Barting Over
Encyclopedia
"Barting Over" is an episode of The Simpsons
advertised by Fox
, and indicated on-screen, to be the 300th episode of the show (even though in broadcast order, it is the 302nd episode, as noted by Marge to Lisa in the episode proper). It aired on February 16, 2003. In this episode, Bart discovers that he used to be a child star in commercials—and that Homer blew all the money he earned. In retaliation, Bart petitions the court to be legally emancipated and move out of the house.
and Lisa
are cleaning out the garage, they stumble upon old home movies. One of the tapes they found has an old episode of the sitcom Perfect Strangers
on it, followed by a commercial for a product called "Baby Stink-Breath" -- with Bart as a baby with bad breath. Bart confronts Homer and Marge
about the advertisement, who tells him that its revenue made a lot of money. However, Homer had ended up spending it all to buy back incriminating photos that were used in a blackmail scheme. Bart is infuriated and claims he is sick of all of Homer's ill-treatments, but he taunts him that he can not do anything about them until he is eighteen (and plans to work Bart like a dog when he's 17). The next day, a furious Bart goes to a law firm named "Luvum and Burnham" Family Law, at Milhouse's suggestion after hearing the results of his father, Kirk, crying when Luann sends her lawyer after him. He meets the Blue Haired Lawyer there, and tells him that he wants a 'divorce' from his family.
The next day, during dinner, the Blue Haired Lawyer comes to the Simpson residence to serve Homer with a subpoena and a side of bacon just to get him to open the door. When the family discovers that Bart is suing them, they are shocked. He declares that he wants to be emancipated, much to Marge's horror and his father's rage. Homer tells Bart that his father was terrible to him while he was growing up and instead of suing him for emancipation, he just dropped him off at a cheap nursing home.
At the trial, the Blue Haired Lawyer uses a doll from whose clothing Bart pulls out the pockets to show the court where Homer swindled money from him (a parody of a common prosecutorial technique in child molestation cases involving "bad touches"). This ends up causing him to cringe nervously. Later, Homer is seen on the stand where Bart's lawyer alleges that he has a clear anger management issue. He blows up for a second and soon tries to convince the court that he is much calmer than that. Unfortunately, Judge Harm does not believe Homer and proves it by not only having the stonographer repeat what he said, but also drawing a picture of him hanging from a noose. Despite acknowledging that Bart may be too young for emancipation
, she rules in his favor and declared him legally emancipated. Judge Harm cites that Homer's sociopathic behavior and short temperament as the main reason why Bart should not live with him, evident when he threatened the lives of the whole jury and swears a vicious revenge against Bart after he mistakenly believed that he will win. As a result, he is forced to give up half his salary as his punishment for stealing Bart's money. Furious, Homer tries to attack Judge Harm, but the bailiff stops him and drags him away.
The next day, Bart prepares to leave and says tearful goodbyes to everyone (minus Homer). Marge tries to convince him to stay, promising that she will let him curse in the house
more. Bart refuses and tells her that he had nothing against her, Lisa and Maggie, telling them they were cool to him. However, he reminds her that Homer is a lousy dad by giving him ill-treatment and he is not taking it any more. Bart also coldly claims that his father does not deserves his love or respect. Homer comes outside and angrily shouts at Bart to come back as his taxi drives away. Homer finally stops chasing after the taxi and starts crying in the middle of the street for the loss of his son, evident with cones circling around him and a sign that says Man Sobbing.
Bart's early experiences in the apartment were rather scary due to its dangerous location, but he soon finds that Tony Hawk
is living in the building and throwing a party with pop-punk band Blink-182
. He and Hawk become friends, and he is content with his new life. Back at the Simpson house, Marge is still depressed about Bart being gone and convinces a equally desperate Homer to apologize to him. The family goes to meet him at his loft. He apologizes and requests him come home, promising to treat him better by paying back the money. Bart accepts the apology, but tells them that he is going on Tony Hawk's Skewed Tour.
At the event, Homer meets up with Hawk and pleads with him to pretend to lose to him so that he can make Bart proud of him again. Hawk reluctantly agrees and gives Homer a modified skateboard, which does all the stunt work. Later, Homer challenges Hawk to a skateboard match and does a good job, thanks to the skateboard. Hawk, unhappy about being showed up by Homer, decides to "take out the thrash". They duel with their skateboards in mid-air, and Tony falls to the ground. Homer speaks to Bart and finally promises that he will never ill-treat him again. Lindsey Naegle approaches Homer and asks him to star in a commercial. Homer accepts so that he can get Bart fully repaid.
At the Simpson house, Homer is embarrassed when he watched the final product, an advertisement for an impotence drug, but Bart tells him that nobody will remember it in 50 years. Fifty years later, Homer is dead, and an elderly Nelson Muntz
laughs at his grave before coughing very hard.
of blink-182 has stated that being on The Simpsons was "truly one of those “wow, this is unreal” moments that I’ve been lucky enough to experience. It still makes my day every time I think about it." Tony Hawk
also said "being on The Simpsons, let alone a milestone episode, really made me think to myself that I've actually, completely made it".
Originally, Homer was supposed to blow Bart's money from his "Baby Stink Breath" commercials on a star that goes supernova, but the episode aired around the time that pop singer Michael Jackson
caused controversy when he hung his son over a balcony in Germany and the reference was added at the last minute.
listed Tony Hawk's performance as one of the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
advertised by Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, and indicated on-screen, to be the 300th episode of the show (even though in broadcast order, it is the 302nd episode, as noted by Marge to Lisa in the episode proper). It aired on February 16, 2003. In this episode, Bart discovers that he used to be a child star in commercials—and that Homer blew all the money he earned. In retaliation, Bart petitions the court to be legally emancipated and move out of the house.
Plot
While BartBart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
and Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
are cleaning out the garage, they stumble upon old home movies. One of the tapes they found has an old episode of the sitcom Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers (TV series)
Perfect Strangers is an American sitcom that ran for eight seasons from March 25, 1986, to August 6, 1993, on the ABC television network. Created by Dale McRaven, the series chronicles the rocky coexistence of midwestern American Larry Appleton and his distant cousin from eastern Mediterranean...
on it, followed by a commercial for a product called "Baby Stink-Breath" -- with Bart as a baby with bad breath. Bart confronts Homer and Marge
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
about the advertisement, who tells him that its revenue made a lot of money. However, Homer had ended up spending it all to buy back incriminating photos that were used in a blackmail scheme. Bart is infuriated and claims he is sick of all of Homer's ill-treatments, but he taunts him that he can not do anything about them until he is eighteen (and plans to work Bart like a dog when he's 17). The next day, a furious Bart goes to a law firm named "Luvum and Burnham" Family Law, at Milhouse's suggestion after hearing the results of his father, Kirk, crying when Luann sends her lawyer after him. He meets the Blue Haired Lawyer there, and tells him that he wants a 'divorce' from his family.
The next day, during dinner, the Blue Haired Lawyer comes to the Simpson residence to serve Homer with a subpoena and a side of bacon just to get him to open the door. When the family discovers that Bart is suing them, they are shocked. He declares that he wants to be emancipated, much to Marge's horror and his father's rage. Homer tells Bart that his father was terrible to him while he was growing up and instead of suing him for emancipation, he just dropped him off at a cheap nursing home.
At the trial, the Blue Haired Lawyer uses a doll from whose clothing Bart pulls out the pockets to show the court where Homer swindled money from him (a parody of a common prosecutorial technique in child molestation cases involving "bad touches"). This ends up causing him to cringe nervously. Later, Homer is seen on the stand where Bart's lawyer alleges that he has a clear anger management issue. He blows up for a second and soon tries to convince the court that he is much calmer than that. Unfortunately, Judge Harm does not believe Homer and proves it by not only having the stonographer repeat what he said, but also drawing a picture of him hanging from a noose. Despite acknowledging that Bart may be too young for emancipation
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
, she rules in his favor and declared him legally emancipated. Judge Harm cites that Homer's sociopathic behavior and short temperament as the main reason why Bart should not live with him, evident when he threatened the lives of the whole jury and swears a vicious revenge against Bart after he mistakenly believed that he will win. As a result, he is forced to give up half his salary as his punishment for stealing Bart's money. Furious, Homer tries to attack Judge Harm, but the bailiff stops him and drags him away.
The next day, Bart prepares to leave and says tearful goodbyes to everyone (minus Homer). Marge tries to convince him to stay, promising that she will let him curse in the house
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
more. Bart refuses and tells her that he had nothing against her, Lisa and Maggie, telling them they were cool to him. However, he reminds her that Homer is a lousy dad by giving him ill-treatment and he is not taking it any more. Bart also coldly claims that his father does not deserves his love or respect. Homer comes outside and angrily shouts at Bart to come back as his taxi drives away. Homer finally stops chasing after the taxi and starts crying in the middle of the street for the loss of his son, evident with cones circling around him and a sign that says Man Sobbing.
Bart's early experiences in the apartment were rather scary due to its dangerous location, but he soon finds that Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
is living in the building and throwing a party with pop-punk band Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
. He and Hawk become friends, and he is content with his new life. Back at the Simpson house, Marge is still depressed about Bart being gone and convinces a equally desperate Homer to apologize to him. The family goes to meet him at his loft. He apologizes and requests him come home, promising to treat him better by paying back the money. Bart accepts the apology, but tells them that he is going on Tony Hawk's Skewed Tour.
At the event, Homer meets up with Hawk and pleads with him to pretend to lose to him so that he can make Bart proud of him again. Hawk reluctantly agrees and gives Homer a modified skateboard, which does all the stunt work. Later, Homer challenges Hawk to a skateboard match and does a good job, thanks to the skateboard. Hawk, unhappy about being showed up by Homer, decides to "take out the thrash". They duel with their skateboards in mid-air, and Tony falls to the ground. Homer speaks to Bart and finally promises that he will never ill-treat him again. Lindsey Naegle approaches Homer and asks him to star in a commercial. Homer accepts so that he can get Bart fully repaid.
At the Simpson house, Homer is embarrassed when he watched the final product, an advertisement for an impotence drug, but Bart tells him that nobody will remember it in 50 years. Fifty years later, Homer is dead, and an elderly Nelson Muntz
Nelson Muntz
Nelson Mandela Muntz is a fictional character and bully from the animated TV series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright. Nelson was introduced in Season 1's "Bart the General" as a bully but later turned into a friend of Bart Simpson, who is best identified by his signature laugh .-Role...
laughs at his grave before coughing very hard.
Production
Blink-182 recorded their lines for the episode on April 24, 2002, Hawk recording his a week later on April 29. Mark HoppusMark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
of blink-182 has stated that being on The Simpsons was "truly one of those “wow, this is unreal” moments that I’ve been lucky enough to experience. It still makes my day every time I think about it." Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
also said "being on The Simpsons, let alone a milestone episode, really made me think to myself that I've actually, completely made it".
Originally, Homer was supposed to blow Bart's money from his "Baby Stink Breath" commercials on a star that goes supernova, but the episode aired around the time that pop singer Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
caused controversy when he hung his son over a balcony in Germany and the reference was added at the last minute.
Reception
In 2007, Simon Crerar of The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
listed Tony Hawk's performance as one of the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.
External links
- "Barting Over" at The Simpsons.com