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In the fall of 1995, about 10 million Americans witnessed Lisa Simpson, one of television's most famous cartoon characters, go vegetarian-with a little help from friends Paul and Linda McCartney.
The episode featuring Lisa's dietary conversion begins with the Simpsons visiting a local petting zoo, where Lisa falls in love a group of sheep. That evening, the Simpsons have lamb chops for dinner, and Lisa makes the connection between the animal lying on her plate and the ones she was petting earlier. "In keeping with Lisa's character, she's faced with a moral crisis and forced to make a decision," says Executive Story Editor David Cohen, who is credited with suggesting Lisa's character on the show.
Lisa decides to quit eating meat for ethical reasons, but soon discovers that being vegetarian means tolerating what seems like a world of morally indifferent carnivores. For starters, her smart-aleck brother, Bart, taunts her mercilessly. But the Pig de Resistance comes when her father, Homer, hosts a meat-laden barbecue whose centerpiece is a pig roasting over an open fire. Lisa offers her family home-made gazpacho, but they reject the alternative. She demolishes the barbecue and flees in disgust.
Fortunately for Lisa, the McCartneys are nearby visiting their old Indian friend, Apu. They offer Lisa moral support, and Paul reveals for the very first time, that "If you play 'Maybe I'm Amazed' backward, you'll hear a recipe for really ripping lentil soup."
Lisa's most important lesson comes when she tells Apu, who is a vegan, that she eats cheese. "You must think I am a monster," Lisa says. "Indeed I do," replies Apu. "But, I have learned long ago to tolerate others rather than forcing my beliefs on them."
A condition of the McCartney's appearance was that Lisa remain a vegetarian for future episodes. Executive Producer (and sometime vegetarian) David Mirkin flew to Sussex, England, to record Linda and Paul's speaking parts at their studio. During the recording session, Linda tried to persuade Mirkin, a self-described "fast food addict," to go vegetarian. "Linda told me "It's not seafood, it's sea life," Mirkin recalls. Watch for the rerun!