Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Lisa the Skeptic

Lisa the Skeptic
This nomination predates the introduction in April 2014 of article-specific subpages for nominations and has been created from the edit history of Today's featured article/requests.


 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/November 4, 2013 by BencherliteTalk 13:11, 21 October 2013 (UTC)



"Lisa the Skeptic" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons ' ninth season, first aired in November 1997. On an archaeological dig with her class, Lisa discovers a skeleton that resembles an angel. All of the townspeople believe that the skeleton actually came from an angel, but skeptical Lisa attempts to persuade them that there must be a rational scientific explanation. The episode's writer David X. Cohen (pictured) developed the idea after visiting the American Museum of Natural History, and decided to loosely parallel themes from the Scopes Monkey Trial. There were mixed reviews. It has been discussed in the context of virtual reality, ontology, existentialism, and skepticism; it has also been used in Christian religious education classes to initiate discussion about angels, skepticism, science, and faith.


 * Diversity: Subject is underrepresented at FA &mdash; Scientific skepticism is underrepresented subject at FA = +1 point.
 * Article promoted more than two years ago: 10 February 2008 = +2 points.
 * Relevant date: 16-year anniversary of episode air-date = +1 point.
 * A similar article has not been TFA within three months of requested date - been a while since we've had an article from The Simpsons WikiProject contributors = +1 point.
 * Scientific skepticism is an educational topic to bring to the attention of our readers.


 * Support, as nom. &mdash; Cirt (talk) 20:54, 20 October 2013 (UTC)
 * 0 points (2 year FA = +2, within a month of the last TV episode (Quatermass II, 22nd October) = -2; nothing for diversity (as this is in the WP:FA section, which has more than 50 articles) or date relevance (as this aired on 23 November 1997)). Although perhaps we should point out for the benefit of those who didn't see the nominations for 24th November or 4th November earlier on that you've suggested 6th November to avoid treading on the toes of an anticipated Doctor Who nomination for 23rd November, its 50th anniversary (and vice versa), and you would no doubt want to point out (quite correctly) that points aren't everything and that The Simpsons is rather different from Quatermass and Doctor Who. Let's see what people think about this. BencherliteTalk 22:18, 20 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Support - Even with zero points, it is 100% true that The Simpsons is a very different animal than Dr. Who, so I don't mind the dates being close together. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 02:17, 21 October 2013 (UTC)