Saturdays of Thunder

Season 3, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

Bart becomes deeply immersed in competitive soapbox racing while Homer begins to realize that he's not as good a father as he thought. After attending a lecture at National Fatherhood Institute, Homer becomes a more attentive father, helping Bart build the ultimate soapbox racer. But Bart decides not to use it in his big race against Nelson Muntz, instead opting to borrow Martin Prince's scientifically engineered aerodynamic racer.moreless
8.8
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Cast & Crew

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  • Nancy Cartwright

    Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and others

  •

    Julie Kavner

    Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier

  •

    Hank Azaria

    Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Lou, and others

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

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  • Another classic.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jmbsonic555, Oct 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    Bart becomes deeply immersed in competitive soapbox racing while Homer begins to realize that he's not as good a father as he thought. After attending a lecture at National Fatherhood Institute, Homer becomes a more attentive father, helping Bart build the ultimate soapbox racer. But Bart decides not to use it in his big race against Nelson Muntz, instead opting to borrow Martin Prince's scientifically engineered aerodynamic racer.

    10 out of 10moreless

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  • perfect

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Aug 19, 2011 Report Abuse
    what i liked- homer realizing he knows squat about his son and proclaiming he is a bad dad, and then selma reminds him that he's 'also fat', the ending of the episode, someone being trapped in nelson's car (hey what was that?), martin crashing, bart and homer bonding, amongst other things.
    good episode. i like when homer and bart bond and it was handled in a really fun way for the viewer to enjoy. great episode from a great season, overall grade going to be an A+moreless

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  • this was a good ep of the simpsons

    8.5
    "Great"
    By cube2k8, May 15, 2010 Report Abuse
    in this ep of the simpsons bart is excited about the race car derby and is being very competive and homer wants to help but he realizes he does not know his son very well so he goes to a father instituet and then comes back to be very acetive for his son but bart and homer build a race car thing is bart does not use it at all insted he uses marten scientific race car instead and bart is just happy for his father to come out and root him onl this was a good ep i thought good father and son epmoreless

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  • Another Homer and child episode, following the last one.

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By titiembe, Mar 21, 2008 Report Abuse
    Last episode was Homer and Lisa, now it's Homer and Bart. After Homer gets a zero on a good father sort of test, he decides to spend more time on Bart and his hobby. His hobby is apparently racing cars, and Homer and Bart build there own car together. But, after seeing an oppurtunity to use a better car to win against Nelson, he ends up using a more high tech car instead of the one Homer and him making Homer sad.... but in the end after Homer gets a 100 on the test after a re-take he still goes and cheers Bart on, and Bart wins. I thought this episode was slightly better than the last one because it had more comedy in it, as well as the emotionally touching develoment between Homer and Bart.moreless

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  • This season is very emotional thus far; so many touching episodes. This one relates to father and son.

    8.9
    "Great"
    By Iverson82094, Jan 29, 2008 Report Abuse
    After Homer fails a National Fatherhood test, he concludes that he's a bad father. He spends more time with Bart, helping him build a Soapbox Derby racer. At the qualifying race, Bart's car doesn't even cross the finishing ling. Martin's model easily wins, but he loses control and crashes. He breaks his arm and cannot enter the final race against Nelson. He asks Bart to race for him and Bart accepts. Homer feel's betrayed, deciding to ride Martin's car rather than the car the two built together. Homer takes the test again, but this time passes. He runs to the final race and cheers Bart along in Martin's racer. He blasts past Nelson and wins the race.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • The scene in which Bart welds with his mask up caused a battle between the show creators and the network censors. The censors were concerned that children would imitate Bart by misusing welding tools. The show creators were able to convince them that very few kids would use welding tools anyway. Edit
    • Music from this episode "Watching Scotty Grow" by Bobby Goldsboro "Cats In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler Edit
    • Tapes at the video shack include: "Du Du Du", "Border Siesta", "The Bad Football", "Speed Boat Bloopers", "Frisbee", "Super Jock 3", "Death By Knockout", "Bench Clearing Brawls", "Blood On The Ice", and "Football's Greatest Injuries". Edit

  • Notes

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    • Harry Shearer based the voice of Dave, the director of the Fatherhood Institute, on actor Mason Adams. Edit
    • This episode premiered November 14, 1991 and got high ratings due in part to the fact that it was immediately follow by the premiere of Michael Jackson's infamous "Black or White" music video, the one that ends with Jackson smashing the car windows. Edit
    • ''Deathrace 2000'' was another inspiration for the episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Bart: Dad, I don't know how to say this. I don't want to drive your car. It's slow, it's ugly; it handles like a shopping cart. Edit
    • Martin: What is the matter with you? Bart: It's my dad. Lying there on the couch, drinking a beer, staring at the TV... I've never seen him like that. Edit
    • Bart: Oh, I don't know if I should do that. My dad and I build our car together, and if I drove somebody else's it'd kill him! On the other hand, I'll do it! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The Natural Homer stands up in the crowd to cheer Bart on, and shouts, "Do it for your old man, boy!" As he does this, the theme from the 1984 baseball film The Natural plays. Edit
    • McBain: Mendoza!!!
      The McBain movie pokes fun at both films Lethal Weapon and Colors. Edit
    • Selma: You can turn the world on with your smile.
      Selma's statement is one of several references contained in this episode that reference The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which Jim Brooks was the creator of. Edit

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