The Simpsons/The Telltale Head

The Telltale Head
Season 1, Episode 8
Airdate	February 25, 1990
Production Number	7G07
Written by	Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon, Matt Groening
Directed by	Rich Moore
← 1x07 Call of the Simpsons	1x09 → Life on the Fast Lane
The Simpsons — Season One

The Telltale Head is the eighth episode of the first season of The Simpsons, and the eighth episode overall.

Guest Stars:

Plot Overview

The episode starts off with Homer and Bart carrying the bronze head of the Jebediah Springfield statue. A 'murderous mob' starts chasing them and everyone ends up in the town square. Bart starts to explain why he chopped off Jebediah head.

In the flashback we see the family getting ready for church. The Reverend starts preaching about the evils of gambling and Sunday morning football. All this time Homer is listening to the football game on a personal radio.

When driving home Bart sees the movie "Space Mutants 4" playing at the movie theatre. Marge says that the movie is too scary, and that he shouldn’t go see it. Once they get home Bart asks Homer for 5 dollars to go see the movie. Once Bart gets to the theatre he sees the school bullies sneaking into the movie. Bart gives into peer pressure and sneaks in with them.

They get kicked out of the movie so they head over to the Quick-E Mart. After stealing all the food in sight they start throwing rocks at the Jebediah Springfield statue.

The bullies head over to the park and start cloud-gazing. Bart notices a cloud that looks like the Jebediah statue, but without a head. The bullies start to make fun of how much Bart loves Jebediah Springfield, and tell him to leave.

Bart goes to his dad for advice on popularity. Homer inadvertently tells Bart to cut off Jebediah Springfield’s head, since it is the only way he can be popular.

Bart wakes up the next day to go get some breakfast. The family is listening to the radio, when a special report about Jebediah head comes on. The entire town is either depressed or outraged about the vandalism.

Bart starts to feel guilty, and reveals to his family that he has the head. Homer and Bart go to return it, and the episode picks up where it began. Bart makes a plea to the townspeople and replaces the head.

Notes

Title Sequence

• Blackboard: I did not see Elvis.
• Couch Gag: Bart pops up out of the scene.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• Bart wakes up with the statues head in his bed, a reference to the Godfather.

Quotes

• Homer: Being popular is the most important thing in the world!

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