"Barting Over" is an episode of The Simpsons advertised by Fox, and indicated on-screen, to be the 300th episode of the show (even though in broadcast order, it is the 302nd episode, as noted by Marge to Lisa in the episode proper). It aired on February 16, 2003. In this episode, Bart discovers that he used to be a child star in commercials—and that Homer blew all the money he earned. In retaliation, Bart petitions the court to be legally emancipated and move out of the house.
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While Bart and Lisa are cleaning out the garage, they stumble upon old home movies. One of the tapes they found has an old episode of the sitcom Perfect Strangers on it, followed by a commercial for a product called "Baby Stink-Breath" -- with Bart as a baby with bad breath. Bart confronts Homer and Marge about the advertisement, who tells him that its revenue made a lot of money. However, Homer had ended up spending it all to buy back incriminating photos that were used in a blackmail scheme. Bart is infuriated and claims he is sick of all of Homer's ill-treatments, but he taunts him that he can not do anything about them until he is eighteen (and plans to work Bart like a dog when he's 17). The next day, a furious Bart goes to a law firm named "Luvum and Burnham" Family Law, at Milhouse's suggestion after hearing the results of his father, Kirk, crying when Luann sends her lawyer after him. He meets the Blue Haired Lawyer there, and tells him that he wants a 'divorce' from his family.
The next day, during dinner, the Blue Haired Lawyer comes to the Simpson residence to serve Homer with a subpoena and a side of bacon just to get him to open the door. When the family discovers that Bart is suing them, they are shocked. He declares that he wants to be emancipated, much to Marge's horror and his father's rage. Homer tells Bart that his father was terrible to him while he was growing up and instead of suing him for emancipation, he just dropped him off at a cheap nursing home.
At the trial, the Blue Haired Lawyer uses a doll commonly seen in child molestation trials from whose clothing Bart pulls out the pockets to show the court where Homer swindled money from him. This ends up causing him to cringe nervously. Later, Homer is seen on the stand where Bart's lawyer alleges that he has a clear anger management issue. He blows up for a second and soon tries to convince the court that he is much calmer than that. Unfortunately, Judge Harm does not believe Homer and proves it by not only having the stonographer repeat what he said, but also drawing a picture of him hanging from a noose. Despite acknowledging that Bart may be too young for emancipation, she rules in his favor and declared him legally emancipated. Judge Harm cites that Homer's sociopathic behavior and short temperament as the main reason why Bart should not live with him, evident when he threatened the lives of the whole jury and swears a vicious revenge against Bart after he mistakenly believed that he will win. As a result, he is forced to give up half his salary as his punishment for stealing Bart's money. Furious, Homer tries to attack Judge Harm, but the bailiff stops him and drags him away.
The next day, Bart prepares to leave and says tearful goodbyes to everyone (minus Homer). Marge tries to convince him to stay, promising that she will let him curse in the house more. Bart refuses and tells her that he had nothing against her, Lisa and Maggie, telling them they were cool to him. However, he reminds her that Homer is a lousy dad by giving him ill-treatment and he is not taking it any more. Bart also coldly claims that his father does not deserves his love or respect. Homer comes outside and angrily shouts at Bart to come back as his taxi drives away. Homer finally stops chasing after the taxi and starts crying in the middle of the street for the loss of his son, evident with cones circling around him and a sign that says Man Sobbing.
Bart's early experiences in the apartment were rather scary due to its dangerous location, but he soon finds that Tony Hawk is living in the building and throwing a party with pop-punk band Blink-182. He and Hawk become friends, and he is content with his new life. Back at the Simpson house, Marge is still depressed about Bart being gone and convinces a equally desperate Homer to apologize to him. The family goes to meet him at his loft. He apologizes and requests him come home, promising to treat him better by paying back the money. Bart accepts the apology, but tells them that he is going on Tony Hawk's Skewed Tour.
At the event, Homer meets up with Hawk and pleads with him to pretend to lose to him so that he can make Bart proud of him again. Hawk reluctantly agrees and gives Homer a modified skateboard, which does all the stunt work. Later, Homer challenges Hawk to a skateboard match and does a good job, thanks to the skateboard. Hawk, unhappy about being showed up by Homer, decides to "take out the thrash". They duel with their skateboards in mid-air, and Tony falls to the ground. Homer speaks to Bart and finally promises that he will never ill-treat him again. Lindsey Naegle approaches Homer and asks him to star in a commercial. Homer accepts so that he can get Bart fully repaid.
At the Simpson house, Homer is embarrassed when he watched the final product, an advertisement for an impotence drug, but Bart tells him that nobody will remember it in 50 years. Fifty years later, Homer is dead, and an elderly Nelson Muntz laughs at his grave before coughing very hard.
According to the Complete Fourteenth Season commentary, the FOX network insisted that the 300th episode be scheduled specifically on February 16, 2003 so that there was time to plan a huge promotion for the episode. However the actual 300th episode would have already aired two weeks prior. Blink-182 recorded their lines for the episode on April 24, 2002, Hawk recording his a week later on April 29.[1] Mark Hoppus of blink-182 has stated that being on The Simpsons was "truly one of those “wow, this is unreal” moments that I’ve been lucky enough to experience. It still makes my day every time I think about it."[2] Tony Hawk also said "being on The Simpsons, let alone a milestone episode, really made me think to myself that I've actually, completely made it". Originally, Homer was supposed to blow Bart's money from his "Baby Stink Breath" commercials on a star that goes supernova, but the episode aired around the time that pop singer Michael Jackson caused controversy when he hung his son over a balcony in Germany and the reference was added at the last minute.
In 2007, Simon Crerar of The Times listed Tony Hawk's performance as one of the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.[3]