# Bart Gets Famous

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bart_Gets_Famous
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bart_Gets_Famous.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Gets_Famous
> Source revision: 1332035873
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

12th episode of the 5th season of The Simpsons

"Bart Gets Famous" The Simpsons episode The episode's promotional image featuring Bart and Conan O'Brien. Bart is chatting to Conan during Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Episode no. Season 5 Episode 12 Directed by Susie Dietter Written by John Swartzwelder Production code 1F11 Original air date February 3, 1994 (1994-02-03) Guest appearance Conan O'Brien as himself Episode features Chalkboard gag "My homework was not stolen by a one-armed man"[1] Couch gag The family collides when running and lands into the couch as one big mass of amorphous glop.[2] Commentary Matt Groening James L. Brooks David Mirkin Conan O'Brien Susie Dietter David Silverman Episode chronology ← Previous "Homer the Vigilante" Next → "Homer and Apu" The Simpsons season 5 List of episodes

"**Bart Gets Famous**" is the twelfth episode of the [fifth season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_5) of the American animated television series *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*. It originally aired on the [Fox network](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) in the United States on February 3, 1994. In this episode, [Bart](/source/Bart_Simpson) gets a job as [Krusty the Clown](/source/Krusty_the_Clown)'s production assistant. He replaces [Sideshow Mel](/source/Sideshow_Mel) in one of Krusty's skits and accidentally destroys the stage props. When Bart says "I didn't do it," he instantly becomes famous for his [catchphrase](/source/Catchphrase).

This episode was written by [John Swartzwelder](/source/John_Swartzwelder) and directed by [Susie Dietter](/source/Susie_Dietter), which was the first episode of the series to be directed by her. Many characters from the show have catchphrases, and the episode mocks the use of catchphrase-based humor. The writers chose the phrase "I didn't do it" because they wanted a "lousy" phrase "to point out how really crummy things can become really popular".[3] [Conan O'Brien](/source/Conan_O'Brien), a writer for *The Simpsons* during the fourth and early part of the fifth season, guest-stars as himself. The writers decided to include him in the episode after he received an audition from [NBC](/source/NBC) to replace [David Letterman](/source/David_Letterman) as the host of *[Late Night](/source/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien)*.

In its original broadcast, "Bart Gets Famous" finished 40th in ratings with a [Nielsen rating](/source/Nielsen_rating) of 11.7; it was viewed in 10.74 million households.

## Plot

Bored on a class trip to a box factory, [Bart](/source/Bart_Simpson) escapes to the nearby Channel 6 TV studio, where he encounters [Krusty the Clown](/source/Krusty_the_Clown). Bart swipes a [Danish](/source/Danish_pastry) intended for Krusty, who fires his assistant over the missing pastry. Bart steals a Danish from [Kent Brockman](/source/Kent_Brockman) and gives it to Krusty, who is so grateful that he makes Bart his new assistant.

The cast members treat Bart badly, and he receives no meaningful credit for his work. When they use him as a [gofer](/source/Production_assistant) to deliver their lunches, a [lactose-intolerant](/source/Lactose_intolerance) [Sideshow Mel](/source/Sideshow_Mel) becomes sick. Bart is given an opportunity to be on the show and replaces Mel in a skit, but he accidentally knocks over several stage props. Dumbstruck by the cameras and onlookers, he says, "I didn't do it." The audience erupts with laughter. As Bart and Krusty are leaving the studio, they both realize Bart has instantly become famous. He is now known as "The 'I didn't do it' kid". Krusty claims the rights to Bart and has him appear in more sketches, and his catchphrase is used as a marketing gimmick and a line of [merchandise](/source/Merchandising).

Bart at first enjoys the fame, but soon he gets tired of being a one-trick pony and people asking him to "just say the line". During an interview on *[Late Night with Conan O'Brien](/source/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien)*, he tries to expand his repertoire, but O'Brien grows impatient and makes him repeat the catchphrase. Bart wants to quit show business, but [Marge](/source/Marge_Simpson) persuades him to continue performing because he makes people happy. After Bart delivers his catchphrase in another of Krusty's skits, the audience reacts with boredom, so Krusty ditches him.

Marge gives Bart a box of memorabilia to help him remember his brief fame. When [Lisa](/source/Lisa_Simpson) is relieved he is again just her brother instead of "a one-dimensional character with a silly catchphrase", the Simpson family—joined by [Barney](/source/Barney_Gumble), [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns), [Ned](/source/Ned_Flanders) and [Nelson](/source/Nelson_Muntz)—recite their respective catchphrases. They all expectantly look at Lisa; however, she does not have a catchphrase. Unamused, Lisa says, "If anyone wants me, I'll be in my room." Homer replies, "What kind of a catchphrase is that?"

## Production

Former writer [Conan O'Brien](/source/Conan_O'Brien) returned to the show to guest-star as himself.

"Bart Gets Famous" was written by [John Swartzwelder](/source/John_Swartzwelder). The episode satirizes catchphrase-based humor.[4] Many characters from *The Simpsons* have catchphrases, including [Homer](/source/Homer_Simpson) ("[D'oh!](/source/D'oh!)"), Bart ("Eat My Shorts", "*[¡Ay, caramba!](/source/%C2%A1Ay%2C_caramba!)*" and "Don't have a cow, man!"), Marge (her worried or annoyed "hmmmm") and Maggie (her pacifier suck).[4] The writers chose the phrase "I didn't do it" because they wanted a "lousy" phrase "to point out how really crummy things can become really popular".[3] It was also an intentional callback to the first-season episode "[Krusty Gets Busted](/source/Krusty_Gets_Busted)" in which it was a catchphrase of [Krusty the Clown](/source/Krusty_the_Clown).[5] The episode ends with a self-referential scene in which several characters say their catchphrases, including the Simpsons, [Ned Flanders](/source/Ned_Flanders), [Nelson Muntz](/source/Nelson_Muntz), [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) and [Barney Gumble](/source/Barney_Gumble). All the characters gather around Lisa and stare at her with an anticipating look, and Lisa, displeased, finishes the episode by muttering "If anyone wants me I'll be in my room", to which Homer says "What kind of a catchphrase is that?"

In the episode, Bart appears on the talk show *[Late Night with Conan O'Brien](/source/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien)*. [Conan O'Brien](/source/Conan_O'Brien) was a writer for *The Simpsons* during the fourth and early part of the fifth seasons. During the production of the episode, he received an audition to replace [David Letterman](/source/David_Letterman) as the host of *Late Night* on NBC, after Letterman defected to [CBS](/source/CBS). The writers decided that since the episode featured Bart getting famous, it would give them an opportunity to work in O'Brien's show. The part was written just after O'Brien's audition for *Late Night*, but before he knew he was going to be the host.[3] O'Brien recorded his part shortly after *Late Night with Conan O'Brien* premiered, but he believed NBC would have fired him before the episode aired.[6] He described being a guest star on the show as "really delightful", adding that "it's like being frozen in [amber](/source/Amber). I know people will be watching *The Simpsons* long after I'm dead."[7]

"Bart Gets Famous" was the first episode of the series to be directed by [Susie Dietter](/source/Susie_Dietter).[8] The design of the insides of the box factory featured in this episode was discussed at great length by Dietter and executive creative consultant [Brad Bird](/source/Brad_Bird). Bird wanted the design to be more lively, but Dietter wanted it to be more boring to go with the story. Dietter's design was used in the finished episode.[8] The box factory manager's voice, performed by [Dan Castellaneta](/source/Dan_Castellaneta), was based on Wally Ballou, a character portrayed by [Bob Elliott](/source/Bob_Elliott_(comedian)) of the comedy duo [Bob and Ray](/source/Bob_and_Ray).[5] [Mayor Quimby](/source/Mayor_Quimby)'s wife [Martha](/source/List_of_recurring_The_Simpsons_characters#Martha_Quimby) makes her first appearance in this episode. Her outfit (a pink dress and a pillbox hat) is similar to the clothing worn by [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis](/source/Jacqueline_Kennedy_Onassis) on the day of the [Kennedy assassination](/source/Assassination_of_John_F._Kennedy).[1]

## Cultural references

The episode contains a number of [self-referential](/source/Self-referential) jokes. Bart whistles *The Simpsons* [theme](/source/The_Simpsons_Theme) and Marge tells him "not to whistle that annoying tune".[9] Bart tells Krusty ["I saved you from jail](/source/Krusty_Gets_Busted), [I reunited you with your estranged father](/source/Like_Father%2C_Like_Clown), [I saved your career](/source/Krusty_Gets_Kancelled), man!" After fearing that he has become a one-trick pony, Marge reassures him he is making people happy. Bart reflects that "I'm in television now. It's my job to be repetitive. My job. My job. Repetitiveness is my job. I am going to go out there tonight and give the best performance of my life!" "The best performance of your life?" Marge asks. "The best performance of my life!"

Krusty yells "hey kid" and throws Bart his towel in an homage to the 1979 Coca-Cola commercial "[Hey Kid, Catch!](/source/Hey_Kid%2C_Catch!)". Bart records an "I Didn't Do It" rap with the backing track from [MC Hammer](/source/MC_Hammer)'s "[U Can't Touch This](/source/U_Can't_Touch_This)", while MC Hammer himself is in the recording studio calling Bart "propa". This song, in turn, sampled the bass riff from "[Super Freak](/source/Super_Freak)" by [Rick James](/source/Rick_James).[2] When Lisa says that Bart got famous due to an 'obnoxious fad', Homer defends him by saying that 'they said the same thing about [Urkel](/source/Urkel)'. Bart imagines himself appearing on *[Match Game](/source/Match_Game)* in 2034 alongside [Billy Crystal](/source/Billy_Crystal), [Farrah Fawcett](/source/Farrah_Fawcett), [Loni Anderson](/source/Loni_Anderson), [Spike Lee](/source/Spike_Lee) and [Kitty Carlisle](/source/Kitty_Carlisle)'s head in a jar.[2] Matt Groening would later reuse the idea of heads from dead celebrities living in jars in a future society in *[Futurama](/source/Futurama)*. Lisa notes that the hastily published Bart biography "is mostly about [Ross Perot](/source/Ross_Perot), and the last two chapters are excerpts from the [Oliver North](/source/Oliver_North) trial."[10]

## Reception

In its original broadcast, "Bart Gets Famous" aired during the week of January 31 to February 6, 1994, the first week of February sweeps.[11] It finished 40th in ratings with a [Nielsen rating](/source/Nielsen_rating) of 11.7, and was viewed in 10.74 million households.[12] It was the highest-rated show on Fox that week.[12]

The authors of the book *I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide*, [Gary Russell](/source/Gary_Russell) and [Gareth Roberts](/source/Gareth_Roberts_(writer)),[13] wrote: "even without that final sequence, this would still be one of the best episodes, with Bart at his very best. The scenes in the box factory are superb, as is [Martin](/source/Martin_Prince) and [Skinner](/source/Principal_Skinner)'s joyful singing and, once again, [Edna](/source/Edna_Krabappel) and Bart's enforced team-up."[2]

DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson wrote, "lots of great moments pop up in this excellent program. Bart's rise to fame sparkles via its deft parody of instant—and fleeting—fame, and many wacky bits show up along the way such as Homer's fear that Bart got turned into a box. [...] This might be Season Five's best show."[14]

Patrick Bromley of DVD Verdict gave the episode a grade of A−,[15] while Bill Gibron of [DVD Talk](/source/DVD_Talk) gave the episode a score of 4 out of 5.[16]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERichmond_&_Coffman1997133_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERichmond_&_Coffman1997133_1-1) [Richmond & Coffman 1997](#CITEREFRichmond_&_Coffman1997), p. 133.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BBC_2-3) [Martyn, Warren](/source/Gary_Russell); [Wood, Adrian](/source/Gareth_Roberts_(writer)) (2000). ["Bart Gets Famous"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season5/page19.shtml). BBC. Retrieved May 27, 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mirkin_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mirkin_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mirkin_3-2) Mirkin, David. (2004). Commentary for "Bart Gets Famous", in *The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season* [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETurner200460–61_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETurner200460–61_4-1) [Turner 2004](#CITEREFTurner2004), pp. 60–61.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Silverman_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Silverman_5-1) Silverman, David. (2004). Commentary for "Bart Gets Famous", in *The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season* [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-O'Brien_6-0)** O'Brien, Conan. (2004). Commentary for "Bart Gets Famous", in *The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season* [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Shister, Gail (February 3, 1994). "Conan O'Brien is returning to 'The Simpsons'". *[The Buffalo News](/source/The_Buffalo_News)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dietter_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dietter_8-1) Dietter, Susie. (2004). Commentary for "Bart Gets Famous", in *The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season* [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Groening_9-0)** Groening, Matt. (2004). Commentary for "Bart Gets Famous", in *The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season* [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Rabin, Nathan. ["The Simpsons (Classic): "Bart Gets Famous""](https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-classic-bart-gets-famous-1798175846). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "CBS takes lead in sweeps with 4 of top 10 shows". *[Rocky Mountain News](/source/Rocky_Mountain_News)*. The Associated Press. February 10, 1994.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NR_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NR_12-1) "Nielsen Ratings /January 31-February 6". *Long Beach Press-Telegram*. The Associated Press. February 9, 1994.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Preddle, Jon (June 1997). ["Gary Russell: From Peladon to Placebos"](http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv51/garyrussell.html). *Time Space Visualiser*. No. 51. The New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club. Retrieved August 20, 2020. I've just done my first non-fiction book, Oh No It's A Completely Unofficial Simpsons Guide for Virgin, co-authored with Gareth Roberts which has, to be frank, been more of a nightmare than it needed to be [the book was published as I Can't Believe It's An Unofficial Simpsons Guide, with Gary and Gareth writing under the pseudonyms Warren Martyn & Adrian Wood].

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Jacobson, Colin (December 21, 2004). ["The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season (1993)"](http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonfive.shtml). DVD Movie Guide. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090420194900/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonfive.shtml) from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Bromley, Patrick (February 23, 2005). ["The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090420212632/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsonsseason5.php). DVD Verdict. Archived from [the original](http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsonsseason5.php) on April 20, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Gibron, Bill (December 23, 2004). ["The Simpsons — The Complete Fifth Season"](http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13784/simpsons-the-complete-fifth-season-the/). [DVD Talk](/source/DVD_Talk). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090527054305/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13784/simpsons-the-complete-fifth-season-the/) from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009.

**Bibliography**

- [Groening, Matt](/source/Matt_Groening) (1997). [Richmond, Ray](/source/Ray_Richmond); Coffman, Antonia (eds.). *[The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family](/source/The_Simpsons_episode_guides#The_Simpsons:_A_Complete_Guide_to_Our_Favorite_Family)* (1st ed.). New York: [HarperPerennial](/source/HarperPerennial). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-06-095252-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-095252-5). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [98141857](https://lccn.loc.gov/98141857). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [37796735](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/37796735). [OL](/source/OL_(identifier)) [433519M](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL433519M).

- [Turner, Chris](/source/Chris_Turner_(author)) (2004). *[Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation](/source/Planet_Simpson)*. Foreword by [Douglas Coupland](/source/Douglas_Coupland) (1st ed.). Toronto: [Random House Canada](/source/Random_House_Canada). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-679-31318-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-679-31318-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [55682258](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/55682258).

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***["Bart Gets Famous"](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_5#Bart_Gets_Famous)***.

- [The Simpsons portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:The_Simpsons)

- ["Bart Gets Famous episode capsule"](http://www.simpsonsarchive.com/episodes/1F11.html). *[The Simpsons Archive](/source/The_Simpsons_Archive)*.

- ["Bart Gets Famous"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701055/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [The Simpsons (Classic): "Bart Gets Famous"](https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-classic-bart-gets-famous-1798175846) review at *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*

v t e The Simpsons episodes Seasons 1–20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Season 21–present 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Season 5 "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" "Cape Feare" "Homer Goes to College" "Rosebud" "Treehouse of Horror IV" "Marge on the Lam" "Bart's Inner Child" "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood" "The Last Temptation of Homer" "$pringfield (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)" "Homer the Vigilante" "Bart Gets Famous" "Homer and Apu" "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" "Deep Space Homer" "Homer Loves Flanders" "Bart Gets an Elephant" "Burns' Heir" "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song" "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" "Lady Bouvier's Lover" "Secrets of a Successful Marriage" See also Treehouse of Horror list The Simpsons episode guides "The Simpsons Guy" Category

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bart Gets Famous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Gets_Famous) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Gets_Famous?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.