# To Cur with Love

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8th episode of the 24th season of The Simpsons

"To Cur with Love" The Simpsons episode Episode no. Season 24 Episode 8 Directed by Steven Dean Moore Written by Carolyn Omine Production code RABF01 Original air date December 16, 2012 (2012-12-16) Episode chronology ← Previous "The Day the Earth Stood Cool" Next → "Homer Goes to Prep School" The Simpsons season 24 List of episodes

"**To Cur with Love**" is the eighth episode of the [twenty-fourth season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_24) of the American animated television series *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*. The episode was directed by [Steven Dean Moore](/source/Steven_Dean_Moore) and written by [Carolyn Omine](/source/Carolyn_Omine). It originally aired on the [Fox network](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) in the United States on December 16, 2012.

In this episode, Grampa tells the story of Homer's childhood dog, Bongo. The episode received mixed reviews.

## Plot

During an event in downtown [Springfield](/source/Springfield_(The_Simpsons)), [Professor Frink](/source/Professor_Frink) demonstrates a new invention that he soon loses control of, resulting in the destruction of the [Springfield Retirement Castle](/source/Springfield_Retirement_Castle). This results in [Grampa](/source/Abe_Simpson) moving in with the Simpsons. Meanwhile, [Homer](/source/Homer_Simpson) discovers an app game called "Villageville" on his MyPad, which involves constructing a village. His immediate addiction to it causes him to ignore [Santa's Little Helper](/source/Santa's_Little_Helper) and lead to the dog's sudden disappearance. They eventually find Santa's Little Helper hidden in a pantry shelf below the sink. Lisa and Bart realize Homer doesn't pay attention to Santa's Little Helper, and Homer states that he does not get along with Santa's Little Helper because he is not a "dog person," Grampa mentions another dog named Bongo, which upsets Homer. It is revealed that Bongo was Homer's childhood dog and best friend through flashbacks while [Harry Nilsson](/source/Harry_Nilsson) sings *Me and My Arrow* from the cartoon [The Point](/source/The_Point!), which the animation also imitates, with [cross-hatch](/source/Hatching) shading and a more angular style.

Grampa soon reveals that during a kid's fundraiser [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) was hosting, Burns insulted Homer and Bongo attacked him in retaliation. Hugely upset, Burns demands that Grandpa turn Bongo over to him so that he can have the dog killed. To save Bongo's life, Grandpa sent him to a farm upstate run by a woman named Ms. Viola, but Homer was devastated, leaving Grandpa to suffer both his son's anger and Burns' making him take on a terrible job and awful wardrobe as punishment for not sacrificing Bongo. Back in the present, Homer has still resented Grampa to this day, realizing he will never see Bongo or that Bongo will never remember his old friend. Grampa then shows Homer a picture of an older Bongo resting on an old sweatshirt Homer gave to Bongo when the dog was left to Ms. Viola, proving that Bongo still remembers him. Homer tries to deny the truth but eventually bursts into tears when he realizes that Grandpa did something noble and suffered badly for it, and he immediately makes amends with his father and spends the following night sleeping on the couch with him and Santa's Little Helper, dreaming about himself walking with Santa's Little Helper alongside a younger Homer with Bongo, Burns with his dogs, and [Krusty](/source/Krusty) with a gorilla that was the predecessor of [Mr. Teeny](/source/Mr._Teeny).

At the end of the episode, Mr. Burns has a sad (for him) conversation with [Smithers](/source/Waylon_Smithers) where they concede that [Mitt Romney](/source/Mitt_Romney) lost the 2012 Presidential election, and then explains the [fiscal cliff](/source/United_States_fiscal_cliff) in his own words.

## Production

The episode was paired with the short, *Montgomery Burns Explains the "Fiscal Cliff"* which aired as the tag scene for the episode before the closing credits.[1] The scene was released twelve days earlier on [YouTube](/source/YouTube) to address the [economic situation](/source/United_States_fiscal_cliff) at the time.[2][3]

## Cultural references

Homer plays the video game *Villageville*, which is a parody of the game *[FarmVille](/source/FarmVille)*.[1] "[Me and My Arrow](/source/Me_and_My_Arrow)" by [Harry Nilsson](/source/Harry_Nilsson) plays over the montage of Homer and Bongo bonding.

## Reception

### Ratings

The episode was watched by a total of 3.77 million viewers, which was Fox's most watched show of the night.[4] Fox repeated "To Cur with Love" in the 8:30 PM timeslot one week later.[5] The repeat was watched by 4.89 million viewers with a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This made it the 3rd most watched show in the [Animation Domination](/source/Animation_Domination) line up that night.[6]

### Critical reception

Robert David Sullivan from *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)* gave the episode a C, saying, "This is another trip to the past—without many period trappings to chuckle over—that feels like marking time."[1]

Jasper Goodheart from *ShowWatcher* wrote "Not a hugely funny episode, but certainly a good one to watch if you want something your *Family Guys* and *[South Parks](/source/South_Park)* can’t do anywhere near as well as *The Simpsons*: Make you feel for these characters."[7]

Teresa Lopez of *TV Fanatic* gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars. She enjoyed the story of Homer and Bongo and its use to tell origin stories for other characters. However, she dislikes the inconsistency of Grampa's status and his relationship with Homer.[8]

Jen Johnson of *[Den of Geek](/source/Den_of_Geek)* liked the dog story, but would have preferred more of a Christmas theme.[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sullivan_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sullivan_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sullivan_1-2) Sullivan, Robert David (December 17, 2012). ["The Simpsons: "To Cur With Love""](https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-to-cur-with-love-1798175291). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130213022256/http://www.avclub.com/articles/to-cur-with-love,89526/) from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ramsey, Nick (December 4, 2012). ["'Excellent': Simpsons' Mr. Burns explains the fiscal cliff"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230812180755/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna50078726). *[NBC News](/source/NBC_News)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna50078726) on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hsu, Tiffany (December 5, 2012). ["Alan Simpson and Mr. Burns from 'The Simpsons' talk fiscal cliff"](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mo-alan-simpson-simpsons-fiscal-cliff-20121205-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230812180755/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mo-alan-simpson-simpsons-fiscal-cliff-20121205-story.html) from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Kondolojy, Amanda (December 18, 2012). ["Sunday Final Ratings: 'Bob's Burgers' and 'Bachelorette' Special Adjusted Up, 'The Simpsons' Adjusted Down + Unscrambled Football"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121221114825/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/18/sunday-final-ratings-bobs-burgers-and-bachelorette-special-adjusted-up-the-simpsons-adjusted-down-unscrambled-football/162193/). *[TV by the Numbers](/source/TV_by_the_Numbers)*. Archived from [the original](http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/18/sunday-final-ratings-bobs-burgers-and-bachelorette-special-adjusted-up-the-simpsons-adjusted-down-unscrambled-football/162193/) on December 21, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["(SI-2401) "To Cur With Love" (Repeat)"](http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20121218fox01/). *[The Futon Critic](/source/The_Futon_Critic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240727082519/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20121218fox01/) from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Bibel, Sara (December 27, 2012). ["Sunday Final Ratings: 'American Dad' Adjusted Up Plus Final Football Numbers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121231134550/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/27/sunday-final-ratings-american-dad-adjusted-up-plus-final-football-numbers/162921/). *[TV by the Numbers](/source/TV_by_the_Numbers)*. Archived from [the original](http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/27/sunday-final-ratings-american-dad-adjusted-up-plus-final-football-numbers/162921/) on December 31, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Goodheart, Jasper (December 19, 2012). ["The Simpsons "To Cur with Love" Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130101042856/http://showwatcher.com/television/the-simpsons-to-cur-with-love-review/). *ShowWatcher*. Archived from [the original](http://showwatcher.com/television/the-simpsons-to-cur-with-love-review/#respond) on January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Lopez, Teresa (December 16, 2012). ["The Simpsons Review: Bongo was His Name-O"](https://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/12/the-simpsons-review-to-cur-with-love/). *TV Fanatic*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181959/https://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/12/the-simpsons-review-to-cur-with-love/) from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Johnson, Jen (December 19, 2012). ["The Simpsons, Season 24, Episode 8: To Cur with Love, Review"](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-24-episode-8-to-cur-with-love-review/). *[Den of Geek](/source/Den_of_Geek)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230812180755/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-24-episode-8-to-cur-with-love-review/) from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***["To Cur with Love"](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_24#To_Cur_with_Love)***.

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

- ["To Cur with Love"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2533218/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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 24 "Moonshine River" "Treehouse of Horror XXIII" "Adventures in Baby-Getting" "Gone Abie Gone" "Penny-Wiseguys" "A Tree Grows in Springfield" "The Day the Earth Stood Cool" "To Cur with Love" "Homer Goes to Prep School" "A Test Before Trying" "The Changing of the Guardian" "Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing" "Hardly Kirk-ing" "Gorgeous Grampa" "Black Eyed, Please" "Dark Knight Court" "What Animated Women Want" "Pulpit Friction" "Whiskey Business" "The Fabulous Faker Boy" "The Saga of Carl" "Dangers on a Train" See also Treehouse of Horror list The Simpsons episode guides "The Simpsons Guy" Category

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