Alone Again, Natura-Diddily

"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 11
Episode 14
Directed byJim Reardon
Written byIan Maxtone-Graham
Production codeBABF10
Original air dateFebruary 13, 2000 (2000-02-13)
Guest appearance
Shawn Colvin as Rachel Jordan
Episode features
Chalkboard gag"My suspension was not 'mutual'"
Couch gagThe Simpsons come in on bumper cars. Homer is then pinned to the wall and slammed repeatedly.
CommentaryMike Scully
George Meyer
Ian Maxtone-Graham
Matt Selman
Jim Reardon
Mark Kirkland
Episode chronology
List of episodes

"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" is the fourteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American television series The Simpsons, and marks the final regular appearance of the character Maude Flanders. The episode aired on Fox on February 13, 2000. In the episode, she is killed in an accident while watching an auto race, devastating Ned Flanders and prompting Homer to find a new woman for his grieving friend. After a series of unsuccessful dates, Ned begins to question his faith in God. However, his faith is restored after hearing the female lead singer of a Christian rock band, played by guest star Shawn Colvin, sing in church. The episode's title is a parody of the song title "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.

The episode was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham and directed by Jim Reardon. Maude was voiced by Marcia Mitzman Gaven after regular voice actor Maggie Roswell had left the show over a pay dispute, and the producers decided to kill off the character to open up for new storylines. The episode was viewed in 10.8 million households during its original broadcast, and was the highest-rated show on Fox the week it aired.

A commercial for "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" that aired before the episode was broadcast was criticized by many viewers because it showed that the episode was parodying a 1999 incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina that left three spectators dead. Then-Fox affiliate WCCB in Charlotte, North Carolina refused to show the commercial, but after viewing the episode they came to the conclusion that it was not making fun of the incident.

Reviews of "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" from television critics have been mixed.


© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search