Alone Again, Natura-Diddily
"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.
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.
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.
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.
The Simpson family are hiking in the countryside, which Lisa says is "paradise"; but she is dismayed when they discover that a bird sanctuary is encircled by an oval racing track.
Later, a squad of cheerleaders fires free T-shirts from air cannons into the crowd, and a shirtless Homer urges them to send him one.
Homer goes home with Ned after the funeral and tries to console him, but realizes his actions had a role in Maude's death - admitting that he had parked in the ambulance zone, thus preventing any possible resuscitation.
[1] When the writing staff conceived the idea for the speedway parts, they were thinking that it would be a great opportunity for them to get several NASCAR drivers to make guest appearances in the episode.
[2] The episode features the death of the character Maude Flanders,[3] who had previously been voiced by cast member Maggie Roswell.
This kill-off was the result of Roswell leaving The Simpsons in spring 1999 after a pay dispute with the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs the show.
[13] Executive producer Mike Scully said it "was a chance for one of our regular characters [Ned Flanders] to face a challenge and grow in a new direction.
[23] In that episode, she stays at the Flanders' house with Ned, and leaves briefly after he attempted to mold her in the image of his deceased wife.
[27][28] The Wisconsin State Journal reported that during her 2001 concert at Barrymore Theatre, the "loudest audience response came after she sang a ditty that she performed as a character on The Simpsons.
[32] However, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times that was published on the day the episode aired, "all the advance rumors suggest that Ned Flanders' wife, Maude, should watch her back.
Gregory Hardy of the Orlando Sentinel placed it at number eleven on his list of the show's fifteen best episodes that target the world of sports.
[35] Writing for IGN, Robert Canning gave the episode a 7 out of 10 rating, commenting that he thought the three acts felt disconnected.
"[37] Winnipeg Free Press columnist Randall King wrote in his review of the eleventh season of The Simpsons that there is "something undeniably funny about having Maude Flanders die by a barrage of T-shirts fired by air cannons at a speedway.
"[39] Lowe's Motor Speedway announced to WSOC-TV's Channel 9 Eyewitness News on February 7, 2000 that they were thinking of placing a complaint to the Fox Broadcasting Company.
[40] Antonia Coffman, a spokeswoman for The Simpsons, told The Charlotte Observer that "the Lowe's incident didn't inspire the scene" and that the episode was not meant to offend anyone.
