# Three Dreams Denied

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Three_Dreams_Denied
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Three_Dreams_Denied.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Dreams_Denied
> Source revision: 1353233182
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

7th episode of the 32nd season of The Simpsons

"Three Dreams Denied" The Simpsons episode Promotional Poster Episode no. Season 32 Episode 7 Directed by Steven Dean Moore Written by Danielle Weisberg Production code QABF02 Original air date November 22, 2020 (2020-11-22) Guest appearances Ben Platt as Blake Paul Rudd as himself Episode features 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. Episode chronology ← Previous "Podcast News" Next → "The Road to Cincinnati" The Simpsons season 32 List of episodes

"**Three Dreams Denied**" is the seventh episode of the [thirty-second season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_32) of the American animated television series *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*, and the 691st episode overall. It aired in the United States on [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) on November 22, 2020.[1] The episode was directed by [Steven Dean Moore](/source/Steven_Dean_Moore) and written by Danielle Weisberg.[2]

[Ben Platt](/source/Ben_Platt) guest-stars in the episode as Blake, while [Paul Rudd](/source/Paul_Rudd) appears as himself.[1] In the episode, [Comic Book Guy](/source/Comic_Book_Guy) goes to Comicalooza, finding himself dumbstruck as he loses his chance at Marvel, [Bart](/source/Bart_Simpson) becomes a voice-over actor, and [Lisa](/source/Lisa_Simpson) 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](/source/Agnes_Skinner) sells [her son](/source/Principal_Skinner)'s [Radioactive Man](/source/Radioactive_Man_(The_Simpsons)) doll to him for cheap, [Comic Book Guy](/source/Comic_Book_Guy) sells it online, which allows him to go on his dream trip to [Comicalooza](/source/Comicon). On the plane, [Comic Book Guy](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Lisa_Simpson) 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](/source/Bart_Simpson) meets a voice-over actor who gets him a job at an animated TV show. Bart invites [Nelson Muntz](/source/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](/source/Superman) is a bird, and proposes a Superhero called "SuperSpiderBat," a combination of Superman, [Spider-Man](/source/Spider-Man), and [Batman](/source/Batman). In the background, many pop culture characters (or people cosplaying as them) can be seen, including [Robin](/source/Dick_Grayson), a *[Minecraft](/source/Minecraft_(franchise))* guy, [Matt Groening](/source/Matt_Groening), Morbo from *[Futurama](/source/Futurama)*, [Deadpool](/source/Deadpool), [Poison Ivy](/source/Poison_Ivy_(character)), and [Ahsoka Tano](/source/Ahsoka_Tano) perched atop [Anakin Skywalker](/source/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."[3]

[Ben Platt](/source/Ben_Platt) appeared in the episode as Blake and [Paul Rudd](/source/Paul_Rudd) appeared as himself.[4] Rudd previously guest-starred in two other episodes.[5] [Dawnn Lewis](/source/Dawnn_Lewis) also appears as an airplane stewardess. On 2020, [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) released eight promotional pictures from the episode.[6]

## Reception

### Viewing figures

In the United States, the episode was watched live by 4.41 million viewers.[7]

### Critical response

[Tony Sokol](/source/Tony_Sokol) with *[Den of Geek](/source/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](/source/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.[8]

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.[3]

### Awards and nominations

Writer Danielle Weisberg was nominated for a [Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation](/source/Writers_Guild_of_America_Award_for_Television%3A_Animation) for this episode at the [73rd Writers Guild of America Awards](/source/73rd_Writers_Guild_of_America_Awards).[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FutonCritic_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FutonCritic_1-1) ["(SI-3202) "Three Dreams Denied""](http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20201029fox14/). *[The Futon Critic](/source/The_Futon_Critic)*. October 29, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210329163912/https://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js) from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Jean, Al \[@AlJean\]](/source/Al_Jean) (June 23, 2020). ["@danielleweisber it's a terrific script"](https://twitter.com/AlJean/status/1275477598844227586) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))). Retrieved October 23, 2020 – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bereta_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bereta_3-1) Bereta, Jesse (November 23, 2020). ["Review: The Simpsons "Three Dreams Denied""](https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/11/review-the-simpsons-three-dreams-denied/). *Bubbleblabber*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240805022336/https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2020/11/review-the-simpsons-three-dreams-denied/) from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Darwish, Meaghan (November 18, 2020). ["'The Simpsons': Paul Rudd & Ben Platt Attend Springfield's Comic-Con in First Look (PHOTOS)"](https://www.tvinsider.com/957261/the-simpsons-paul-rudd-ben-platt-first-look/). *TVInsider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201128172740/https://www.tvinsider.com/957261/the-simpsons-paul-rudd-ben-platt-first-look/) from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Snierson, Dan (October 10, 2013). ["*Simpsons* episode to feature voices of Judd Apatow, Channing Tatum, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Seth Rogen"](https://ew.com/article/2013/10/10/simpsons-judd-apatow-channing-tatum-rudd-rogen-mann/). *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230704205757/https://ew.com/article/2013/10/10/simpsons-judd-apatow-channing-tatum-rudd-rogen-mann/) from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Simpsons"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210429223436/https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3202). *FoxFlash*. Archived from [the original](https://www.foxflash.com/shows/the-simpsons/photos/?type=episodic&season=s32&episode=3202) on April 29, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Metcalf, Mitch (November 24, 2020). ["Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.2.2020"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201124153656/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-22-2020.html). *Showbuzz Daily*. Archived from [the original](http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-11-22-2020.html) on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Sokol, Tony](/source/Tony_Sokol) (November 23, 2020). ["The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 7 Review: Three Dreams Denied"](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-7-review-three-dreams-denied/). *[Den of Geek](/source/Den_of_Geek)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201123072039/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-32-episode-7-review-three-dreams-denied/) from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Littleton, Cynthia; Donnelly, Matt (March 21, 2021). ["'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,' 'Promising Young Woman' Win at Writers Guild Awards 2021"](https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wga-awards-winners-2021-writers-guild-1234935361/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210415164437/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wga-awards-winners-2021-writers-guild-1234935361/) from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***["Three Dreams Denied"](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_32#Three_Dreams_Denied)***.

- [The Simpsons portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:The_Simpsons)

- ["Three Dreams Denied"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13326676/) 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 32 "Undercover Burns" "I, Carumbus" "Now Museum, Now You Don't" "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" "The 7 Beer Itch" "Podcast News" "Three Dreams Denied" "The Road to Cincinnati" "Sorry Not Sorry" "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas" "The Dad-Feelings Limited" "Diary Queen" "Wad Goals" "Yokel Hero" "Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars" "Manger Things" "Uncut Femmes" "Burger Kings" "Panic on the Streets of Springfield" "Mother and Child Reunion" "The Man from G.R.A.M.P.A." "The Last Barfighter" See also Treehouse of Horror list The Simpsons episode guides "The Simpsons Guy" Category

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Three Dreams Denied](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Dreams_Denied) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Dreams_Denied?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.