POST-EPISODE DISCUSSION: S03E13 'Radio Bart'
POST-EPISODE DISCUSSION: S03E13 'Radio Bart'
This is the official unofficial post-episode discussion for the rewatch of S03E13 'Radio Bart'. (Note if you are watching on Disney+ it appears as episode S03E12.)
Written by Jon Vitti and first airing in 1992, this episode follows the misadventure of Bart's use of a birthday gift AM radio transmitter. Bart started out using the transmitter for small pranks before tricking the town into thinking a boy had fallen down a well by placing a radio at the bottom. Bart realized that eventually the radio would be discovered, and along with it a label with his name he'd put on using another of his birthday gifts. While trying to secretly retrieve the radio, Bart gets stuck for real and the town officials were indignant about helping the boy who had conned them. Eventually Homer has enough and simply starts digging down, rallying the townspeople (and Sting) to dig a parallel mineshaft down to save Bart.
This episode has a lot of good bits, and while it has never been an all time favorite for me overall it is strong and snappy. The last five minutes once Bart is trapped are a rapidfire stream of jokes.
I noticed on this rewatch just how much looped animation was used in the early parts of the episode, with the gyrating women looping and then the partying people in the transmitter commercial right after also obviously looping.
The transmitter commercial also has a Mayor Quimby doppleganger for a split second.
A great split second gag is after Krusty abused Sideshow Mel for a gag, there are just a few frames of the still on fire Mel running off stage.
Bart gets a bevy of free birthday coupons in the mail, including a dancing class that has created a semi-infamous screenshot.
Bart's actually party at Wall E. Weasel's is just a perfect encapsulation of a run down arcade-birthday venue of the 90s.
The episode gives us a rare black haired chief Wiggum, and an appearance by Dr. Marvin Monroe.
I really enjoy the purple night sky color in older Simpsons episodes, its a perfect cartoony but not distracting choice.
And finally the resolution of the episode to ensure nobody ever falls down the well again was such perfect apathy.
Enjoy and discuss!
Next Wednesday's episode will be: Season 2, Episode 10, 'Bart Gets Hit by a Car'.
We got a great big convoy Rocking through the night We got a great big convoy Ain't she a beautiful sight? Convoooooyyyyy!