# Luca$ > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Luca%24 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Luca%24.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca%24 > Source revision: 1315471292 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Not to be confused with [Lucas (disambiguation)](/source/Lucas_(disambiguation)). 17th episode of the 25th season of The Simpsons "Luca$" The Simpsons episode Episode no. Season 25 Episode 17 Directed by Chris Clements Written by Carolyn Omine Production code SABF12 Original air date April 6, 2014 (2014-04-06) Guest appearance Zach Galifianakis as Lucas Bortner Episode features Couch gag The Simpsons are in Minecraft. Moe (disguised as a Creeper) asks how they are doing and blows up like a creeper does.[1] Episode chronology ← Previous "You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee" Next → "Days of Future Future" The Simpsons season 25 List of episodes "**Luca$**" (pronounced "Luca-dollar") is the seventeenth episode of the [twenty-fifth season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_25) of the American animated television series *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)* and the 547th episode of the series. It first aired on the [Fox network](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) in the United States on April 6, 2014. It was written by [Carolyn Omine](/source/Carolyn_Omine) and directed by [Chris Clements](/source/Chris_Clements_(animation_director)).[2] In the episode, Marge thinks that Lisa is dating below her standards when she brings home a competitive eater-in-training named Lucas Bortner, so she enlists Homer to help Lisa explore other options. Meanwhile, Bart receives gifts from Snake Jailbird for helping him get out of a jam, but when a betrayal from Milhouse sends Snake back to prison, Bart hatches a plan to get him out. [Zach Galifianakis](/source/Zach_Galifianakis) guest starred as Lucas Bortner. The episode received mixed reviews. ## Plot After a drunken night, [Homer](/source/Homer_Simpson) has fallen asleep while stuck in the playground jungle gym's [giant metal spiral](/source/Jungle_gym). [Marge](/source/Marge_Simpson) hides [Bart](/source/Bart_Simpson) and [Lisa](/source/Lisa_Simpson) in the back seat to preserve their reputations and drops them off at school, where [Principal Skinner](/source/Principal_Skinner) scolds Bart for his constant tardiness. Skinner decides to pursue corporal punishment, and while he is distracted with [Groundskeeper Willie](/source/Groundskeeper_Willie), Bart makes a run for it. Bart manages to escape Skinner, whose car accidentally reverses into the auto shop. Bart takes refuge in his treehouse, where he discovers that [Snake Jailbird](/source/Snake_Jailbird) is hiding there while committing crimes to help his son Jeremy. [Chief Wiggum](/source/Chief_Wiggum) arrives, looking for Snake, so Bart lies that Snake made it to the top of Mount Springfield. Grateful for Bart's actions, Snake secretly sends Bart stolen gifts including a [PlayStadium 4](/source/PlayStation_4), a tiger and a Knight's Armor, Sword and Shield. [Milhouse](/source/Milhouse_Van_Houten) becomes suspicious, and after Snake steals his [myPad](/source/IPad) and gives it to Bart, Milhouse confronts Bart and demands that he tell him how he got all the free items. Bart reveals that Snake has been stealing and providing gifts for him, and Milhouse reveals Snake to the authorities, who vow to execute him in an [electric chair](/source/Electric_chair). Bart arrives at the police station and explains Snake's story in the hope he might be pardoned. Wiggum rejects Bart's plea, but Snake escapes anyway. Back at school, Lisa sees a boy choking on pizza. She performs the [Heimlich maneuver](/source/Choking#Abdominal_thrusts_(Heimlich_maneuver)) on him. He reveals his name is Lucas Bortner, and he is a [competitive eater](/source/Competitive_eating) under the stage name Luca$ (Luca-dollar). She suddenly gets a crush on Lucas and thinks about turning him away from competitive eating. Lucas arrives at [the Simpsons' house](/source/The_Simpsons_house) for dinner, and while he suggests a variety of foods to Lisa, [Patty and Selma](/source/Patty_and_Selma) insult Lucas and compare him to Homer. Marge is surprised her daughter likes Lucas and, eavesdropping on Lucas getting [brain freeze](/source/Ice-cream_headache) from eating ice cream at Lisa's suggestion, worries that Lisa could ruin her future by marrying Lucas. Marge suggests to Homer that he take Lisa on a dinner date and act like a gentleman, so she will want the same from her future husband. Marge awkwardly tries to deny that having a husband like Homer would be bad for Lisa, but an angered Homer quickly realizes she is lying to him, and leaves to sleep on [Ned Flanders](/source/Ned_Flanders)' couch. At [Moe's Tavern](/source/Springfield_(The_Simpsons)#Moe's_Tavern), Homer finally works up the courage to ask Lisa out for dinner, and she accepts. Homer gets ready for his dinner with Lisa and agrees not to embarrass Marge, but makes it clear to her that he is still resentful about how she perceives him. At the [Gilded Truffle](/source/Springfield_(The_Simpsons)#The_Gilded_Truffle), Homer is on his best behavior and asks for vegetarian lasagna (although he requests it be covered with cow blood). Marge shows up and tries to apologize for her actions. He forgives her when she reveals she is wearing a sexy purple dress she bought after selling the sewing machine. She leaves Homer and Lisa to continue their date and waits at the restaurant bar, where [Jimbo](/source/List_of_recurring_The_Simpsons_characters#Jimbo_Jones) starts hitting on her. The next day at school, Lisa discovers that Lucas has quit competitive eating and decided to pursue a singing career like [Adele](/source/Adele). ## Production [Zach Galifianakis](/source/Zach_Galifianakis) was cast as Lucas, a boy training to be a competitive eater, in whom Lisa is interested.[3] ## Cultural references The couch gag is a parody of the computer game *[Minecraft](/source/Minecraft)* called *Simcraft*. The gag was acknowledged by *Minecraft* creator [Markus Persson](/source/Markus_Persson).[1][4] ## Reception Dennis Perkins of *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)* gave the episode a C, saying "Again, the resolution to the central plot is, by turns, lazy, gross, and inadequately developed. If *The Simpsons* is to be judged on its own merits, without referring to its past glories, fine—based solely on this episode, this isn’t a show I’d tune in to every week."[5] [Tony Sokol](/source/Tony_Sokol) of *[Den of Geek](/source/Den_of_Geek)* gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. He stated that it was a good episode with no notable quotes but still consistently funny.[6] The episode received a 1.9 rating and was watched by a total of 4.30 million people, making it the second most watched show on [Animation Domination](/source/Animation_Domination) that night.[7] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Makuch_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Makuch_1-1) Makuch, Eddie (April 7, 2014). ["The Simpsons do a Minecraft couch gag, Notch doesn't know how to feel about it"](http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-simpsons-do-a-minecraft-couch-gag-notch-doesn-t-know-how-to-feel-about-it/1100-6418811/). *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240728115806/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonys-new-limited-edition-ps5-controller-is-its-best-looking-one-so-far/1100-6525289/) from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["(SI-2512) "Luca$""](http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20140318fox19/). *[The Futon Critic](/source/The_Futon_Critic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240728115728/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20140318fox19/) from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Swift, Andy (April 3, 2014). ["Exclusive Simpsons First Look: Is Lisa Falling in Love With Zach Galifianakis?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140411083153/http://tvline.com/2014/04/03/zach-galifianakis-the-simpsons-pics-season-25-episode-17/). *[TVLine](/source/TVLine)*. Archived from [the original](http://tvline.com/2014/04/03/zach-galifianakis-the-simpsons-pics-season-25-episode-17/) on April 11, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Corriea, Alexa Ray (April 7, 2014). ["Here is the The\[sic\] Simpsons' Minecraft-stylized intro"](https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/7/5589596/here-is-the-the-simpsons-minecraft-stylized-intro). *[Polygon](/source/Polygon_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230903040009/https://www.polygon.com/2014/4/7/5589596/here-is-the-the-simpsons-minecraft-stylized-intro) from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Perkins, Dennis (April 7, 2014). ["The Simpsons: "Luca$""](https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-luca-1798180060). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140407161753/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/simpsons-luca-203126) from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Sokol, Tony](/source/Tony_Sokol) (April 7, 2014). ["The Simpsons: Luca$, review"](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-luca-review/). *[Den of Geek](/source/Den_of_Geek)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230708004132/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-luca-review/) from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Kondolojy, Amanda (April 8, 2014). ["Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time', 'American Dream Builders', 'America's Funniest Home Videos' & 'Resurrection' Adjusted Up"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140408215200/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/08/sunday-final-ratings-once-upon-a-time-american-dream-builders-americas-funniest-home-videos-resurrection-adjusted-up/252078/). *[TV by the Numbers](/source/TV_by_the_Numbers)*. Archived from [the original](http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/04/08/sunday-final-ratings-once-upon-a-time-american-dream-builders-americas-funniest-home-videos-resurrection-adjusted-up/252078/) on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014. ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***["Luca$"](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_25#Luca$)***. - [The Simpsons portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:The_Simpsons) - ["Luca$"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3181604/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) v t e The Simpsons episodes Seasons 1–20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Season 21–present 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Season 25 "Homerland" "Treehouse of Horror XXIV" "Four Regrettings and a Funeral" "YOLO" "Labor Pains" "The Kid Is All Right" "Yellow Subterfuge" "White Christmas Blues" "Steal This Episode" "Married to the Blob" "Specs and the City" "Diggs" "The Man Who Grew Too Much" "The Winter of His Content" "The War of Art" "You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee" "Luca$" "Days of Future Future" "What to Expect When Bart's Expecting" "Brick Like Me" "Pay Pal" "The Yellow Badge of Cowardge" See also Treehouse of Horror list The Simpsons episode guides "The Simpsons Guy" Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Luca$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca%24) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca%24?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.