Lisa's essay wins the Simpsons a trip to Washington, D.C., where her faith in democracy is shaken by her unethical Congressman.
Political satire carries a slower-burn episode with 61 jokes spread across its civic duty narrative.
Directed by Wes Archer · Written by George Meyer
WAR
34.2
Wins Above Replacement
“Mr Lisa Goes To Washington” ranks #217 of 226 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 70.6 — Solid. The episode packs 61 scored jokes at 3.1 per minute, averaging 6.7 on craft and 6.4 on impact, with Homer landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
And this will be one nation under the dollar... with liberty and justice for none.
Oh, Marge, cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh.
Homer Meta/Self-Referential Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Lisa, after meeting your father... I've decided to award you an additional five points.
Judge Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Simpson, eh? How very strange. His job description clearly specifies an illiterate.
Mr. Burns Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch I can't believe it. The system works.
Lisa Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm All Jokes — 61 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ One million dollars. I'm rich!
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline See where it says 'Void, void, void' and 'This is not a check'? 'Cash value 1/20th of a cent.' 'Mr. Banker, do not honor.' - Shut up.
Every time you get a million dollars, something queers the deal.
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch I don't think real checks have exclamation points.
Lisa Observational Deadpan/Understatement Marge, I never read a magazine in my life, and I'm not gonna start now.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Hey, a cartoon!
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Ain't it the truth? No, it's not the truth, Homer. It's well-documented that women are safer drivers than men.
Oh, Marge, cartoons don't have any deep meaning. They're just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh.
Homer Meta/Self-Referential Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Hey, you don't wanna eat? What you do, get one of them stomach staples?
Barney Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort As Tolstoy said in Quotable Notables... 'Give me learning, sir, and you may keep your black bread.'
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Simpson, eh? How very strange. His job description clearly specifies an illiterate.
Mr. Burns Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch They take hundreds of magazines, filter out the crap... and leave you with something that fits right in your front pocket.
Homer Observational Character Comedy Homer, he obviously got out alive if he wrote the article. Don't be so-- Oh, you're right.
Marge Setup/Punchline Reaction Beat That reminds me. 'Seven ways to spice up your marriage.'
Homer Setup/Punchline Cringe/Discomfort 'You have a nice body... and if you'd like to see me in a costume, you have only to ask.'
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Wow! Little meat loaf men!
Bart Visual Gag Character Comedy Mom, it's a nice thought, but we both know that this is the pony to bet on.
Lisa Character Comedy Setup/Punchline He'd say, uh... 'Think of a better opening.'
Lisa Setup/Punchline Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Do kids still use that word 'cool'?
Marge Character Comedy Observational Sweetheart, there's nothing I wouldn't do for that magazine.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm six white stripes... seven red stripes and a hell of a lot of stars
A little too good for an eight-year-old. Me thinks I detect the sickly scent of the daddy.
Could you touch your nose for me? Hmm.
Lisa, after meeting your father... I've decided to award you an additional five points.
Judge Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Wa-hoo! Who would have guessed... reading and writing would pay off?
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy No, thank you. I'd rather push this button. Oops! - No! - We're all gonna die!
Look, Marge, that guy has the same last name we do.
Homer Observational Character Comedy Oh, boo yourself.
Homer Character Comedy Reaction Beat Shoe goes on, shoe goes off, shoe goes on, shoe goes off.
Homer Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Hey, I call first bedsies. - Bart, there's no such thing as first bedsies. You just made that up.
What the-- D'oh! Stupid welcoming mint!
Homer Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Wake-up call? It's 2:00 a.m. - Sorry, fatso.
That thing is really, really, really... good.
Lisa Character Comedy Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch What does the 'I' stand for again? - Oh!
'On this spot, Richard Nixon bowled back-to-back 300 games.' - Yeah, right.
Barbara Bush! Oh, you have those damn badges.
Lousy, cheap country.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm As you can see in our artist's rendition, it's full of old growth... just aging and festering away.
Lobbyist Dark/Subversive Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Offer me a bribe? Oh, what is it?
Tot shot always plays in the sticks.
If I ever vote, it'll be for him.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Later, she appeared on the highly unpopular 75-cent piece.
'I will iron your sheets when you iron out... the inequities in your labor laws.' - Amen, sister.
Well, let me put it this way, Jerry. Timber!
Mr. Lincoln-- I need your advice. What can I do to make this a better country? Is this a good time to buy a house? I can't get my boy to brush.
I never did anything important-- just the Declaration of Independence... the Louisiana Purchase, the dumbwaiter--
Cool! A ruckus.
Bart Character Comedy Reaction Beat And this will be one nation under the dollar... with liberty and justice for none.
Lisa Wordplay/Pun Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch And this will be one nation under the dollar... with liberty and justice for none.
A little girl... is losing faith in democracy. Good Lord!
You work fast. I work for Uncle Sam.
Your bosses? - Yep. All 250 million of them.
Where else but in America-- or possibly Canada-- could our family find such opportunity?
I couldn't think of a nice way to say America stinks.
I couldn't think of a nice way to say America stinks.
Lisa Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy I can't believe it. The system works.
Lisa Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm I can't believe it. The system works.
I can't believe it. The system works.
Lisa Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm D'oh!
Homer Character Comedy Callback Callback Top Episodes — The Simpsons