I'm Spelling As Fast As I Can

Season 14, Episode 12, Aired
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Episode Summary

The kids are getting ready to go back to school. On the first day, Principal Skinner holds an all school Spelling Bee, which Lisa easily wins, allowing her to go to the state spelling finals. If she wins there, she can then go Spellympics. Meanwhile, Homer has been trying Krustyburger's new "Ribwich" and enjoying it immensely. At the state Spelling Bee Lisa wins, but is disappointed with Homer who tells her that "very serious Daddy business" is going to keep him away from her celebration. Homer's daddy business consists of getting more Ribwiches. He is disappointed when the Ribwich is no longer available. Another Ribwich fan (and member of Ribwich Nation) informs Homer that the sandwich is going to be tested in other markets and he shows him the tour schedule. For a moment, Homer considers joining them on their bus tour. For her spelling efforts, Lisa is rewarded with a double-wide locker and she prepares for the Spellympics. At the Spellympics, Lisa makes it to the finals. Homer regrets that he won't be able to attend the finals, as he will be in San Francisco for the last day of the Ribwich. George Plimpton talks to Lisa about getting her to throw the spelling bee so that a more popular competitor can help keep spelling a viable sport. For throwing the bee, Lisa is offered a full scholarship to one of the seven sister's college of her choice. Lisa wrestles with her conscience. In San Francisco, Krusty stops by and tells the crowd they will no longer be making the Ribwich and he tosses them the last one. Homer catches it, and offers are made to him for the last one. He realizes that he's forsaken his daughter's big day for a sandwich and he trades it for a car, which he drives off to Lisa's big event. At the Spellympics, Homer arrives just in time for Lisa to do her final word. With her dad present, she blows the lid off of the rigged contest, but then misspells her word in the process. She loses the contest, but back home in Springfield she is celebrated as "the biggest winner this town has ever had." They even have her likeness carved into the side of a mountain.moreless
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Cast & Crew

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  • Julie Kavner

    Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier

  •

    Harry Shearer

    Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others

  •

    Dan Castellaneta

    Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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  • Lisa enters the Spellyimpics

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Hornets3, Aug 14, 2009 Report Abuse
    This happens to be another one of my favorite episodes from the whole series. The idea of Lisa enterting a huge spelling bee was great, and the idea of Lisa having to throw the spelling bee was even better. This episode was purely just hilarious. My favorite two lines from the episode have to be:

    Judge: Alex, your word is rigged. Alex Can you use it in a sentence, please?
    Judge: Certainly. This competition is rigged. Judge: Your word is weather. Little Girl: Can you use it in a sentence, please?
    Judge: Certainly, I dont know wether or not the weather will improve today. This is a must see episode definately give this episode a watch.moreless

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  • An episode worthy of a good review!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Iverson82094, Aug 23, 2007 Report Abuse
    This was an awesome episode maybe even one of the best! It was very well weitten with many hilarious jokes. As the children go back to school, Principal Skinner has a Spelling bee which Lisa of course wins. She then is asked to compete in the Spelling olympics which she accepts. Meanwhile Homer get addicted to the new Krusty Ribwitch, A new Sandwhich that is only out for a limited time, in Springfield. Homer then chases it from town to town. Elsewhere at the Spelling Olympics Lisa is asked to take a dive and lose the Spelling bee to a little boy named Alex. Will Homer give up his obsession of the ribwitch and see Lisa's spelling bee, and will Lisa win the Spelling bee. Watch the episode and find out.moreless

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  • a good episode

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By jimbo_001, Jan 27, 2006 Report Abuse
    this episode marks the beginning of barney slipping back into alcoholism (though it\'s not the main story) as you can see him in the gutter while lisa is practicing spelling. this is as educational as the rest of the episode, showing how hard it is to stay off the wagon. homer and the ribwich was a great B story and opened up a whole gate for jokes about the ribwich such as the animal having many more legs than 4 and the willingness of ribwich-addicts to trade cars for the last burger ever made. lisa speelling (the main story) was good too but not as good as homer\'s B story.moreless

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  • Lisa enters a spelling competition against of bunch of other smart kids.

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By Star_Blaster, Dec 05, 2005 Report Abuse
    I had my eyes on the TV fr the whole episode, serously, because I did think it was quite a good episode. Too bad Lisa didn't win the competition, but at least she got her head on Mount Springfield. (WOW!) But she did do well in the conest and I was excited if she would win or not. It's quite an educational episode too, as it teaches you to spell. Now the other thing I loved about this episode was Homer and the rib-wich. It was halirious how he couldn't stop eating them and kept following them from town to town. That's another classic Homer scheme and that's what really made me laugh in this episode. Krusty's speech about the creature that rub-wich's were made from becoming extinct was disgusting, but otherwise that was still funny. And Homer did a good deed in giving someone the last Rib-Wich for a guy's car to see the big event. Very good episode with many funny scenes and a great story!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • According to what Lisa says after the first round of the finals, this Spelling Bee takes place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Edit
    • A scene were Bart kisses a Hispanic girl on a bench was shown briefly in a preview but not in the actual show. Edit

  • Notes

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    • When Lisa is in George Plimpton's office, you can see a powder-blue jersey with a big zero on it. This is a reference to Plimpton's brief stint as a third-string quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Edit
    • The opening credits cited this as the 301st episode, even though we know (and they know) it wasn't. Edit
    • As Lisa ran through the street practicing for her spelling bee (in "Rocky" fashion), Barney appeared as a drunk once again, drinking a Duff and asking her to spell "R-E-L-A-P-S-E." Whether or not this remains as continuity remains to be seen... Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Kent Brockman: The Spellympics is being sued by the Olympics for use of the suffix 'lympics.' This has got to be the slowest news day ever! Edit
    • Principal Skinner: Lisa, 'impugn.' Lisa: I-M-P . . . Bart: Hey, Lisa said . . . Nelson: Shut up, pee! Edit
    • George Plimpton: Alex, your word is "rigged." As in, "This contest is rigged." Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Episode Title The episode title is a takeoff of the 1982 movie I'm Dancing As Fast As I Can, starring Jill Clayburgh. Edit
    • The scene when Homer trades the last Ribwich for the ribhead's car, the start of the James Bond theme is heard. Edit
    • Barney's "R-E-L-A-P-S-E" song is a parody of "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" by Aretha Franklin. Edit

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