"Life on the Fast Lane", also known as "Jacques to Be Wild" in the UK, is the ninth episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 18, 1990. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman. Albert Brooks (in his second of nine appearances) guest starred as Jacques, a French bowling instructor, with him being credited as "A. Brooks". The episode deals with how Homer's thoughtlessness precipitates Marge's infatuation with her bowling instructor Jacques, leading to a marriage crisis between her and Homer. In the original plan for the episode, Brooks (who improvised much of his dialogue) was to voice a Swedish tennis coach called Björn, with the episode to be titled "Björn to Be Wild". The episode features a parody of the film An Officer and a Gentleman and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) in 1990. Plot After forgetting Marge's 34th birthday, Homer rushes to the Springfield Mall, where he buys a bowling ball for himself and disguises it as her gift. Patty and Selma treat Marge to a birthday dinner at the Singing Sirloin, where Bart gives her French perfume and Lisa presents a macaroni-and-glue portrait of her mother as the Mona Lisa. Marge is pleased with both gifts because her children made her feel loved and special on her birthday. As Homer presents the bowling ball to her, it bursts through its box and squashes her birthday cake. Marge calls Homer out for offending her with a gift for himself, pointing out that she has never gone bowling in her life and that the ball is inscribed with his name. Determined to learn how to bowl to spite Homer, Marge visits Barney's Bowl-A-Rama. While there, she meets a French bowling instructor named Jacques who offers to give her lessons. After several lessons, Jacques and Marge agree to meet for brunch. Their brunch goes well until they see Helen Lovejoy, the gossipy preacher's wife, who seems delighted to find Marge with a man other than her husband. After deflecting Helen's prying by feigning a discussion of bowling theory, Jacques asks Marge to meet him the next day at his apartment, causing her to faint. While unconscious, she sees herself dancing with Jacques in his luxurious, bowling-themed apartment. When Marge regains consciousness