Episode AABF16
Written by Julie Thacker
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Also starring: Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Russi Taylor
Special guest voice: Jack LaLane (as himself)

Premise: It looks as if Springfield will host the Olympic Games, until Bart's jokes anger the selection committee and Springfield is castigated. Angrily, Bart is sent to do his penance by working in the Springfield Retirement Castle. He realises that the old folk need to be entertained and not left to rot, so he and Lisa organise a boat trip.

Features: Mr Burns, Smithers, Carl, Lenny, Moe, Barney, barflies, Patty, Selma, Grampa, Jasper, Kent Brockman, Chief Wiggum, Lou, Eddie, Agnes Skinner, Skinner, Ms Krabappel, Groundskeeper Willie, Otto, Superintendent Chalmers, Milhouse, Martin, Nelson, Sherri and Terri, Lewis, Richard, Wendell, Ralph, Rev. Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Maude Flanders, Dr Hibbert, Sylvia, Quimby, Hans Moleman, Dr Frink, Apu, Captain McCallister.

Couch: The Simpsons find the rest of the cast in their living room watching TV.

Trivia:

• Waylon Smithers got thrown out of the navy for drawing naked pictures of his fellow sailors.
• Jasper has a false leg, and the Springfield Retirement Castle is next door to the Candy & Puppy-Dog Store.
• The old folk dance around to the Beatles' classic Can't Buy Me Love, performed here by NRBQ.
• The same version plays over the closing credits, which feature a pastiche of the album cover from where it originates, A Hard Day's Night, revamped as A Bart Day's Night.

Homage: Gone With the Wind (Victor Fleming, 1939) is the movie the old folk watch with an alternate ending, and when the boat sinks, there are obvious lifts from Titanic (James Cameron, 1997).

Notes for Brits: The vote for 217 campaign was a then-current one to allow Native American Indians to operate casinos in certain states. It was passed.

Look out for: Snowball II's revenge on Homer for encasing him in papier m�ch�, and Homer's Olympic mascot, Springie of Springfield, winning over Patty and Selma's cigarette man, Ciggie, whom they promptly light up.

Song: The Children Are Our Future, choreographed by George Meyer.

Notes: A marvellous feel-good story in which Bart - and eventually Lisa - understand that old folk are not just to be shut away and forgotten about. Very sweet, very endearing, and with the marvellous stereotyped Olympic Committee debate at the start, a terrific episode.