Bart on the Road

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The Simpsons episode
"Bart on the Road"

Episode no.	148
Prod. code	3F17
Orig. Airdate	March 31, 1996
Show Runner(s)	Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein
Writer(s)	Richard Appel
Director(s)	Swinton O. Scott III
Couch gag	Everybody is put on the couch by a pinsetter, after Snowball II is scared off by the pin clearing bar.
DVD commentary by	Matt Groening Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Richard Appel David Silverman
SNPP capsule
Season 7 September 17, 1995 – May 19, 1996
Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two) Radioactive Man Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily Bart Sells His Soul Lisa the Vegetarian Treehouse of Horror VI King-Size Homer Mother Simpson Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular Marge Be Not Proud Team Homer Two Bad Neighbors Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield Bart the Fink Lisa the Iconoclast Homer the Smithers The Day the Violence Died A Fish Called Selma Bart on the Road 22 Short Films About Springfield Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" Much Apu About Nothing Homerpalooza Summer of 4 Ft. 2
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"Bart on the Road" is the twentieth episode of The Simpsons' seventh season.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural references
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After the airline refuses to let him change his ticket to Hong Kong from Friday to Saturday without a huge fee, Skinner decides to promote a take-your-kids-to-work-day on the Friday before spring break. Bart very reluctantly goes to the DMV with Patty and Selma (his first choice was staying at home with Marge), Lisa goes to the nuclear power plant with Homer, Milhouse discovers the exciting world of crackers, and Martin makes money in the futures market.

At the DMV Bart makes himself a fake driver's license. He, Nelson, and Milhouse look for a way to use it, so they decide to use Martin's money to rent a car and go on a road trip. As a cover story, the four of them tell their parents that they have been selected by their school to attend the National Grammar Rodeo in Canada.

Instead, they go out joyriding , but where should they go? Finding an old brochure they decide to go to the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. But first Nelson makes them stop in Branson, Missouri (Bart: "Dad says it's just like Vegas... if it were run by Ned Flanders"), where he can see his hero, Andy Williams.

Back in Springfield, Homer asks if Lisa would like to come spend her spring break at work with him and she enjoys herself there; meanwhile, Marge becomes bored at home. Finding out that the World's Fair was over years ago (the Knoxville World's Fair was held in 1982), and the aging Sunsphere has been turned into a wig shop, Bart and company do not find Knoxville that exciting, especially when Nelson throws a rock, toppling the Sunsphere, and wrecking the car. They are stranded with no money, no car, nobody knows where they are, and they cannot tell their parents.

Bart calls Lisa and tells her the truth, and she tells him to become a courier. He does and is able to go to Hong Kong to deliver eyeballs free of charge while his friends stay. Bart tells Lisa that she needs to have somebody ship something large to Springfield. Lisa tells Homer, who is very upset and expresses his displeasure by excusing himself before donning one of the plant's safety helmets and letting loose a stream of muffled curses that fog up the visor. After venting his fury, Homer orders the plant a new nuclear console from the Oak Ridge Nuclear Facility. Bart and company return home, and everyone knows about the trip except Marge, who receives a call from Skinner asking if Bart traveled to Hong Kong, among other similar calls.

[edit] Trivia

The date of birth Bart has on his fake driver's license is 02/11/70; as his age is said to be 25, this suggests that the episode takes place in April 1995. (Of course, this date contradicts with his "real" birthday (as it is a fake ID).)
One of the signs that the car passes by when it drives past Branson, Missouri has the name Lurleen Lumpkin, who is last seen in "Team Homer".
A part of this episode's plot is similar to the movie National Lampoon's Vacation.
One of the first episodes to use computers to help the animation on the car in and near the cornfield.
The first of two times Bart receives a driver's license (the second was in Little Big Girl).
Bart droved A Chevrolet Sprint, which is a turbo model.

[edit] Cultural references

The episode is likely an ironic reference to the failed expectations of the 1982 World's Fair, pointing out how structures like the Sunsphere are largely forgotten today. The boys also clearly fail to do proper research, as they see a brochure for the World's Fair in the rental car's glove compartment and believe it is up to date. When they learn the 1982 World's Fair ended many years ago, Milhouse desperately asks "But there is another World's Fair coming soon right? Before Friday?"
The boys pick up a strange looking man at one point, who looks and sounds similar to the hitchhiker from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is usually cut for syndication.
The David Cronenberg film Naked Lunch (based on the works of William S. Burroughs) is referenced when Bart, Milhouse and Nelson sneak into it and are disappointed at how misleading the title is.
When Bart arrives in Hong Kong, he apparently gets off the plane that is labeled "中華航空公司" (China Airlines), which is based in Taipei.
The marquee at the theatre at which Andy Williams is performing proclaims "He's Still Got It!", according to Look magazine (though Look magazine folded in 1971).
This is one of two times the song "Radar Love" by Golden Earring is heard on the show. Fat Tony also requests it to be played on a radio station in "Papa's Got a Brand New Badge".
Apparently, one of the acts in Branson pairs Waylon Jennings and Madame (although the marquee reads "Madam").
Skinner tries to curtail his swearing by exclaiming, "GM Chrysler!", a minced oath for Jesus Christ.
Martin bought an Al Gore doll in Knoxville, which is appropriate for their locale since the former Vice President was raised in and served as senator from Tennessee.