"Stealing First Base" is the fifteenth episode of Season 21.

Synopsis[]

When Springfield Elementary's two fourth-grade classes have to share desks rather than pay for a substitute teacher, Bart falls for his new deskmate, but after he kisses her, she starts sending him mixed signals; Lisa gets advice on how to handle being a female overachiever...from Michelle Obama.

Full Story[]

One morning Homer tries out a new GPS System help get the kids to school but there are disastrous results so after the kids get to school he throws the GPS into a fountain.

Main Story[]

Bart's fourth grade class is going wild and when he asks where Edna Krabappel is Principal Skinner explains she went to Portland to take care of an issue with her sister. Due to budget cuts, Skinner can't afford a substitute so he has no choice but to merge the class with the other fourth grade class. The teacher is Miss Audrey McConnell from Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade. In the crowded classroom, everyone finds a desk to sit at most kids don't mind where, Nelson sits next to a blind kid, Milhouse sits next to a surfer kid, and Bart is forced to sit by a student named Nikki as it's the only spot left. At first they dislike each other, until Nikki admires Bart's artistic skills. Bart seeks romance advice from Homer, who passes him off to Grampa. Grampa advises Bart to kiss Nikki. However, when Bart kisses Nikki after the two went skateboarding, she recoils in disgust. Nikki's parents, who have powerful law-enforcement jobs, threaten to sue the school unless it enforces a "No-Touch Policy". The school is then forced to put on a school play in which Skinner and Willie are forced to kiss each other to the amusement of the students. During the play, Skinner tells Homer to shut up and calls him fatso, causing Homer to strangle him after he mistakes him for Bart despite Bart sitting next to him. Homer is dragged off by Martin and Wendell. After this, Bart is surprised when Nikki kisses Bart while hiding in his locker. Later on, Michelle Obama makes a surprise visit to the school and gives a speech defending Lisa for being an overachiever.

Bart and Nikki have been watching this speech from the roof, and Bart comments that he is happy that they are dating. Nikki then changes her mood and tells him they're not dating. They argue and Bart stumbles and falls off the roof. Bart is not breathing, but the school's "no touch" policy prevents anyone from performing CPR. Nikki defies the policy and revives Bart (who, while unconscious, dreams a montage of kisses reminiscent of Cinema Paradiso). After the policy is banned, Nikki's mood changes yet again and Bart remains in a state of complete confusion over her behavior.

The kiss montage contains "scenes" from Here to Eternity, Gone with the Wind, The Quiet Man, Lady and the Tramp, Planet of the Apes, On Golden Pond, Ghost, Spider-Man, Star Trek (2009 film), Beauty and the Beast (TV series), The Public Enemy, WALL-E, Alien 3, The Godfather Part II, and All in the Family. The sequence, and the accompanying musical score, are a nod to Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, with score by Ennio Morricone.

Sub Story[]

Meanwhile, Lisa receives an F on a test, and thinks it's just a dream until she attempts to fly and hits the floor. At first she is disappointed as she thinks her perfect record is broken and might affect her college choices, but becomes more popular when kids tell her she became interesting from a bad grade, which she takes advantage of.

However, Lisa becomes unpopular again after it turns out she was given the failing grade by mistake, and Ralph was the one who failed, as he cheated incorrectly when he wrote down Lisa's name on the test while keeping his answers. She blogs about being ostracized as an overachiever, and her post is noted by a mysterious blogger known as FLOTUS1. FLOTUS1 ("First Lady of the United States 1") turns out to be First Lady Michelle Obama, who drops by Springfield Elementary to give a speech about the importance of academics, and recommends that the students be nice to Lisa and other overachievers, including Martin Prince and Allison Taylor.

Throughout the episode, Nelson has befriended the blind boy and teaches him how to laugh at the misfortunes of others. At the end, the blind boy tricks Nelson into believing that a punch he sustained after insulting Nelson restored his sight. When he reveals this to be a prank and laughs Nelson's signature "haw haw," Nelson tearfully states that the student has become the master.

Citations[]