Bart Gets Famous

Bart inadvertently become famous after appearing on the Krusty The Clown show.

This is a strong episode that includes good comedy and great satirical writing.

The Simpsons is at its best when it uses its characters and stories to reflect certain aspects of society that deserve to be lampooned. This one includes a strong parody of the catchphrase comedy and pop culture fads that rise and fall with consumers habits.

Bart is at the centre of the story with his usual misbehaviour leading to unexpected results. From then on he is amusingly written as a bit of a rabbit caught in the headlights before the bubble bursts. As always the frustrated Lisa is the humorous moral centre to everything and this leads to a very good final scene involving more catchphrases.

Bart Gets Famous, the twelfth episode of The Simpsons' fifth season, is a masterclass in meta-humor and pop culture parody, and stands out as one of the sharpest commentaries the series ever made about fame and media. The episode follows Bart as he stumbles into overnight celebrity status after uttering the catchphrase "I didn't do it" during a live Krusty the Clown Show taping. What starts as a fluke quickly spirals into a satirical look at the fleeting and hollow nature of fame, especially in an entertainment industry obsessed with catchphrases and branding. The writers, including former Simpsons writer and real-life late-night host Conan O'Brien, use the episode to mock both the media and themselves-literally, as Bart ends up appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, voiced by Conan himself in a hilarious cameo.

The episode is packed with clever meta references, from Krusty's jaded attitude toward child stars to Homer's desperate attempt to profit off his son's fame ("Do the line, Bart!"). Bart's disillusionment with being typecast as a one-joke celebrity mirrors the real-world experiences of many child actors and viral sensations, and the show doesn't shy away from critiquing its own reliance on catchphrases, poking fun at fans who latch onto simplistic soundbites. The inclusion of the Conan O'Brien scene adds a delicious layer of self-awareness-especially considering O'Brien's behind-the-scenes contributions to the show during its golden era. Watching Bart awkwardly perform for a live studio audience on a show hosted by one of The Simpsons' own writers is a rare and inspired bit of television.

Beyond the satire, the episode is also rich with film and pop culture parodies, most notably the brilliant Raiders of the Lost Ark opening homage featuring Homer pursuing a candy machine instead of an idol. This parody, among others sprinkled throughout the episode, shows the show's love of cinema and its talent for fusing high-concept references with everyday Springfield absurdity. Bart Gets Famous is more than just a funny episode-it's a pointed, playful critique of the entertainment machine, delivered with the kind of intelligence and irreverence that made The Simpsons a cultural force in the 1990s.

Bart ends up being Krusty's assistant (lackey) and through his clumsiness becomes a star, including showing up on the talk show circuit. But his fame is based on a single line and we know what that means. Funny episode about how we throw people to the wolves when we tire of them.