Bart the Lover

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The Simpsons episode
"Bart the Lover"

Edna is very upset after her "date" does not arrive
Episode no.	51
Prod. code	8F16
Orig. Airdate	February 13, 1992
Show Runner(s)	Al Jean & Mike Reiss
Writer(s)	Jon Vitti
Director(s)	Carlos Baeza
Couch gag	An octopus-like alien sits on the couch, and then disappears, before the family arrives.
DVD commentary by	Matt Groening Mike Reiss Jon Vitti David Silverman Al Jean (Easter Egg)
SNPP capsule
Season 3 September 19, 1991 – August 27, 1992
Stark Raving Dad Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington When Flanders Failed Bart the Murderer Homer Defined Like Father, Like Clown Treehouse of Horror II Lisa's Pony Saturdays of Thunder Flaming Moe's Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk I Married Marge Radio Bart Lisa the Greek Homer Alone Bart the Lover Homer at the Bat Separate Vocations Dog of Death Colonel Homer Black Widower The Otto Show Bart's Friend Falls in Love Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"Bart the Lover" is the sixteenth episode of The Simpsons' third season which is an early look at the personal life of Mrs. Krabappel.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural references
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

As a yo-yo craze sweeps through the elementary school, Mrs. Krabappel feels increasingly isolated and places a personal ad in the newspaper. Bart, who has been given one month of detention for breaking the class fish tank, discovers the ad and, realizing it is Mrs. Krabappel's, decides to pull a prank and respond by mail with a new alter ego. Bart pretends to be an adult male called Woodrow, named after former President Woodrow Wilson, with a photograph which actually belongs to ice hockey player Gordie Howe. Bart as Woodrow wrote a letter to meet him at a restaurant, and as she looked excited to meet Woodrow, Bart laughs (although it's more like a giggle), Bart comes out of the movie theater after watching "Ernest Needs a Kidney" and is upset and guilty to see Krabappel crying. He tells the family what he had done, and Marge tells him, "You did a very cruel thing" The Simpsons then write a romanticly diplomatic letter to tell how Woodrow must go which heals Krabappel's wounds.

Meanwhile, Homer attempts to cut down on his cursing after receiving a complaint from Ned Flanders. Homer tries to criticize Flanders in return but only comes up with criticizing his moustache, which Ned promises to shave off in return for Homer curtaling uses of profanity. He promises to put money in a "swear jar" -- 25 cents for each curse. In the end, he resists temptations to curse but nevertheless experiences intense feelings of rage. However, his constant swearing - when he builds a doghouse with no door, and when a beehive falls on him - puts enough money in the jar to purchase a dog house for Santa's Little Helper. Homer also launches into a profane streak when a newly clean shaven Ned Flanders thanks Homer for making him get rid of his facial hair, as his appearance has gotten him hired to star on a TV commercial.

[edit] Trivia

The article in Springfield Magazine, which Mrs. Krabappel reads, proclaims "We Talk With J.D. Salinger". Salinger, a recluse, hasn't been interviewed since 1974.
Marge is left handed in this episode.
The writers originally wanted to use a picture of Johnny Unitas.
At the very end of the episode, Gordie Howe's stats in the NHL and WHA are shown.
Marcia Wallace won an Emmy for her performance in this episode. Although she is credited as a guest star, she is considered a regular in both the staff and fan's eyes.

[edit] Cultural references

The 1950s educational film at the beginning of the episode (presumably titled "A World Without Zinc") is a reference to the short animation and live action film "A Case of Spring Fever", which would later be seen in episode 1012 of Mystery Science Theater 3000.