Bart Gets an "F"
| "Bart Gets an 'F'" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:7F03.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 |
| Directed by | David Silverman |
| Written by | David M. Stern |
| Original air dates | October 11, 1990 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not teach others to fly." |
| Couch gag | The couch falls through the floor as Homer says "D'oh! |
"Bart Gets an F" is the first episode of The Simpsons' second season, airing on October 11, 1990. It managed over 33 million viewers, as the second highest rated to date, second only to "Who shot Mr. Burns?".
Synopsis
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 tests Bart by asking him to name the main pirate in the book. He cannot. She warns him that his grades have gotten steadily worse since the beginning of the term, and warns Bart of an exam on Colonial America tomorrow, but he does not pay attention to a word she says. Bart tries to study, but he frequently procrastinates in his time intended for studying.
When he wakes up the next day, he is worried he will flunk. He looks to Sherri and Terri for help while riding to school, and they offer him false answers in hopes that he will fail the test. Before the test, he collapses and sees the nurse, who suggests that Bart stay home because she believes he has amoria phlebitis. At home, Bart procrastinates again and calls Milhouse to see what answers he got. When he takes the test, Mrs. Krabappel tells him that he did worse than Milhouse. Homer and Marge have an interview with Mrs. Krabappel and the school's psychiatrist, Dr. J. Loren Pryor, who sees Bart as an underachiever and suggests that Bart be held back against his wishes. However, Bart is strongly against this idea and says that "as God is my witness, I can pass the fourth grade."
With Bart worried he might be held back, he looks to Martin for help. He helps Bart study, and Bart reciprocates by showing 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, and now Bart must study on his own. He prays to God that something will happen to make him miss school the next day so he can have more time to study. It snows, and schools are closed, and after Lisa reminds him, he decides to study for the rest of the day, while everyone is outside having fun. Bart actually concentrates while he is studying, and as after he finishes the test, he asks Mrs. Krabappel to grade it now. 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 wails that now he knows how George Washington felt when he surrendered Fort Necessity to the French in 1754, and the stunned Mrs. Krabappel gives Bart an extra point for demonstrating applied knowledge, pushing his grade up to a D-.
Trivia
- When the FOX network decided to show The Simpsons on Thursday at 8:00 P.M. EST against NBC's highly-rated The Cosby Show, many were expecting this to be a war for ratings. Surprisingly, this episode of The Simpsons drew higher ratings in its first airing than The Cosby Show, and it would lead to The Cosby Show's eventual cancellation in 1992.
- This is Mayor Quimby's first appearance.
- In 1999, Entertainment Weekly named this one of 100 moments in TV history of the 20th century.
Quotes
- Bart: Look at my eyes! See the sincerity? See the conviction? See the fear? As God is my witness, I can pass the fourth grade!
Homer: And if you don't, at least you'll be bigger than the other kids. - Bart: Good morning, girls.
Sherri and Terri: Good morning, Bart.
Bart: Say, who's up for a little cram session? I'll go first. What was the name of the Pilgrims' boat?
Sherri: The Spirit of St. Louis.
Bart: And where'd they land?
Terri: Sunny Acapulco.
Bart: And why'd they leave England?
Sherri: Giant rats.
Bart: (writing down the information in a notebook) Cool, history's coming alive. - Homer: We're proud of you, boy!
Bart: Thanks, Dad. But part of this D- belongs to God. - Lisa: Prayer. The last refuge for the scoundrel.
- Nurse: What's the matter, son?
Bart: Sharp, stabbing pains in my stomach.
Nurse: Oh Dear, I've heard of this. (Scrambles up and pulls medical book from shelf. Opens book to Amoria Phlebitis, reads from symptoms) Do you feel a shooting pain in your arm?
Bart: Both arms, ma'am.
Nurse: Temporary loss of vision?
Bart: Um...who said that? Come closer.