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Difference between revisions of "Bart the Genius"

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{{episode
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{{Icons||FE}}
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|image=Bart the Genius.jpg
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{{Tab}}
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|productionCode=7G02
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{{EpisodePrevNext|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire|Homer's Odyssey}}
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|originalAirdate=1/14/90
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{{Quote|Your son's a genius!|[[J. Loren Pryor]]}}
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|blackboardText=I Will Not Waste Chalk
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{{Episode
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|couchGag=The family rushes onto the couch, and Bart pops out. he is seen falling in front if the TV as the opening credits end
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|name= Bart the Genius
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|billboard=
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|image= Bart in class.png
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|specialGuestVoices=
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|number= 2
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|Written By=[[Jon Vitti]]
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|prodcode= 7G02
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|Directed By=
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|season= 1
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|snumber= 2
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|airdate= January 14, [[1990]]
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|couchgag= The family all squeeze onto the couch, and Bart pops out. He is seen falling in front of the TV as the opening credits end.
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|guests= [[Marcia Wallace]] as [[Edna Krabappel]] and [[Ms. Melon]]
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|blackboard= I will not waste chalk
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|showrunner1= James L. Brooks
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|showrunner2= Matt Groening
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|showrunner3= Sam Simon
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|writer= [[Jon Vitti]]
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|director= [[David Silverman]]
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|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
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'''''Bart the Genius''''' was the second non short episode of [[The Simpsons]] released on television.
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"'''Bart the Genius'''" is the second episode of [[season 1]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]''. It originally aired on January 14, [[1990]]. The episode was written by [[Jon Vitti]] and directed by [[David Silverman]]. [[Marcia Wallace]] guest starred as [[Edna Krabappel]] and [[Ms. Melon]].
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In this episode, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] is caught vandalising [[Springfield Elementary School|school]] property with a crude spray-painting of [[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]] and then swaps IQ tests with [[Martin Prince|Martin]] and is declared a genius.
 
  
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==Synopsis==
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== Synopsis ==
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Faced with the prospect of flunking an intelligence test, [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] switches exams with brainy [[Martin Prince]]. When school psychologist [[Dr. J. Loren Pryor]] studies the results, he identifies Bart as a genius, to the delight of [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] and [[Marge Simpson|Marge]], who enroll Bart in a new school.
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{{Desc|[[Bart]] swaps papers with [[Martin Prince]] during an intelligence test at school. When the school psychologist compiles the test results, he believes the switch and refers Bart to the [[Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children]]. The new school's laid-back liberal ethos suits Bart just fine - until he's asked to show evidence of his neglected genius.}}
  
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On his first day at the [[Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children]], Bart feels out of place among other students with advanced academic skills. At home, however, he enjoys the newfound attention Homer shows him. Hoping to stimulate her son with a little culture, Marge buys the family opera tickets.
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== Plot ==
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[[File:7G02-00009.png|thumb|left|The family playing Scrabble.]]
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The episode begins as the Simpson family plays [[Scrabble]] in the living room, in an effort to build Bart's vocabulary for his aptitude test tomorrow at school. The game ends when Bart cheats and makes up an imaginary word, "Kwyjibo", and defines it as, "A big, dumb, balding, North American ape with no chin." Homer's instantly angered and chases Bart out of the room. The next day before class, in the schoolyard, Martin Prince, the school genius, tattles on Bart, for spray painting graffiti defaming [[Principal Skinner]] on the school building. Skinner orders Bart to see him after school.  
  
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Ostracized by his genius classmates, Bart visits his old school, where he is rejected by his friends and labeled a "poindexter." When Bart's science project explodes and nearly destroys his new school, he confesses to Dr. Pryor that Martin Prince is the real genius. Bart returns home and tells Homer that he switched tests, and although it was a stupid thing to do, he is glad that they are now closer together. An irate Homer chases Bart through [[742 Evergreen Terrace|the house]].
+
As the children file into class, [[Mrs. Krabappel]] hands out aptitude tests to everyone. When she instructs the class on taking the timed intelligence test, Martin raises his hand, and reminds her Bart's supposed to face the window during any test so he can't cheat. A grumbling Bart turns his desk to face the window and the test begins. In an attempt to figure out a lengthy math word problem, Bart tries to visualize the problem so he can solve it. The visualization turns into a daydream and when Bart finally comes back to reality, Martin announces he finished his test already, and Mrs. Krabappel allows Martin to go outside to read a book during the remainder of the testing period. While Bart's still taking his test, he looks out the window to see a smug Martin sticking his tongue out at him. In retaliation, Bart sticks his tongue out and makes faces at Martin after Martin does the same as well; Mrs. Krabappel spots Bart making faces and looks out the window to see what Bart's looking at. While her back is turned, Bart, seated at the front of the class, reaches over to Mrs. Krabappel's desk and steals Martin's test, replaces Martin's name with his own and puts the test back on her desk. Bart quickly fills out random answers on his own test, writes Martin's name at the top, and turns it in.
 +
[[File:7G02-00161.png|thumb|Bart visualizing the math problem.]]
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Later, after school, [[Marge]] and [[Homer]] are called to Principal Skinner's office for a meeting about Bart's behavior at school. Skinner informs Marge and Homer about Bart's graffiti from earlier. As he reaches for Bart's rather extensive permanent record, and is about to suggest something along the lines of an extreme penalty for Bart, his secretary buzzes in and says Dr. [[J. Loren Pryor]], the school psychiatrist, is waiting to see him. Dr. Pryor walks in on the meeting, and surprises everyone when he tells them Bart's a "gifted child," and according to the aptitude test from earlier, Bart has an I.Q. of 216. Dr. Pryor suggests Bart's history of bad behavior stems from a lack of interest in his school work, due to the fact it's too easy for him. Skinner wants Bart retested, but when Dr. Pryor suggests moving Bart to a school for "gifted children", Skinner jumps on board with the idea, and Bart quickly agrees when he hears the school doesn't have much structure and you get to make your own rules. Dr. Pryor hands Bart some paperwork for the "gifted children" school, and he, Homer and Marge leave the meeting stunned.
 +
[[File:7G02-00292.png|thumb|left|Homer reading Bart's IQ upside-down, thinking it's 912.]]
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The next morning at the breakfast table, Marge and Homer hover around their new genius child and Homer tells [[Lisa]] to start eating what Bart eats for breakfast, so she can become a genius too. However, Lisa's not fooled by Bart and knows he's still just a dimwit. After breakfast, Homer takes Bart to the "Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children". Once inside the school, they find Bart's class, and, after peeking in, they see all of the boys are wearing ties. So Homer gives Bart the tie he's wearing, gives Bart a little pep talk about his first day at the new school, and shoves him in the classroom door. Once inside the class, [[Ms. Melon]], the teacher, introduces herself and the new classmates to Bart and shows him around the classroom. She tells Bart about the independent learning and the only rule is for him to make his own rules. Class begins with a debate on the topic of free will and the paradoxes it creates; Bart struggles to understand the discussion. Later at lunch, Bart's classmates realize Bart isn't really that smart when he accepts their ridiculously uneven trade offers (Ex: 1000 Pico liters of milk for 4 gills worth. A gill's much, much larger than a Pico liter). A dejected Bart walks away from the lunch table as the other kids laugh at him.
  
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==Production==
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After school, Bart relaxes in his room, when Homer walks in to see about Bart's first day at the new school. Homer suggests they all go out for frosty chocolate milkshakes, and Bart agrees. Just then, Marge walks by, and tells Homer and Bart she bought tickets to the opera in an effort to try to help nurture Bart's brain. Later, during the opera, a bored and impatient Homer and Bart goof off and cut each other up, even though they're continually shushed by an upset Marge. Cut to the next day at school, where Bart feels even more stupid and left out when he can't understand a calculus problem on the chalkboard. Later, as a sad Bart walks home from school, he passes by the playground of his old school, where [[Richard]], [[Lewis]], and [[Milhouse]] are shooting marbles. When Bart greets them and tries to talk to them, they treat him like a nerd, call him names, and tell him to get lost. Cut to dinner later, as a depressed Bart eats, Marge reminds everyone they can't be late for the film festival for which she bought tickets a way to nurture Bart's brain. Bart is reluctant to go to the festival, and Homer tells him they don't have to. Just as Bart's about to tell Homer what's on his mind and confess about the false I.Q. test, Homer insists on going outside to play catch. After playing catch, Bart sees how much being a genius means to Homer and decides not to confess what he did, out of fear of disappointing him.
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The concept for the episode developed from writer [[Jon Vitti]] coming up with a long list of bad things Bart could do and imagining the potential consequences. The only idea that developed into an interesting episode concept was Bart cheating on an IQ test.<ref name="Vitti">{{cite video | people=Vitti, Jon|year=2001|title=The Simpsons The Complete First Season DVD commentary for the episode "Bart the Genius"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> This idea was based on an incident from Vitti's childhood when a number of his classmates did not take an intelligence test seriously and suffered poor academic treatment because of it. Because Bart was already obviously unintelligent, Vitti reversed the problem for his episode.<ref name="interview">Jankiewicz, Pat. "Jon Vitti." ''Comic Scene'' #17, February 1991.</ref> Vitti used all his memories of elementary school behavior to produce a draft script of 71 pages, substantially above the required length of about 45 pages. It was Vitti's first script for a 30-minute television program.<ref name="Vitti"/>  Bart's use of the phrase "Eat my shorts" was intended to reflect his adoption of catchphrases he had heard on TV; the creative team had told Vitti that he should not come up with original taglines for the character.<ref name="Vitti"/> The scene where the family plays Scrabble was inspired by the 1985 cartoon ''[[The Big Snit]]''.<ref name="Groening">{{cite video | people=Groening, Matt|year=2001|title=The Simpsons The Complete First Season DVD commentary for the episode "Bart the Genius"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
 
  
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The episode was the first to feature the series' full title sequence, including the [[chalkboard gag]] and [[couch gag]]. [[Matt Groening]] developed the lengthy sequence in order to cut down on the animation necessary for each episode, but devised the two gags as compensation for the repeated material each week.<ref name="Groening"/> Groening, who had not paid much attention to television since his own childhood, was unaware that title sequences of such length were uncommon by that time.<ref name="Groening"/>  As the finished episodes became longer, the production team were reluctant to cut the stories in order to allow for the long title sequence, so shorter versions of it were developed.<ref name="Silverman">{{cite video | people=Silverman, David|year=2001|title=The Simpsons The Complete First Season DVD commentary for the episode "Bart the Genius"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
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The next day at the "gifted children" school, while performing a chemistry experiment, Bart accidentally causes an explosion, which results in green goo everywhere. Cut to Dr. Pryor's office, where he meets with a green stained Bart. They discuss the reasoning behind his recent failings at the new school, and Dr. Pryor thinks once again Bart isn't being challenged enough, while Bart suggests he just go back to Springfield Elementary again. When Dr. Pryor wants to know why, Bart makes up an excuse and tells Dr. Pryor he will like to go undercover and study regular kids and their school environment, "to see what makes 'em tick". Dr. Pryor agrees and tells Bart to write up a proposal to present to Principal Skinner while he goes to talk to him. Bart struggles to write a proposal and instead changes his mind and writes his confession. When Dr. Pryor comes back in the office and reads Bart's confession he suddenly realizes Bart was never a genius to begin with. Later at home, a still green stained Bart greets his parents and Homer offers to give Bart a turpentine bath to wash off the green.
  
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Director [[David Silverman]] had difficulty devising a legible Scrabble board for the opening scene that would get across the idea that the Simpsons had only been able to come up with very simple words.<ref name="Silverman"/> The design of Bart's visualization of the math problem was partially inspired by the art of [[Saul Steinberg]]. The increasing appearance of numbers in that sequence derived from Silverman's use of a similar tactic when he had to develop a [[set design]] for the play ''[[The Adding Machine]]''.  Each successive scene in the sequence was shorter than the one before it by exactly one [[film frame|frame]].<ref name="Silverman"/> The scene where Bart writes his confession was done as one long take to balance the shorter scenes elsewhere in the episode. It was animated in the United States by [[Dan Haskett]].<ref name="Silverman"/> There were a few problems with the finished animation for the episode. The banana in the opening scene was colored incorrectly, as the [[Korea]]n animators were unfamiliar with the fruit,<ref name="Groening"/> and the final bathtub scene was particularly problematic, including issues with [[lip sync]]. The version in the broadcast episode was the best of several attempts.<ref name="Silverman"/> [[Martin Prince]] and [[Edna Krabappel]] make their first appearances in this episode.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season1/page2.shtml|title=Bart the Genius|accessdate=2007-08-05|author=Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian |date=2000|publisher=BBC}}</ref>
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Out in the backyard, as Homer gives Bart a bath, Bart confesses about cheating on the aptitude test and tells Homer he loves him and he enjoyed the extra attention from being a "genius". He tells Homer he doesn't think something which brought them closer than they ever were before can be bad. But, Homer doesn't see it Bart's way, and he chases Bart out of the tub, trying to choke him. Bart is too quick for Homer, runs into his bedroom and locks the door. An angry Homer pounds on Bart's door, and tries to coax him to come out, while Bart taunts him from inside his room. Everything is back to normal at the Simpson home.
  
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==Cultural references==
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== Production ==
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In the opening scene, [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]] spells EMCSQU with her blocks, a reference to Albert Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation. A picture of Einstein also appears on the wall of Dr. Pryor's office.<ref name="book">{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=[[The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family]] |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00-638898-1|pages=p. 18}}</ref>  At one point Homer erroneously refers to Einstein as the inventor of the [[Incandescent light bulb|light bulb]]. Dr. Pryor compares Bart's proposed work among ordinary children to Jane Goodall's study of chimpanzees.<ref name="bbc"/> Goodall was pleased to be mentioned in the episode, sending the program a letter,<ref name="Groening"/> and Vitti a signed book.<ref name="Vitti"/> Jane Goodall was later featured as a major guest star in the episode "[[Simpson Safari]]". The composer of the opera the family attends is named Boris Csuposki, a reference to animator [[Gabor Csupo]].<ref name="book"/> The opera attended by the family is [[Carmen]], by [[Georges Bizet]]; the song Bart mocks is a famous aria called the Toreador Song.<ref name="book"/>
+
{{see also|Bart the Genius/Music}}
  
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*"Scrabble" The Simpsons are playing it in the beginning.
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<gallery>
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*"Albert Einstein" Various references throughout the episode.
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File:7G02_Script.jpg|The Script Cover for the Episode.
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*"Carmen" The Simpsons go to see it.
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</gallery>
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*"Gabor Csupo" Look carefully on the poster and you will see the name Boris Csuposki a play on animator Gabor Csupo.
 
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*"Plato" Appears on bookshelf.
 
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*"Moby Dick" Appears on bookshelf.
 
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*"Leonard DaVinci" A book called ''The Life of Leonardo'' appears on the bookshelf.
 
  
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==Reception and legacy==
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=== Original opening sequence ===
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In a 1991 interview, Jon Vitti described "Bart the Genius" as his favorite among the episodes he had written to that point.<ref name="interview"/> [[James L. Brooks]] mentioned the episode among his favorites, saying that "we did things with animation when that happened that just opened doors for us."<ref>Braun, Kyle. [http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17581&sectionId=2 The Simpsons Movie Interviews]. Ugo.com. Retrieved on August 5, 2007.</ref> The show received mail from viewers complaining that the throwing away of a comic book was an incident of [[censorship]].<ref name="Groening"/> In a DVD review of the first season David B. Grelck gave the episode a rating of 2.5/5, noting "it's easy to see with this episode why Bart became the figurehead for a few years of class clowns."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdbgproductions.com/cinerama/reviews/simpsonsseason1.htm|title=The Complete First Season|accessdate=2007-05-07|date=2001-09-25|author=Grelck, David B.|publisher=WDBGProductions}}</ref> Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', strongly praised the episode calling it "superbly written and directed, often a literal child's-eye view of education, the first ''Simpsons'' episode proper is a classic." They went on to say, "these twenty minutes cemented Bart's position as a cultural icon and a hero to all underachievers, and managed a good few kicks at hothouse schools along the way. Especially worthy of note is the sequence where Bart visualises his maths problem, the viewing of which should be a required part of teacher training."<ref name="bbc"/>
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This episode marked the first time that the opening sequence was used, which was different from the second season opening which would be later introduced in "[[Bart Gets an "F"]]".
  
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The invented word "Kwyjibo" inspired the creator of the [[Melissa (computer worm)|Melissa worm]].<ref name="Vitti"/>
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*The Simpsons logo is in a darker blue sky with a few clouds that are whiter and transparent.
 +
*The school is a very light purple instead of orange.
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*The background that is used when Bart is skating out of school is crudely drawn.
 +
*At the power plant, there is a bald man eating a sandwich with tongs.
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*The walls of the supermarket are red.
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*Maggie's hands are in triangle position.
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*Lisa has a much higher-pitched saxophone solo.
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*When Homer throws the rod out of the car, it bounces near [[Moe's Tavern]].
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*When Bart is skating through town, he steals a bus sign from a group of waiting people. The people run and chase the bus when it passes by them.
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*Marge and Maggie ride home in a red sedan.
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*There is a sequence with Lisa riding home on her bike with a stack of books and her saxophone. (This was later replaced with the whip across the Springfield citizens.) Also, Lisa gets home first, so Homer only has to dodge Marge after getting out of the car.
 +
*The TV is brown with a dark blue screen.
  
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==Trivia==
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<gallery>
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===Strange Stuff===
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File:TitleS1.png
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*Maggie spells out EMCSQU (or E=MC²) on her building blocks.
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File:TownSwoopSeason1.png
 +
File:SchoolSeason1.png
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File:Bart the Genius (Chalkboard gag).png
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File:BartFlyingS1.png
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File:SkateOutSchoolS1.png
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File:HomerWorkS1.png
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File:MargeMagazineSeason1.png
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File:MaggieHands.png
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File:MaggiePriceS1.png
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File:MargeGroceryS1.png
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File:BandMembersS1.png
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File:LisaSaxOpeningS1.png
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File:LargoDismissalS1.png
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File:LisaLeavesS1.png
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File:HomerDrivingS1.png
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File:BartSeason1SkateSwoop.png
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File:PeopleBusStopS1.png
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File:MissedtheBusS1.png
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File:MargeRedCar.png
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File:MaggieDrivingSeason1.png
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File:MargeCarApproachS1.png
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File:MaggieMargeDrive.png
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File:LisaBike1.png
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File:HomerGarageS1.png
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File:HomerRunningS1.png
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File:Bart the Genius - couch gag.png
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File:SimpsonsTVSeason1.png
 +
File:CouchGagS1E02.png
 +
</gallery>
  
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===Introductions===
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== Gallery ==
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*Millhouse has black hair in this episode.
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<gallery>
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*This is the first episode where Bart uses his soon to be famous catch phrase "Eat My Shorts".
+
File:Bart the Genius.jpg
 +
File:Bart the Genius Opera Promotional.png
 +
</gallery>
  
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===Hard to See Stuff===
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== In other languages ==
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*Martin is the train conductor when Bart is told to visualize his IQ problems.
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{{LanguageBox
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*Principal Skinner devotes an entire file drawer to Bart Simpson.
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|fr=yes
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*Homer makes a cheque of $75, to pay for Bart's defacing of school property, to "Dept. of Education"
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|frName=Bart le génie
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*Bart's, but in reality Martin's, IQ is 216.
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|frTrans=Bart the Genius
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*Bart wears a pink shirt to his first day of class at the "Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children".
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|qu=yes
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*Books on the shelf in Bart's new advanced school classroom include ''Crime & Punishment'', ''Babylonian Myths'', ''Paradise Lost'', ''Moby-Dick'', ''Plato'', ''Dante's Inferno'',''The Illiad'', ''Plato'', ''Design of Computers'' (remember this is 1990), ''Astrophysics'', ''Wana ''by Emile Zona, ''Puskin'', ''Shakespeare I-XV'',''Quantum Mechanics'', and the ''Life of Leonardo''.
+
|quName=Bart le génie
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*The Simpson attends the opera "Carmen", advertised as "Tonight Only in Russian."
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|quTrans=Bart the Genius
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*On the opera poster, the conductor is identified as Boris Csuposki, a play on the name of producer and supervising animation director [[Gabor Csupo]].
+
|de=yes
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*After he is dubbed a genius, Bart's Principal Skinner graffiti likeness and word balloon is framed and labeled as a work of art entitled "The Principal" by Bart Simpson.
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|deName=Bart wird ein Genie
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*There is a picture of Bart on the wall opposite one of Albert Einstein in Dr. Pryor's office.
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|deTrans=Bart becomes a Genius
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*After Bart comes home green Homer washes him in Turpentine.
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|es=yes
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*Homer thinks it was Albert Einstein that invented the light bulb.
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|esName=Bart, el genio
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*Martin and his parents were at the opera.
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|esTrans=Bart the Genius
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*Maggie falls once:
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|la=yes
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**As Lisa looks up id
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|laName=Bart es un genio
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|laTrans=Bart is a Genius
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==Errors==
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|it=yes
−
*Millhouse has black hair in this episode.
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|itName=Bart, il genio
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*Marcia Wallace's name is misspelled "Masha" in the closing credits.
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|itTrans=Bart the Genius
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*Martin's last name is Prace when Bart changes the name on the IQ tests. He then writes Martin Prince on his own paper and hands it in.
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|br=yes
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*When Bart is in the genius school, the teacher asks him if he knows what happens if he adds an acid to a base. He replies yes, adds them anyway and the lab explodes and a green goo comes out, turning Bart green. If you add an acid to a base, you just get salt and water.
+
|brName=Bart, o Gênio
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*While Bart starts the I.Q. quiz and is reading it out loud, his teacher says "Shh. Visualize it Bart." While this happens if you look in the background you can see the alphabet line. It starts out Tt Uu Vv Ww, then Bart's teacher blocks out some, then you see the letter T again.
+
|brTrans=Bart the Genius
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*When Bart is explained the answer RDRR, there is a shot of him. There is a blue background where the classroom should be.
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|hu=yes
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*The whole family goes to the opera to see "Carmen". They have balcony seats and the stage is to their left, yet later on you can see them looking to their right.
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|huName=Bart, a zseni
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+
|huTrans=Bart the Genius
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==Episode Quotes==
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|jp=yes
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:''[The family play Scrabble]''
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|jpName=バートは天才?
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:'''[[w:Bart Simpson|Bart]]''': My turn. "Kwyjibo". ''[places his tiles]'' K-W-Y-J-I-B-O. Twenty-two points, plus triple-word-score, plus fifty points for using all my letters. Game's over, I'm outta here--
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|jpTrans=Bart is a Genius?
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:'''[[w:Homer Simpson|Homer]]''': ''[grabs Bart with his left hand, holding a banana in his right]'' Wait a minute, you little cheater! You're not going anywhere until you tell me what a kwyjibo is.
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}}
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:'''Bart''':  Kwyjibo. ''[observing Homer]'' Uh... a big, dumb, balding North American ape. With no chin.
 
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:'''[[w:Marge Simpson|Marge]]''': ''[playing along]'' And a short temper.
 
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:'''Homer''': I'll show ''you'' a big, dumb, balding ape--!!!
 
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:'''Bart''': ''[as Homer chases him away]'' Uh-oh. Kwyjibo on the loose!
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''[[w:Edna Krabappel|Mrs Krabappel]]''': Now I don't want you to worry, class. These tests will have no effect on your grades. They merely determine your future social status and financial success... if any.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''[[w:Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]]''': Hmm. Whoever did this is in very deep trouble!
 
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:'''[[w:Martin Prince|Martin]]''': And a sloppy speller, too. The preferred spelling of wiener is W-I-E-N-E-R, although E-I is an acceptable ethnic variant.
 
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:'''Principal Skinner''': Good point.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Homer''': Doc, this is all too much. I mean, my son, a genius - how does it happen?
 
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:'''Dr. Pryor''': Well, genius-level intelligence is usually the result of hereditary and environment... ''[sees Homer staring blankly]'' although in some cases it's a total mystery.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Marge''': Bart, this is a big day for you - why don't you eat something a little more nutritious?
 
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:'''Homer''': Nonsense, Marge! Frosted Krusty Flakes are what got him where he is today. It could be one of these chemicals here that makes him so smart. Lisa, maybe you should try some of this.
 
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:'''Marge''': Homer!
 
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:'''Homer''': I'm just saying, why not have two geniuses in the family? Sort of a spare in case Bart's brain blows out.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Homer''': Jeez. No beer, no opera dogs...
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Bart''':It ain't over until the fat lady sings.
 
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:'''Homer''':Is that one fat enough for you, son?
 
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<hr width="50%"/>
 
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:'''Homer''': I bet Einstein turned himself all sorts of colors before he invented the light bulb.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Martin''': I hope you won't bear some sort of simple-minded grudge against me. I was merely trying to fend off the desecration of the school building.
 
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:'''[[w:Bart Simpson|Bart]]''': Eat my shorts.
 
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:'''Martin''': Pardon?
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''Homer''': Go on boy, and pay attention, because if you do, one day you may achieve something that we Simpsons have dreamed about for generations - you may outsmart someone.
 
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<hr width=50%/>
 
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:'''[[w:Lisa Simpson|Lisa]]''': I think Bart's stupid again, Mom.
 
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:'''Marge''': Oh, well...
 
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==Appearances==
 
−
 
 
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===Characters===
 
−
* [[Homer Simpson]]
 
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* [[Marge Simpson]]
 
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* [[Bart Simpson]]
 
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* [[Lisa Simpson]]
 
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* [[Maggie Simpson]]
 
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* [[Principal Seymour Skinner]]
 
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* [[Martin Prince]] (debut appearance)
 
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* [[Richard]]
 
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* [[Lewis]]
 
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* [[Milhouse Van Houten]]
 
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* [[Edna Krabappel]] (debut appearance)
 
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* [[Dr. J. Loren Pryor]]
 
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* [[Ms. Mellon]]
 
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* [[Ethan Foly]]
 
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* [[Sydney Swift]]
 
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* [[Cecile Shapiro]]
 
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* [[Ian (Bart the Genius)]]
 
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* [[Tanya]]
 
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* [[Boris Csupowski]]
 
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* [[Martin Prince Sr.]]
 
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* [[Martha Prince]]
 
−
 
 
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===Vehicles===
 
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* [[Pink Sedan]]
 
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===Locations===
 
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* [[742 Evergreen Terrace]]
 
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* [[Springfield Elementary School]]
 
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* [[The Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children]]
 
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* [[Springfield Opera House]]
 
−
 
 
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==Credits==
 
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* [[Bart the Genius/Credits|Credits]]
 
  
−
==References==
+
{{Images|ep=yes}}
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<references />
+
{{season 1}}
  
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==External Links==
+
[[Category:1990]]
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*[http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0102.htm "Bart the Genius"] at The Simpsons.com
+
[[Category:Education-themed episodes]]
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*{{Snpp capsule|7G02}}
+
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
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*{{imdb episode|id=0756593|episode=Bart the Genius}}
+
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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*[http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/bart-the-genius/episode/1287/summary.html "Bart the Genius"] at [[TV.com]]
+
[[Category:Martin episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes written by Jon Vitti]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes directed by David Silverman]]
  
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{{Season 1}}
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[[de:Bart wird ein Genie]]
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[[Category:Episodes]]
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[[sv:Bart the Genius]]
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[[Category:Season 1]]
 
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[[pt:Bart, o gênio]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:22, April 14, 2024

Season 1 Episode
← 001 "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
002
"Bart the Genius"
"Homer's Odyssey" 003 →
"Your son's a genius!"
―J. Loren Pryor
"Bart the Genius"
Bart in class.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 2
Season number: S1 E2
Production code: 7G02
Original airdate: January 14, 1990
Chalkboard gag: I will not waste chalk
Couch gag: The family all squeeze onto the couch, and Bart pops out. He is seen falling in front of the TV as the opening credits end.
Guest star(s): Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel and Ms. Melon
Showrunners: James L. Brooks
Matt Groening
Sam Simon
Written by: Jon Vitti
Directed by: David Silverman
DVD features


"Bart the Genius" is the second episode of season 1 of The Simpsons. It originally aired on January 14, 1990. The episode was written by Jon Vitti and directed by David Silverman. Marcia Wallace guest starred as Edna Krabappel and Ms. Melon.

Synopsis[edit]

"Bart swaps papers with Martin Prince during an intelligence test at school. When the school psychologist compiles the test results, he believes the switch and refers Bart to the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children. The new school's laid-back liberal ethos suits Bart just fine - until he's asked to show evidence of his neglected genius."


Plot[edit]

The family playing Scrabble.

The episode begins as the Simpson family plays Scrabble in the living room, in an effort to build Bart's vocabulary for his aptitude test tomorrow at school. The game ends when Bart cheats and makes up an imaginary word, "Kwyjibo", and defines it as, "A big, dumb, balding, North American ape with no chin." Homer's instantly angered and chases Bart out of the room. The next day before class, in the schoolyard, Martin Prince, the school genius, tattles on Bart, for spray painting graffiti defaming Principal Skinner on the school building. Skinner orders Bart to see him after school.

As the children file into class, Mrs. Krabappel hands out aptitude tests to everyone. When she instructs the class on taking the timed intelligence test, Martin raises his hand, and reminds her Bart's supposed to face the window during any test so he can't cheat. A grumbling Bart turns his desk to face the window and the test begins. In an attempt to figure out a lengthy math word problem, Bart tries to visualize the problem so he can solve it. The visualization turns into a daydream and when Bart finally comes back to reality, Martin announces he finished his test already, and Mrs. Krabappel allows Martin to go outside to read a book during the remainder of the testing period. While Bart's still taking his test, he looks out the window to see a smug Martin sticking his tongue out at him. In retaliation, Bart sticks his tongue out and makes faces at Martin after Martin does the same as well; Mrs. Krabappel spots Bart making faces and looks out the window to see what Bart's looking at. While her back is turned, Bart, seated at the front of the class, reaches over to Mrs. Krabappel's desk and steals Martin's test, replaces Martin's name with his own and puts the test back on her desk. Bart quickly fills out random answers on his own test, writes Martin's name at the top, and turns it in.

Bart visualizing the math problem.

Later, after school, Marge and Homer are called to Principal Skinner's office for a meeting about Bart's behavior at school. Skinner informs Marge and Homer about Bart's graffiti from earlier. As he reaches for Bart's rather extensive permanent record, and is about to suggest something along the lines of an extreme penalty for Bart, his secretary buzzes in and says Dr. J. Loren Pryor, the school psychiatrist, is waiting to see him. Dr. Pryor walks in on the meeting, and surprises everyone when he tells them Bart's a "gifted child," and according to the aptitude test from earlier, Bart has an I.Q. of 216. Dr. Pryor suggests Bart's history of bad behavior stems from a lack of interest in his school work, due to the fact it's too easy for him. Skinner wants Bart retested, but when Dr. Pryor suggests moving Bart to a school for "gifted children", Skinner jumps on board with the idea, and Bart quickly agrees when he hears the school doesn't have much structure and you get to make your own rules. Dr. Pryor hands Bart some paperwork for the "gifted children" school, and he, Homer and Marge leave the meeting stunned.

Homer reading Bart's IQ upside-down, thinking it's 912.

The next morning at the breakfast table, Marge and Homer hover around their new genius child and Homer tells Lisa to start eating what Bart eats for breakfast, so she can become a genius too. However, Lisa's not fooled by Bart and knows he's still just a dimwit. After breakfast, Homer takes Bart to the "Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children". Once inside the school, they find Bart's class, and, after peeking in, they see all of the boys are wearing ties. So Homer gives Bart the tie he's wearing, gives Bart a little pep talk about his first day at the new school, and shoves him in the classroom door. Once inside the class, Ms. Melon, the teacher, introduces herself and the new classmates to Bart and shows him around the classroom. She tells Bart about the independent learning and the only rule is for him to make his own rules. Class begins with a debate on the topic of free will and the paradoxes it creates; Bart struggles to understand the discussion. Later at lunch, Bart's classmates realize Bart isn't really that smart when he accepts their ridiculously uneven trade offers (Ex: 1000 Pico liters of milk for 4 gills worth. A gill's much, much larger than a Pico liter). A dejected Bart walks away from the lunch table as the other kids laugh at him.

After school, Bart relaxes in his room, when Homer walks in to see about Bart's first day at the new school. Homer suggests they all go out for frosty chocolate milkshakes, and Bart agrees. Just then, Marge walks by, and tells Homer and Bart she bought tickets to the opera in an effort to try to help nurture Bart's brain. Later, during the opera, a bored and impatient Homer and Bart goof off and cut each other up, even though they're continually shushed by an upset Marge. Cut to the next day at school, where Bart feels even more stupid and left out when he can't understand a calculus problem on the chalkboard. Later, as a sad Bart walks home from school, he passes by the playground of his old school, where Richard, Lewis, and Milhouse are shooting marbles. When Bart greets them and tries to talk to them, they treat him like a nerd, call him names, and tell him to get lost. Cut to dinner later, as a depressed Bart eats, Marge reminds everyone they can't be late for the film festival for which she bought tickets a way to nurture Bart's brain. Bart is reluctant to go to the festival, and Homer tells him they don't have to. Just as Bart's about to tell Homer what's on his mind and confess about the false I.Q. test, Homer insists on going outside to play catch. After playing catch, Bart sees how much being a genius means to Homer and decides not to confess what he did, out of fear of disappointing him.

The next day at the "gifted children" school, while performing a chemistry experiment, Bart accidentally causes an explosion, which results in green goo everywhere. Cut to Dr. Pryor's office, where he meets with a green stained Bart. They discuss the reasoning behind his recent failings at the new school, and Dr. Pryor thinks once again Bart isn't being challenged enough, while Bart suggests he just go back to Springfield Elementary again. When Dr. Pryor wants to know why, Bart makes up an excuse and tells Dr. Pryor he will like to go undercover and study regular kids and their school environment, "to see what makes 'em tick". Dr. Pryor agrees and tells Bart to write up a proposal to present to Principal Skinner while he goes to talk to him. Bart struggles to write a proposal and instead changes his mind and writes his confession. When Dr. Pryor comes back in the office and reads Bart's confession he suddenly realizes Bart was never a genius to begin with. Later at home, a still green stained Bart greets his parents and Homer offers to give Bart a turpentine bath to wash off the green.

Out in the backyard, as Homer gives Bart a bath, Bart confesses about cheating on the aptitude test and tells Homer he loves him and he enjoyed the extra attention from being a "genius". He tells Homer he doesn't think something which brought them closer than they ever were before can be bad. But, Homer doesn't see it Bart's way, and he chases Bart out of the tub, trying to choke him. Bart is too quick for Homer, runs into his bedroom and locks the door. An angry Homer pounds on Bart's door, and tries to coax him to come out, while Bart taunts him from inside his room. Everything is back to normal at the Simpson home.

Production[edit]

See also: Bart the Genius/Music.

  • The Script Cover for the Episode.

Original opening sequence[edit]

This episode marked the first time that the opening sequence was used, which was different from the second season opening which would be later introduced in "Bart Gets an "F"".

  • The Simpsons logo is in a darker blue sky with a few clouds that are whiter and transparent.
  • The school is a very light purple instead of orange.
  • The background that is used when Bart is skating out of school is crudely drawn.
  • At the power plant, there is a bald man eating a sandwich with tongs.
  • The walls of the supermarket are red.
  • Maggie's hands are in triangle position.
  • Lisa has a much higher-pitched saxophone solo.
  • When Homer throws the rod out of the car, it bounces near Moe's Tavern.
  • When Bart is skating through town, he steals a bus sign from a group of waiting people. The people run and chase the bus when it passes by them.
  • Marge and Maggie ride home in a red sedan.
  • There is a sequence with Lisa riding home on her bike with a stack of books and her saxophone. (This was later replaced with the whip across the Springfield citizens.) Also, Lisa gets home first, so Homer only has to dodge Marge after getting out of the car.
  • The TV is brown with a dark blue screen.
  • TitleS1.png
  • TownSwoopSeason1.png
  • SchoolSeason1.png
  • Bart the Genius (Chalkboard gag).png
  • BartFlyingS1.png
  • SkateOutSchoolS1.png
  • HomerWorkS1.png
  • MargeMagazineSeason1.png
  • MaggieHands.png
  • MaggiePriceS1.png
  • MargeGroceryS1.png
  • BandMembersS1.png
  • LisaSaxOpeningS1.png
  • LargoDismissalS1.png
  • LisaLeavesS1.png
  • HomerDrivingS1.png
  • BartSeason1SkateSwoop.png
  • PeopleBusStopS1.png
  • MissedtheBusS1.png
  • MargeRedCar.png
  • MaggieDrivingSeason1.png
  • MargeCarApproachS1.png
  • MaggieMargeDrive.png
  • LisaBike1.png
  • HomerGarageS1.png
  • HomerRunningS1.png
  • Bart the Genius - couch gag.png
  • SimpsonsTVSeason1.png
  • CouchGagS1E02.png

Gallery[edit]

  • Bart the Genius.jpg
  • Bart the Genius Opera Promotional.png

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Bart wird ein Genie" Bart becomes a Genius
Spain flag.png Español "Bart, el genio" Bart the Genius
Hispanic America.gif Español "Bart es un genio" Bart is a Genius
France.png Français "Bart le génie" Bart the Genius
Flag of Quebec.svg.png Français "Bart le génie" Bart the Genius
Italy Flag.png Italiano "Bart, il genio" Bart the Genius
Brasil Flag.png Português "Bart, o Gênio" Bart the Genius
Hungary flag.png Magyar "Bart, a zseni" Bart the Genius
Flag of Japan.png 日本語 "バートは天才?" Bart is a Genius?


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Bart the Genius".
Season 1 Episodes
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire • Bart the Genius • Homer's Odyssey • There's No Disgrace Like Home • Bart the General • Moaning Lisa • The Call of the Simpsons • The Telltale Head • Life on the Fast Lane • Homer's Night Out • The Crepes of Wrath • Krusty Gets Busted • Some Enchanted Evening
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