You Are Lisa Simpson

Even if it's her own father diminishing her, she must have a voice. We can't simply let her endure it. Before the teacher leaves Springfield, he hands Lisa a note, telling her, “Whenever you feel like you’re alone and there’s nobody you can rely on, this is all you need to know.” When she opens it, it reads: You are Lisa Simpson.”

"Lisa’s Substitute," an installment from The Simpsons' second season, penned by the dependable storyteller Jon Vitti, may not have been the inaugural tearjerker for viewers. Nonetheless, it stands out as one of the most genuinely heartfelt half-hours the animated sitcom has ever produced.

In a recent interview, Yeardley Smith opened up about "Lisa's Substitute," a second-season episode, recalling how she shed tears during a poignant exchange between Lisa and Homer (Dan Castellaneta).

The plot revolves around Lisa's teacher, Miss Hoover (Maggie Roswell), taking a medical leave due to suspected Lyme disease. Mr. Bergstrom (Dustin Hoffman) steps in as the substitute teacher, captivating Lisa with his inspiring teaching methods, and reigniting her passion for learning. Upon Miss Hoover's return, Lisa grapples with the absence of her mentor but eventually finds solace in other positive role models, including her father, Homer.

While the secondary storyline in "Lisa’s Substitute" reflects the era's prevalent theme of Bart Simpson's underachievement and pride, the primary focus centers on Lisa and her admiration for the new teacher, Mr. Bergstrom.

The episode delves into an 8-year-old girl's longing to be recognized by a male authority figure, a sentiment not fully realized with her own father. It includes powerful moments, such as Lisa's outburst at Homer for his insensitivity， and her tearful farewell to Mr. Bergstrom, voiced in the episode by Dustin Hoffman. Before the teacher leaves Springfield, he hands Lisa a note, telling her, “Whenever you feel like you’re alone and there’s nobody you can rely on, this is all you need to know.” When she opens it, it reads: You are Lisa Simpson.

The train station scene in "Lisa's Substitute" stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant moments in Simpsons history, largely due to the powerful performances of Hoffman and Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa. Recording this episode left a lasting impact on Smith, describing it as "one of the most fantastic, fulfilling, meaningful, lovely, generous days of my career." She attributes this partly to the connection she forged with Hoffman and her deep empathy for Lisa's experiences. Despite finding it challenging to cry on cue, Smith recalls that the train station scene evoked genuine emotions, leading her to “absolutely bawl every single take.”

"Lisa’s Substitute" premiered in April 1991. Do you recall your initial encounter with the script?

We typically received the script the night before recording, read it on Thursday, and then recorded the following Monday, a mere four days later. This schedule was unusual due to Dustin Hoffman's guest appearance, credited as "Sam Etic" as a playful nod to “Semitic.”

I was flown to New York to record alongside Dustin Hoffman, a highly unusual arrangement. While he could have easily recorded alone in a studio, James L. Brooks insisted on us recording together in person. It was truly one of the highlights of my career. Some may perceive voice-over work as a lesser form of acting since your face isn't seen, but I've never shared that sentiment. Especially on that day with Dustin Hoffman, who seemed equally engaged. I was starstruck and in awe of the entire experience. Having James L. Brooks direct that day, a rarity made it even more special.

That particular episode belonged to the second season. I already had a deep affection for my character. Initially introduced as a kind of grace note on the Tracey Ullman Show during our little bumpers, she developed beautifully and rapidly. I felt a profound connection to her. Dustin Hoffman's contribution to the scene where he bids farewell to Lisa on the train platform left me in tears. I was utterly overwhelmed by emotion.

I'm a bit sheepish recounting this, but I've shared it before: In a poignant gesture, Dustin Hoffman hands Lisa a note as he departs, seeing her distraught state. The note reads, "You are Lisa Simpson." Initially, I felt a pang of disappointment. I thought, "Is this all?" It didn't occur to me then that the message was profound — it was about being enough. This speaks to the deep-seated inadequacy I grappled with for much of my life. While my perspective has evolved, at the time, I was striving to find fulfillment externally. If the note had said, "You are Yeardley Smith," I would have dismissed it. I simply didn't grasp its significance, which contributed to my emotional outpouring.

Jon Vitti, the episode's writer, mentioned on a DVD commentary track the writers' apprehension about crafting what could be deemed a "touchy-feely" episode, considering the show's comedic focus. Despite Lisa having her own storylines previously, the cultural spotlight often centered on Bart. When I read the script, it resonated with me immediately. There had been a similarly emotive episode where Lisa meets Bleeding Gums Murphy, inspired by Jim Brooks. While some writers were skeptical, recognizing it deviated from The Simpsons' typical tone, they couldn't refuse Jim Brooks. Thus, they penned what turned out to be a magical episode.

Bart Simpson held the spotlight for many years, embodying Matt Groening himself, evident in the anagram of "Bart" to "brat." It was always meant to be that way. Then came a phase where Homer took center stage, evolving into the epitome of absurdity. There were seasons where Lisa Simpson faced undue cruelty. While I didn't always prevail in those battles, I fought fiercely. I refuse to stand by while my character is mistreated. Even if it's her own father diminishing her, she must have a voice. We can't simply let her endure it.

Smith delved deeper into how her personal experiences shaped her performance. She reflected, “I realized that despite being deeply loved by my dad, our relationship wasn't easy. The episode's theme mirrored my own life at that time: feeling unseen by my father, much like Lisa with Homer. Expressing that immense sorrow of feeling overlooked was cathartic. I knew I needed to embrace that vulnerability, trusting that emotional clarity would emerge.”

Do you always find yourself tearing up at the same moments, or do the emotions strike you differently each time?

The emotions hit me at various points. There were occasions during recording when I cried so intensely that my words were incomprehensible. They'd say, “Okay, Yeardley, great. You need to dial it back a little bit.”

Are you surprised by your emotional response?

Absolutely, but I'm grateful I trusted it and allowed myself that vulnerability without censoring it. Crying in front of Dustin Hoffman was daunting. He's such an iconic figure. Allowing the emotions to flow authentically felt right. I genuinely believe it's the best episode we've ever produced. It's certainly one of my favorites. I maintain an ongoing top ten list, and while I discover other great episodes upon rewatching, “Lisa’s Substitute” will always be in the top two.