The Simpsons go to a Monster truck rally that features famous daredevil Lance Murdock. Bart immediately becomes enamored and decides that he wants to become a daredevil as well. His first stunt ends in injury, but to gain the respect of his friends, he promises a far more impressive feat to them: to jump the Springfield Gorge.
Escalation comedy drives 54 jokes across 22 minutes—early Simpsons' densest formula yet.
Directed by Wes Archer · Written by Jay Kogen, Wallace Wolodarsky
WAR
48.1
Wins Above Replacement
“Bart The Daredevil” ranks #64 of 552 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 84.4 — Elite. The episode packs 54 scored jokes at 4.2 per minute, averaging 6.9 on craft and 6.8 on impact, with Homer landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Lance Murdock: But the fact is: bones heal, chicks dig scars... and the U.S.A. has the best doctor to daredevil ratio in the world.
Homer: Think you got guts? Try raising my kids!
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Homer: It's tragic, but it's a small price to pay for top-notch entertainment.
Homer Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Otto · Bart · Otto: As the only adult here, I feel I should say something. What? Cool!
Lance Murdock: On the chance I don't live, let me say... seat belts save lives, so buckle up!
All Jokes — 54 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Homer · Marge: -Rasputin, the Friendly Russian. -Wasn't he the Mad Russian?
Announcer: History has changed wrestling, perhaps forever.
Announcer: The challenger from Heidelberg, Professor Burnabon Brawn. With a "W."
Marge: I hope you're not taking this seriously. 5-year-olds know this is as choreographed as ballet.
Marge Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Homer: Look at that showoff, kissing his own muscles.
Homer Observational Visual Gag Nelson · Jimbo: -That's my seat. -Correction, was your seat.
Nelson · Jimbo: But I only got up to go to the can. I don't see your name on this barstool.
Announcer: If you miss it, you better be dead or in jail. If you're in jail, break out!
Homer: I have an announcement. As a family growth thing... we should go to the Monster Truck Rally this Saturday.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Lisa: I have my first solo. If you miss it, start looking for a child therapist.
Lisa Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Bart · Homer: -But Truck-a-saurus is one night only! -Cruel fate, why do you mock me?
Marge · Homer: -We can go to both. -Marge, you're a genius!
Homer Reaction Beat Character Comedy Homer: Good, unfinished. This shouldn't take long.
Homer Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Homer: How much longer was Sherbert planning on making this?
Homer Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Ned: Lisa was great. Her fingering's come a long way.
Homer: -Thanks, Flanders. Big know-it-all.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Ned · Homer: -My son, my son. -Come on, Flanders. He's not that bad.
Ned Homer Reaction Beat Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Homer · Marge · Homer · Bart: I reached him. Drive defensively. The best defense is a good offense. Faster, Dad. Truck-a-saurus awaits!
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Homer: Pull! Pull, you dogs!
Homer Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Leo Clark: Let's see, cracked windshield, melted bumpers... punctured radiator, teeth marks in the trunk.
Leo Clark: Truck-a-saurus feels very badly about what happened.
Lisa: Wow, a woman mud pool driver. Another barrier broken. Right on, sister!
Lisa Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Bart · Homer: -Give me some nachos, Homer-saurus. -Here, Bart-a-saurus.
Announcer: He's no stranger to danger. If he's not in action, he's in traction. Captain Lance Murdock!
Announcer Wordplay/Pun Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Lance Murdock: I'm glad you're here to witness what may be my grisly death.
Lance Murdock: ...and most frightening, the king of the jungle... one ferocious lion!
Lance Murdock: one drop of human blood.
Lance Murdock: On the chance I don't live, let me say... seat belts save lives, so buckle up!
Lance Murdock: On the chance I don't live, let me say... seat belts save lives, so buckle up!
Bart Character Comedy Reaction Beat Bart · Homer: -Dad, I wanna be a daredevil. -Kids say such stupid things.
Kids · Bart: You're crazy. You'll never make it. Spare me your lectures, ladies.
Marge · Homer: -My little boy! -Come on, Marge, we're mad at him.
Marge · Bart: -Are you all right? -Better than all right. I got stitches! Probably a scar too.
Marge Bart Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Homer: It's tragic, but it's a small price to pay for top-notch entertainment.
Homer Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Barney Reaction Beat Character Comedy Bart: Gnarly! I bet you could toss a body in there and no one would ever find it.
Bart Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Otto · Bart · Otto: As the only adult here, I feel I should say something. What? Cool!
Bart: There's a good chance I'll fall to my death. Hope to see you there!
Bart Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Bart: I can't explain it, but I get the same thrill from jumping stuff... that you do from reading.
Bart Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Bart: I can't explain it, but I get the same thrill from jumping stuff... that you do from reading.
Bart Character Comedy Observational Lance Murdock · Doctor: Doc, I heard a snap. I'm afraid it's broken. That's all of them.
Lance Murdock: I've broken that dozens of times.
Lance Murdock: But the fact is: bones heal, chicks dig scars... and the U.S.A. has the best doctor to daredevil ratio in the world.
Homer: He's got us. There's nothing we can do. He's as good as dead.
Homer Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Homer: If you don't, I'll never believe you ever again.
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Homer: If you don't, I'll never believe you ever again. Come on. I mean it, boy!
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Homer: I should have-- And I was gonna play pickle.
Homer Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Homer: You'll see what it's like to watch a family member risk his life... for no good reason!
Homer Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Homer: I'm gonna make it! This is the greatest thrill of my life! I'm king of the world!
Homer Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Homer: Think you got guts? Try raising my kids!
Homer Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Homer: Think you got guts? Try raising my kids!
Homer Character Comedy Observational Top Episodes — The Simpsons