Bart the Genius

"**Bart the Genius**"
"Bart the Genius"
The Simpsons episodes
Episode nos.	Season 1; Episodes 2
Directed by	David Silverman
Written by	Jon Vitti
Production code	7G02
Episode features
Chalkboard gag	"I will not waste chalk"
Couch gag	Bart is thrown into the air when the Simpson family sits on the couch.
Commentary	Matt Groening; James L. Brooks; David Silverman; Jon Vitti
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"	Next →; "Homer's Odyssey"
	The Simpsons (season 1)
	List of The Simpsons episodes

"Bart the Genius" is the second episode of the first season of The Simpsons, which was first shown on the Fox network on January 14, 1990. It was the first episode written by Jon Vitti. It was also the first ever episode to use the signature title sequence, as well as the first normal episode. The episode has Bart Simpson's experiences of life as a smarty-pants after he cheats on an intelligence test. It is the first episode that uses Bart's catchphrase "Eat my shorts." As the second episode was made, right after the bad animation of "Some Enchanted Evening," the future of the series relied on how the animation turned out on this episode. The animation proved to be more acceptable and production continued.

The episode starts with the Simpson family playing Scrabble. Bart plays the word "kwyjibo", which is not a real word.

Bart The Genius Media

David Silverman directed the episode.
Series creator Matt Groening devised the full title sequence as a way to cut down the new animation required for each episode
Executive producer James L. Brooks lists the episode amongst his favorites.