Bart Gets an F
From Simpsons Wiki
| Bart Gets an F | |
| |
| Season 2 Episode 1 | |
| Production Code | 7F03 |
| Original Airdate | October 11, 1990 |
| Written By | David M. Stern |
| Directed By | David Silverman |
| Show Runners | James L. Brooks Matt Groening Sam Simon |
| Special Guests | |
| Blackboard Text | "I will not encourage others to fly." |
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"Bart Gets an F" is the first episode of The Simpsons' second season, which aired on October 11, 1990.
Contents |
Plot
When Bart presents his book report at school on Treasure Island, it is clear to everyone that he has not read the book. Mrs. Krabappel proves her suspicion when Bart incorrectly answers her question about the main pirate in the book. After school, Mrs. Krabappel tells Bart his grades have steadily gotten worse and warns him about an upcoming exam on Colonial America; Bart does not pay attention. At home, Bart tries to study but procrastinates instead. The next day at school, Bart "collapses" in class to get out of taking the test, and the nurse sends him home after diagnosing him with amoria phlebitis.
At home that night, Bart again fails to study, instead calling Milhouse for the answers. The next day at school, Bart takes the test but fails; Krapabbel tells him his effort is "even worse than Milhouse's exam." Homer and Marge are called in to meet with Krabappel and school psychiatrist Dr. J. Loren Pryor. They are told that Bart is an underachiever and that they recommend holding him back.
Bart finds out he may flunk fourth grade and, in desperation, asks Martin for help. He helps Bart study, and Bart reciprocates by showing him how to be more popular, which encourages him to take on some of Bart's bad attitudes. Bart reminds the "new" Martin about the test, but he ignores it, preferring to hang out with his new friends and play practical jokes. Left with little time to study on his own, Bart prays to God that something will happen to make him miss school the next day so he can have more time to study. That night, Springfield is hit with a massive blizzard, and the schools are closed.
After receiving word of the school closures, Bart excitedly prepares for a fun snow day. However, Lisa reminds him of his prayer, and he decides to study for the rest of the day while everyone is outside having fun. Bart actually concentrates while he is studying, and after he finishes the test, he asks Mrs. Krabappel to grade it immediately. She gives it back to him, and he sees that he got 59%, another F. Extremely upset at this failure after his honest effort, Bart breaks down over the fact that now he knows how George Washington felt when he surrendered Fort Necessity to the French in 1754. Mrs. Krabappel, stunned at this obscure historical reference, realizes that Bart did study after all. She gives Bart an extra point for demonstrating applied knowledge, pushing his grade up to a D-. Homer proudly displays Bart's new personal best on the refrigerator.
Debut appearances
Characters making a first appearance in this episode are:
Trivia
- This was the highest rated Simpsons episode in the history of the show. 33 million viewers tuned in to Season 2's premiere episode.
- This was the first episode to feature the series' new, shorter opening sequence:
- When Homer is leaving the nuclear plant, it is Mr Burns & Smithers in the background, instead of some other worker biting a sandwich in the 1st season.
- Scene where Bart skates through town, he skates through a backdrop different from the first season.
- Lisa's part where she is shown coming home on her bicycle is removed beginning season 2.
- In 1999, Entertainment Weekly named this one of 100 moments in TV history of the 20th century.
- During the "Winter Wonderland" scene, not only is Sideshow Bob seen singing with the townspeople (he's supposed to be in jail after he framed Krusty in "Krusty Gets Busted"), but he's standing next to a cop. Although this may be explained that Sideshow Bob was awarded a prison furlough, and is standing next to a cop to ensure he does not run away, but is otherwise enjoying the day of freedom.
- Jacques the bowling instructor, Bob the RV salesman, and Bleeding Gums Murphy can be seen singing with the townspeople.
Cultural references
- "Eat my shorts" — The title of one of the video arcade games is an early self-reference to The Simpsons.
- "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" — The scene where everyone in Whoville gathers around the town circle, holds hands and begins singing is mimicked by the townspeople of Springfield.
- Gone with the Wind — Bart's claim, "As God is my witness, I can pass the fourth grade!" is a reference to a nearly identical quote from Scarlett O'Hara ("As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!").
- King Kong — The movie Gorilla the Conqueror is a spoof of the 1933 (and subsequent 1976 remake) film.
- Famous pirates — Various pirates and other characters that Bart thinks may be the main character of "Treasure Island":
- Blackbeard — The English pirate behind a reign of terror in the Caribbean Sea between 1716 and 1718.
- Bluebeard — Actually not a pirate, but the title character of Charles Perrault's 1697 novel about a violent nobleman; this was Bart's answer to Mrs. Krabappel's question.
- Captain Hook — From "Peter Pan."
- Captain Nemo — From Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."
- Long John Silver — The correct answer to Krabappel's question asking for the identity of the pirate from "Treasure Island."
- Peg-Leg Pete — From the Walt Disney family of cartoons.
- Samuel Johnson — In her admonition to Bart, Lisa changes the first word of the 18th century essayist's famous 1775 quote, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" to "prayer."