35 Years Ago, This 10/10 The Simpsons Episode Rewrote Bart After Months of Protests

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As a huge animation fan, I remember when *The Simpsons* really took off around the fall of 1990. It started as these little shorts on *The Tracey Ullman Show*, but quickly became a total phenomenon. Everyone was talking about the family in Springfield! But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There was actually a lot of debate about the show, with some teachers and parents worried it was encouraging bad behavior, especially because of Bart. They felt his rebellious attitude was a bad influence on kids.

As a critic, I remember the buzz around *The Simpsons* back in 1990. After a lot of complaints about Bart’s mischievous behavior, Fox really needed to show us there was more to the character. They delivered with the Season 2 premiere, “Bart Gets an ‘F.’” Written by David M. Stern and directed by David Silverman, this episode finally gave us a glimpse of the vulnerable kid *behind* the class clown. It wasn’t just about pranks; it was about a kid struggling in school, and it really resonated with audiences. Honestly, it’s still one of the show’s strongest episodes – a real turning point that saved its reputation and brought in massive ratings. It proved *The Simpsons* could be funny *and* heartfelt.

America’s Troublemaker: Bart Simpson 

Between the first and second seasons of *The Simpsons*, Bart Simpson became known as a symbol of what was wrong with television. He became famous for catchy phrases like “Eat my shorts,” “Don’t have a cow, man,” and “Underachiever and proud of it!” His troublesome behavior often didn’t have serious consequences, which worried many people. While fans loved him, parents feared his influence, and teachers believed he encouraged a negative attitude towards learning among young people in America.

While Bart occasionally showed a hint of guilt in early episodes like “The Telltale Head” and “Bart the Genius,” his misbehavior always seemed to overshadow any remorse. This led to significant public criticism, with some churches and schools banning Simpsons merchandise, believing it promoted disrespect. Suddenly, the show found itself at the center of a cultural debate. However, according to creator Matt Groening, speaking with *Variety*, these bans actually helped *The Simpsons* become even more popular, solidifying Bart’s status as a cultural icon.

A Different Side to Bart in “Bart Gets an ‘F’”

The second season started with the episode “Bart Gets an ‘F’.” Though not intentionally written as a reaction to criticism of Bart’s character, it showed a surprisingly vulnerable side to the mischievous troublemaker. The story centers on Bart facing the possibility of repeating fourth grade after failing a test. Desperate to avoid embarrassment, he asks the class genius, Martin Prince, for help, but quickly learns that studying isn’t easy for him. The episode becomes surprisingly heartfelt, depicting Bart praying for a good grade, becoming anxious during the test, and ultimately breaking down in tears when he receives his failing grade, confessing, “I tried my best, but I still failed.”

The episode beautifully introduces Bart’s learning disability, giving viewers a deeper understanding of why he acts the way he does and challenging the idea that he’s simply “bad.” Though he wouldn’t be diagnosed with ADHD until much later, this episode offered a more compassionate view of his struggles. Importantly, “Bart Gets an ‘F’” helped change the show’s image, proving it could be more than just silly and irreverent – it could offer insightful satire with complex, relatable characters.

Did the episode ‘Bart Gets an F’ make you think about Bart differently? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-10-14 02:40