The Debarted

Plot

Marge crashes Homer's car into Hans Moleman's vehicle while distracted by Bart and Lisa fighting. Homer receives a luxurious loaner car and refuses to give it up, even when his own car is repaired. He later sees his old car being sold to perverted hillbillies and reclaims it. At school, new student Donny takes Bart's seat and impresses everyone by throwing garbage.

Bart tries to imitate Donny but fails, then follows Homer's advice to regain popularity by rigging Principal Skinner's shoes with magnets. When Skinner demands the culprit, Donny takes the blame, impressing Bart. Skinner takes Donny to his office, where Donny is revealed to be working with Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers to get Bart suspended.

Reception

The episode drew an estimated 7.9 million viewers and a 9 percent audience share. Richard Keller of TV Squad enjoyed the episode, noting it focused on Bart and had good moments. Robert Canning of IGN called it "a fun and funny episode" and praised Topher Grace and Terry Gross's performances, giving it a 7.6 out of 10.

Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B, finding it light on jokes but appreciating its lack of outlandish plots. On Four Finger Discount, Brendan Dando liked the episode while Guy Davis did not; both appreciated that the blue candy reveal was not obvious. Joel H. Cohen received nominations for the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation and the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production.

Did You Know?

• When recording her part, the director asked Terry Gross to "sound 'more cartoonish'" than her normal radio voice.
• The episode uses the Dropkick Murphys song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" as a reference to the film The Departed.