To Cur, with Love

"To Cur, with Love" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons ' 24th season. It first aired on December 16, 2012.

Plot
During a event in downtown Springfield, Professor Frink demonstrated his MHV vehicle which allowed sound waves to replace to fuel, but he soon loses control of the car crashing the event soon crashed into the Springfield Retirement Castle. The Simpson family saw the breaking news on TV and worry about Grandpa Simpson's fate only to see him coming out alive and telling the news that he was going to stay at his son. Marge, Bart, and Lisa set out with moving boxes to help Grandpa move, but Homer fake breaking his back allowing the others to go and for him to stay. At home, Homer plays with his MyPad and discovers a app game called "Villageville". He plays and becomes obsessively addictive trying to build a village, but ignores Santa's Little Helper. When the others return, they discover Homer lied to them, but are even shocked when they discover the dog is missing. After minutes to hours searching, they eventually find Santa's Little Helper hidden in a pantry shelf below the sink. Lisa and Bart realize Homer hasn't paid any attention to the dog all the time. Grandpa soon mentions about another dog named Bongo which upsets Homer. Homer runs upstairs crying while Grandpa let the other family know the story about Bongo. In a flashback, young Homer played with Bongo so much while being each other best friends; Bongo helping Homer escape a quiz, escape the dentist, and setting the school on fire. Abe soon reveals during a kids fundraiser Mr. Burns was hosting, Mr. Burns insulted Homer and then Bongo attacked Burns. Hugely upset, Burns threatens Bongo forcing Abe to hide Bongo to Ms. Viola risking damaging not only Homer and Bongo's relationship, but as well Abe's relationship with his son. Back in the present, Homer still resists to this day realizing he will never see Bongo or that Bongo will never remember his old friend. Abe soon shows Homer a picture of a old Bongo showing him resting on a old sweatshirt Homer gave to Bongo when Abe left Bongo to Ms. Viola. Homer becomes happy that Bongo still remembers him. When Homer looks to Santa's Little Helper, he realizes the mistakes he did to the family dog and as well Abe. Making up with Abe by hugging his father, Homer is soon spot sleeping on the couch with Santa's Little Helper by his side along with Abe. When Bart tried to get Santa's Little Helper, Homer shouted "My Dog!" still sleeping. Bart lets Santa's Little Helper stay, but tell Homer tomorrow the dog is his and leaves. In a dream sequence, Homer is walking with Santa's Little Helper while next to them is young Homer and Bongo; as well Burns walking his dogs and Krusty and his gorilla.

Production
The episode was written by Carolyn Omine and directed by Steven Dean Moore. The episode was paired with the short, Montgomery Burns Explains the "Fiscal Cliff" which aired right after the episode ended and right before the closing credits. On January 3, 2012, the thumbnail (for one scene only), the storyboard, the animatic and the full color images of three scenes from the episode were posted on Pinterest.

Reception
This episode, because of President Obama's address to the nation following the, was watched by a total of 3.77 million viewers. Overnight ratings however, showed that 4.41 million viewers watched the episode. Despite The Simpsons ' low ratings (its lowest ever then), the show still managed to be Fox's most watched show of the night. Fox scheduled a repeat airing of the episode to air in the 8:30pm time slot on December 23, 2012, which gathered 4.88 million viewers.