The results from their aptitude tests cause Bart and Lisa to make 180-degree turns in their behavior.
Career-crisis premise generates 61 jokes in 22 minutes—densest Season 3 output by volume alone.
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch · Written by George Meyer
WAR
47.6
Wins Above Replacement
“Separate Vocations” ranks #124 of 226 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 79.1 — Elite. The episode packs 61 scored jokes at 3.9 per minute, averaging 7.0 on craft and 6.6 on impact, with Lisa landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
when you do... I'll be right there to borrow money.
Bart Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch I may or may not die young. I haven't decided.
Lisa Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch You've inherited a finger condition... known as stubbiness. It usually comes... from the father's side.
Does anyone know... the multiplication table? Please, don't panic. They can smell fear.
400 days. I can do that standing on my head. All right, 500 days. Ooh! Big man! 600 days.
All Jokes — 61 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ D'oh!
Homer Character Comedy ★ Rewatch I promised you a surprise today... We're going to take a test
Career Aptitude Normalizing Test-- Or 'CAN'T.'
In spite of your masters from Bryn Mawr... you might end up a baby-sitter to dead-eyed fourth graders...
Teacher Dark/Subversive Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch while your husband runs naked on a beach... with your marriage counselor!
If I could be any animal, I would be: A) a carpenter ant... B) a nurse shark... or, C) a lawyer bird
I prefer the smell of: A) gasoline... B) french fries... or, C) bank customers
Since we have 15 minutes until recess... please put down your pencils... and stare at the front of the room
Teacher Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Salmon gutter?!
Lisa Reaction Beat Absurdist Systems analyst, systems analyst, systems analyst. Systems analyst.
Homemaker? It's like a mommy.
Before I saw these test results, I had you pegged a drifter.
Wow. A drifter. Lousy sheriff. Run me out of town. He's lost my vote.
Bart Character Comedy Absurdist I might as well be dead.
Lisa Character Comedy Escalation The police said I was too dumb.
I'll be unappreciated in my own country... but my gutsy blues stylings will electrify the French.
Lisa Character Comedy Observational I may or may not die young. I haven't decided.
Lisa Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Isn't anybody gonna follow in my footsteps?
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy You've inherited a finger condition... known as stubbiness. It usually comes... from the father's side.
D'oh! Stupid fingers.
Homer Character Comedy Callback Callback My God, they are stubby.
Lisa Reaction Beat Character Comedy I didn't steal that copper wire. I just thought they were throwing it out.
Snake Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm It's called a baton, son. What's it for? We club people... with it.
Lou Bart Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement You run red lights, park wherever you please... hot-and-cold-running chicks.
Eddie Character Comedy Escalation Tonight his honor is... polling the electorate.
Lou Wordplay/Pun Irony/Sarcasm How would you like a street named after you?
Dear log... this will be my last entry... for you were a journal of my hopes and dreams... and now, I have none.
Lisa Character Comedy Absurdist They used nylon rope this time. It feels so smooth my skin-- almost sensuous.
Snake Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Good thing this alley got so narrow in the middle.
Lou Visual Gag Deadpan/Understatement He's unconscious, sir. Oh, they can still hear things.
This morning I turned bacon, eggs, and toast... into a smiley face for Bart and Homer... What's the point? They'll never notice.
take a look at these surveillance photos.
Bart Character Comedy Escalation You know what I want to be? The girl on the oatmeal box?
Janey Character Comedy Absurdist Women can't be astronauts... They distract the men... so they wouldn't keep their minds on the road.
Nelson Character Comedy Absurdist we'll all live... in cities on the moon... I was wrong about that
Sleek, vigilant puma-- principal of the mountains.
That's a bad-girl bathroom!
Janey Character Comedy Observational you really have to wonder at the mentality... that would desecrate a helpless puma.
Bart Simpson on the side of law and order?! Has the world gone topsy-turvy?
Let's can the euphemisms. How would you like to be a hall monitor?
Ay, caramba.!
Bart Character Comedy Reaction Beat You got yourself a narc.
Bart Character Comedy Escalation Oh, we always have one good kid and one lousy kid.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Shove it.
Lisa Character Comedy Escalation What do you got?
Lisa Character Comedy Callback I'll smoke it in class.
Lisa Character Comedy Escalation Madre de Dios.! The legends were true!
Bart Character Comedy Absurdist and this plastic derriere.
Notice the identical elongated loops on the D's. Forgery!
Bart Character Comedy Escalation So he didn't have leprosy.
Bart Character Comedy Absurdist There will be no mockery of your name, Mr. Glasscock.
the Battle of New Orleans. I mean... Andrew Jackson.
Well, you're earning your 18 grand a year.
Lisa Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Does anyone know... the multiplication table? Please, don't panic. They can smell fear.
Have I ever told you kids about the '60s?
Simpson, you've just saved this school $120.
400 days. I can do that standing on my head. All right, 500 days. Ooh! Big man! 600 days.
when you do... I'll be right there to borrow money.
Bart Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Top Episodes — The Simpsons