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{{Episode
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|image = Lastest Gun in the West.jpg
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|image= The Lastest Gun in the West promo.png
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|Episode Number = 281
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|number= 281
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|productionCode = DABF07
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|season=13
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|originalAirdate = February 24, 2002
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|snumber=12
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|blackboardText = "Making [[Milhouse]] cry is not a science project"
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|prodcode= [[Production season DABF|DABF07]]
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|couchGag = [[Squeaky-voiced teen]] and a girl are making out on the couch.
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|airdate= February 24, [[2002]]
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|specialGuestVoices = [[Dennis Weaver]] as [[Buck McCoy]]
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|blackboard= "Making [[Milhouse]] cry is not a science project"
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|Show Runner = [[Al Jean]]
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|couchgag= The [[Squeaky-Voiced Teen]] and a girl are making out on the couch. The Simpsons run into the room and turn the lights on, scaring the couple.
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|Written By = [[John Swartzwelder]]
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|guests= [[Dennis Weaver]] as [[Buck McCoy]]
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|Directed By = [[Bob Anderson]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
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|writer= [[John Swartzwelder]]
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|director= [[Bob Anderson]]
 
|DVD features=yes
 
|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
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"'''The Lastest Gun in the West'''" is the twelfth episode of [[season 13]]. It originally aired on February 24, 2002. The episode was written by [[John Swartzwelder]] and directed by [[Bob Anderson]]. [[Dennis Weaver]] guest stars as [[Buck McCoy]].
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"'''The Lastest Gun in the West'''" is the twelfth episode of [[Season 13|broadcast season 13]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the two hundred eighty-first episode overall. It originally aired on February 24, [[2002]]. The episode was written by [[John Swartzwelder]] and directed by [[Bob Anderson]]. It guest stars [[Dennis Weaver]] as [[Buck McCoy]].
  
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
−
[[Bart]] and [[Lisa]] meet a washed-up movie star of westerns from the 1950s and attempt to revive his career by getting him to appear on the [[Krusty the Klown Show]]. But years of alcohol abuse get in the way.
+
{{Synopsis|[[Bart]] meets [[Buck McCoy|a washed-up movie star]] of westerns from the 1950s and attempts to revive his career by getting him to appear on {{Krusty show}}. But years of alcohol addiction get in the way of his comeback.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
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As Bart walks home from school one day, he catches a baseball that soared all the way from the stadium. Looking down, he finds a shiny new dime and an even shinier new dime underneath it. As he continues walking home, he sees a broken down ice-cream truck. The driver offers him some free ice cream. As he continues towards home, he happens upon a white medium-sized dog, which he assumes he’ll befriend. But the dog turns out to be mean, and soon after Bart finds himself being chased through the streets. Bart makes it home safely, but the dog's rather narrow mouth allows it to reach through the mail slot and tear Bart's clothes off. The following day when Bart tries to play a prank on Lisa and her friend Jamey, the dog launches another attack. Bart grows convinced the animal is out to kill him, and shows it to the rest of the family. However, the dog acts playful and friendly towards them, expelling any reason they had to believe Bart. The next morning, Bart runs inside the school bus, but the dog is waiting for him there. After being chased off the bus Bart is nearly bitten before shoving his schoolbook into the dog's mouth yelling,"Eat my short stories!" Before the dog finishes the book, Bart puts some distance between them and wanders into an old ritzy neighborhood. Bart climbs the gate of a large old house and hops over the side, separating himself from the dog. Bart concures that he is safe, and states that he will slowly turn around to confirm that. He turns around soon finds himself face-to-face with a wolf, rattlesnake, mountain lion and other dangerous animals.
+
When walking home one day, [[Bart]] goes through a lucky streak. He catches a baseball knocked out of the park from the [[Duff Stadium]], finds two shiny dimes, and gets free ice cream from a broken-down ice cream truck. He then sees a [[Rover|dog]] and approaches it thinking it will be friendly. However, the dog attacks Bart and chases him home. The dog starts following Bart around everywhere, causing him a lot of stress and leaving him frequently in ripped clothing. While being chased home by the dog one day, Bart hops over the gate to [[Buck McCoy's mansion|a mansion]] to escape the rabid animal. He is then greeted by [[Buck McCoy]], a retired Western actor. Buck shows Bart a trick to use on the dog and turns him docile by getting Bart to place his hands on the dog's neck. Buck then takes Bart into his home and shows him around briefly until Bart has to leave for dinner. Buck tells Bart that he's welcome back anytime.
  
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At first, Bart is terrified. But he soon realizes the animals are all stuffed…except for an ostrich, which bites him and runs off. An aging man steps forward and introduced himself as Buck McCoy, a famous movie cowboy who appeared in Westerns in Hollywood’s golden era. Buck shows Bart a move that makes the dog roll over and wag its tail. The dog then acts friendly to Bart and leaves. Buck then takes Bart for a tour of his sumptuous home. Bart is impressed with the many pioneer items on display. When the boy returns home, he tells his family about his new friend. Grampa is greatly impressed, as he remembers Buck’s films from years earlier. Later, Bart takes Milhouse to the old house, where Buck performs impressive lasso twirls. When Bart returns home, he shows Homer and Marge a cowboy hat that Buck gave him. Homer soon grows jealous of Bart’s new friend. To compensate, Homer begins wearing a cowboy hat and bolo tie with an arrowhead clasp.
+
At home, Bart tells his family about Buck, and [[Grampa]] reveals that he's a big fan of him, being part of the Junior Buckaroos when he was younger. Later that day, Bart takes [[Milhouse]] to see Buck and they get a tour of his house. With Buck becoming Bart's new hero, [[Homer]] gets jealous as he wants to be Bart's hero instead. When Buck comes round for dinner, Homer meets him also dressed as a cowboy in the hopes Bart would see him as his hero. Buck also shows the family his old shows, including ''[[McTrigger]]'', which was the last show he did before he retired.
  
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Later, Buck is invited to the Simpsons' home for dinner. After the meal, Buck shows the family highlights of his acting career. Marge believes the cowboy Western is due for a comeback. Soon after, Bart shows up at school clad in cowboy garb, and a new Western craze sweeps town. Bart and Lisa lobby Krusty the Clown to put the old cowboy star on his show. At first Krusty is reluctant to do so, labeling the craze a “fad.” But he soon gives in, and Buck begins rehearsing his routine, shooting at a cutout of the clown. Krusty is greatly impressed…and reminds Buck that millions of viewers will be watching. Buck grows nervous and soon takes to his flask. When the show goes on the air, Buck is noticeably inebriated. And when he takes aim with his gun, Buck wavers back and forth between the cutout and the real Krusty. Buck pulls the trigger, hitting Krusty several times in the chest. Buck then admits to Bart that he’s an alcoholic.
+
At [[Springfield Elementary]], Bart tells everyone to come to school dressed as cowboys. The children do so, and [[Kent Brockman]] reports on the Western craze sweeping the school. Bart and [[Lisa]] decide to capitalize on the craze by going to [[Krusty]] to get Buck on ''{{Krusty show}}''. Krusty is initially reluctant but ends up agreeing to have him on the show. Bart and Lisa then manage to convince Buck to go on the show by telling him that he couldn't fit into his old outfit.
  
−
Marge and Homer show up at Buck’s mansion and pour all his whiskey down a drain. Buck is admitted to the John Ford Center for Alcoholic Cowboys, but he grows fed up and walks out. Soon after, the Western craze is replaced by an astronaut craze. But Homer isn’t ready to give up on Buck. News of a robbery at the National Bank of Springfield is broadcast on television, the robbers are wearing riot gear and are armed to the teeth. When the police prove to be helpless, Homer picks up the phone and calls Buck for help. He drives the old cowboy to the bank and suggests he save the day by confronting the robbers. Though he’s just an actor, Buck tosses away his flask, swings his lassos and announces to the robbers that the fun is over. His lasso is a weapon that the robbers are unfamiliar with, as if they try to shoot it, the bullet goes straight the hole. Buck disarms Snake and the other bad guys, who are later taken to jail. Afterward, Bart tells Buck and Homer that they are both his heroes ("along with Itchy, Scratchy, Poochie and America's Firefighters"). When Buck goes back to his house, Bart is chased down the street by the same dog from earlier.
+
Rehearsals for the show go well, with Buck doing target practice and hitting all his targets successfully. However, when Krusty tells him millions of people will be watching, Buck starts to get anxious and drinks from his hip flask. When the show starts, the villain, [[Sideshow Mel]], has tied the damsel, [[Mr. Teeny]], to some train tracks. When it's Buck's cue to come onto the stage, he misses it because he's drunk. Buck then comes onto the stage, accidentally unloads one of his guns, then misses the shots with his other gun, before finally shooting Krusty in the stomach. Krusty has to have surgery as Buck apologizes to Bart and admits he's an alcoholic.
  
−
{{season 13}}
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Bart is crushed that his hero has let him down and removes all the Buck McCoy memorabilia from his bedroom. Homer feels bad for Bart and comes up with a plan to make Buck a hero for Bart again. He and [[Marge]] try to help Buck get sober by removing all the alcohol from his house and signing him up at the [[John Ford Center for Alcoholic Cowboys]]. However, Buck quits the rehab center in his first session as he decides it's not for him since he thinks he should be able to drink all he wants in his retirement. Still wanting Buck to become a hero to Bart again, Homer tries to come up with a new plan when he sees a news report about a robbery at the [[National Bank of Springfield]]. Homer gets Buck and Bart and they go to the bank where Homer convinces Buck to go in and save the day. Buck lassos the weapons out of the robbers' hands and knocks them out, also stealing [[Snake]]'s underwear with his lasso. Becoming a hero to Bart once more, Buck rides home and tells Bart to never bother him again. Bart then gets chased past Buck's mansion by the dog once more.
 +
 
 +
== Production ==
 +
The idea of the episode came from producer [[Ron Hauge]], who thought it would be interesting if Bart ran into a retired Western star and thought he was the coolest guy in the world, even though he had seen better days. Hauge also suggested that John Swartzwelder should write the episode, as he's an avid Western fan. Swartzwelder also pitched the idea for the first act, with the dog chasing Bart.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|The Lastest Gun in the West|Thirteenth|(2010).|link=Al Jean}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
The inside of Buck McCoy's house was based on the inside of {{W|Will Rogers}}' house in {{W|Will Rogers State Historic Park}}.<ref name="Silverman">{{Com|Silverman, David|The Lastest Gun in the West|Thirteenth|(2010).|link=David Silverman}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
Dennis Weaver was chosen to voice Buck McCoy partly because of his role as Chester B. Goode in ''[[Gunsmoke]]'',<ref name="Jean"/> which was the longest-running primetime TV series until ''The Simpsons'' broke its record in [[2018]].<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-to-become-longest-running-primetime-scripted-series-on-tv/ CBS News - ""The Simpsons" to become longest-running primetime scripted series on TV"]</ref> McCoy's appearance was a combination of Will Rogers, [[John Wayne]], and Dennis Weaver.<ref name="Silverman"/>
 +
 
 +
== Reception ==
 +
In its original US airing, "The Lastest Gun in the West" was watched by 13.17 million viewers.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41462868/ Newspapers.com - "Article clipped from The Los Angeles Times"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
According to showrunner Al Jean, "The Lastest Gun in the West" hasn't received much positive reception and isn't well liked by fans, which is surprising to him.<ref name="Jean"/>
 +
 
 +
As of August [[2025]], "The Lastest Gun in the West" has a 6.5 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701249/ IMDb - "The Lastest Gun in the West"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
== In other languages ==
 +
{{LanguageBox
 +
|de=yes
 +
|deName=Bart und sein Westernheld
 +
|deTrans=Bart and his Western hero
 +
|es=yes
 +
|esName=El último rifle del oeste
 +
|esTrans=The Last Rifle in the West
 +
|la=yes
 +
|laName=El último vaquero del oeste
 +
|laTrans=The last cowboy in the west
 +
|fr=yes
 +
|frName=Adieu cow-boy
 +
|frTrans=Goodbye Cow-boy
 +
|qu=yes
 +
|quName=Le cowboy fait le tour de Springfield
 +
|quTrans=The cowboy goes around Springfield
 +
|it=yes
 +
|itName=L'ultima pistola del west
 +
|itTrans=The Last Gun in the West
 +
|jp=yes
 +
|jpName=西部の男は男の中の男!?
 +
|jpTrans=Western men are the real man!
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
== References ==
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{{Reflist}}
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 +
{{Images|ep=yes}}
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{{Season 13}}
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{{Production Season DABF}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lastest Gun in the West, The}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lastest Gun in the West, The}}
  
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[[Category:Episodes]]
 
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[[Category:Season 13]]
 
 
[[Category:2002]]
 
[[Category:2002]]
 
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
 
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
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[[Category:Health-themed episodes]]
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[[Category:Media-themed episodes]]
 
[[Category:12-rated episodes]]
 
[[Category:12-rated episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by John Swartzwelder]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Bob Anderson]]
  
 
[[sv:The Lastest Gun in the West]]
 
[[sv:The Lastest Gun in the West]]

Latest revision as of 16:57, October 15, 2025

Season 13 Episode
← 280 "The Bart Wants What It Wants"
281
"The Lastest Gun in the West"
"The Old Man and the Key" 282 →


"The Lastest Gun in the West"
The Lastest Gun in the West promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 281
Season number: S13 E12
Production code: DABF07
Original airdate: February 24, 2002
Chalkboard gag: "Making Milhouse cry is not a science project"
Couch gag: The Squeaky-Voiced Teen and a girl are making out on the couch. The Simpsons run into the room and turn the lights on, scaring the couple.
Guest star(s): Dennis Weaver as Buck McCoy
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: John Swartzwelder
Directed by: Bob Anderson
DVD features

"The Lastest Gun in the West" is the twelfth episode of broadcast season 13 of The Simpsons and the two hundred eighty-first episode overall. It originally aired on February 24, 2002. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Bob Anderson. It guest stars Dennis Weaver as Buck McCoy.

Synopsis[edit]

Bart meets a washed-up movie star of westerns from the 1950s and attempts to revive his career by getting him to appear on The Krusty the Clown Show. But years of alcohol addiction get in the way of his comeback.

Plot[edit]

When walking home one day, Bart goes through a lucky streak. He catches a baseball knocked out of the park from the Duff Stadium, finds two shiny dimes, and gets free ice cream from a broken-down ice cream truck. He then sees a dog and approaches it thinking it will be friendly. However, the dog attacks Bart and chases him home. The dog starts following Bart around everywhere, causing him a lot of stress and leaving him frequently in ripped clothing. While being chased home by the dog one day, Bart hops over the gate to a mansion to escape the rabid animal. He is then greeted by Buck McCoy, a retired Western actor. Buck shows Bart a trick to use on the dog and turns him docile by getting Bart to place his hands on the dog's neck. Buck then takes Bart into his home and shows him around briefly until Bart has to leave for dinner. Buck tells Bart that he's welcome back anytime.

At home, Bart tells his family about Buck, and Grampa reveals that he's a big fan of him, being part of the Junior Buckaroos when he was younger. Later that day, Bart takes Milhouse to see Buck and they get a tour of his house. With Buck becoming Bart's new hero, Homer gets jealous as he wants to be Bart's hero instead. When Buck comes round for dinner, Homer meets him also dressed as a cowboy in the hopes Bart would see him as his hero. Buck also shows the family his old shows, including McTrigger, which was the last show he did before he retired.

At Springfield Elementary, Bart tells everyone to come to school dressed as cowboys. The children do so, and Kent Brockman reports on the Western craze sweeping the school. Bart and Lisa decide to capitalize on the craze by going to Krusty to get Buck on The Krusty the Clown Show. Krusty is initially reluctant but ends up agreeing to have him on the show. Bart and Lisa then manage to convince Buck to go on the show by telling him that he couldn't fit into his old outfit.

Rehearsals for the show go well, with Buck doing target practice and hitting all his targets successfully. However, when Krusty tells him millions of people will be watching, Buck starts to get anxious and drinks from his hip flask. When the show starts, the villain, Sideshow Mel, has tied the damsel, Mr. Teeny, to some train tracks. When it's Buck's cue to come onto the stage, he misses it because he's drunk. Buck then comes onto the stage, accidentally unloads one of his guns, then misses the shots with his other gun, before finally shooting Krusty in the stomach. Krusty has to have surgery as Buck apologizes to Bart and admits he's an alcoholic.

Bart is crushed that his hero has let him down and removes all the Buck McCoy memorabilia from his bedroom. Homer feels bad for Bart and comes up with a plan to make Buck a hero for Bart again. He and Marge try to help Buck get sober by removing all the alcohol from his house and signing him up at the John Ford Center for Alcoholic Cowboys. However, Buck quits the rehab center in his first session as he decides it's not for him since he thinks he should be able to drink all he wants in his retirement. Still wanting Buck to become a hero to Bart again, Homer tries to come up with a new plan when he sees a news report about a robbery at the National Bank of Springfield. Homer gets Buck and Bart and they go to the bank where Homer convinces Buck to go in and save the day. Buck lassos the weapons out of the robbers' hands and knocks them out, also stealing Snake's underwear with his lasso. Becoming a hero to Bart once more, Buck rides home and tells Bart to never bother him again. Bart then gets chased past Buck's mansion by the dog once more.

Production[edit]

The idea of the episode came from producer Ron Hauge, who thought it would be interesting if Bart ran into a retired Western star and thought he was the coolest guy in the world, even though he had seen better days. Hauge also suggested that John Swartzwelder should write the episode, as he's an avid Western fan. Swartzwelder also pitched the idea for the first act, with the dog chasing Bart.[1]

The inside of Buck McCoy's house was based on the inside of Will Rogers' house in Will Rogers State Historic Park.[2]

Dennis Weaver was chosen to voice Buck McCoy partly because of his role as Chester B. Goode in Gunsmoke,[1] which was the longest-running primetime TV series until The Simpsons broke its record in 2018.[3] McCoy's appearance was a combination of Will Rogers, John Wayne, and Dennis Weaver.[2]

Reception[edit]

In its original US airing, "The Lastest Gun in the West" was watched by 13.17 million viewers.[4]

According to showrunner Al Jean, "The Lastest Gun in the West" hasn't received much positive reception and isn't well liked by fans, which is surprising to him.[1]

As of August 2025, "The Lastest Gun in the West" has a 6.5 rating on IMDb.[5]

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Bart und sein Westernheld" Bart and his Western hero
Spain flag.png Español "El último rifle del oeste" The Last Rifle in the West
Hispanic America.gif Español "El último vaquero del oeste" The last cowboy in the west
France.png Français "Adieu cow-boy" Goodbye Cow-boy
Flag of Quebec.svg.png Français "Le cowboy fait le tour de Springfield" The cowboy goes around Springfield
Italy Flag.png Italiano "L'ultima pistola del west" The Last Gun in the West
Flag of Japan.png 日本語 "西部の男は男の中の男!?" Western men are the real man!

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jean, Al (2010). Commentary for "The Lastest Gun in the West", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Silverman, David (2010). Commentary for "The Lastest Gun in the West", in The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season.
  3. ↑ CBS News - ""The Simpsons" to become longest-running primetime scripted series on TV"
  4. ↑ Newspapers.com - "Article clipped from The Los Angeles Times"
  5. ↑ IMDb - "The Lastest Gun in the West"


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "The Lastest Gun in the West".
Season 13 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror XII • The Parent Rap • Homer the Moe • A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love • The Blunder Years • She of Little Faith • Brawl in the Family • Sweets and Sour Marge • Jaws Wired Shut • Half-Decent Proposal • The Bart Wants What It Wants • The Lastest Gun in the West • The Old Man and the Key • Tales from the Public Domain • Blame It on Lisa • Weekend at Burnsie's • Gump Roast • I Am Furious (Yellow) • The Sweetest Apu • Little Girl in the Big Ten • The Frying Game • Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge
Production season DABF Episodes
Brawl in the Family • She of Little Faith • Sweets and Sour Marge • Half-Decent Proposal • Jaws Wired Shut • The Bart Wants What It Wants • The Lastest Gun in the West • Tales from the Public Domain • The Old Man and the Key • Blame It on Lisa • Weekend at Burnsie's • Gump Roast • I Am Furious (Yellow) • The Sweetest Apu • Little Girl in the Big Ten • The Frying Game • Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge • Large Marge • Treehouse of Horror XIII • Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade • Helter Shelter • How I Spent My Strummer Vacation
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