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The Simpsons
S20.E11
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IMDbPro

How the Test Was Won

  • Episode aired Mar 1, 2009
  • TV-14
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Dan Castellaneta in The Simpsons (1989)
Adult AnimationSatireAnimationComedy

Bart and his fellow underachievers are taken on a "field trip" to Capital City so that they can miss the standardized test, and Homer makes sure that nothing bad happens until their insuranc... Read allBart and his fellow underachievers are taken on a "field trip" to Capital City so that they can miss the standardized test, and Homer makes sure that nothing bad happens until their insurance goes back into effect.Bart and his fellow underachievers are taken on a "field trip" to Capital City so that they can miss the standardized test, and Homer makes sure that nothing bad happens until their insurance goes back into effect.

  • Directors
    • Mike B. Anderson
    • Lance Kramer
  • Writers
    • Matt Groening
    • James L. Brooks
    • Sam Simon
  • Stars
    • Dan Castellaneta
    • Julie Kavner
    • Nancy Cartwright
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Mike B. Anderson
      • Lance Kramer
    • Writers
      • Matt Groening
      • James L. Brooks
      • Sam Simon
    • Stars
      • Dan Castellaneta
      • Julie Kavner
      • Nancy Cartwright
    • 4User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

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    Top cast12

    Edit
    Dan Castellaneta
    Dan Castellaneta
    • Homer Simpson
    • (voice)
    • …
    Julie Kavner
    Julie Kavner
    • Marge Simpson
    • (voice)
    Nancy Cartwright
    Nancy Cartwright
    • Bart Simpson
    • (voice)
    • …
    Yeardley Smith
    Yeardley Smith
    • Lisa Simpson
    • (voice)
    • …
    Hank Azaria
    Hank Azaria
    • Carl Carlson
    • (voice)
    • …
    Harry Shearer
    Harry Shearer
    • George Bush
    • (voice)
    • …
    Marcia Wallace
    Marcia Wallace
    • Edna Krabappel
    • (voice)
    Pamela Hayden
    Pamela Hayden
    • Milhouse Van Houten
    • (voice)
    • …
    Tress MacNeille
    Tress MacNeille
    • Dolph
    • (voice)
    • …
    Maggie Roswell
    Maggie Roswell
    • Helen Lovejoy
    • (voice)
    • …
    Russi Taylor
    Russi Taylor
    • Martin Prince
    • (voice)
    • …
    Karl Wiedergott
    • SNPP Security Guard
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Directors
      • Mike B. Anderson
      • Lance Kramer
    • Writers
      • Matt Groening
      • James L. Brooks
      • Sam Simon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    7.01.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8arielsiere

    This is the best episode ever in the modern era

    Oh my god yes, this episode is when the kids of Springfield go to a trip, Ralph Wiggum sings a song called wannabe even though the song was also used on the movie Chicken Little and other simpsons episodes such as Fraudcast News and Maximum Homerdrive, this also explain us about Homer's problem, it is also used the Footloose theme song during the final scene where Principal Skinner, Chalmers and the kids are dancing to the music even though the part when they mention about Footloose in The Little Mermaid 3: Ariel's Beginning was with underwater setting on it according to the awful movies wiki from miraheze.
    7e_daneva

    Not the Best of the Modern Era, But A Good Watch

    How the Test Was Won is a good episode. I have watched 10 other Season 20 episodes, and there is 1 bad, 3 okay, 4 good, and 3 really good episodes. This episode falls in the good category. This episode has decent humor and it is really interesting. Some other reviewers were saying that this waa the best episode of the modern era. However I am not saying that I don't like this. This episode is funny, but not super duper funny. There are many great episodes in the modern era that are better than this. Already we have 3 really good episodes, that means an episode scoring over 7.5 for me. I'm sorry other reviews, but this isn't one of the really good episodes. There was another review on here saying that this episode is terrible. I don't agree with that at all. This is a funny episode with an interesting plot and I like it, and you should give it a try. This episode is terrible, but it isn't the best of the modern age. In all, I give this a 7.2 out of 10.
    7santifersan

    My favorite modern Simpson episode

    "How The Test Was Won" is my favorite episode of modern-day Simpsons. At first, it seems like you're going to watch another substance-less modern episode, but as soon as Skinner is sent with the clumsy school children to Capital City, the laughter begins due to Skinner's frustrations with the immature behavior of the kids and Ralph's hilarious antics. In modern Simpsons, they often had Ralph saying nonsense just for the sake of it, as the writers thought it was funny for him to simply blurt out random things. But in this episode, they have done it quite well, very close to the style of the old episode where Bart befriends Ralph, which is also one of my favorites of the series overall for the same reason. In the end, the characters learn a valuable lesson about learning and education, leaving you with a smile on your face. Overall, it's a pleasant episode to watch and my favorite of the modern era.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the opening sequence spoof of Cheers (1982) Sideshow Bob enters the bar. Sideshow Bob is voiced by Kelsey Grammer who played Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers (1982).
    • Quotes

      Homer Simpson: Insurance is the greatest deal ever. If I get hurt, I get paid. And *man* do I get hurt!

      [cut to a montage of Homer's previous injuries]

      Homer Simpson: [laughs] What a week.

    • Connections
      Featured in Familiar Faces: Familiar Faces #34: Lindsey Naegle (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Footloose
      (uncredited)

      Written by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford

      Performed by Kenny Loggins

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • FOX
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • USA
    • Production companies
      • Gracie Films
      • 20th Century Fox Television
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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    Dan Castellaneta in The Simpsons (1989)
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