{{pp-protected|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 23 | episode = 18 | director = [[Mark Kirkland]] | writer = Ben Joseph | production = PABF11 | airdate = {{Start date|2012|04|15}} | guests = *[[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as the Mall Cop | blackboard = "The true location of Springfield is in any state but yours" | couch_gag = In [[Bill Plympton]]'s first couch gag for the show, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] falls in love with the couch, then leaves it when he falls for [[Marge Simpson|Marge]], followed by the couch's descent into stripping and prostitution in order to support itself and its baby couch. When the couch tries to commit suicide by throwing itself into a garbage truck, Homer saves it and takes it home to the [[Simpson family|family]]; the baby couch becomes [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]]'s play chair. | prev = [[Them, Robot]] | next = [[A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again]] }} "'''Beware My Cheating Bart'''" is the eighteenth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 23|twenty-third season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. The episode was directed by [[Mark Kirkland]] and written by Ben Joseph. It originally aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the United States on April 15, 2012. The title refers to the song "[[Be Still My Beating Heart]]" by [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].

In this episode, Bart starts a secret relationship with Shauna Chalmers while Homer starts developing theories while watching an old mystery television series. The episode received mixed reviews.

==Plot== During a day out in the mall, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] chooses to drop [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] and [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] at a children's movie so he can eat at the [[food court]]. The boys run into the bullies (who are there to see a gory Hong Kong horror film remake called "Crawlspace") and Bart is forced to [[chaperone (social)|chaperone]] [[Jimbo Jones]]' girlfriend Shauna while she sees a [[Jennifer Aniston]] movie. Both of them leave shortly after seeing the only part of the movie that appeals to Shauna (the man's ass) and they hang out in the mall. Bart covers for Shauna when she shoplifts and when they escape from an incompetent mall cop, Shauna says that Bart is pretty cool and shows her appreciation by [[Exhibitionism|flashing her breasts]] in front of him, leaving him both [[Psychological trauma|trauma]]tized and [[love|smitten]] with her. Both decide to enter a romantic relationship behind Jimbo's back, but he figures out what's going on soon afterwards. Both attempt to hide from a vengeful Jimbo at [[Comic Book Guy]]'s store, while the bully decides to stake out Bart's home with help from an oblivious Marge, leaving Bart to come home and face Jimbo's wrath. Shauna breaks up with both of them after some good advice from [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]], and Bart receives his punishment (being held upside down from his treehouse to have the "fear of God put into him") from Jimbo.

Meanwhile, Homer is persuaded to buy a state-of-the-art [[treadmill]] from a crafty salesman. When Lisa shows Homer that he can access television shows wirelessly, he takes advantage of the machine and develops an obsession with watching an old television show called ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Stranded]]'', instead of working out. Eventually Marge, in a fit of rage, returns the treadmill leading Homer to catch up on the latest episodes physically, gives away all the spoilers of the episodes Homer has not watched yet. He is initially furious at Marge and hints at their marriage failing, but a romantic evening planned by her resolves matters.

==Production== The original U.S. broadcast version contained a title card with "Now Entering Oregon" under the title followed by the chalkboard gag saying "The true location of Springfield is in any state but yours." It was a response to reactions to a [[Matt Groening]] interview in which he revealed that the name of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] was inspired by [[Springfield, Oregon]], which was widely misinterpreted as Groening revealing that ''The Simpsons''{{'}} [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]] was located in Oregon.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/04/16/simpsons-oregon-chalkboard/ |title= Forget Oregon: 'The Simpsons' reveals where Springfield REALLY is |website= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=April 16, 2012 |first= Hillary |last= Busis |accessdate= 2012-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419165416/http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/04/16/simpsons-oregon-chalkboard/|archive-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> Executive producer [[Al Jean]] stated that it was misinterpretation of something Groening had said for decades in that parts of the show were inspired by his childhood in Oregon. Prior to the episode's airing, he also joked that they would address it in this episode.<ref name="Schneider">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-simpsons-springfield-not-in-oregon-1045968/|title=Exclusive: Nope, Springfield is Not in Oregon, Clarifies The Simpsons' Matt Groening|website=[[TV Guide]]|date=April 12, 2012|first=Michael|last=Schneider|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-date=February 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203184942/https://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-simpsons-springfield-not-in-oregon-1045968/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The couch gag was created by animator [[Bill Plympton]].<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Neill|first=Phelim|title=The Simpsons: are the couch gags the only things left worth watching?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/27/the-simpsons-couch-gags-only-things-left-worth-watching|access-date=August 5, 2023|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=October 27, 2015}}</ref><ref name=av>{{cite news|last=Kaiser|first=Rowan|title='Beware My Cheating Bart'|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/beware-my-cheating-bart,71973/|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=April 16, 2012|archive-date=April 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418101422/http://www.avclub.com/articles/beware-my-cheating-bart,71973/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jean described the gag as "sweet" where it shows Homer having a previous romantic relationship with the couch.<ref name="Schneider"/> Bill was the third person to guest-direct a couch gag for the show, after [[Banksy]]'s opening for Season 22's [[MoneyBart]] and [[John Kricfalusi]]'s first opening for Season 23's [[Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts]].

==Cultural references== The television show ''Stranded'' that Homer watches is a parody of the television series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref name="av" /> Bart and Shauna's dating montage has scenes that parody the films ''[[The Graduate]]'' and ''[[Midnight Cowboy]]''.<ref name="Lopez"/>

==Reception== ===Viewing figures=== The episode originally aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the United States on April 15, 2012. It was watched by approximately 4.864 million people during this broadcast.<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|last=Gorman|first=Bill|title=TV Ratings Sunday: 'NYC 22' Starts Low, 'Titanic' Pulls 'GCB' To Series Low|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/16/tv-ratings-sunday-nyc-22-starts-low-titanic-pulls-gcb-under/129171/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419230315/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/16/tv-ratings-sunday-nyc-22-starts-low-titanic-pulls-gcb-under/129171/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2012|website=[[TV by the Numbers]]|accessdate=April 16, 2012|date=April 16, 2012}}</ref>

===Critical response=== Rowan Kaiser of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a C+, praising the couch gag "in an episode that was anything but memorable otherwise."<ref name="av" />

Teresa Lopez of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars. She found the idea of Shauna showing her breast to Bart to be disturbing and that the courtship was not believable. She highlighted the subplot of Homer watching a parody of ''Lost''.<ref name="Lopez">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/04/the-simpsons-review-stranded-in-pre-adolescence/|title=The Simpsons Review: Stranded in Pre-Adolescence|website=TV Fanatic|date=April 16, 2012|first=Teresa|last=Lopez|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-date=February 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203190809/https://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/04/the-simpsons-review-stranded-in-pre-adolescence/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations=== The couch gag was nominated for Best Animated Short Subject at the [[40th Annie Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Drew|title='Brave,' 'Rise Of The Guardians,' 'Wreck-It Ralph' Lead Annie Awards Nominations|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/brave-rise-of-the-guardians-wreck-it-ralph-lead-annie-awards-nominations-103335/|access-date=August 5, 2023|newspaper=[[IndieWire]]|date=December 4, 2012|archive-date=August 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806043259/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/brave-rise-of-the-guardians-wreck-it-ralph-lead-annie-awards-nominations-103335/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_23#Beware_My_Cheating_Bart|"Beware My Cheating Bart"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} * {{IMDb episode|2328399}} * [http://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/311189571768 "Beware My Cheating Bart"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220081011/http://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/311189571768 |date=December 20, 2016 }} at theSimpsons.com {{The Simpsons episodes|23}}

[[Category:The Simpsons season 23 episodes]] [[Category:2012 American television episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Mark Kirkland]]