Top 20 Bart Simpson Moments

“Bart’s Comet”

Top cap off science week at Springfield Elementary Principal Skinner plans to launch a weather balloon. Just before he does, he notices Bart is maybe too enthusiastic about the event but ultimately thinks nothing of it. Shortly after the balloon goes up in the air, we see Bart has tampered with it making it resemble Skinner with a big butt. The prank got many laughs from us as his fellow schoolmates. Unfortunately for Bart, he’s punished by having to assist Skinner early in the morning with his amateur astronomy. He gets another one over the principal by discovering a comet and having it named after him, something Skinner was hoping to accomplish.

“Girly Edition”

When Lisa is tapped to anchor a kids news program, she reluctantly lets Bart cover sports. The network execs like his on-camera flair and promote him to co-anchor to Lisa’s chagrin. After he overhears his sister admit she thinks he’s dumb, Bart vows to show her up with a segment called “Bart’s People”. The segment becomes a huge success highlighting that when Bart puts his mind to something he can be successful but also that he’s good at being manipulative. Lisa’s the only one who sees through the charade and comes up with a plan to expose Bart. Having learned his lesson the two decide to team up only to have the show canceled.

“Bart on the Road”

Bart’s plan to stay home all day with Marge for “Go to work with your Parents Day” backfires when he’s made to spend the day with Patty and Selma at the DMV. He uses the opportunity to make himself a fake ID after Selma leaves him alone with the license making machine. Along with Milhouse and Nelson they go see “Naked Lunch” and wisely decide to not drink beer. Perhaps the funniest moment comes when the boys, now joined by Martin, rent a car and decide to drive to Knoxville, Tennessee instead of Disney World. Never underestimate the power of the Sunsphere.

“Bart Gets Famous”

While visiting a box making factory on a school trip, Bart sneaks away to the nearby Channel 6 studio. When he gets Krusty a danish, the TV clown makes him his personal assistant. Bart’s thrilled at first but soon finds the work to be demoralizing. Just as he’s about to quit, Krusty needs him to be in the show. Disaster seemingly strikes when Bart walks on and destroys the set but becomes an instant sensation for uttering the line, “I didn’t do it”. He initially enjoys his newfound fame however he finds it fleeting as he becomes reduced to a catchphrase. Perhaps it didn’t last but there was a moment where Bart was the world’s special little guy.

“Bart’s Inner Child”

When Brad Goodman comes to town he revolutionizes how Springfield residents think. At a seminar he tells them to adopt Bart’s approach to living, instructing people to do what they feel. At first Bart is thrilled by this fact as his behavior has been validated. However as Lisa explains, because his rebellious nature has been co-opted by everyone else, he’s lost his sense of identity. We get some good gags of people letting loose by doing what they feel. When things go sideways at the Do What You Feel Festival, the town lays blame on Bart. Of course it’s not Bart’s fault but it does show the consequences of following his attitude with no reservation.

“Bart’s Girlfriend”

Bart likes to be a troublemaker but when he develops a crush on Reverend Lovejoy’s daughter Jessica, he tries to win her over by being on his best behavior. It’s a little odd seeing Bart fight his more destructive impulses. It doesn’t work as Jessica remains unimpressed until we find out that she’s even more wild than him. Unhappy with how she’s influencing him, he ends their relationship but things come to a head when she steals church collection money and lets Bart take the blame. She eventually comes clean and Bart gains valuable experience learning he can’t change people.

“Kamp Krusty”

The one thing Bart is looking forward to the most for the summer is going to Kamp Krusty. However, when he and Lisa get there, it’s not exactly as advertised. The kids are forced to make counterfeit products, are fed imitation gruel and are terrorized by Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph. The one thing that gets Bart through all of this is that his hero Krusty the Klown will be there. Once he learns that won’t be happening, he stages a coup. The message is clear, don’t push Bart to the edge. When Homer sees the news of what’s happening at the camp, his subconscious fears are realized and it has an instant effect on him. Krusty eventually shows up and takes the kids to Tijuana.

“Lisa’s First Word”

It’s not uncommon for kids to feel jealousy when a new sibling comes along and Bart is no exception. At first he thinks it will be advantageous to have a younger brother or sister to blame his misdeeds on. When he sees all the attention Lisa gets from Marge and others, he begins to resent her, feeling she’s upset the balance of the family dynamics. Eventually decides to leave home after he unsuccessfully tries to sabotage Lisa. That changes when Lisa finally says her first word and it turns out to be “Bart”. It’s definitely endearing to see him bond with his sister even if they’re prone to bickering as they grow up.

“Bart Sells His Soul”

Bart doesn’t believe there’s such a thing as a soul and agrees to sell his to Milhouse for $5. All seems fine until weird stuff starts happening. The family pets are hostile, the automatic door of the Kwik-E-Mart won’t open and Bart can’t fog up a freezer window. Bart desperately tries to get it back but Milhouse reveals he traded it for some Pogs. When all hope seems lost, Lisa returns it to Bart after seeing his struggle. It was definitely a moment of growth for Bart and Lisa’s act of kindness was really touching.

“Homer vs. Patty and Selma”

While on their way to school Bart and Milhouse are in no rush to arrive, enjoying the beautiful day. Milhouse doesn’t last long before running to class at the sound of the first bell.Bart arrives later only to find out that it’s PE signup day and left with having to take ballet. At first he’s resistant to learning the dance form but eventually loves it. When he learns that he’ll have to perform in front of the whole school, he’s not exactly thrilled. He does it, however he’s masked. After seeing the positive reception from the crowd he reveals his identity. He’s heckled but stands up for himself showing he’s comfortable with who he is.

“Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood”

Throughout its run, “The Simpsons” has populated a handful of albums with its musical sequences. One of the greatest musical moments comes when Bart and Milhouse take on their hometown in a sugar-fueled bender. Both parodying and paying homage to “New York, New York” from “On the Town,” the best friends see what Springfield has to offer, from a fancy skateboard shop, to a VIP arcade, to a performance of “Cats.” This moment makes us wonder what it would be like to drink a Super-Squishy, but based on how Bart feels the next day, maybe it’s for the best that we can’t.

“Duffless”

Bart’s rivalry with Principal Seymour Skinner is always a reliable source of hilarity, and you can bet this isn’t the last time we’ll mention it here. As Lisa asks Bart to hold her science project, a giant tomato, he can’t resist throwing the enormous fruit directly at Skinner’s derriere. He betrays his sister for his own nefarious reasons and they feud for the remainder of the episode, with Bart coming out on top. It’s a moment that highlights the kid’s sociopathic tendencies, and a dark moment where Bart plays the villain and ultimately wins. Lisa may be the smartest one in the family, but here Bart proves that he can be stupider like a fox.

“The Simpsons Movie” (2007)

When “The Simpsons” jumped to the big screen, it presented a myriad of hilarious moments, but one moment was unforgettable. Being in theaters allowed the writers to get a bit edgier, most notably with a highly publicized nude skateboarding scene from our little antihero. After conveniently hiding his privates, the gag comes full circle by shockingly revealing down there for a brief moment, before hilariously traumatizing the Flanders clan. The moment was a return to the unapologetic irreverence that made the series such a hit in its early years and we couldn’t have been happier about it. Maybe Bart’s doodle will make a comeback in another silver screen outing?

“The Crepes of Wrath”

Forget gut-busting; this prank was bowel-busting . In one of Bart’s most destructive moments, he flushes a cherry bomb down a toilet at Springfield Elementary, causing all of the toilets to emit a disgusting and powerful blast of water, injuring Skinner’s mother, Agnes. It was such a calamitous prank that Bart was deported to France, much to the glee of both Homer and Skinner. Bart having a bomb is never a good thing for the residents of Springfield, but for us viewers, it’s a ball.

“Bart’s Friend Falls in Love”

“The Simpsons” has an innumerable amount of on-point cinematic parodies, but this one utilizes the characters of Bart and Homer wonderfully. Here, the father and son duo recreate the iconic opening from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” with Bart donning a baseball cap reminiscent of Indy’s fedora, and Homer taking on the role of the boulder, naturally. All of the key moments are here, from the shooting arrows to the narrow escape, featuring a score that flawlessly blends Indiana Jones with a Simpsons flare. It’s a loving tribute, as well as a pitch-perfect spoof; something that defines the iconic TV family.

“Bart vs. Australia”

When Bart and Lisa have an argument about the direction of toilet flushing, Bart inadvertently causes an international incident. The Australian government is intent on punishing Bart by kicking him in the butt with a huge boot, apparently their proudest form of discipline. None of the family is too pleased with this, but it seems Bart will accept his punishment. Instead, he fools them and delivers a patriotic message with his most valuable asset. It’s entirely on-brand for Bart to be unrepentant, but it’s even more on-brand for him to be unrepentant in a way that utilizes his butt. Seeing how he also essentially destroys Australia’s ecosystem, you really shouldn’t mess with the Simpson son.

“Radio Bart”

After a disappointing birthday party, Bart manages to get some use out of a microphone that can tap into radios. The ultimate prank comes when Bart pretends to be a boy named Timmy trapped in a well. The story garners national attention, and even Sting gets involved. When Bart tries to prevent people from finding out he lied, he gets trapped himself and the community’s adoration turns to sadism. As great of a character as Bart is, it’s somewhat satisfying to see the punk getting a little comeuppance. But of course, Homer’s love for his family trumps all as he leads a rescue mission and the town decides to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

“So It’s Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show”

April Fools is a prankster’s Christmas, but at first it seems Homer has the upper hand on Bart. Once again, his obsession with vengeance takes over as Bart shakes up a can of Duff for an explosive prank. Homer is seriously injured, but come on - we know he can take it. For a ten-year-old, Bart has quite the affinity for explosions. Come to think of it, he has more of an affinity for explosions than any sane human. In the end, though, it’s Bart’s sentimental apology that brings Homer back... with the power of parental rage, of course.

“The Secret War of Lisa Simpson”

Bart finds himself in a room full of megaphones. You probably know where this is headed. He puts together a line of megaphones and licks his lips to show his appetite for chaos before causing mass destruction and annoyance throughout the town with a single word. The moment was so popular it garnered attention among fans and YouTubers, resulting in a handful of remixes. A fan even tested the scientific accuracy, which, as it turns out, was rather shaky. It’s not abnormal for moments from “The Simpsons” to go viral, but it’s pretty impressive that a brief gag was able to make the Internet rounds.

Various Episodes

Even a casual “Simpsons” fan is aware of the running joke of Bart prank calling tavern owner Moe Szyslak. They generally follow a similar pattern: Bart fools Moe into calling out a name that’s actually a ridiculous pun, Moe falls for it, then gets infuriated. These moments are so iconic that we have an entirely separate list for them. What makes them great are the small twists that each one provides, with none of them playing out entirely the same way.