Bart-Mangled Banner

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Bart-Mangled Banner
episode_no = 334
prod_code = FABF17
airdate = May 16, 2004
writer = John Frink
director = Steven Dean Moore
blackboard = None| couch_gag = The couch is replaced by a giant microwave. Someone puts a tray inside and presses a button. The Simpsons rise from the tray as it cooks.
guest_star =


image_caption = A deaf Bart mooning the Flag.
season = 15
color = #EFEFEF

"Bart-Mangled Banner" is the twenty-first episode from "The Simpsons'" fifteenth season. It aired on May 16, 2004 on Fox.

Plot

Homer and Marge take the kids to get their shots. Just before Dr. Hibbert is about to inject Bart, he escapes. After a chase through town, Hibbert finally outsmarts Bart and injects him. The shot, however, causes Bart's earholes to swell shut, making him temporarily deaf. Hibbert also tricks Homer into signing a malpractice waiver.

While at the Springfield Elementary School donkey basketball game, Bart taunts a donkey with a carrot, unaware that the school is reciting the National Anthem. After he places the carrot in his shorts, the donkey takes it and rips off Bart's shorts (just like his famous line "Eat my shorts"). While Bart is bent over to keep his privates covered with his shirt, the US flag is put up behind him and a photo is taken, which results in the crowd assuming that Bart is mooning the US flag. Shortly afterwards, the Springfield Shopper takes the story and completely turns it around, making it seem as if Bart had deliberately mooned the flag. He and his family soon are hated by all of Springfield. Homer and Marge tried to clear up this misunderstanding, knowing that it was an accident, but everybody refuses to listen, mistrusting Bart and his family.

The Simpsons are later asked to appear on a talk show and tell their side of the story. However, the host asks, instead, "What part of America do you hate most?" (an example of the fallacy of many questions). Marge says that, if leading questions such as that are the only forms of discussion in America, then she "does" hate America. She also said that she is well-liked in Springfield, prompting the host to say that Springfield hates America. The US then turns their back on Springfield, so Mayor Quimby frantically decides to change the name of Springfield to "Libertyville." Everything in town is quickly patriotized; the traffic light colors are changed to red, white, and blue, and everything costs $17.76. While at church, Lisa speaks her opinion about patriotism, and the Simpsons are taken into custody, in violation of the "Government Knows Best Act."

The Simpsons are taken to the "Ronald Reagan Reeducation Center", which houses Michael Moore, the Dixie Chicks, Elmo (who accidentally went to the wrong fundraiser), and Bill Clinton. With some help from the last-registered Democrat, the Simpsons escape the prison, but realize that the re-education center is actually Alcatraz Prison. While they are swimming to land, they are picked up by a French freighter and are brought to France. They are well adjusted, but still miss America, mainly because it is where all their stuff is. They then move back to the US dressed as 19th century immigrants from Europe where Homer speaks of plans of integration into America.

Cultural references

*The episode title is a play on the title of USA's National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
*When Dr. Hibbert chases Bart, "One Way or Another" by Blondie is played.
*The scene where Dr. Hibbert chases Bart in a cropduster mirrors a scene in the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, "North by Northwest".
*The talk show in which the Simpsons go on to defend themselves, and the host's mannerisms, are inspired by the talk show, "The O'Reilly Factor".
*The "Government Knows Best" act satirizes the controversial 2001 legislation, the Patriot Act, aimed at fighting terrorism in the United States and abroad.
*Inmates at the reeducation center are: The Dixie Chicks, who became the subject of scorn and ire by conservatives after lead singer Natalie Maines proclaimed that she was "ashamed" that President Bush also hailed from her native Texas, Elmo, from "Sesame Street" (added for a comic effect), Michael Moore, known for his documentary films criticizing conservatives (frequently, George W. Bush), and Bill Clinton.
*President Clinton's attempt to smoke 100 cigarettes at once is a reference to the "Guinness World Records".
*The Simpsons' escape method from the reeducation center and the a guard alerting other guards as to their escape are similar to scenes from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "The Sound of Music".