The Wandering Juvie
| "The Wandering Juvie" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:FABF11.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 15 |
| Directed by | Lauren MacMullan |
| Written by | John Frink & Don Payne |
| Original air dates | March 28, 2004 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | None |
| Couch gag | A large Polaroid photo drops on the couch, developing into a picture of the family. |
'The Wandering Juvie" is the sixteenth episode of The Simpsons' fifteenth season. The episode aired on March 28, 2004.
Synopsis
When the Simpson family is at the Costington's department store, Bart uses the wedding gift registry as a prank to sign himself and his bride, "Lotta Cooties", for wedding presents. Bart invites many people to his so-called "wedding" and plans to take all the unused gifts back for store credit, but he is stopped in his tracks by Chief Wiggum, who arrests Bart. Bart tries to bribe Chief Wiggum with the wedding presents, but Chief Wiggum only accepts cash bribes, as stated on his badge. Bart is sentenced to six months of juvenile detention by Judge Constance Harm, going to a detention center.
At the detention center, Bart is being harassed by Gina Vendetti amongst others (she threatens to make his puberty very boring whilst wielding a penknife, probably meaning she plans to cut off his privates) when he encounters Homer, who has taken the job of being a prison guard to protect him. Unfortunately, his shift ends until two weeks from that day. He has another problem when he is partnered with Gina Vendetti for thw "Prom". When they are dancing, Gina thinks of a way she and Bart can escape. But due to the fact that they are handcuffed together, she automatically brings Bart along. They are on the lam and look for a blacksmith who can remove their cuffs. They are freed, but after it happens, Gina is alone and she is worried she does not have a family. Gina confesses she does not have a family when she returns to jail (also clearing Bart of all charges that would result in him remaining in prison), but the family and the prison warden step in to help Gina by offering a Mexican food feast in her cell at the end.
Due to its wasting of Michelle Gellar's then near-superstar status in a poorly-written guest role, and also an excess of emetic mawkishness, this episode is generally regarded as the worst of this season.
Trivia
- This appearance was Sarah Michelle Gellar's first television appearance since Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended.
- People who are handcuffed and waiting for the blacksmith: Laurel and Hardy; a soldier and a hippie; a cowboy and a Native American; a nun and a prostitute; and Captain Horatio McCallister and a squid.
- The song being played during the prison dance scene is "Color My World" by Chicago.
- The list of things Bart picks for his fake wedding: a coffee maker; waffle iron; tea service; fondue pot; dish towels; silverware; cheese grater; mellonballer; andirons; china figurine; chain valance.
Cultural references
- The title is a play on the Wandering Jew.
- The sign on the warden's office wall reads, "HIS JUDGEMENT COMETH AND THAT RIGHT SOON." This is a reference to a similar sign in Warden Norton's office in The Shawshank Redemption. "JUDGEMENT" is spelt with the English extra "e".
- During Bart and Gina's fight in the woods, they trade insults; Gina - in a none-too-subtle instance of inter-show rivalry - calls Bart a "Family Guy."
