Worst...Guest Star...Ever

Leading up to Sunday's episode of The Simpsons, the commercials proclaimed "Guest-starring American Idol's Fantasia Barrino!" The promo blurb said the same: "Lisa...panics when another contestant (Fantasia Barrino) outperforms her." They promoted this guest appearance almost as much as Ray Romano's the week before, and that was the 350th episode.

So what did Fantasia do? Her character appeared onscreen, sang a song, disappeared for several minutes, and then cried. She didn't have a single word of spoken dialogue, she didn't do anything funny, and she wasn't necessary to the story. Her appearance was the animated equivalent of Lifehouse playing Smallville High's prom a few weeks back, justified only because of promotional value.