Bart Gets an F 

Mrs. Krabappel, fed up with Bart's lackadaisical approach to his studies, gives him an ultimatum: shape up or repeat the fourth grade.

Director:

David Silverman

Writers:

Matt Groening (created by), James L. Brooks (developed by)

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Bill / Mayor Quimby / Krusty the Clown / George Washington / Delegate #2 / Benjamin Franklin (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Otto Mann / J. Loren Pryor / Marty / Principal Skinner / Montgomery Burns / Waylon Smithers / Reverend Lovejoy / Delegate #1 / Alexander Hamilton (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Edna Krabappel (voice)
Jo Ann Harris	...	Nurse (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Escape from Grandma's House Announcer / Milhouse Van Houten (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Martin Prince / Sherri / Terri / Mother (voice)

Storyline

Bart disappoints Marge yet again by his appalling history grades and the school psychiatrist reckons that unless he shapes up, he must sit the fourth grade again next year. But if he can successfully pass the history paper one last time he will be clear. Since Martin refuses to help, Bart prays for a miracle - which comes in the form of a snow storm which closes the school and gives him extra revision time.

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Plot Keywords:

2d animation | school nurse | making promise to god | pleading with god | what happened to epilogue | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1990 (USA)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gracie Films,20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mayor Quimby makes his first appearance in this episode, without his trademark sash that says "Mayor". The sash was later added because the writers feared that viewers would not recognize him.

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Goofs

Sideshow Bob can be briefly seen singing with Springfield residents (in regular cloths) outside in the winter wonderland scene Bart sees from his window, yet Bob isn't released from prison until his second episode appearance episodes later.

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Quotes

Martin Prince: As a natural enemy, I don't know why I should care, but the information pertaining to America's colonial period that you just received is erroneous.
Bart: So you're saying...
Martin Prince: A blindfolded chimp with a pencil in his teeth has a better chance of passing this test than you do.
Bart: Oh. Thanks for the pep talk.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening credits, in the scene where Bart is writing on the blackboard, this week's "lesson" he has to repeat is "I will not encourage others to fly."

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Connections

Featured in RebelTaxi: Top 10 Animated Rip Offs or Coincidences (2016)

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Soundtracks

Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
(uncredited)
Composed by George Frideric Handel

User Reviews

A Funny Beginning!

The Simpsons are back for a second season and what a way to kick it off. This first episode features much better animation and boasts a pretty good story to go along with. While not reaching the perfect animation of latter seasons, I like the animation is crisp and clear. I liked the story and I liked how this episode pushes across a good message based around education.

This episode, "Bart Gets an F," is about how Bart repeatedly receives failing grades and is in danger of being held back in the fourth grade, so Bart promises to do well on his history exam and he needs all the luck he can get......including a blizzard?

Overall, this is a very promising start to what hopefully turns out to be a great second season. It's funny, written well, and has all the Simpsons characters we are familiar with. I rate this episode 9/10.