Bart Gets an "F"/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references

Bart gives Treasure Island (whose copy was "published by the good people at McGraw-Hill") a 9 on the Simpson scale of 1 to 10, although it is obvious Bart is just spewing off a number rather than making an informed judgment.

The "gorilla-film" that Homer and Bart are watching is an obvious spoof on King Kong.

Bart claims that, "As God as my witness, I can pass the fourth grade!" This is a reference to Gone with the Wind when Scarlett O'Hara says, "As God as my witness, I'll never be hungry again!"

In Bart's fantasy about the snowy 4th of July, Benjamin Franklin's sled says Don't Sled on Me, a play on the famous serpent flag "Don't Tread on Me".
Despite passing the fourth grade, Bart, of course, remains in Mrs. Krabappel's class in all subsequent episodes, since virtually no time ever really passes on the show.
During the episode Bart writes "I will not fake my way through life" on the chalkboard.
The idea behind the grade on the refrigerator would reappear in Bart's Nightmare where a letter grade would appear and the mood of the Simpson family would differ, with a scene similar to the ultimate scene in "Bart Gets an F".
Milhouse' voice appears deeper.
When Homer askes Lisa what she wants, she says "An absence of moodswings." Since Lisa is only eight years, this should not affect her yet.

This is Mayor Quimby's first appearance.
This is the first episode with the show opening used between Season 2 to mid-twenty.