History Recap / TheSimpsonsS2E7BartVsThanksgiving

!!Tropes used in this episode:

Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blaming him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

* WasTooHardOnHim: Homer and Marge feel this way when the police interview them about Bart.

The definitive Thanksgiving episode – and the only one in Simpsons' history – is '''Bart vs. Thanksgiving''', where Bart learns the meaning of the holiday, remorse and forgiveness after getting into a fight with his family and running away from home.

Meanwhile, Bart and the two homeless urchins begin to have a conversation, where Bart – seeing that his two new friends have no family or anything else – admits he has a family that loves and cares for him, and that he has plenty to be thankful for. He begins to feel remorseful and, after giving his $12 to the bums, decides to go home. Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blaming him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

* NeverMyFault: The driving force of the plot is Bart thinking he shouldn't apologize for what he did.

* ThanksgivingEpisode: While "Homer vs. Dignity" and "Homer the Moe" also have Thanksgiving in the plot, those episodes aired on Sunday instead of Thursday and had Thanksgiving shoehorned into the final act. This episode actually aired on Thanksgiving (which is on the last Thursday of November in America. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October) and centered on a Thanksgiving meal gone bad (like a lot of Thanksgiving episodes do, but this one included homeless shelters, a ten year old boy using his father's driver's license to donate blood in a run-down neighborhood, jokes about Thanksgiving Day parades using cartoon character balloons, and actual sentiment instead of the cheap, manipulative stuff).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodSandwich: Burns who has a table of food that could feed people for months. He only eats a little and orders the rest to be thrown out.

* HeelRealization: This is what finally gets Bart to apologize to Lisa.

In this, the definitive Thanksgiving episode (and the only full Thanksgiving episode in Simpsons' history), Bart burns Lisa's cornucopia centerpiece after a fight over whether that or the turkey should be on the table, and Homer and Marge ground Bart for ruining the holiday (though Patty, Selma, and Jackie don't seem to care, since they're bitter and cynical all the time). Bart then runs away with Santa's Little Helper at his side and ends up on the bad side of town, where he donates blood with Homer's driver's license and meets two homeless men who take him to a shelter for Thanksgiving dinner.

The definitive Thanksgiving episode – and the only full Thanksgiving episode in Simpsons' history – is '''Bart vs. Thanksgiving''', where Bart learns the meaning of the holiday, remorse and forgiveness after getting into a fight with his family and running away to a homeless shelter on the bad side of town.

* GoToYourRoom: Homer says this to Bart when he ruins Lisa's centerpiece.

The definitive Thanksgiving episode – and the only one in Simpsons' history – is '''Bart vs. Thanksgiving''', where Bart learns the meaning of the holiday, remorse and forgiveness after getting into a fight with his family and running away from home.

It is Thanksgiving Day, and Homer is watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV. Lisa is meticulously assembling a centerpiece to place on the family dinner table, while Marge is busy cooking and preparing for the guests – Patty, Selma, Jacqueline and Grampa. Bart is basically getting in everyone's way. Later, as the guests assemble at the table, Lisa brings in the centerpiece and proudly shows it off, just as Bart brings in the turkey. When Bart tries to jockey for position in placing the turkey platter, he gets into an argument with Lisa about where her centerpiece should be set, resulting in a fight and, in the middle of the ruckus, the centerpiece lands inside the fireplace and instantly is destroyed in the flames. Lisa is devastated and runs to her room in tears, while Bart refuses to accept responsibility. An angry Marge – with Homer (in a rare move) backing her up – sends Bart to his room without dinner, and declares that because of him, "you ruined Thanksgiving!"

Bart is told that if he can legitimately apologize and mean it, he will be allowed to dinner, but a stubborn Bart insists that he did nothing wrong and that Lisa was to blame. Bart continues to sulk and decides he's going to show his parents a thing or two – by running away. Santa's Little Helper, who had been thrown out of the house, decides to join Bart as they wander through town. Bart first stops at a house that happens to be Mr. Burns' mansion, where he tries to swipe a freshly baked pie but is run off by Burns' bloodthirsty hounds. Later, after giving blood at a local blood bank (that happened to be open on Thanksgiving Day) for $12 cash, Bart passes out on the streets in a run-down part of Springfield. When he awakens is greeted by two street bums who bring him to a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate. There, Kent Brockman is preparing to do an insincere, self-serving commentary about the holiday and how society treats the poor and needy; during his live commentary, he interviews Bart, who claims he's homeless and "didn't apologize." Homer and Marge see the report and call the police, admitting to officers their fear that they may have been too harsh with Bart.

Meanwhile, Bart and the two homeless urchins begin to have a conversation, where Bart – seeing that his two new friends have no family or anything else – admits he has a family that loves and cares for him, and that he has plenty to be thankful for. He begins to feel remorseful and, after giving his $12 to the bums, decides to go home. Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blaming him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

* RealitySubtext: In Bart's fantasy, Uncle Sam appears and tells him it's his fault that America has lost its way. This is a jab at the people who deemed him and the show a bad influence during its first few years.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: This has few laughs in it and the tone is more on par with what you would find in a less preachy VerySpecialEpisode.

* ThanksgivingEpisode: Notably the ''only'' one in the show's long history, thanks to actually being aired on Thanksgiving during the brief time that it was on Thursdays.
** Actually, "Homer vs. Dignity" and "Homer the Moe" also ties Thanksgiving into their final acts, although they one did not air on Thanksgiving Day.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone Homer and Marge feel this way when they're questioned by cops on Bart's disappearance and start to question their behavior in hindsight.
-->'''Lou:''' Do you suppose there's a reason for him to run away?
-->'''Homer:''' Well, we sort of got mad at him and sent him to his room and made him apologize to his little sister.
-->'''Eddie:''' Anything else?
-->'''Marge:''' I...told him he ruined Thanksgiving.
-->''(both cops eyes widen)''
-->'''Lou:''' ''(beat)'' Okay.
** Bart finds Lisa crying in her room, blaming herself for inadvertently causing Bart to run away.

** Actually, the 13th season episode HomerTheMoe also ties Thanksgiving into the final act, although this one did not air on Thanksgiving Day.

The definitive Thanksgiving episode – and the only one in Simpsons' history – is '''Bart vs. Thanksgiving''', where Bart learns the meaning of the holiday, remorse and forgiveness after burning his sister's centerpiece, refusing to apologize for his actions, and running away from home (where he gives blood with Homer's driver's license, befriends two homeless men, and appears on the news at a homeless shelter).

The definitive Thanksgiving episode – and the only one in Simpsons' history – is '''Bart vs. Thanksgiving''', where Bart learns the meaning of the holiday, remorse and forgiveness after getting into a fight with his family and running away from home.

It is Thanksgiving Day, and Homer is watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV. Lisa is meticulously assembling a centerpiece to place on the family dinner table, while Marge is busy cooking and preparing for the guests – Patty, Selma, Jacqueline and Grampa. Bart is basically getting in everyone's way. Later, as the guests assemble at the table, Lisa brings in the centerpiece and proudly shows it off, just as Bart brings in the turkey. When Bart tries to jockey for position in placing the turkey platter, he gets into an argument with Lisa about where her centerpiece should be set, resulting in a fight and, in the middle of the ruckus, the centerpiece lands inside the fireplace and instantly is destroyed in the flames. Lisa is devastated and runs to her room in tears, while Bart refuses to accept responsibility. An angry Marge – with Homer (in a rare move) backing her up – sends Bart to his room without dinner, and declares that because of him, "you ruined Thanksgiving!"

Bart is told that if he can legitimately apologize and mean it, he will be allowed to dinner, but a stubborn Bart insists that he did nothing wrong and that Lisa was to blame. Bart continues to sulk and decides he's going to show his parents a thing or two – by running away. Santa's Little Helper, who had been thrown out of the house, decides to join Bart as they wander through town. Bart first stops at a house that happens to be Mr. Burns' mansion, where he tries to swipe a freshly baked pie but is run off by Burns' bloodthirsty hounds. Later, after giving blood at a local blood bank (that happened to be open on Thanksgiving Day) for $12 cash, Bart passes out on the streets in a run-down part of Springfield. When he awakens is greeted by two street bums who bring him to a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate. There, Kent Brockman is preparing to do an insincere, self-serving commentary about the holiday and how society treats the poor and needy; during his live commentary, he interviews Bart, who claims he's homeless and "didn't apologize." Homer and Marge see the report and call the police, admitting to officers their fear that they may have been too harsh with Bart.

Meanwhile, Bart and the two homeless urchins begin to have a conversation, where Bart – seeing that his two new friends have no family or anything else – admits he has a family that loves and cares for him, and that he has plenty to be thankful for. He begins to feel remorseful and, after giving his $12 to the bums, decides to go home. Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blaming him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

Bart is told that if he can legitimately apologize and mean it, he will be allowed to dinner, but a stubborn Bart insists that he did nothing wrong and that Lisa was to blame. Bart continues to sulk and decides he's going to show his parents a thing or two – by running away. Santa's Little Helper, who had been thrown out of the house, decides to join Bart as they wander through town. After giving blood at a local blood bank (that happened to be open on Thanksgiving Day) for cash, Bart passes out on the streets in a run-down part of Springfield, and when he awakens is greeted by two street bums who bring him to a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate. There, Kent Brockman is preparing to do an insincere, self-serving commentary about the holiday and how society treats the poor and needy; during his live commentary, he interviews Bart, who claims he's homeless and "didn't apologize." Homer and Marge see the report and call the police, admitting to officers their fear that they may have been too harsh with Bart.

Meanwhile, Bart and the two homeless urchins begin to have a conversation, where Bart – seeing that his two new friends have no family or anything else – admits he has a family that loves and cares for him, and that he has plenty to be thankful for. He begins to feel remorseful and, after giving his $12 to the bums, decides to go home. Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blame him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

Bart is told that if he can legitimately apologize and mean it, he will be allowed to dinner, but a stubborn Bart insists that he did nothing wrong and that Lisa was to blame. Bart continues to sulk and decides he's going to show his parents a thing or two – by running away. Santa's Little Helper, who had been thrown out of the house, decides to join Bart as they wander through town. After giving blood at a local blood bank (that happened to be open on Thanksgiving Day), Bart passes out on the streets in a run-down part of Springfield, and when he awakens is greeted by two street bums who bring him to a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate. There, Kent Brockman is preparing to do an insincere, self-serving commentary about the holiday and how society treats the poor and needy; during his live commentary, he interviews Bart, who claims he's homeless and "didn't apologize." Homer and Marge see the report and call the police, admitting to officers their fear that they may have been too harsh with Bart.

Meanwhile, Bart and the two homeless urchins begin to have a conversation, where Bart – seeing that his two new friends have no family or anything else – admits he has a family that loves and cares for him, and that he has plenty to be thankful for. He begins to feel remorseful and decides to go home. Upon returning home, he hesitates going inside after envisioning his family blame him for everything. But when he hears Lisa crying in her room and conceding defeat, Bart calls her outside and – after some initial struggles – apologizes. Homer and Marge are relieved that all is OK between the two, and the Thanksgiving holiday at the Simpsons is saved.

Bart is told that if he can legitimately apologize and mean it, he will be allowed to dinner, but a stubborn Bart insists that he did nothing wrong and that Lisa was to blame. Bart continues to sulk and decides he's going to show his parents a thing or two – by running away. Santa's Little Helper, who had been thrown out of the house, decides to join Bart as they wander through town. After giving blood at a local blood bank (that happened to be open on Thanksgiving Day), Bart passes out on the streets in a run-down part of Springfield, and when he awakens is greeted by two street bums who bring him to a community Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate. There, Kent Brockman is preparing to do an insincere, self-serving commentary about the holiday and how society treats the poor and needy; during his live commentary, he interviews Bart, who claims he's homeless and "didn't apologize." The police are contacted and Homer and Marge fear they may have been too harsh with Bart.

* NeverMyFault: The driving force of the plot if Bart thinking he shouldn't apologize for what he did.

* RecursiveReality: Probably one of the earliest examples of this trope, when Bart and Homer watch the Macy's Parade on TV, a Bart balloon can be seen, referencing the introduction of a real Bart balloon in that year's parade.

* RealitySubtext: In Bart's fantasy, Uncle Sams appears and tells him it's his fault that America has lost its way. This is a jab at the people who deemed him and the show a bad influence during the early years of the show.