{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 10 | episode = 22 | director = [[Pete Michels]] | writer = [[Matt Selman]] | production = AABF18 | airdate = {{Start date|1999|05|09}} | guests = * [[Stephen Hawking]] as himself | blackboard = "No one wants to hear from my armpits" (recycled from "[[Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily]]") | couch_gag = The couch is sunk by an iceberg and only [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]] stays afloat. | commentary = [[Mike Scully]]<br>[[Matt Selman]]<br>[[Ron Hauge]]<br>[[Rich Appel]]<br>[[Marc Wilmore]]<br>[[Pete Michels]] | prev = [[Monty Can't Buy Me Love]] | next = [[Thirty Minutes over Tokyo]] }} "'''They Saved Lisa's Brain'''" is the twenty-second and penultimate episode of the [[The Simpsons season 10|tenth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. It first aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the United States on May 9, 1999. In the episode, after writing a thoughtful letter to the ''Springfield Shopper'', [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] is invited to join the [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] chapter of [[Mensa International|Mensa]]. When [[Mayor Quimby]] later flees Springfield, the group takes control of the town, hoping to improve the lives of Springfieldians through the [[geniocracy|rule of the smartest]]. Meanwhile, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] poses for a series of erotic photos.
"They Saved Lisa's Brain" was directed by [[Pete Michels]] and written by [[Matt Selman]], although the idea for the episode was pitched by former staff writer [[George Meyer]]. It featured the first official appearance of [[Lindsey Naegle]] and was the first episode in which theoretical physicist and cosmologist [[Stephen Hawking]] guest-starred as himself. The ''Simpsons'' staff wanted Hawking to guest-star because they needed someone who would be smarter than all of Springfield's Mensa members, and because they had heard that he was a fan of the show. The episode features references to ''[[Star Trek]]'', painter [[Vincent van Gogh]] and architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]], and mentions the theory of the universe being [[toroid]]al, meaning shaped as a [[doughnut]]. At the end of the episode, during the Gracie Films logo, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] yelled, “Larry Flint is right! You guys stink!”
In its original broadcast, "They Saved Lisa's Brain" was seen by approximately 6.8 million viewers, a very low amount for the series.
==Plot== A low-fat pudding, Grandma Plopwell's, is the sponsor of a [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] gross-out contest that promises a luxurious trip to the winner. Many Springfield residents enter the contest, but things do not go well when one of the judges, [[Rainier Wolfcastle]], declares himself the winner for "being seen with you freaks". The contest ends in a riot and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] is hit in the face twice with pudding. She denounces Springfield for its [[anti-intellectualism]] in an open letter published in the ''Springfield Shopper''. Whilst it is ignored by most of the town, it impresses the Springfield chapter of [[Mensa International|Mensa]].
Lisa joins the local Mensa chapter, alongside [[Principal Skinner]], [[Comic Book Guy]], [[Dr. Julius Hibbert|Dr. Hibbert]], [[Professor Frink]], and [[Lindsay Naegle]]. After being bullied out of their reserved [[gazebo]] at a park by drunks and [[Chief Wiggum]], they fear that Springfield's quality is poor because the city's stupidest residents have power over their civic institutions. The Mensa group goes to confront [[Mayor Quimby]] about the gazebo incident, causing him to escape the city when he mistakenly believes the group has evidence about his corruption. The town's charter states that in the absence of the mayor, the town is to be governed by a council of learned citizens.
Now in control of Springfield and governing the town as a [[geniocracy]], the group hopes that things will become much better. Their implemented ideas, including the adoption of [[metric time]] and the removal of green lights from [[stoplight]]s to ease traffic congestion, elevate Springfield above [[East St. Louis]] on the list of America's 300 Most Livable Cities. However, the group allows power to go to their heads and the members begin to fight among themselves. Various schemes and their wildly unpopular plans, aired at a public meeting, including the banning of certain sports and the imposition of limits on procreation similar to the act of [[pon farr]] from ''[[Star Trek]]'', further expose the rifts inside the group.
The Springfield townspeople, wishing power would revert to idiots, surround the intellectuals in an angry mob and bring an end to Mensa's rule. [[Stephen Hawking]] appears to see what the Mensa group is up to and makes it clear he is unimpressed. However, he saves Lisa from being seriously injured by the mob. In the end, Hawking and [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] go to Moe's Tavern for a drink.
In the episode's secondary storyline, Homer steals a gift certificate during the post-contest riots and has [[Pornography|erotic photos]] taken of himself as a gift to [[Marge Simpson|Marge]], who is at first impressed, but becomes distracted by the interior design Homer did in their basement.
==Production== "They Saved Lisa's Brain" was written by [[Matt Selman]] and directed by [[Pete Michels]]. It originally aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the [[United States]] on May 9, 1999. Although the episode's first draft was written by Selman, the idea for the episode was pitched by former staff writer [[George Meyer]]. In the episode's [[setpiece]], Homer and [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] participate in a [[gross out]] contest, while Marge and Lisa are in the audience. According to Selman, the writers took inspiration from real gross out contests, which were "sweeping the nation" at the time. Before the contest in the episode, the spectators are given free samples of a pudding called Grandma Plopwell's. The name of the pudding was inspired by a brand of pies called Aunt Freshly, which the ''Simpsons'' writers usually ate at the time.<ref name=Selman>Selman, Matt. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> [[File:Stephen Hawking.StarChild.jpg|right|thumb|English theoretical physicist and cosmologist [[Stephen Hawking]] guest-starred as himself in the episode]] The episode features the first official appearance of [[Lindsey Naegle]], a sleazy businesswoman who has since become a recurring character in the series. While different versions of the character had appeared in the series before, namely in the [[The Simpsons season 8|season 8]] episode "[[The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]", the [[The Simpsons season 9|season 9]] episode "[[Girly Edition]]", and the [[The Simpsons season 10|season 10]] episode "[[Make Room for Lisa]]", the character's final design was first seen in "They Saved Lisa's Brain".<ref name=Appel>Appel, Rich. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> The episode also mentions the character's name for the first time. Naegle's name was partly based on Selman's agent Sue Neagle, and Lindsey was chosen as the first name because Selman thought it sounded "annoying" and "pretentious".<ref name=Selman /> Naegle is voiced by [[Tress MacNeille]], who Selman described as a "huge asset" to the series, and stated that she "breathes life" into the character.<ref name=Selman />
"They Saved Lisa's Brain" features [[English people|English]] theoretical physicist and cosmologist [[Stephen Hawking]] as himself. According to executive producer and current [[showrunner]] [[Al Jean]], Hawking was asked to guest-star because "we [they] were looking for someone much smarter than all the Mensa members [in Springfield]", and so they "naturally thought of him".<ref name=science>{{harvnb|Halpern|2007|p=221}}</ref> Selman added that the ''Simpsons'' staff had heard that Hawking was a fan of the show, and that Hawking's family members wanted him to guest-star.<ref name=Selman /> Bill Mann of ''[[The Press Democrat]]'' argued that Hawking was chosen to guest star in order to boost the series' ratings during the May "[[Nielsen Ratings#Sweeps|sweeps]]". Mann wrote that "sweeps" are "used to set local TV ad rates for the months ahead".<ref name=thepressdemocrat>{{cite news |title=DON'T LOOK NOW – IT'S ANOTHER RATINGS SWEEPS NETWORKS TOUCH OFF AVALANCHE OF MOVIES, SPECIALS AND MINISERIES TO SHORE UP VIEWERSHIP. |date=April 25, 1999 |page=Q15 |work=[[The Press Democrat]] |publisher=Bruce W. Kyse |first=Bill |last=Mann }}</ref>
Hawking recorded his performance in the first week of December 1998.<ref name=heraldjournal>{{cite news |title=Physicist to appear on 'The Simpsons' |date=December 8, 1998 |page=A2 |work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vjIfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rs8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5687%2C3192535 }}</ref> In her book ''Stephen Hawking: a biography'', Kristen Larsen wrote that Hawking almost missed his recording session, as his wheelchair broke down two days before his flight to Los Angeles, where the recording took place. In order to make the necessary repairs, Hawking's graduate assistant Chris Burgoyne, aided by a technician, worked a 36‑hour shift.<ref name=biography>{{harvnb|Larsen|2005|p=103}}</ref> Hawking was 40 minutes late when he arrived in Los Angeles. When he met the ''Simpsons'' staff, he apologized, saying "Sorry for being late."<ref name=Hauge>Hauge, Ron. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> According to Selman, Hawking was very humble regarding the episode's jokes about him, and stated that he "took a lot of shots" at himself. The only note that Hawking gave regarding the script was that he did not want to be portrayed as drunk in the episode's last scene, in which he is discussing astronomy with Homer in Moe's tavern.<ref name=Selman />
Because of his [[motor neurone disease]], Hawking was unable to speak, and he communicated using a custom-made computer. With small movements of his body, Hawking wrote a text onto the computer, which was then spoken by a [[Speech synthesis|voice synthesizer]]. Because of this, Hawking had to write all his lines on his computer, while the staff recorded them by placing a microphone in front of the computer's speaker. "It's easy to do a fake Stephen Hawking in your comedy TV show", Selman said in the DVD commentary for the episode. "Any computer can sound just like his computer, but every line that we wrote for him, he typed in himself and we recorded with our microphones as if it had come out of a regular mouth."<ref name=Selman /> Some of Hawking's lines were difficult to record. In particular, the word "Fruitopia" was difficult for Hawking's computer to "put together" correctly, and it "took forever" to make the word sound right from the voice synthesizer.<ref name=Hauge />
==Themes and cultural references== In their book ''The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer'', William Irwin, Mark T. Conard and Aeon J. Skoble wrote that "They Saved Lisa's Brain" in detail explores "the possibility of a utopian alternative to politics as usual in Springfield". They described "They Saved Lisa's Brain" as an "epitome" of ''The Simpsons''{{'}} diverse comedic humor, and wrote that it can be "enjoyed in two levels", as both "broad farce" and "intellectual satire". As an example of the episode's farcical humor, they referred to the episode's subplot, which, they wrote, "contains some of the grossest humor in the long history of ''The Simpsons''." At the same time, the episode is "filled" with what they described as "subtle cultural allusions", such as the design of Mensa group's locale, which is based on the house of American architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]. Likewise, Lisa's challenge to Springfield calls attention to the "cultural limitations of small-town America", while the episode also argues that intellectual disdain for the common man can be carried too far, and theory can "all too easily lose touch with common sense". They also argued that the episode, as well as the series as a whole, offers a kind of intellectual defense of the common man against intellectuals, which they opined "helps explain its popularity and broad appeal [...] ["They Saved Lisa's Brain"] defends the common man against the intellectual, in a way that both the common man and the intellectual can understand and enjoy".<ref name=philosophy>{{cite book |editor1-last=Irwin |editor1-first=William |editor2-first=Mark |editor2-last=Conard |editor3-first=Aeon |editor3-last=Skoble |title=The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer |publisher=Blackwell Publishing (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series) |date=February 28, 2001 |isbn=0-8126-9433-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonsphilosop00irwi |pages=176–178}}</ref> [[File:Torus.png|left|thumb|One of Hawking's lines in the episode references the theory that the universe is shaped like a toroid. Shown here is a torus, a type of toroid]] In the last scene in the episode, Hawking and Homer are seen discussing the universe in Moe's tavern. Scully stated that the scene was included because it "was a chance to get the world's smartest man and the world's stupidest man in the same place".<ref name=gilligan>{{harvnb|Cantor|2003|p=108}}</ref> In the scene, Hawking tells Homer "Your theory of a donut-shaped universe is intriguing... I may have to steal it." In his book ''What's Science Ever Done For Us?: What The Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life and the Universe'', Paul Halpern wrote that in mathematics, a "donut-shape", the three-dimensional generalization of a ring, is referred to as a [[torus]]. The generalization of a torus, any closed curve spun in a circle around an axis, is called a [[toroid]]. According to Halpern, Hawking's line references the fact that there are "genuine" scientific [[Three-torus model of the universe|theories that the universe is toroidal]].<ref name=science2>{{harvnb|Halpern|2007|pp=221–222}}</ref>
One of the judges for the gross out contest in the episode's is [[Madeleine Albright]], who was the US Secretary of State at the time the episode was made.<ref name=BBC /> During the riot that follows the contest, a travelling exhibition of paintings by [[Van Gogh]] is burned to flames.<ref name=philosophy /> In the episode's subplot, Homer hires a photographer to take erotic pictures of him. The design of the photographer was based on American portrait photographer [[Annie Leibovitz]].<ref name=Michels /> The song that plays during the photographing scenes is "[[I'm Too Sexy]]" by English pop trio [[Right Said Fred]].<ref name=BBC /> During the rules and regulations announcement, Comic Book Guy declares that sexual intercourse will only be permitted once every seven years in Springfield; this is a reference to [[pon farr]], a term used in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise to describe the psychophysical effect of the estrous cycle that affects the fictional [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] race every seven years.<ref name=science /> His taunting of "I am smart, much smarter than you, Hib-bert!" is also to the tune of the ''Star Trek'' fanfare. The episode also mentions actress [[Geena Davis]] and cartoonist [[Mell Lazarus]], both of whom are members of Mensa.<ref name=Michels>Michels, Pete. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>
==Reception==
===Broadcast and controversy=== In its original American broadcast on May 9, 1999, "They Saved Lisa's Brain" received a 6.8 rating, according to [[Nielsen Media Research]], translating to approximately 6.8 million viewers. It finished in 54th place in the ratings for the week of May 3–9, 1999.<ref name=naples>{{cite news |title=NIELSENS |date=May 13, 1999 |page=B08 |publisher=Dave Neil |author=Naples Daily News |author-link=Naples Daily News }}</ref> The episode's viewership was considered very low by the ''[[Boston Herald]]'', who noted that it reached "historic lows" in the ratings.<ref name=boston>{{cite news |title=ARTS & TV IN BRIEF |date=May 13, 1999 |publisher=Patrick J. Purcell |author=Boston Herald |author-link=Boston Herald }}</ref>
In a scene in the episode, Comic Book Guy announces that Springfield is in 299th place on a list of the United States' 300 most livable cities, with [[East St. Louis]] being in last place. A journalist for a "local East St. Louis paper" noticed this, and called Selman to ask him why they were "taking a shot at East St. Louis".<ref name=Selman /> Selman jokingly replied: "because it's a crack-ridden slum".<ref name=Selman /> After the interview, he went on vacation in [[Greece]] for two weeks.<ref name=Selman /> While Selman was on vacation, executive producer and the episode's showrunner [[Mike Scully]] received a phone call from ''The Simpsons'' publicist Antonia Coffman, who reported that Selman's comment on East St. Louis had been taken "very seriously" by the newspaper. ''The Simpsons'' staff received several angry letters from East St. Louis' residents, demanding an apology. Because Selman was out of reach, the other staff members had to take care of the controversy.<ref name=Scully />
When Selman returned, Scully scolded him and told him that he had to apologize to the mayor of East St. Louis, who, unbeknownst to Selman, was portrayed by [[Marc Wilmore]]. Wilmore, a former writer on the television comedy ''[[The PJ's]]'', had been asked by Scully to participate in a practical joke, in which he would play the mayor of East St. Louis and confront Selman about his controversial statement. According to Selman, Wilmore gave an "Oscar-worthy performance".<ref name=Selman /> "I was terrified", he stated in the DVD commentary for the episode, "[we had] a twenty-minute discussion in which [Wilmore] said that [his] children were teased at school [because of Selman's comments], and that the Fox affiliate were gonna be thrown off the air..."<ref name=Selman /> According to Wilmore, Selman immediately blamed the other writers. Said Selman, "Well, everyone participates, you know [...] Have you never heard of the word 'collaboration'?"<ref name=Wilmore>Wilmore, Marc. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Selman realized the joke when he turned around and saw "all the other writers laughing". "I was so relieved", he said, "I was soaked with sweat [...] I had betrayed my fellow writers, tried to get them in trouble, and they all knew me for the turn-coat that I was."
As compensation for his involvement with the joke, Wilmore was given a role in the [[The Simpsons season 11|season 11]] episode "[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge]]", in which he played a psychologist.<ref name=Scully2>Scully, Mike (2008). Commentary for "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge", in ''The Simpsons: The Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> In 2002, Wilmore became a writer on ''The Simpsons''.<ref name=Scully>Scully, Mike. (2007). Commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>
===Re-release and critical reception=== On August 7, 2007, "They Saved Lisa's Brain" was released as part of ''The Simpsons – The Complete Tenth Season'' [[DVD]] box set. Mike Scully, Matt Selman, Ron Hauge, Rich Appel, Marc Wilmore and Pete Michels participated in the DVD's audio commentary of the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Simpsons-Complete-10th-Season/6758|title=The Simpsons – The Complete 10th Season|publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]]|access-date=June 1, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019092410/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Simpsons-Complete-10th-Season/6758|archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> Following its home video release, the episode received mixed reviews from critics. Giving the episode a positive review, DVD Town's James Plath described it as one of the season's better episodes.<ref name=dvdtown>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtown.com/review/simpsons-the-the-complete-10th-season/dvd/5056 |title=Simpsons, The: The Complete 10th Season (DVD) |date=August 17, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2011 |last=Plath |first=James |publisher=DVD Town |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205073416/http://moviemet.com/review/simpsons-complete-10th-season-dvd-review |archive-date=December 5, 2012 }}</ref> Ian Jane of DVD Talk wrote that, while episodes that revolve around Lisa tend to be "less popular" than others, he considered "They Saved Lisa's Brain" to be "well done".<ref name=dvdtalk>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/30138/simpsons-the-complete-tenth-season-the/ |title=The Simpsons – The Complete Tenth Season |date=August 29, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2011|last=Jane |first=Ian |publisher=DVD Talk}}</ref> Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide gave the episode a mixed review, writing "I like the fact that 'Brain' pokes some fun at Mensa, one of the more smug, self-congratulatory groups to be found. The show manages a few good laughs as it goes after various pretensions." However, he added that "the show peters out after a while", and that it "never becomes particularly memorable".<ref name=DVDmg>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonten.shtml |title=The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season (1998) |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2011|last=Jacobson |first=Colin |publisher=DVD Movie Guide}}</ref> A reviewer for Currentfilm.com wrote that, while the episode "isn't without its charms", it "just don't hold up very well".<ref name=currentfilm>{{cite web|url=https://www.currentfilm.com/dvdreviews9/simpsonss10dvd.html|title=Simpsons: Season 10|access-date=June 1, 2011|publisher=Currentfilm.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011191230/http://currentfilm.com/dvdreviews9/simpsonss10dvd.html|archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> Jake MacNeill of Digital Entertainment News wrote that the episode is "great if you think palindromes are funny", and added that it was one of the season's worst episodes.<ref name=dignews>{{cite web|url=http://www.dignews.com/reviews/the-simpsons-season-10-review/ |title=The Simpsons: Season 10 |date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2011 |last=MacNeill |first=Jake |publisher=Digital Entertainment News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928144150/http://www.dignews.com/reviews/the-simpsons-season-10-review/ |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}</ref> Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood of ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'' described it as a "retread" of the [[The Simpsons season 9|season 9]] episode "[[Lisa the Simpson]]". They wrote "Once we're past the How Low Will You Go show, the episode takes a nose-dive until the last few minutes." They concluded their review by calling the episode "Very, very tedious."<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season10/page21.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114005301/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season10/page21.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2013|title=They Saved Lisa's Brain|access-date=June 1, 2011|author=Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood|work=[[BBC]]}}</ref>
On the other hand, Stephen Hawking's appearance in the episode was acclaimed by critics. Although they generally disliked the episode, Martyn and Wood wrote that Hawking's cameo "saves [the episode] from being very boring".<ref name=BBC /> Plath called the performance "very funny",<ref name=dvdtown /> while Jane described it as "great".<ref name=dvdtalk /> Hawking reached seventh place in [[UGO]]'s list of ''The Simpsons''{{'s}} "Top 11 Guest Stars",<ref name=ugo>{{cite web|url=http://simpsons.ugo.com/?cur=guest-stars |title=Top 11 Guest Stars |access-date=June 1, 2011 |publisher=UGO |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524011353/http://simpsons.ugo.com/?cur=guest-stars |archive-date=May 24, 2010 }}</ref> and finished in fourteenth place in "The Simpsons 20 best guest voices of all time" by Ryan Stewart of ''[[The Boston Phoenix]]''. Stewart wrote that Hawking's line ""Your theory of a doughnut-shaped universe intrigues me, Homer. I may have to steal it" was a "memorable" quote from the episode.<ref name=thebostonphoenix>{{cite news|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/recroom/7123-simpsons-20-best-guest-voices-of-all-time/?page=2#TOPCONTENT |title=The Simpsons 20 best guest voices of all time |date=March 29, 2006 |access-date=June 1, 2011|last=Stewart |first=Ryan |newspaper=The Boston Phoenix}}</ref> Ethan Alter of ''[[The Morning Call]]'' described Hawking's cameo as one of the series' ten best, and wrote that Hawking's best line in the episode was "I wanted to see your Utopia, but now I see it is more of a Fruitopia."<ref name=themorningcall>{{cite news |title=Springfield behind the scenes: As Hollywood gets yellow fever, we take a closer look at the world of The Simpsons ** The Simpsons Excellent Guide |date=July 25, 2007 |page=M6 |work=[[The Morning Call]] |publisher=Timothy R. Kennedy |first=Ethan |last=Alter }}</ref> Writing for [[IGN]], Eric Goldman, Dan Iverson and Brian Zoromski placed Hawking at number sixteen on their list "Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances". They wrote that he had a "fairly major" role in the episode, and that he had "several great lines".<ref name=ign>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/04/top-25-simpsons-guest-appearances|title=Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances |date=January 4, 2010 |access-date=January 23, 2022|last=Goldman |first=Eric |author2=Dan Iverson |author3=Brian Zoromski |website=IGN}}</ref>
===Hawking's response=== After the episode aired, Hawking told the ''Simpsons'' staff that he "loved" all the jokes and in an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2005, he stated that his guest appearances on ''The Simpsons'' were "great fun".<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2005/sep/27/scienceandnature.highereducationprofile |title=Return of the time lord |date= September 27, 2005 |access-date=June 4, 2011|last=Brockes |first=Emma |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> An action figure based on Hawking's appearance in ''The Simpsons'' has been produced, with the figurine's computer screen reading "If you're looking for trouble, you've found it", a line from "They Saved Lisa's Brain".<ref name=Selman /> Since "They Saved Lisa's Brain", Hawking has guest-starred three times on ''The Simpsons''. In 2005, he appeared in the [[The Simpsons season 16|season 16]] episode "[[Don't Fear the Roofer]]"; in 2007, he starred in the [[The Simpsons season 18|season 18]] episode "[[Stop, or My Dog Will Shoot!]]"; and in 2010, he appeared in the Season 22 premiere "[[Elementary School Musical (The Simpsons)|Elementary School Musical]]".<ref name=ign />
However, Hawking has also expressed dissatisfaction regarding the impact on his notoriety caused by his appearance in the episode. In a debate with physicist [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Brian Cox]] in ''The Guardian'', Hawking was asked what the most common misconception about his work was. He replied, "People think I'm a ''Simpsons'' character."<ref name=guardian2>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/sep/11/science-stephen-hawking-brian-cox |title=Gods of science: Stephen Hawking and Brian Cox discuss mind over matter |date=September 11, 2010 |access-date=June 2, 2011|last=Hawking |first=Stephen |author2=Brian Cox |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', Peter Hutchison argued that Hawking "feels he is sometimes not properly recognised for his contribution to our understanding of the universe."<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/stephen-hawking/7995554/Stephen-Hawking-mistaken-for-a-Simpsons-character.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914024028/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/stephen-hawking/7995554/Stephen-Hawking-mistaken-for-a-Simpsons-character.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2010 |title=Stephen Hawking 'mistaken for a Simpsons character' |date=September 10, 2010 |access-date=June 2, 2011|last=Hutchison |first=Peter |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> In his book ''The book is dead: long live the book'', Sherman Young wrote that most people know Hawking from his appearance on ''The Simpsons'', rather than from anything he has written.<ref name=lognlive>{{harvnb|Young|2008|p=12}}</ref>
==References== '''Footnotes''' {{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}
'''Bibliography''' {{refbegin}} * {{cite book | last = Larsen| first = Kristen | title = Stephen Hawking: a biography | publisher = [[Greenwood Publishing Group]] | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-313-32392-5}} * {{cite book | last = Young | first = Sherman | title = The book is dead: long live the book | publisher = [[UNSW Press]] | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-86840-804-0 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/bookisdeadlongli0000youn }} * {{cite book | last = Halpern | first = Paul | author-link = Paul Halpern | title = What's science ever done for us?: what The Simpsons can teach us about physics, robots, life and the universe | publisher = [[John Wiley and Sons]] | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-0-470-11460-5 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/whatsscienceever00halp }} * {{cite book | last = William | first = Irwin |author2=Mark T. Conard |author3=Aeon J. Skoble | title = The Simpsons and philosophy: the d'oh! of Homer | url = https://archive.org/details/simpsonsphilosop00irwi | url-access = registration | publisher = [[Open Court Publishing]] | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-8126-9694-3}} * {{cite book | last = Cantor | first = Paul A. |author-link=Paul Cantor| title = Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization | publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]]| year = 2003 | isbn = 0742507793}} {{refend}}
==External links== {{wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_10#They_Saved_Lisa.27s_Brain|"They Saved Lisa's Brain"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} *{{snpp capsule|AABF18}} *{{IMDb episode|id=0701272}}
{{The Simpsons episodes|10}}
[[Category:The Simpsons season 10 episodes]] [[Category:1999 American television episodes]] [[Category:Cultural depictions of Stephen Hawking]] [[Category:Mensa International]] [[Category:Television controversies in the United States]] [[Category:Animation controversies in television]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Pete Michels]] [[Category:Television episodes written by Matt Selman]]