Bart fails four consecutive history exams and the school psychiatrist recommends that Bart repeat the fourth grade.
Season 2 opener launches with 58 jokes in 22 minutes—establishing The Simpsons' aggressive density early.
Directed by David Silverman · Written by David M. Stern
WAR
56.3
Wins Above Replacement
“Bart Gets An F” ranks #92 of 552 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 83.1 — Elite. The episode packs 58 scored jokes at 3.6 per minute, averaging 7.1 on craft and 6.8 on impact, with Bart landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Bart: Now I know how Washington felt when he surrendered Fort Necessity in 1754. You know, 1754. The famous defeat to the French.
Bart Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Otto: I got held back in the fourth grade. Twice. And look at me, man. Now I drive the school bus!
Otto Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Bart: I don't know who or what God is exactly. But he's more powerful than Mom and Dad put together. And you owe him big.
Bart Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Lisa · Homer: -He doesn't care, Mom. -I do. I want a beer while I'm caring.
Lisa Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Martin: Pushing a boy into the girls' lavatory was such a thrill! The screams, the humiliation, the fact that it wasn't me!
Martin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 58 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Teacher: Oh, absolutely brilliant! I truly believed you were Hemingway. Bravo, Martin.
Teacher Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Martin · Student: -Call me Papa. -Some ketchup for your buns, Papa?
Bart: Students, prepare to be dazzled. The name of the book that I read was Treasure Island.
Bart Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Bart: And green birds on their shoulders.
Bart Character Comedy Observational Bart: And published by McGraw-Hill. So in conclusion, on a scale of 1 to 10... 10 being the highest, 1 the lowest, and 5 average, I give it... a 9.
Bart Character Comedy Escalation Bart · Teacher: Questions? No? Then I'll sit down. Did you read the book? I'm insulted. Is this a book report or a witch hunt?
Bart: Blackbeard, Captain Nemo, Captain Hook, Bluebeard.
Bart Character Comedy Escalation Teacher · Bart: -Blah, blah, blah, blah. -Yes, ma'am. -Blah, blah, blah. -Yes, ma'am. -You haven't been paying attention! -Yes, ma'am.
Teacher · Bart: Then what did I say? -Straighten up and fly right? -Lucky guess.
Bart: Take that, granny! Hide! Deadly mothballs. Granny's kissing me!
Bart Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Video Game: You reached the level of ungrateful grandchild. Try again, if you dare!
Lisa · Homer: -He doesn't care, Mom. -I do. I want a beer while I'm caring.
Lisa Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Homer: You did! Well, that's just.... Oh, what a glorious day!
Homer Character Comedy Escalation Homer: Hand me your paper. I'll put it on the refrigerator. I might as well kill two birds with one stone.
Homer Visual Gag Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Bart · Homer: You covered up my paper! Look at those funny little whiskers. That reminds me.
Homer · Bart: It's Gorilla Week on Million Dollar Movie. No, Dad, I should really-- Gorilla the Conqueror. The granddaddy of them all. Well, maybe just one more hour.
Homer · Marge: The little tiger tries so hard. Why does he keep failing? Just a little dim, I guess.
Otto · Bart: Hey, Bart-dude. You look freaked. I got a test I'm not ready for. Can you crash the bus?
Otto Bart Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Otto: Sorry, I can't do it on purpose. But maybe you'll get lucky.
Otto Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Bart · Girls: -Name the pilgrim's boat. -The Spirit of St. Louis. -Where'd they land? -Sunny Acapulco. -Why'd they leave England? -Giant rats.
Bart: Cool, history's coming alive.
Bart Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Martin: A blindfolded chimp with a pencil in his teeth has more chances than you.
Martin Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Teacher · Bart: -What's the matter, son? -Stabbing pains in my stomach.
Teacher · Bart: -Do you feel pain in your arm? -Both arms. -Temporary loss of vision? -Who said that? Come closer.
Lisa: I wish I had amoria phlebitis.
Lisa Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Bart · Milhouse: What'd you get for number one? Number two? Yeah, that sounds right.
Teacher: This test is worse than Milhouse's!
Teacher Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Bart Character Comedy Observational Bart: Look at these results: 55, 42, 26. A 12 on state capitals! Why are we dancing around the obvious? We all know it. I'm dumb as a post.
Bart Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Bart: Look in my eyes. See the sincerity? See the fear? As God is my witness, I can pass the fourth grade!
Bart Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Dr. Pryor: If not, at least you'll be bigger than the other kids.
Dr. Pryor Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Bart · Otto: Otto, I respect you. You let us throw stuff at cars and try to tip the bus. Damn thing never goes over, does it?
Bart Otto Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Otto: I got held back in the fourth grade. Twice. And look at me, man. Now I drive the school bus!
Otto Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Adult Bart: I got a peptic ulcer, my wife wants a new car and I need a root canal. Quit bugging me about the pirate.
Adult Bart Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Bart Jr. · Adult Bart · Teacher: -Long John Silver, Dad. -I heard that, Bart Jr. I want to see both of you after class.
Martin: I'm sorry, Bart. I don't know the rules of your sport. I didn't want to interfere with a ball in play.
Martin Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Martin: They laugh at me? I'd always considered myself rather popular.
Martin Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Martin: My speed with numbers, my years as a hall monitor... my prize-winning dioramas, they mean nothing to them?
Martin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Martin: No, this won't do at all. We have to clean up this room. And we'll need a fern. No room is complete without plant life.
Martin Character Comedy Escalation Martin: Mischief varies inversely with proximity to the authority figure.
Martin Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Martin: Mischief varies inversely with proximity to the authority figure.
Martin Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Bart: Yeah, but don't say it like that.
Bart Reaction Beat Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Martin: Pushing a boy into the girls' lavatory was such a thrill! The screams, the humiliation, the fact that it wasn't me!
Martin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Martin: The old Martin no longer exists. Come on, fellows, to the arcade!
Martin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Bart: Prayer, the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Bart Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Bart: Thanking you in advance, your pal, Bart Simpson.
Bart Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Bill · Marty: -He's Bill. -He's Marty. We can't get enough of each other.
Bart: Whoa! Good morning, world!
Bart Character Comedy Escalation Bart: I don't know who or what God is exactly. But he's more powerful than Mom and Dad put together. And you owe him big.
Bart Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Mr. Burns: I hereby declare this day to be Snow Day... the funnest day in the history of Springfield!
Bart's imagination: Look, everybody! It's snowing! -In the middle of July? -It's a miracle. I've invented something fun. The sled.
Colonist · Ben Franklin: -In the middle of July? -It's a miracle. I've invented something fun. The sled.
Bart's imagination: Look, John Hancock's writing his name in the snow!
Teacher: I know. Another year together. It's gonna be hell.
Teacher Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Bart: Now I know how Washington felt when he surrendered Fort Necessity in 1754. You know, 1754. The famous defeat to the French.
Bart Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Teacher · Bart: -My God, Bart, you're right! -So? You demonstrated applied knowledge. Such an obscure reference deserves an extra point. It's only fair.
Bart · Students: I passed! I got a D minus! I passed! I got a D minus! I passed! l-- Kissed the teacher?!
Bart: Thanks, Dad, but part of this D minus belongs to God.
Bart Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — The Simpsons