"I Love Lisa" | |
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The Simpsons episode | |
![]() Promotional image, depicting Lisa and Ralph playing on the swings. | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 15 |
Directed by | Wes Archer |
Written by | Frank Mula |
Production code | 9F13 |
Original air date | February 11, 1993 |
Guest appearance | |
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Episode features | |
Chalkboard gag | "I will not call the principal "spud head""[2] |
Couch gag | The family and various circus performers form a kickline, turning the living room into a circus extravaganza.[3] |
Commentary | Matt Groening Al Jean Frank Mula Wes Archer David Silverman |
"I Love Lisa" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on February 11, 1993. In the episode, Lisa gives Ralph Wiggum a Valentine's Day card when she sees that he has not received any. Ralph misinterprets Lisa's gesture and, much to Lisa's dismay, relentlessly pursues her with affection. Lisa snaps at Ralph and angrily tells him they are not together and that she never liked him. Heartbroken, Ralph channels his feelings into his performance as George Washington in the school's President's Day pageant. After a thunderous applause from the audience, he is able to accept Lisa as just a friend.
The episode was written by Frank Mula and directed by Wes Archer. Michael Carrington guest-starred as Sideshow Raheem. Al Jean, show runner of the episode, came up with the idea for the story when he remembered that he had received a valentine from a girl in third grade that read "I Choo-Choo-Choose You". The episode features cultural references to songs such as "Monster Mash" and "Break on Through", and to the cartoon character Droopy.
Since airing, "I Love Lisa" has received mostly positive reviews from television critics; Entertainment Weekly placed the episode twelfth on their top 25 The Simpsons episodes list. It acquired a Nielsen rating of 14.9 and was the highest rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.
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