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| {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} | |||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode |
{{Infobox Simpsons episode | ||
| episode_name = Bart-Mangled Banner| | |||
| | image = | |||
| episode_no = 334| | |||
| | image_size = | |||
| prod_code = FABF17| | |||
| | caption = | |||
| airdate = ], ] | | |||
| ⚫ | | season = 15 | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| | episode = 21 | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| blackboard = None| | |||
| ⚫ | | writer = ] | ||
| couch_gag = The family bakes in a giant microwave oven, expanding like ].| | |||
| | production = FABF17 | |||
| guest_star = | | |||
| | airdate = {{Start date|2004|05|16}} | |||
| image = ] | | |||
| | guests = *] as ] | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| | couch_gag = The couch is replaced by a giant ]. Someone puts a tray inside and presses a button. The Simpsons rise from the tray as it cooks. | |||
| color = #EFEFEF | |||
| | commentary = ]<br />John Frink<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />Steven Dean Moore | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | next = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''Bart-Mangled Banner'''" is |
"'''Bart-Mangled Banner'''" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It first aired on the ] in the United States on May 16, 2004. The episode was written by ] and directed by ]. | ||
| In this episode, Bart accidentally disrespects the American flag, and the situation escalates until the United States hates Springfield and the Simpson family is arrested. The episode received mixed reviews. | |||
| ==Synopsis== | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| ⚫ | ] and ] take the kids to get their shots. Just before ] is about to inject ], he escapes. After a chase through town, Hibbert finally outsmarts Bart and injects him. |
||
| ==Plot== | |||
| ⚫ | While at the ] |
||
| ⚫ | ] and ] take the kids to get their shots. Just before ] is about to inject ], he escapes. After a chase through town, Hibbert finally outsmarts Bart, by having ] (as well as ]) wear a latex mask, and finally injects him. However, the shot causes Bart's earholes to swell shut as a side effect, making him temporarily ] and Hibbert also tricks Homer into signing a ] ]. Marge wants Bart to stay home from school; however, Bart wants to play in the donkey basketball game. | ||
| ⚫ | While at the ] ] game, Bart taunts a donkey with a carrot, unaware that the school is reciting the ]. After he places the carrot in his shorts, the donkey takes it and literally eats Bart's shorts. While Bart is bent over to keep his privates covered with his shirt, the ] is put up behind him and a photo is taken, which results in the crowd assuming that Bart is ] the US flag. Shortly afterwards, the '']'' takes the story and completely turns it around, making it seem as if Bart had deliberately mooned the flag. Marge tries to convince Skinner that Bart was deaf at the time; however, because of Bart's history of similar pranks, Skinner is not convinced. Bart and his family soon are hated by all of Springfield. | ||
| The Simpsons are later asked to appear on a talk show and tell their side of the story. However, Marge says that she does hate Americans, even though she didn't mean that she actually hated all Americans. The US then turns their back on ], so Mayor ] decides to change the name of Springfield to "Libertyville." Everything in town is patriotized; the traffic light colors are changed to ], ], and ] (red means go now), and everything costs $17.76. While at church, ] speaks her opinion about patriotism, and the Simpsons are immediately arrested, in violation of the "Government Knows Best Act." | |||
| The Simpsons are later asked to appear on a talk show and tell their side of the story. Homer advises Marge to not take it too far. However, due to the several misunderstandings, the host declares that ] hates the US. The US then turns their back on Springfield (though there is widespread celebration in praise of Springfield in the ]), so ] frantically decides to change the name of Springfield to "Libertyville." Everything in town is quickly patriotized; the traffic light colors are changed to red, white, and blue, everything costs ],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Kane |first=Astrid |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Five Times ''The Simpsons'' Told Big Tech: 'Eat My Shorts!' |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/01/27/five-times-the-simpsons-told-big-tech-eat-my-shorts/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |work=] |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204004614/https://sfstandard.com/2023/01/27/five-times-the-simpsons-told-big-tech-eat-my-shorts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ] starts selling ] Noodles with ] Balls and changes his octuplets' names to "]", "Freedom", "Condoleezza", "]", "]", "]", "Apple Pie" and "]", claiming their previous names to be "pre-]", and the family's last name to McGillicuddy. While at church, ] speaks her opinion about patriotism, and the Simpsons are arrested by ], in violation of the "Government Knows Best Act." | |||
| ⚫ | The Simpsons are taken to |
||
| ⚫ | The Simpsons are taken to the "] Re-education Center", a prison which houses ], the ], ], ], and ], as well as a man who moans "My only crime was driving a van full of explosives in from Canada!". Marge feels bad that she took it too far after Homer warned her not to. With some help from the last-registered ], the Simpsons escape the prison (in a parody of the escape scene from ]), but realize that the re-education center is actually ] Prison.<ref name=":0" /> While they are swimming to land (choosing to swim to ] instead of ] because they "aren't made of money"), they are picked up by a French freighter and are brought to ]. They are well adjusted, but still miss the ], mainly because it is where all their stuff is. They then move back to the US dressed as 19th century immigrants from Europe where Homer speaks of plans of integration into the United States. | ||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| *Elmo hangs himself in prison. | |||
| *The title is taken from a phrase Bart used in "]," regarding the sabotage of Lisa's ] prototype. | |||
| *In France, Marge wears the same Chanel suit she wore in episode 3F11 "]" | |||
| *When Bart & Lisa are told they will be used as crash test dummies, Lisa closes her eyes and quietly says to herself "Please be ]" A reference to Volvo's excellent safety record. | |||
| *According to ], all towns and cities are required to have red, yellow and green traffic lights, making the red, white and blue traffic lights featured in the episode unrealistic. | |||
| ==Cultural references== | ==Cultural references== | ||
| At church, Lisa talks about the ], part of the ]. After the family is arrested, they are made to watch a cartoon that describes the Bill of Rights as the Constitution's "crazy drunken cousin".<ref>{{cite web|date=January 14, 2018|title=What we can learn about the Constitution from The Simpsons|url=https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/what-we-can-learn-about-the-constitution-from-the-simpsons|publisher=]|access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| *In one of the chase scenes between Doctor Hibbert and Bart in the beginning, we see Hibbert diving down on Bart in a cropduster in a cornfield, a take on the famous cropduster scene from the ] movie ]. | |||
| *One of the cellmates in the prison is ] from ], who claims "Elmo go to wrong fundraiser." | |||
| *The Simpson's escape method is the same as the Von Trap family's from ]. | |||
| *In this episode, ] refers to ] as previously being called ] City. | |||
| The cable debate show ''Headbutt'' that the Simpsons appear on is a reference to the ] debate show '']'' with Nash Castor being a parody of then-current host ].<ref name="Henry"/> | |||
| ==Quotes== | |||
| *'''Lisa:''' In the last two hours, I've gotten 1000 ] ]s. <br/>'''Hate spam:''' Refinance your home, YOU ] ]! | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| *'''French sailor:''' Mes ]! We hate America too. Come to France and we shall mock the country that saved us twice from the ]. | |||
| ===Viewing figures=== | |||
| The episode earned a 3.2 rating and was watched by 8.69 million viewers, the 46th most-watched show that week.<ref>{{cite web|work=]|date=May 18, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093810/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051804_09|title=Weekly Program Rankings (May 10–16)|access-date=June 10, 2023|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051804_09|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ===Critical response=== | |||
| *'''Editor:''' Which one of you writers can take a story and blow it way out of proportion? <br/> '''Writer:''' I'm your man, boss. <br/> '''Editor:''' I want you to overhype this story so much, it makes the '']'' look like '']''. Or ''The New York Times'' look like the ''New York Post''. I forget which one the good one is. | |||
| Colin Jacobson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' thought the episode may have had more impact at the time it aired, but thought the episode was "heavy-handed and shrill" eight years later. He liked the episode until it started the social commentary.<ref>{{cite web|first=Colin|last=Jacobson|date=December 13, 2012|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Fifteenth Season (2003)|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonfifteen.shtml|website=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=October 18, 2024|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806152020/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonfifteen.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| On ''Four Finger Discount'', Brendan Dando thought the episode had "no direction" where the events spiral out of control while Guy Davis thought the episode reflected the time after the ] where comedians thought they needed to comment on the aftermath.<ref>{{cite podcast|first1=Guy|last1=Davis|first2=Brendan|last2=Dando|title=Bart-Mangled Banner (S15E21)|work=Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast)|date=July 6, 2023|url=https://fourfingerdiscount.podbean.com/e/bart-mangled-banner-simpsons-podcast-review/|time=1:10|access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Y'ello? Appear on your TV show? Tell ''our'' side of the story? You'll see us there? ''Goodbye''? ''Dial-tone?'' | |||
| ===Themes and analysis=== | |||
| *'''Nash Castor:''' Is ''that'' why you and your son hate Americans? <br/>'''Marge:''' If by Americans you mean loud-mouthed talk show hosts, which everyone in this country seems to be these days, then yes, I do hate Americans.<br/>(Nash Castor, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are shown one by one with their mouths wide open in shock)<br/>'''Homer:''' (with a sandwich in his mouth) Wha'd she say?<br/>'''Nash Castor:''' Wow, I'm surprised you haven't been run out of town.<br/> '''Marge:''' I'll have you know that I am very well-liked in Springfield.<br/>'''Nash Castor:''' There you have it, Springfield hates America. After our commercial break, I will be talking ''even louder!'' ''DON'T MISS IT!'' | |||
| The episode was seen to be a reaction to the ]' remarks about ] in 2003 that were perceived to be unpatriotic.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news | date=June 14, 2006 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3653132/How-the-Chicks-survived-their-scrap-with-Bush.html | newspaper=] | title=How the Chicks survived their scrap with Bush | last=Sweeting|first=Adam | location=London| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012151525/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2006%2F06%2F15%2Fbmdixie15.xml | archive-date=October 12, 2008 | df=mdy-all|access-date=February 25, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Henry"/> Matthew A. Henry writes that the episode was a satire of the incident with the Dixie Chicks that escalated to national news and their music being banned from radio stations. In this episode, a incident of Bart disrespecting the American flag leads to the Simpsons family being hated and Marge shocking the country by saying she hates Americans.<ref name="Henry">{{cite book|first=Matthew A.|last=Henry|pages=70-73|title=The Simpsons, Satire, and American Culture|publisher=]|date=2012|isbn=9781137027795}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | |||
| *'''Swat Team Captain:''' Simpsons, you're under arrest by order of the Government Knows Best Act. | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| *'''Homer:''' I don't want to end up like Elmo, hanging himself in prison! | |||
| {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_15#Episode_21.Bart-Mangled_Banner|"Bart-Mangled Banner"}} | |||
| {{Portal|The Simpsons}} | |||
| * {{IMDb episode|0763027}} | |||
| ⚫ | {{The Simpsons episodes|15}} | ||
| ] | |||
| *'''Bill Clinton:''' I want my ].<br/> '''Guard:''' Here's your Washington Post! ''(sprays him with a hose)'' | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Guard#1:''' (''cocks and aims gun'') <br> '''Guard#2:''' Hold your fire! That walrus will eat them! <br> '''Guard#1:''' No, that's the dad. <br> '''Guard#2:''' But he's eating a seal! | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Congressman:''' I declare today, ], "We Hate Springfield Day!" | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Jimbo:''' Give us your ], Simpson! We're gonna ] your ass! | |||
| *'''Groundskeeper Willie:''' ''(to Bart)'' I know what you're hiding, lad. Willie's been deaf since the boiler explosion of '88. But I've taught myself to read lips.<br> '''Mailman:''' ''(walking by)'' Morning, Willie! <br> '''Groundskeeper Willie:''' What did you say about me mother?! For your information, her feet stank because she works in manure all day! But it's the best darned ] in ]! | |||
| *'''Rich Texan (seeing Bart moon the flag):''' How dare he! That's the flag my grandpappy ]!<br/>'''Lenny:''' When you insult the flag, you insult my flag tattoo! ''(close-up of Lenny's tattoo, which says "]-] ]") | |||
| *'''Bart:''' I got my hearing back! <br/> '''Kearney:''' Okay...traitor! <br/> '''Bart:''' And may I say, I missed your sweet, sweet voices. <br/> '''Kearney:''' Cram it, ]i! <br/> '''Dolph:''' Why'd you diss the flag?! It partied on the ]! <br/> ''(the bullies beat up Bart)'' <br/> '''Kearney:''' Weren't we afraid of him a few days ago? <br/> '''Dolph:''' We're complex! ''(they continue beating him up)'' | |||
| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 00:30, 25 December 2024
21st episode of the 15th season of The Simpsons
| "Bart-Mangled Banner" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 15 Episode 21 | ||
| Directed by | Steven Dean Moore | ||
| Written by | John Frink | ||
| Production code | FABF17 | ||
| Original air date | May 16, 2004 (2004-05-16) | ||
| Guest appearance | |||
| Episode features | |||
| Couch gag | The couch is replaced by a giant microwave. Someone puts a tray inside and presses a button. The Simpsons rise from the tray as it cooks. | ||
| Commentary | Al Jean John Frink Matt Selman Don Payne Dana Gould Michael Price Tom Gammill Max Pross Steven Dean Moore | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 15 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Bart-Mangled Banner" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 16, 2004. The episode was written by John Frink and directed by Steven Dean Moore.
In this episode, Bart accidentally disrespects the American flag, and the situation escalates until the United States hates Springfield and the Simpson family is arrested. The episode received mixed reviews.
Plot
Homer and Marge take the kids to get their shots. Just before Dr. Hibbert is about to inject Bart, he escapes. After a chase through town, Hibbert finally outsmarts Bart, by having Barney (as well as Moe) wear a latex mask, and finally injects him. However, the shot causes Bart's earholes to swell shut as a side effect, making him temporarily deaf and Hibbert also tricks Homer into signing a malpractice waiver. Marge wants Bart to stay home from school; however, Bart wants to play in the donkey basketball game.
While at the Springfield Elementary School donkey basketball game, Bart taunts a donkey with a carrot, unaware that the school is reciting the national anthem. After he places the carrot in his shorts, the donkey takes it and literally eats Bart's shorts. While Bart is bent over to keep his privates covered with his shirt, the US flag is put up behind him and a photo is taken, which results in the crowd assuming that Bart is mooning the US flag. Shortly afterwards, the Springfield Shopper takes the story and completely turns it around, making it seem as if Bart had deliberately mooned the flag. Marge tries to convince Skinner that Bart was deaf at the time; however, because of Bart's history of similar pranks, Skinner is not convinced. Bart and his family soon are hated by all of Springfield.
The Simpsons are later asked to appear on a talk show and tell their side of the story. Homer advises Marge to not take it too far. However, due to the several misunderstandings, the host declares that Springfield hates the US. The US then turns their back on Springfield (though there is widespread celebration in praise of Springfield in the Middle East), so Mayor Quimby frantically decides to change the name of Springfield to "Libertyville." Everything in town is quickly patriotized; the traffic light colors are changed to red, white, and blue, everything costs $17.76., Apu starts selling Homeland Noodles with Uncle Sam Balls and changes his octuplets' names to "Lincoln", "Freedom", "Condoleezza", "Coke", "Pepsi", "Manifest Destiny", "Apple Pie" and "Superman", claiming their previous names to be "pre-witchhunt", and the family's last name to McGillicuddy. While at church, Lisa speaks her opinion about patriotism, and the Simpsons are arrested by SWAT, in violation of the "Government Knows Best Act."
The Simpsons are taken to the "Ronald Reagan Re-education Center", a prison which houses Michael Moore, the Dixie Chicks, Elmo, Al Franken, and Bill Clinton, as well as a man who moans "My only crime was driving a van full of explosives in from Canada!". Marge feels bad that she took it too far after Homer warned her not to. With some help from the last-registered Democrat, the Simpsons escape the prison (in a parody of the escape scene from The Blues Brothers), but realize that the re-education center is actually Alcatraz Prison. While they are swimming to land (choosing to swim to Oakland instead of San Francisco because they "aren't made of money"), they are picked up by a French freighter and are brought to France. They are well adjusted, but still miss the United States, mainly because it is where all their stuff is. They then move back to the US dressed as 19th century immigrants from Europe where Homer speaks of plans of integration into the United States.
Cultural references
At church, Lisa talks about the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the United States Bill of Rights. After the family is arrested, they are made to watch a cartoon that describes the Bill of Rights as the Constitution's "crazy drunken cousin".
The cable debate show Headbutt that the Simpsons appear on is a reference to the CNN debate show Crossfire with Nash Castor being a parody of then-current host Tucker Carlson.
Reception
Viewing figures
The episode earned a 3.2 rating and was watched by 8.69 million viewers, the 46th most-watched show that week.
Critical response
Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide thought the episode may have had more impact at the time it aired, but thought the episode was "heavy-handed and shrill" eight years later. He liked the episode until it started the social commentary.
On Four Finger Discount, Brendan Dando thought the episode had "no direction" where the events spiral out of control while Guy Davis thought the episode reflected the time after the September 11 attacks where comedians thought they needed to comment on the aftermath.
Themes and analysis
The episode was seen to be a reaction to the Dixie Chicks' remarks about George W. Bush in 2003 that were perceived to be unpatriotic. Matthew A. Henry writes that the episode was a satire of the incident with the Dixie Chicks that escalated to national news and their music being banned from radio stations. In this episode, a incident of Bart disrespecting the American flag leads to the Simpsons family being hated and Marge shocking the country by saying she hates Americans.
References
- ^ Kane, Astrid (January 27, 2023). "Five Times The Simpsons Told Big Tech: 'Eat My Shorts!'". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- "What we can learn about the Constitution from The Simpsons". National Constitution Center. January 14, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Henry, Matthew A. (2012). The Simpsons, Satire, and American Culture. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 70–73. ISBN 9781137027795.
- "Weekly Program Rankings (May 10–16)". ABC Medianet. May 18, 2004. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- Jacobson, Colin (December 13, 2012). "The Simpsons: The Complete Fifteenth Season (2003)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Davis, Guy; Dando, Brendan (July 6, 2023). "Bart-Mangled Banner (S15E21)". Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast) (Podcast). Event occurs at 1:10. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Sweeting, Adam (June 14, 2006). "How the Chicks survived their scrap with Bush". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
