Three Dreams Denied

{{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = threedreamsdeniedposter.jpg | caption = Promotional Poster | season = 32 | episode = 7 | director = [[Steven Dean Moore]] | writer = Danielle Weisberg | production = QABF02 | airdate = {{Start date|2020|11|22}} | guests = * [[Ben Platt]] as Blake * [[Paul Rudd]] as himself | blackboard = | couch_gag = The family arrives to find the couch has prepared [[Thanksgiving dinner]], but it says that they said they'd be home at 7 and to go sleep on the bed, then it blows the candles, darkening the room. | prev = [[Podcast News]] | next = [[The Road to Cincinnati]] }} "'''Three Dreams Denied'''" is the seventh episode of the [[The Simpsons season 32|thirty-second season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and the 691st episode overall. It aired in the United States on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on November 22, 2020.<ref name="FutonCritic">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20201029fox14/|title=(SI-3202) "Three Dreams Denied"|date=October 29, 2020|work=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329163912/https://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode was directed by [[Steven Dean Moore]] and written by Danielle Weisberg.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=AlJean|first=Al|last=Jean|author-link=Al Jean|number=1275477598844227586|title=@danielleweisber it’s a terrific script|date=June 23, 2020|access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

[[Ben Platt]] guest-stars in the episode as Blake, while [[Paul Rudd]] appears as himself.<ref name="FutonCritic"/> In the episode, [[Comic Book Guy]] goes to Comicalooza, finding himself dumbstruck as he loses his chance at Marvel, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] becomes a voice-over actor, and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] gets a new rival at school. It also received generally positive reviews, and was watched live in the United States by 4.41 million viewers.

== Plot == After [[Agnes Skinner]] sells [[Principal Skinner|her son]]'s [[Radioactive Man (The Simpsons)|Radioactive Man]] doll to him for cheap, [[Comic Book Guy]] sells it online, which allows him to go on his dream trip to [[Comicon|Comicalooza]]. On the plane, [[Comic Book Guy]] tries to come up with the perfect question to ask at a panel, in hopes of being given a job at [[Marvel Studios]]. Outside of Comicalooza he manages to come up with a question, but when his turn comes, he forgets it. He returns to Springfield despondent, but cheers himself up again by abusing Ralph Wiggum.

Meanwhile, [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] meets a new boy in school named Blake, who she is happy to learn also plays the saxophone. However, Blake tricks Lisa into losing her chair at school. However, Lisa realizes that she can play her saxophone outside of school and decides to play at the mall, where she finds out that other people really appreciate her music.

[[Bart Simpson|Bart]] meets a voice-over actor who gets him a job at an animated TV show. Bart invites [[Nelson Muntz]] and his friends over to watch his show. Upon watching it, Bart finds out he voices a princess, which causes the others to make fun of him. Later, Bart's character ends up actually being a ruthless killer, which impresses everyone.

In a mid-credits scene, Comic Book Guy can be seen sitting on a bench outside Comicalooza, writing questions. He asks why the first thing people think when they see [[Superman]] is a bird, and proposes a Superhero called "SuperSpiderBat," a combination of Superman, [[Spider-Man]], and [[Batman]]. In the background, many pop culture characters (or people cosplaying as them) can be seen, including [[Dick Grayson|Robin]], a ''[[Minecraft (franchise)|Minecraft]]'' guy, [[Matt Groening]], Morbo from ''[[Futurama]]'', [[Deadpool]], [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]], and [[Ahsoka Tano]] perched atop [[Anakin Skywalker]].

==Production== This is the first episode of the series written by Danielle Weisberg, who was an assistant on the show at the time the episode was written. The episode was originally titled "The Voice Actor's Apprentice."<ref name="Bereta"/>

[[Ben Platt]] appeared in the episode as Blake and [[Paul Rudd]] appeared as himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/957261/the-simpsons-paul-rudd-ben-platt-first-look/|title='The Simpsons': Paul Rudd & Ben Platt Attend Springfield's Comic-Con in First Look (PHOTOS)|date=November 18, 2020|last=Darwish|first=Meaghan|work=TVInsider|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128172740/https://www.tvinsider.com/957261/the-simpsons-paul-rudd-ben-platt-first-look/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rudd previously guest-starred in two other episodes.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/10/10/simpsons-judd-apatow-channing-tatum-rudd-rogen-mann/|title=''Simpsons'' episode to feature voices of Judd Apatow, Channing Tatum, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Seth Rogen|date=October 10, 2013|last=Snierson|first=Dan|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 30, 2020|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704205757/https://ew.com/article/2013/10/10/simpsons-judd-apatow-channing-tatum-rudd-rogen-mann/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dawnn Lewis]] also appears as an airplane stewardess. On 2020, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] released eight promotional pictures from the episode.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Simpsons|url=https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3202|accessdate=January 22, 2021|work=FoxFlash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429223436/https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3202|archive-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref>

==Reception== ===Viewing figures=== In the United States, the episode was watched live by 4.41 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-22-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124153656/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-22-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2020|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.2.2020|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=November 24, 2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|accessdate=November 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Critical response=== [[Tony Sokol]] with ''[[Den of Geek]]'' said, "''The Simpsons'' are always self-referential, but it gets very subliminal in 'Three Dreams Denied.' ... This week, Bart is playing a voiceover actor. I’m sure [[Professor Frink]] could come up with some reason this somehow flays the laws of animation physics. This is probably why the episode falls short. No one episode of ''The Simpsons'' can handle the voiceover click-track continuum, smooth jazz and the ultimate question to ask at Comicalooza. It’s just too much. In the past, ''The Simpsons'' could have borne the extra weight. They’ve always had cross plots, subplots and occasional mini-arcs which play out under the radar. Each of the three stories are strong, funny and have the pathos or peril needed to make them great. In that sense, 'Three Dreams Denied' is very much operating in ''The Simpsons'' early mode. While the journey flies by without too many bumps, the episode lives up to its title." He also gave the episode three out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-7-review-three-dreams-denied/|title=The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 7 Review: Three Dreams Denied|date=November 23, 2020|last=Sokol|first=Tony|author-link=Tony Sokol|work=[[Den of Geek]]|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123072039/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-7-review-three-dreams-denied/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jesse Bereta of ''Bubbleblabber'' gave the episode a 7.5 out of 10. He highlighted the stories of Comic Book Guy and Lisa but thought Bart's story could have been done better. However, he enjoyed the amount of jokes and references in the episode.<ref name="Bereta">{{cite web|url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/11/review-the-simpsons-three-dreams-denied/|title=Review: The Simpsons "Three Dreams Denied"|date=November 23, 2020|last=Bereta|first=Jesse|work=Bubbleblabber|access-date=September 10, 2023|archive-date=August 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805022336/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/11/review-the-simpsons-three-dreams-denied/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations=== Writer Danielle Weisberg was nominated for a [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation]] for this episode at the [[73rd Writers Guild of America Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2021|first1=Cynthia|last=Littleton|first2=Matt|last2=Donnelly|title='Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,' 'Promising Young Woman' Win at Writers Guild Awards 2021|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wga-awards-winners-2021-writers-guild-1234935361/|access-date=June 19, 2023|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en-US|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415164437/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wga-awards-winners-2021-writers-guild-1234935361/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote|The Simpsons/Season 32#Three_Dreams_Denied|"Three Dreams Denied"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} * {{IMDb episode}}

[[Category:2020 American television episodes]] [[Category:The Simpsons season 32 episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Steven Dean Moore]] [[Category:Television episodes set in San Diego]]