Double, Double, Boy in Trouble

"Double, Double, Boy in Trouble"
The Simpsons episode
File:DoubleDoubleBoyinTrouble.jpg
Episode no.	Season 20
Directed by	Michael Polcino
Written by	Bill Odenkirk
Original air date	October 19, 2008
Episode features
Chalkboard gag	There is no such month as "Rocktober".
Couch gag	The family gets in a tornado accident and go back in time to black and white. In a parody of The Wizard of Oz.

"Double, Double, Boy in Trouble" is the third episode of the The Simpsons' twentieth season, and first aired October 19, 2008. Bart meets the rich Simon Woosterfield, who happens to be Bart's exact look-alike. Because of this, the two decide to switch homes; Simon enjoys his time with the Simpsons while Bart discover's his rich new half-brother and sister are out to kill him, in order to inherit the vast Woosterfield family fortune. Former NFL football great Joe Montana guest stars as himself. In its original airing, the episode garnered a strong 8.09 million viewers.

Plot

At the Kwik-E-Mart, Homer hurries to get the last lottery ticket, but is distracted by Bart dancing on the shelves, then attempting a cannonball onto the floor. While Homer tries to save Bart, Lenny buys the lottery ticket and wins $50,000. A now gleeful Lenny invites a very sullen Homer to a rich, posh party at the expensive Woosterfield Hotel. While going to the party, Bart unintentionally sprays Marge's new dress with cat urine, (which was meant for Rod and Tod Flanders) angering her and Homer. While Homer tells Lenny he is grateful for his success, Bart is in the back, concocting a plan to destroy the party. He opens all the gift bags and releases the Vac-U-Bots, which run wild and cause mayhem, destroying everything. The police catch Bart; Marge, furious, confiscates Bart's board games, since he points out that she already took away his video games and TV priviliges. Bart is furious with his family and heads to the bathroom, where he meets Simon Woosterfield, a rich boy who turns out to be Bart's exact look-alike. Bart learns that Simon dislikes his rich and pompous lifestyle; in order to satisfy them both, the two decide to switch places, Simon going with the Simpsons, and Bart going to the Woosterfields.

After informing each other on basic information about each other's family, the two part; Bart finds he truly enjoys his new rich home, which appeals to him immediately (particularly Joe Montana, who is hanging around the estate). Simon, meanwhile, isn't used to the Simpsons' simple lifestyle; Lisa, the most inquisitive, begins to suspect that Bart (Simon) isn't who he really is. Simon frequently argues with Homer, but upon going to bed, he soon begins to enjoy Marge's loving attention. Meanwhile, Bart meets Devan and Quinley, his new half-brother and sister. The two of them smugly bully Simon (Bart) every chance they get. The next day, the Woosterfields host a magnificent party for the rich; upon meeting Mr. Burns and Smithers, Bart asks why Devan and Quinley always bully him more than they should. Mr. Burns tells all about his childhood growing up as the youngest of a large wealthy family, and that since his other siblings died, he inherited the family money. Bart realizes that the two may very well be plotting his death, in order to inherit the entire Woosterfield fortune. Bart is angered when he realizes Simon set him up.

Lisa quickly figures out that Simon is not Bart, and tries to figure out what they are up to. Simon finally admits to the entire Simpson family that Bart is in real danger; Devan and Quinley had taken him on a ski trip, hoping to kill him there. While trying to rescue Bart, Homer falls down and turns into a giant snowball, rescuing him. Bart is still angry with Simon, but Simon tells him that he will return to his own family; when Bart asks what he'll do to prevent Devan and Quinley's murderous attacks, Simon tells Bart not to worry about it. In truth, the two are already planning to kill one another. Upon returning home, Marge tucks Bart into bed. After mulling it over, Bart decides "this is the life."

Cultural references

Early in the episode, Homer makes a reference to Dennis the Menace. Bart also makes a Grey's Anatomy reference while looking out the limo window.

The plot is somewhat similar to the Mark Twain Novel The Prince and the Pauper. in that a boy from a not so wealthy family trades places with someone higher up in society with ample wealth.

Reception

The episode had an approximate 8.09 million viewers, an improvement from the previous episode. Robert Canning of IGN said, "It was a far from groundbreaking episode, to be sure, but our familiarity of the characters and the fair amount of laughs made for yet another pleasurable viewing experience". He went on to say, "The story as a whole was interesting and the jokes were funny enough to illicit several audible guffaws" and rated the episode a 7.8 out of 10. Erich Asperschlager of TV Verdict said, "'Double Double' scores a solid B on the laugh-o-meter. While there weren't many guffaws, I chuckled more than a few times."