling bee, Lisa reveals the truth, causing a depressed Bart to hide in his treehouse alone.

Later in the treehouse, Ned reveals to Bart that his family had considered leaving Springfield, but were stopped by Edna, who believed she needed to stay, as children like Bart needed her. Realizing that Edna truly did care for him, Bart returns the diary to Ned. At home, Ned reads the diary and is brought to tears over an entry where Edna says that being married to him made her dreams come true.

The episode ends with a montage of Edna's moments throughout the series.

==Production== ===Casting=== The late [[Marcia Wallace]] guest-stars as [[Edna Krabappel]] through archive recordings. Her estate cleared her appearance and was compensated for it. The show did not give a farewell to Wallace's character at the time of her death because producers were not aware she was ill, so this episode was an attempt to memorialize her. The producers also decided not to reveal how Edna died.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Schneider|date=February 21, 2021|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-simpsons-marcia-wallace-mrs-krabappel-1234907939/|title=Here's How 'The Simpsons' Brought Back the Late Marcia Wallace to Say Goodbye to Mrs. Krabappel|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601233249/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-simpsons-marcia-wallace-mrs-krabappel-1234907939/|url-status=live}}</ref>

This is the final episode in which actor [[Harry Shearer]] voices the black character of [[Dr. Hibbert]]. Beginning with the following episode "[[Wad Goals]]", he is voiced by [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], who is African-American.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-simpsons-dr-hibbert-harry-shearer-white-wont-voice-kevin-michael-richardson/|title='The Simpsons': White Voice Actor Harry Shearer Won't Voice Black Character Dr Hibbert Anymore|first=Jennifer|last=Maas|work=[[TheWrap]]|date=February 22, 2021|accessdate=February 22, 2021|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222202058/https://www.thewrap.com/the-simpsons-dr-hibbert-harry-shearer-white-wont-voice-kevin-michael-richardson/|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, [[Julio (The Simpsons)|Julio]] had his voice provided by Mario Jose in this episode.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sophie|last=Caraan|date=April 22, 2021|url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/4/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-cuban-character-julio-with-gay-actor-tony-rodriguez|title='The Simpsons' Recasts Gay Cuban Character Julio With Gay Cuban Actor|website=[[Hypebeast (company)|Hypebeast]]|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=December 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225103234/https://hypebeast.com/2021/4/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-cuban-character-julio-with-gay-actor-tony-rodriguez|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Riley|last=Gillis|date=April 26, 2021|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/04/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-cuban-character-with-gay-cuban-voice-actor/|title=The Simpsons recasts gay Cuban character with gay voice actor|website=[[Metro Weekly]]|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=August 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810032326/https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/04/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-cuban-character-with-gay-cuban-voice-actor/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Joe Mantegna]] appears as [[Fat Tony (The Simpsons)|Fat Tony]].<ref name=":0" />

===Release=== The episode was scheduled to debut on January 10, 2021, but was rescheduled to February 14 due to being preempted by the [[National Football League|NFL]] playoffs.<ref>{{Cite tweet|title=Now will be later due to football...|number=1338269692524294144 |access-date=2023-06-11|user=AlJean|first=Al|last=Jean|author-link=Al Jean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|title=January 10|number=1337061667545419778 |access-date=2023-06-11|user=AlJean|first=Al|last=Jean|author-link=Al Jean}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Rain delays at the [[2021 Daytona 500]] further delayed all prime time shows scheduled for broadcast to February 21.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210217fox03/|title=(SI-3205) "Diary Queen"|website=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=August 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805032514/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210217fox03/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Astrid|last=Sparks|date=February 23, 2021|url=https://www.cbr.com/simpsons-homage-tribute-mrs-krabappel-marcia-wallace/|title=The Simpsons Pays Tribute to Mrs. Krabappel's Late Actor, Marcia Wallace|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=June 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630192245/https://www.cbr.com/simpsons-homage-tribute-mrs-krabappel-marcia-wallace/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Viewing figures === In the United States, the episode was watched live by 1.43 million viewers.<ref name="32.12">{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-21-2021.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223154553/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-21-2021.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2021|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.21.2021|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=February 23, 2021|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref>

=== Critical response === [[Tony Sokol]] with ''[[Den of Geek]]'', said "This is a different kind of arc for The Simpsons. 'Diary Queen' is on an uplifting trajectory until Lisa knocks it off course, and ends in a sudden life-affirming crash. Bart’s final warning to Marge, 'I'll go over the edge if you try to make me feel better,' is wonderfully skewered, but the final twist is a dose of treacle. The episode was originally slated to premiere on Valentine’s Day, and is a sweet sendoff." He also gave the episode four out of five stars.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-22|first=Tony|last=Sokol|author-link=Tony Sokol|title=The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 12 Review: Diary Queen|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-12-review-diary-queen/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=[[Den of Geek]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224200042/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-12-review-diary-queen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jesse Bereta of ''Bubbleblabber'' gave the episode a 7.5 out of 10. He thought the episode was a respectful way to honor Marcia Wallace. He stated that the closure that Bart receives was the most heartwarming part of the episode.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jesse|last=Bereta|date=February 22, 2021|url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2021/02/review-the-simpsons-diary-queen/|title=Review: The Simpsons "Diary Queen"|website=Bubbleblabber|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=August 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805032512/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2021/02/review-the-simpsons-diary-queen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_32#Diary Queen|"Diary Queen"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} * {{IMDb episode}}

{{The Simpsons episodes|32}}

[[Category:2021 American television episodes]] [[Category:The Simpsons season 32 episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes written by Jeff Westbrook]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Matthew Nastuk]]