A Lost Story: The Simpsons Vs. Barbie Vs. Malibu Stacy

In this episode of The Simpsons Theory, I look into Season 5's 'Lisa Vs. Malibu Stacy' and how it links into Greta Gerwig's 2023 Barbie movie by Mattel. An episode that was inspired by 90s toy Barbie, Teen Talk Barbie. We look into trippy videos, deleted scripts and advertisements that made the writers angry!
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[@lilsvintageworld]

As a child watching the Simpsons, Lisa vs Malibu Stacy was my favourite episode of the Simpsons. As an adult, this episode remains my favourite.

[@jarjarbinks_official4815]

Haven't seen it in a while, but the part where the malibu Stacy doll has a Spider-Man voice box is etched into my mind 💀

[@_God_himself_]

Nothing beats "who killed mr burns"

[@restionSerpentine]

The episode seems to forget key points that happen in its own episode. That little girl at the end was not the only one Lisa Reached. Brittny Brockman got one earlier in the episode, and convinced her father to talk for over an hour about it, which was the catalyst for the Malibu Stacy executives concern.

[@lucinae8510]

I always thought that girl at the end was her, and that's why she was able to look past how shallow Malibu Stacy with a new hat was and listened to Lisa.

[@restionSerpentine]

@@lucinae8510 Nope, they are different girls

[@Stew-D1987]

they broght a new stacy to beat lisa lion heart by adding a new hat and it one but one girl at the end saw through it

[@restionSerpentine]

@@Stew-D1987 Yes, But the girl who bought Lisa lion heart at the End, Was Not Kent Brockman's daughter

[@Ribulose15diphosphat]

Side note: Has anyone noticed, in the Episode "Homers Enemy" Ralph Wiggum enters the Nuclear Power Plant design contest with a "Nuclear Dream House". The closest thing to Barbenheimer, the Simpsons predicted.

[@JagoHazzard]

One of the other things about this episode that I like is that it's one of the few times Smithers plays a part in an episode and it doesn't revolve around Mr Burns or his sexuality. Well, apart from that bit with the computer.

[@Venemofthe888]

"Hello Smithers you are quite good at turning me on" ummm you should probably ignore that

[@skootergirl22]

Smithers is gay. We all know that he's attracted to burns, so he's into older near death men

[@melissacooper8724]

I'm fine with Smithers being gay. But I can never understand why he was in love with Mr. Burns. Mr. Burns is so old you would think that he is a living mummy! Couldn't Smithers do better with younger, more attractive men?

[@kant.68]

Smithers is a gay man obsessed with girls dolls…thats the single gayest thing ever 😂😂

[@kant.68]

@@melissacooper8724 He was in the closet and Me Burns was his life. He developed strong bonds with him, similar to the bonds parents form with their children

[@JennRighter]

These controversies about Barbie are such gray areas. As a woman who was/is a math savant, I have experienced first hand just how much SOME people treat you differently than men. As though they find it impossible a woman could be mathematically, scientifically or mechanically oriented. But those situations are rare. They just stand out in your mind because they’re so infuriating. Being belittled or dismissed by people who don’t have the knowledge or skill that you do is a very frustrating feeling. But on the flip side, many people, including women people, do find mathematics difficult and frustrating. I’m on the fence about it. As a side note, I’m not bragging about the math. I’ve never had to try in any way. I was always just able to understand it. I in no way put in any effort into developing a penchant for math. I also have rarely used my math capabilities in any real life context. So I’m not in anyway being like 🤓well actually…

[@ShintogaDeathAngel]

There are men who find it hard, you just don't hear them talk about it as much.

[@theyakkoman]

A guy here who hated math class and when I heard of the controversy (due to the trivia from the Simpsons episode) I thought "Yeah, but math does suck?! Why is it bad that Barbie wanted to be relatable?" And then I thought, "Oh. Right! Barbie is kind of like Mickey Mouse, stuck in that boring role-model mold were she isn't allowed to be anything but perfect." Everything is extra-scrutinised from everyone, because it is Barbie and because she is so big. She is * the * girls toy, after all. It's a tricky tight-rope to walk for sure.

[@SunshinePIRRATA]

I hope there was more math sucks representation now, I have always struggled with math, and I'm not dumb for it like everyone acts, math is just hard, and my brain struggles with processing numbers and stuff, when there's too many numbers I see shapes instead of digits, and learning math is though for me, specially when nobody gives enough fcks to help out because "You are limiting yourself by thinking it's hard", man, I just hope I could stopped being shamed for that stuff and finally relate to a character that isn't some kind of mean girl or bimbo or jock or bad horrible person painted in a bad light.

[@minervamclitchie3667]

Actually I'm a genius and I can't do math conventionally. I soared through math doing it my way.

[@sexysolaire1203]

well that was like 30 years ago so while it might be a rare thing to happen now im sure back then it happend way more

[@breannaperkins88]

I actually watched "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" episode an hour before I went to see Barbie with my niece. Also, despite being a baby when Teen Talk Barbie came out and as someone who struggled with struggled with math throughout her K-12 and College years, math class IS hard!

[@MaggieCandy999]

You and me both. As a kid I HATED math with a passion! It was my worst subject in school and I dreaded having to take it day in and day out. I was a little toddler at the time Teen Talk Barbie came out so I sadly didn’t own it-but believe me I would have related to that phrase SO HARD if I did and would have liked Barbie even more.

[@chesapeakedproductions3009]

"Math class is tough." Such an inspirational qoute

[@JD-iu6rv]

“My Spidey sense is tingling! Anybody call for a web slinger?”

[@thatcomicandmangafanfromdublin]

Such an inspiration

[@daelen.cclark]

“HeLLO, Smithers… you’re quite gOOd… at turning… me ON…“ … “You probably should ignore that.”

[@Logitah]

I am so happy this episode was made! Just the fact that Lisa is a little girl who wants to change the world is amazing! When I was little, she not only validated my intellectual hobbies (reading and art), but also my love for Barbie and other girly toys. ❤❤❤

[@MissDarlaDeville]

So true, same here

[@Mister_Dollz]

That whole drama surrounding Teen Talk Barbie was ridiculous, because Math class IS tough, it’s a very difficult subject for probably millions of people.

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

You're not wrong, Math is tricky!

[@daelen.cclark]

That’s what I was thinking when I first heard the controversy. When haven’t they been tough?

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

She says math class is tough,NOT impossible. Math is tough!!!!😠😠😠😠😠

[@markkenny2001]

​@@TheSimpsonsTheoryBarbie (2023) is hilarious.

[@ericariley1696]

Agreed. The educators at the time had too much faith in their students, especially the girls.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

7:45 That gag was hilarious then and STILL HOLDS UP TODAY!!! 😂😂😂

[@thehonoredone2361]

As a man I can say without a doubt math is the worst, Malibu Stacy can do math better then I can. Like I need a calculator for even the most basic of math related problems/questions.

[@mightyfilm]

That's the thing I love about old Simpsons episodes. You go back to them, remember what they're satirizing and then realize oh yeah. That's something that happened. Like how Bart Vs. Australia was based on a story of some kid that sprayed graffiti somewhere in Singapore, and then got a caning from their penal system (something Weird Al sang about at the time). Oh. And I love how the Lego Mr. Smithers figure came with a Malibu Stacy printed tile piece as an accessory. I think it even had the "new hat" referenced on it.

[@missquark_]

She's got a new hat! I loved that episode when it aired, my grandma was an avid Barbie enthousiast, and I played a ton with Barbies as a kid. I didn't realise this was based on a controversial 90s Barbie, to me Barbie spoke even in the 70s, my Grandma had an old one with big eyelashes that spoke gibberish so to me it was as if Lisa was too young to know about that Barbie before and thought it was a new thing.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

We got that Gi Joe Barbie from my Aunt! Im sure its worth something but i still laugh at it and the "Spider Senses are Tingling!" gag!😂❤

[@CSS-Tails_Forever]

I've always liked Malibu Stacy in The Simpsons! 💕

[@sarahtonen719]

Lmaoooo I will never understand the hate for the Teen Talk Barbie. Math class is tough for some people and I mean some 12 year olds are probably going to relate to Barbie saying that. Like some Barbies can LOVE math and be a medical doctor while some Barbies can find math challenging and end up being an Lawyer cause you know women in real life will probably find math tough and some will fall in love with it.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I think it was more to do with the lack of alternative messaging, which lended outsize magnitude to its perceived impressionability. The controversy helped kickstart STEM outreach programs for girls AIUI.

[@seannanana84]

They could have had her say anything, but chose that. Its not that math isn't hard (I am personally terrible at it myself) it was leaning into a terrible stereotype of women being bad at STEM which is blatantly untrue.

[@ACatCalledDeath]

For real. I had this Barbie when I was a kid and she didn’t make me feel stupid for being a girl, she made me feel like she identified with a struggle that most kids have regardless of gender; academics can be hard. She didn’t teach me to give up, if anything she encouraged me. She taught me that I could be anything regardless of a temporary setback. Barbie was everything from an astronaut to a rockstar so if she found stuff hard sometimes, like me, that meant i too could overcome my struggles and grow up to be anything I set my mind to. Just like Barbie.

[@sharpasacueball]

Simpsons have really done everything!

[@denisejones480]

FACTS

[@lauraazure6462]

This episode meant alot too me aswell when I was a little girl! I was always into weird things other girls weren't. I tried too fit in so much and I never did but Lisa always kind of helped me through that growing up for a long time.

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

0:17 Don't ask me! I'm just a girl 😂

[@darkmask5933]

This felt like it should have been a pivotal moment for Lisa around the level of Lisa becoming a vegetarian, like before this episode Lisa liking Malibu Stacy was a seldom seen but noticeable aspect of the character (like when Homer bribes Lisa with lots of Malibu Stacy accessories), however at some point they decided Lisa likes the doll again. I don't know if this happened gradually, or all at once but in a recent episode I think when the Simpsons were trapped indoors because of a caterpillar pandemic Homer gave Lisa a Malibu Stacy Mini Mall Playset, and Lisa was super excited about it.

[@seannanana84]

Hands down one of my favorite episodes of The Simpsons. I was a young girl when it originally aired (around 9 years old) and I was just starting to outgrow my Barbies. Seeing a Lisa-Centric episode was a big enough deal for me but her excitment followed by disappointment then followed by her drive for change after hearing what Malibu Stacy had to say has stayed with me all these years later. It makes me happy to know the motivation behind the episode and so sad but not shocked by how it was promoted by Fox. And Kathleen Turner is a goddess. I love her so much

[@floralinadeglencoe408]

My younger sister had Teen talk Barbie! She did not said that math is though, however. The french version was certainly different. You can spot Teen talk Barbie in the movie, in the house of weird Barbie , among the models Mattel is not proud of... Scientist Barbie exist for ten years now, and even if in the movie, Sasha accuses Barbie to be a "fascist", and thus a bad role model like Malibu Stacy. But I consider Barbie to have become a Lisa Lionheart since, notably due to models such as computer engineer or president.

[@JoshRazauskas]

I had no idea that this particular episode was so poignant, and the reasons behind them doing the things they did! This was really fun to watch! Great job Lydia! I can’t wait to hear more about the new book although to be honest, I’m always so broke. I never got around to buying the first time, but I hope to be able to change that soon!

[@LowellLucasJr.]

This was a great episode Lydia! The Malibu Stacy incident with Lisa has always been a great Hallmark to corporate and underhanded tactics! Hard to believe this sucker was only season 3 yet still wonderful classic nonetheless!

[@ProjectWTH]

I LOVED THIS EPISODE AS A KIDDD!!! I remember showing it to my family and telling them all the barbie facts and the barbie the episode was based on!!!

[@tarvinneekomainitakaan]

While I don't have any personal relationship with Barbie, I've always been a big fan of this episode. It's a perfect example of what I want the satirical episodes of The Simpsons to be: it has something meaningful to say about a real life phenomenon and the courage to take a stance; it's inspired by something that was recent at the time but is timeless enough to feel relevant decades afterwards; it combines a rather pessimistic view of the world and human nature (you can’t beat big business because people can be easily tricked to prefer their brands for irrational reasons) with an idealistic spirit that avoids falling into cynicism (just one kid buying Lisa’s doll is portrayed as a bittersweet moral victory for her); and both the main plot and subplot are genuinely funny. My favourite part is "But she's got a new hat!" just because its both funny and accurate take on consumerism (an existing product is given a meaningless "improvement" and marketing creates a fake need for people to have this "new" thing).

[@GeteMachine]

Very ironic the advertisement for the episode was like that despite the intended theme for it being the opposite or criticizing that marketing, only for it to be done for the episode itself. So ironic they could have used it in the show for the corporation to do to oppose Lisa's doll.

[@JohnnyTong215]

I failed 3 math classes in community college!!! That how hard the subject is!!!

[@AnABSOLUTEBarbarian]

I’ve been thinking this ever since the trailer dropped! I was like, this is just like that Simpson’s episode…lol

[@rodan9773]

I was thinking to myself the over day who would win MALIBU STACY or BARBIE and he is the video for that nice. Have you thought about making a Video counting up all The Fights in The Simpsons both Physical and Emotional ?. Respect and keep up the epic work.

[@British_747]

Longest commemnt in 5 minuetes

[@TheCbazza]

Stacy: don’t ask me. I’m just a girl *laughs* Bart: Right on. Say it sister Funniest moment in the entire episode to me 😂

[@thatguysstuff15]

People forget that barbie was supposed to be a fashion drawing in 3d ! It had nothing to do with her weight or bust size ! Thats the way they drew fashion on paper !!! To show off the dress ! So initially , the fashion was the doll and the doll was the accessory !!!! Surprised not many people know this about her !!!

[@isabeld.paredes4923]

Some of my favorite episodes of The Simpsons feature Lisa. This happens to be one of them. Thanks for your commentary on it! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@nidoqueen106]

I also found it funny that in this episode of the simpsons they act as if only 1 girl bought lisa lionheart when it was revealed earlier that kent brockman's daughter also had a lisa lionheart doll

[@thatroccotaco]

I love the simpsons I’ve watched every episode in only 1 year 💀

[@Logitah]

Whoa! 😯

[@MTTT19]

I was dragged by a friend to see the Barbie Movie. I have to say while the movie isn't really for me, the writing and the jokes were a lot stronger than I had expected. Also, my friend wanted me to wear pink to the movie. I refused and opted for a compromise and wound up wearing my Margot Robbie Harley Quinn T-Shirt.

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

Ah that's still a solid effort

[@daniapfel2825]

I understand

[@tylrrny_]

“Not now, I’m too drunk” loved that episode!

[@jtszabo1691]

I remember a commercial for the episode focusing on the subplot with grandpa at krusty burger

[@Polycomical]

Fab video, this is one of my fave episodes "Release me from your kung-fu grip", "That and I was funneling profits to the Viet Cong" and "Well you were right about the Berlin Wall" are just a few gems in this episode. But yeah interesting to see the wider implications and goes to show how long The Simpsons has been on that there is no way they'd get away with that horrible promo now.

[@mathieuleader8601]

never knew this episode had such an interesting backstory

[@hugonaegelen3940]

A video on the Simpson’s video games (especially hit&run) would be really interesting from your pov.

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

I don't think "Math is hard!" Barbie is about closing a door on children. It's showing them that their toys have real problems which they can relate to. Just like the Simpsons does sometimes.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

2:07 The voice clips shown here ("No escape for the guilty!" and "Vengeance is mine!") are from a talking figure of Marvel's The Punisher. I remember pushing the buttons to make him talk in the store numerous times as a kid (and most likely annoying any adults that were around). There were talking figures in this line of other Marvel characters too, including Spider-Man. And there was a Venom that said "I wanna eat your brain", which some parents got upset about.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

Lots of girls will say they can relate to the 'math is hard' comment and that will be taken as a argument for 'it's not that serious. It would've been just another relatable school aged comment but for the minds that made it. That's what people miss about these points; The minds behind them and the intent.

[@ChakadowGabe]

Ooohhh can’t wait for that book!! Merch also fascinates me, looking forward to the deep dive and pics

[@michel7700]

I can't wait to see your book, new subscriber here!

[@mathieuleader8601]

the found footage film by that rebel group reminded of that Small Soliders movie

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

My husband said the same thing 😂

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

In hindsight, I don't think the Barbie saying "math is hard" was trying to dissuade girls from liking math. For a lot of people, math is hard. I was never any good at math, but I absolutely loved science. It's more of a relatable phrase that girls can vibe with.

[@peterthosegriffins666]

I really like these detailed studies of episodes I'd like to see more of this type of content!

[@stg4theglitchog768]

I'm sure if they made the ad about a living human sized Malibu Stacy telling Bart that what he was doing was wrong, it would have been better.

[@TVVENCH]

Great video, Lydia. Really nicely researched and enjoyable ✨

[@lanternsown3525]

I can't wait to read y'alls next book I enjoyed The Simpsons Secret very much.

[@alyssamoore3626]

"Release me from your kung-fu grip." "I'll burn your house to the ground, missy."

[@JT5555]

to be fair,math class is tough.

[@LUVBOTZ]

A friend of mine told me it was her college art professor who was behind the Barbie Liberation Front. I remember when that whole thing went down, I thought it was hilarious. Math was always a tough subject for me, but I also hated that Mattel put that phrase in Barbie. When I was growing up, Barbie's slogan was "We girls can do anything", and then here comes this doll who's like, "Well, except math." I think by that point Barbie moved on to a different slogan but still it was kind of a mixed message.

[@melissacooper8724]

I'm surprised that it wasn't the reason that the phrase ruffled some feathers!

[@kaitlyn__L]

I don’t take much umbrage to calling Barbie/Stacy sexy given Barbie’s origins as a raunchy German (French? I think German) doll given as a gag gift to grown guys. Imported to the USA and sold to girls as a dressup doll. (And that’s not even getting-into all of the depraved things people have talked about doing to their Barbies while growing up!) That said, Bart’s presence in the ad and the ad copy was clearly an attempt at misdirection. The 90s, and American networks especially, were just the worst for that. You should see some of UPN’s trailers for Star Trek, they marketed depressing episodes about fascist planets as sexy sex-fests!

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@Attmay 100%. The ad guys were completely uncoupled from production! (Heh, she said coupled)

[@Hoodie23]

Another wonderful video!

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jdg9825]

this has always been such a fave ep of mine

[@daniapfel2825]

2:57 Oh man it’s a big collection that

[@matthewschauenburg]

Thanks for posting.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Thanks for the breakdown

[@wowagemo8948]

That talk box with “Vengeance is mine” is from the punisher toy

[@simsgirlgem]

I always found that dumb because I’m not good at math

[@92JazzQueen]

However, corporates feeling threatened by alternative dolls is a thing that captures Mattel's cutthroat mentality.

[@cursorguy]

I feel like the outrage against that phrase was mostly unnecessary. I bet if they made a ken version he would say the same thing

[@dylanbenavides3251]

Barbie movie is a rip off of “brick like me” They’re both in a world where everything’s perfect then homer and Barbie get a part of there body turns like the real world then they learn that their world isn’t perfect and they go into a different dimension to fix everything but it doesn’t work

[@scarletstoker8698]

I think it’s possible that the episodes add could just have been a subversion of the episode. Thus people that saw the ad would have thought a certain way going in and the meaning behind the episode would have hit harder to those who viewed the ad

[@SezFrancis1]

Yes! Been waiting for this! Thanks for this, Lydia! 😀

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

Hope you like it!

[@SezFrancis1]

@@TheSimpsonsTheory I'm loving it already! 💕

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Math is hard, especially when you have a learning disability like myself.

[@LarvaHeroes]

One of the best animated movies....

[@miscellaneoussarnian5282]

hey, does The Simpsons have any episodes with nuclear bombs as a main focus/driving point what? we got the "Barb" now we're just waiting on -a miracle- (damn! as an Encanto fan, its really hard for me to not -talk about Bruno- blurt that out) the "enheimer"

[@EvaFull]

Can’t wait to preorder your book. That part of entertainment has always fascinated me because of all the different possible licensing contracts & products produced from them.

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

So excited for you to read it, Simpsons licensing was crazy in the early 90s!

[@EvaFull]

@@TheSimpsonsTheory I am old enough to remember that era vividly. I’ll never forget watching the Debut during Christmas Break shortly after the spin off was announced. I had so much Bart & Homer merch early on. Two things I wish I still had are my Bart Simpson pencil box that was orange and my either navy blue or purple Homer Simpson hat that said “Why you little (with censorship symbols 😂)”. In the last few years I found out that I still had two of the original Christmas ornaments from 1990 in my possession (Bart & Homer’s). Was surprised when I noticed them while getting decorations out. Once I realized what they were I pulled them off to the side until I get a better place to display them all the time. I vaguely also remember owning the Bart “Don’t have a Cow Man” T-shirt too as a kid then.

[@borntoclimb7116]

I love the simpsons parody of consume and waste money for buying new useless toys.

[@SharkNomNom-ns6qu]

Never saw the promos for this episode but now am retrospectively angry.

[@Raul-bw2xl]

Will you ever do a complete timeline of Miss Hoover

[@tomlazoriksuccessfitness]

Loved the video! Had very similar thoughts while watching Barbie. Really enjoyed the movie, but Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy is certainly a favorite

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Leopoldshark]

Let's forget our troubles with a big bowl of strawberry ice cream

[@KissyAdair]

2:19 - I'd be pissed as fuck. Did they ever get in trouble? It seems like if you tamper with toys before putting them back on the shelves like they're brand new, but you've switched Barbie's and GI Joe's voice boxes, you should get in trouble for that.

[@queendonut1044]

I Love Your Channel & Videos

[@johndurham6172]

This shows how much the Simpson's has influenced modern day writers.

[@dante8641]

been here since 1000 subs been amazing to see your channel grow keep it up and you'll hit 1 million subscribers one day.

[@TheSimpsonsTheory]

Thank you for being subscribed for so long, it really means alot to me! :D

[@amyadams9970]

One of the great classics

[@christopheredwards788]

Great video

[@lenners9701]

Your subscriber count has tripled since the last time I commented on one of your videos 😂. It's fantastic how far you've come

[@grapeshot]

Anybody call a wall crawler?

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I am going to watch this episode at work.

[@CaptainCat101]

I'm a dude and I hate Math class... GIVE ME THAT DOLL!

[@joaopedrodosreis6127]

But math class IS tough!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Cab you do video about the cameos of the famous ppl on the show..

[@thatcomicandmangafanfromdublin]

The teen talk barbie made me wonder is math class REALLY tough

[@alijaberpro]

Can you a video about lost simpsons media

[@bottyuup6885]

I'm looking forward to it

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Can you do a video about Simpson food.

[@TheEmilyhudson]

I can’t wait for that book! It sounds amazing. I’ve always been interested in Warren’s collection😍

[@MayorPicche]

Love the video! And from Italy a Little fin fact: Stacy Lovell in the italian dub of the Simpson is dubbed by a man! Leo Gullotta who dub also Manny in the Ice Age movies!

[@SleepyLuigi]

That was a pretty unforgettable episode.

[@chad9186]

Why didn't you use the Simpsons tv and what tv was that?

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Trust in yourself and you can achieve anything. Powerful ❤