Saturdays of Thunder
The Simpsons, season 3, episode 9. First aired November 14, 1991. 133 moments of about ten seconds each: open one for its frame, what happens and what's said.
← Lisa's Pony Flaming Moe's → The whole episode as text
About the episode
After failing a quiz about his son, Homer visits the National Fatherhood Institute and helps Bart build a soapbox racer, but their homemade car is hopelessly slow. When an injured Martin Prince offers Bart his sleek racer for the final against Nelson Muntz, Bart accepts, and a hurt Homer refuses to back him, though after Marge's scolding he reaches the track in time.
- Written by
- Ken Levine and David Isaacs
- Directed by
- Jim Reardon
- Guest stars
- Phil Hartman as Troy McClure
- Chalkboard gag
I will not fake rabies
- Couch gag
- Legs Behind Head
- Production code
- 8F07
The synopsis is our own. Credits and guest stars from Wikipedia and the Simpsons wiki.
Every moment
-
No characters appear in this moment
“The Simpsons”
0:00–0:11 -
Bart Simpson appears outside Springfield Elementary School and then inside its classroom, where he stands…
0:11–0:23 -
Homer grips an orange pipe wrench with a green glow at a control panel beneath a CAUTION sign…
0:23–0:35 -
Lisa Simpson plays a saxophone among a crowd of school band kids in a classroom with a Beethoven bust…
“Oh,”
0:35–0:47 -
Bart rides a yellow skateboard along a sidewalk with his arms flung out, passing storefronts with a row…
“my God.”
0:47–0:57 -
Marge drives a pink car with baby Maggie, pacifier in mouth and blue bow on her head, in a child seat…
“my God.”
0:57–1:08 -
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are in the family living room, with Homer hauling a framed picture…
1:08–1:19 -
A yellow-skinned cartoon man in a green sweater, wearing a white cap printed FOAM DOME and standing in front…
“Products you could only imagine before The Form”
1:19–1:27 -
A man in a green sweater wears a white Foam Dome cap with curlers while an elderly woman in an orange coat…
“The Jet Walker”
1:27–1:36 -
Homer Simpson sits on a brown couch in a white tank top, holding a glass, while baby Maggie in a blue outfit…
“That baby changed our lives”
1:36–1:43 -
Troy McClure stands on a stage holding a microphone in front of a blue curtain and a sign reading 'I Can't…
“I'm actor Troy McClure You might remember me from such TV series as Buck Henderson,”
1:43–1:56 -
A goateed man in a white lab coat, pink shirt and pink tie, presumably Dr. Nick Riviera, stands…
“about Spiffy The 21st Century Stain Remover Let's meet the inventor Dr.”
1:56–2:07 -
Homer Simpson sits on a brown couch against a pink wall, wearing a white tank top and holding a glass…
“One of our best writers. Yes, but unfortunately,”
2:07–2:17 -
A one-off salesman with slicked black hair, a dark goatee, a white lab coat and a pink tie first gestures…
“Not so fast, Troy.”
2:17–2:31 -
Homer sits on a brown couch in a pink living room, holding a glass and pointing, while baby Maggie in blue…
“Ooh!”
2:31–2:45 -
Troy McClure stands behind a blue table holding a microphone, beside a man in a white lab coat with black…
“I'm afraid you're gonna have to do better, Doctor.”
2:45–2:50 -
Homer sits on a brown couch in a white tank top, holding a glass, while baby Maggie sits beside him sucking…
“Yeah, give us a break, Doctor.”
2:50–3:01 -
Homer and Bart stand in a pink room with a round porthole window; Homer is joined by Bart, who looks…
“If stuff starts flying, just turn your head.”
3:01–3:13 -
Homer Simpson dials a teal rotary phone on a purple side table beside a green bowl of white puffs…
“Okay, okay, calm down.”
3:13–3:25 -
Homer Simpson stands in the living room and then by the arched doorway, while Marge watches…
“Homer, be nice.”
3:25–3:37 -
A grinning man with a bushy orange bowl-cut and a green shirt appears in a photo on a page headed…
3:37–3:40 -
Marge sits beside her twin sister, who has lavender hair, a pink top and a teal beaded necklace, at a bed…
“Ugly. Ugly.”
3:40–3:48 -
Marge Simpson and her twin sister Selma sit at a table reading a large open magazine in a living room…
“That's the one for me. Ed Asner? No, next to him,”
3:48–3:56 -
Homer Simpson and Marge Simpson stand in a pink kitchen by an arched doorway
“Expiration date, June 1989.”
3:56–4:05 -
Marge Simpson stands with her hand on her hip beside Homer, a bald man in a white tank top, who holds a teal…
“Shh! They'll hear you.”
4:05–4:16 -
Homer and Lisa are in a pink living room with a brown door and a purple speaker
“Oh, sure.”
4:16–4:28 -
Homer in a white tank top gestures beside a purple lamp in the living room toward Lisa's star-shaped spiky…
“Uh, take us to the video store? Anything for my little girl.”
4:28–4:40 -
Homer carries Maggie on his shoulder while Lisa walks beside him, first seen leaving their house and driving…
“Ooh, McBain.”
4:40–4:48 -
A heavy, light-haired man in a light blue shirt with a shoulder holster bites into a chili-topped hot dog…
“Hey, McBain, you keep eating them hotlings, you're never gonna make it to a pension.”
4:48–4:58 -
Carl stands with a blond man in a light blue shirt and suspenders against a purple wall and glass windows
“Got me a future, partner.”
4:58–5:10 -
Homer and Carl appear in a diner-style setting
“We just christened a boat.”
5:10–5:21 -
A stocky, flat-topped blond man in a white shirt, suspenders and blue trousers, plus a dark-haired…
“Oh, damn, damn, damn.”
5:21–5:32 -
Carl lies slumped on a red couch with blood staining his shirt while a standing man in blue trousers looms…
“McBain. Yes?”
5:32–5:45 -
Homer pins Carl and Homer's arm flails upward while his mouth is wide open in a scream
“Mendoza!”
5:45–5:56 -
Homer and Lisa stand at a video rental store counter lined with VHS boxes, with Homer leaning…
“Ooh.”
5:56–6:06 -
Homer holds baby Maggie in her blue bow while Lisa stands between video tape shelves under a Sale Tapes sign
“Lisa, we're going. But Dad, I can't find happy little elves in Tinklywinkly Town.”
6:06–6:17 -
Patty and Selma sit side by side under blue hair dryers with pink curlers in a salon, with a third woman…
“Test your FQ.”
6:17–6:31 -
In a close-up under a green-topped blue salon hood, a yellow-skinned woman with pink curlers and an orange…
“Listen to what he told a close friend.”
6:31–6:41 -
Homer Simpson sits on a brown couch in a pink living room, first drinking from a red can, then leaning back…
“They call him the Galloping Gazelle. His habitat, the frozen tundra of Soldier Field.”
6:41–6:55 -
Homer and Marge Simpson appear in a living room with pink walls, where Homer sits on a brown couch…
“when the gazelle was stopped in his tracks by a big cat named Wayne Krzyzewski.”
6:55–7:05 -
A woman with a dark brown bob and purple top, wearing a teal necklace, stands beside a blonde-haired woman…
“Don't mind that clod, Patty. You can turn the world on with your smile.”
7:05–7:18 -
Homer and Marge are in the living room, while two unnamed women in pink and blue dresses stand…
“This is from the National Fatherhood Institute.”
7:18–7:29 -
Homer sits on a brown couch in a pink room and talks with his hands, looking worried and mumbling as he…
“Uh, let's see. Bart's friends.”
7:29–7:39 -
Homer Simpson sits on a brown couch in a pink living room, wearing a white shirt with his hands clasped…
“Okay.”
7:39–7:51 -
Marge Simpson sits at a table holding a sheet of paper with a colorful chart, her eyes wide and mouth open…
“Name another dad you talk to about parenting.”
7:51–8:02 -
Homer is first seen with a sullen, half-lidded expression in a close-up
“Oh, really? Well, maybe you should go out to the garage and see.”
8:02–8:11 -
Homer stands in a purple room with shelves and a SOAP BOX trials poster reading SPRINGFIELD while Bart…
“No, not really. Well, that's what I...”
8:11–8:21 -
Homer Simpson stands in a purple-walled storeroom lined with shelves of jars, boxes and cans, with a tall…
“Oh, my God. I don't know Jack about my boy.”
8:21–8:26 -
Homer is in a cluttered room with shelves while a blonde woman in a blue dress and red choker stands…
“You're also fat.”
8:26–8:39 -
Homer Simpson sits on the edge of a brown couch in a pink living room, holding a green corded telephone…
“National Fatherhood Institute, please hold.”
8:39–8:51 -
Homer Simpson holds a dark teal phone to his ear with wide eyes and a worried expression, while a man…
“Dave speaking. I'm Homer Simpson.”
8:51–9:01 -
Bart stands at the right of a crowd gathered around a wooden crate in a cluttered garage, with Milhouse…
“Hey, Bert, where'd you get the lumber?”
9:01–9:10 -
Bart Simpson leans in from the right foreground while a boy with reddish-brown hair in a white collared shirt…
“A conventional design? Oh, yeah?”
9:10–9:19 -
Bart and Milhouse stand facing each other on a suburban street beside a dark tar-like patch
“Goodbye, son.”
9:19–9:30 -
Homer Simpson and his thin assistant Smithers first appear as a station wagon drives toward the gate…
“For starters, Mr. Simpson,”
9:30–9:41 -
Troy McClure stands at a counter stacked with green-spined books, holding a clipboard and pen while resting…
“why don't you take this complimentary copy of Fatherhood by Bill Cosby?”
9:41–9:48 -
Homer Simpson stands in a control room holding an open blue book while facing a slim unnamed man in a red…
“Mr. Simpson, if you want to be a good father, you have to spend time with your son.”
9:48–9:55 -
Homer Simpson stands at a lab control panel with gauges and monitors, holding open a teal book and glaring…
“Well, that's easy for you to say, you preachy, egg-headed institute guy.”
9:55–10:02 -
Homer stands beside a man in a red sweater vest, blue tie and reddish hair, who is talking and gesturing…
“Homer, meet Dave Jr. Huh?”
10:02–10:14 -
Homer stands before a bank of monitors showing orange waveforms and a control panel, grinning with wide eyes…
“It took years of effort. I've never been afraid of a little hard work.”
10:14–10:26 -
Homer Simpson stands in a lab before wall monitors showing red waveforms, first looking tired…
“Well, he is building a soapbox derby racer.”
10:26–10:35 -
Homer and Bart are in a purple-walled workshop with shelves of blue and pink How-To books and a Soap Box…
“Bart, I'm gonna help you build that racer.”
10:35–10:45 -
Homer and Bart stand together in a room with a dark blue wall and a partly visible poster reading SOAP…
“I'm gonna do it! Sorry, Dad,”
10:45–10:57 -
Homer and Bart stand among stairs and cardboard boxes in a cluttered room, with Homer gesturing while Bart…
“The bird feeder.”
10:57–11:10 -
Homer and Bart stand in a cluttered room beside a wheel and a cardboard box, under a purple wall poster…
“This isn't working at all. It's hopeless.”
11:10–11:15 -
Homer Simpson sits in a purple-walled room and holds open a green book titled with Bill Cosby's name, whose…
“Hmm.”
11:15–11:25 -
Homer Simpson sits in a dim purple room reading a green book titled with the name Bill Cosby, its cover…
“No matter what you tell your child to do, it will always do the opposite.”
11:25–11:35 -
Homer and Bart stand in a basement workshop with stairs, cardboard boxes and shelves of binders
“Son, I don't think you should let me help you.”
11:35–11:46 -
Homer Simpson and Bart Simpson are in a cluttered garage workshop with a workbench, cardboard boxes, a green…
“There he sits with a pen and a yellow pad.”
11:46–11:58 -
Homer and Bart, spiky-haired in a matching Team Simpson shirt, build a cardboard racer in their driveway…
“The RLFB spells mom and dad Well,”
11:58–12:09 -
Bart and Homer push a wooden soapbox racer labeled "Lil' Lightning" across a cluttered garage, with Bart…
12:09–12:11 -
Maggie sits in a blue reclining chair in a dim garage beside a wooden workbench, a green hose on the orange…
“You know, Marge, that part of ours is a little miracle His winning smile,”
12:11–12:19 -
Homer and Marge Simpson lie side by side in a bed with maroon headboard and pink pillows, Homer on the left…
“his fat little stomach His face alight with wholesome mischief He reminds me of me before”
12:19–12:28 -
A street at a Time Trials event opens under a banner reading TIME TRIALS, then a START line marks the track
“I like our chances, son.”
12:28–12:38 -
Bart stands at a outdoor event area beside a row of spectators, while Homer looks down at him with a stern…
“Your father's not supposed to help build your eraser,”
12:38–12:47 -
Homer Simpson stands before a stranger in an orange cap, light shirt, dark blue tie and badge, who is first…
“No, I don't think I can let you go without a safety helmet.”
12:47–12:57 -
An astronaut-suited figure with a purple face and white helmet spreads its arms wide and grins beside a white…
“Attention, everyone!”
12:57–13:09 -
A man in an orange cap and grey shirt glances sideways against a blue sky, then Nelson puffs on a cigarette…
“Hey, you're not supposed to smoke in the pit area.”
13:09–13:19 -
Bart stands with a finger raised beside Nelson, a bully in a blue vest over an orange shirt with brown hair…
“Wait a minute. Uh, it's over there, Nelson.”
13:19–13:25 -
In a purple-walled arena, a yellow-skinned man in a white astronaut suit with a purple visor talks with Bart…
“Whoa! Talk about your pieces of crap. You know, Bart, I don't care who wins,”
13:25–13:35 -
Bart stands between a helmeted kid in a white and red racing suit and Nelson, a brown-haired bully in a blue…
“Help! What was that? You didn't hear nothin'.”
13:35–13:46 -
A boy with dark skin, an orange shirt and white pants stands beside a stocky yellow boy in a red shirt…
“Just in case you need it. Aw, thanks, guys.”
13:46–13:57 -
Bart Simpson steers the cardboard go-kart marked "Lil' Lightnin'" down a long road in a soap box derby…
“Could I have another hill?”
13:57–14:07 -
A spiky-haired boy in a white TEAM shirt, Bart, is seen with a brown-haired woman, a green-capped boy…
14:07–14:20 -
A stunt performer with a purple face, huge teeth and a white helmet, wearing a white jumpsuit with red trim…
“Deploy!”
14:20–14:32 -
A young yellow-skinned boy wrapped in a white blanket wails on a gurney that a man in a grey shirt…
“It hurts!”
14:32–14:43 -
Carl stands beside a hospital bed where a boy with light brown hair lies with his arm bandaged in a sling…
“But that means I can't possibly race! Son, you're lucky to be alive.”
14:43–14:54 -
Bart grips the purple bed rail beside a one-off patient with short light brown hair and a white nightshirt…
“Hey, man, cool crash.”
14:54–15:02 -
Homer Simpson leans in from the left edge of the frame while a short, reddish-haired boy with a white…
“That racer transformed me into the twisted creature you see before you.”
15:02–15:12 -
Homer leans in from the left edge while gripping the bed rail, looking at a young boy with short orange hair…
“Well, even if I wanted to, I'm in no shape to do it.”
15:12–15:19 -
Bart Simpson stands against a wooden wall with wide eyes and a worried expression, then breaks into a toothy…
“Unless... Bart, will you drive my car? Oh, I don't know if I should do that.”
15:19–15:31 -
Homer and Bart stand on a grey floor beside a purple wall and a stack of wooden planks
“so I'm gonna pull you out of school for the next couple of weeks.”
15:31–15:38 -
Bart Simpson and Homer Simpson stand in a cluttered garage with lumber stacked against a purple wall…
“It's slow, it's ugly, it handles like a shopping cart.”
15:38–15:49 -
Bart and Homer stand in a cluttered wooden workshop with stacked lumber, a hammer on the floor, and scattered…
“Why did I ever teach you that? Well, I picked it up somewhere.”
15:49–16:01 -
Homer Simpson sits in a cardboard go-kart in a garage while Bart stands beside the kart in the opening moment
“I'll just sit here in a little lightning, which the Simpsons built,”
16:01–16:11 -
Homer Simpson sits on the floor of a garage beside a cardboard box on a small wheeled cart, gripping…
“Oh.”
16:11–16:20 -
Homer presses both hands against a purple-framed window and gazes out at houses and trees, then turns…
“Dad, can you take me to Dr. Hibbert's office?”
16:20–16:33 -
Homer Simpson and Lisa Simpson stand side by side in a pink room beside a window with a wooden fence…
“Oh, sure, I'll take you, wait with you, worry about you,”
16:33–16:46 -
Dr. Hibbert stands in a waiting room with a stone wall and a lamp, while a light-haired man in a blue shirt…
“Martin, your bone is healing nicely. Tell me something I don't know.”
16:46–16:56 -
Homer stands in a playroom facing a light-haired boy in a white shirt and orange shorts, who gestures…
“Homewrecker!”
16:56–17:07 -
Homer stands beside a smiling Black man in a white lab coat and purple shirt in front of a sign…
“Well, you certainly gave that boy the heebie-jeebies.”
17:07–17:20 -
Homer lies in bed under a purple blanket with his mouth open and eyes wide, while Bart stands at a dresser…
“I'm not pouting. You are. Dad, you gotta come.”
17:20–17:30 -
Marge and Homer are in a living room with pink walls
“Can't think of a thing. Homer, I've always said you were a good father.”
17:30–17:43 -
Homer Simpson first appears in a close-up with his yellow head resting on a purple cushion, then lies face…
“You are a bad father. Leave me alone.”
17:43–17:54 -
A child in an orange cap rides soapbox racer number 2 down a ramp past bleachers packed with spectators…
“and welcome to an event that harkens back to the carefree days of the Great Depression,”
17:54–18:06 -
Homer Simpson first looks alarmed at a corkboard holding a bodybuilder pinup, a photo of a thin old man…
“Name your son's hobbies.”
18:06–18:17 -
Homer Simpson stands in the purple kitchen, first wide-eyed and open-mouthed in close-up before a window…
“Huh?”
18:17–18:27 -
Homer Simpson stands in the family kitchen with purple walls, orange cabinets and a yellow corn-patterned…
“Name another dad you talked to about parenting.”
18:27–18:35 -
Ned Flanders trims a hedge with purple shears over a wooden fence while Homer Simpson stands behind it…
“Flanders! Flanders! Uh, uh, w-when should a boy start dating?”
18:35–18:48 -
Barney and Moe stand by a pink ice cream and beer stall at a fair, while a brown-haired woman in a pink dress…
“Hold on, son. I'm a-comin'.”
18:48–19:00 -
Moe holds an ice cream cone and steadies a heavy brown-haired man in a tan shirt and blue jeans who has both…
“Wow, it really is you. Bart, if she breaks up on you,”
19:00–19:10 -
Bart rests his chin on his hand at a counter with a yellow "GENERAL" sign while a man in a blue cap…
“Bart, what did I just tell you? Kill spectators.”
19:10–19:14 -
Bart Simpson stands outdoors beside a red post and a green hedge, facing an angry man in a blue cap…
“What is the matter with you? It's my dad, lying there on the couch,”
19:14–19:26 -
Bart first appears in a close-up beside an orange barrel and green bushes, then sits at a counter…
“Do it for your old man, boy.”
19:26–19:39 -
Bart Simpson sits scowling in a white soapbox car at the start line of the Springfield Soap Box Derby…
“Ladies and gentlemen, to drop the green flag, our beloved mayor, Diamond Joe Quimby.”
19:39–19:52 -
Homer, Lisa, Maggie and Marge are seen in a crowd at a racing event while a mayor in a sash waves a green…
“Oh, no!”
19:52–20:03 -
Bart Simpson races his white-and-black Honor Roller car on a dirt track against a rival driver with spiky…
“Like the arrogant Roman in Judah Ben-Hur, these modern charioteers battle ferociously.”
20:03–20:13 -
Bart pilots the white rocket marked Hover Rocket while Homer flies a second white rocket, and a brown-haired…
20:13–20:23 -
Bart is hoisted high above a cheering crowd of raised hands near a banner-lined stage and a building…
“The world has not seen the likes of this since the French carried Lucky Lindy off on their”
20:23–20:36 -
Krusty the Clown is hoisted upside down above a crowd of raised yellow hands in the first moment…
“shoulders from Le Bourget Field. And now to present the trophy,”
20:36–20:47 -
Bart stands at a tall gold-based trophy with blue columns and a small gold racer on top, while Homer…
“Seeing you out there brought back a lot of memories.”
20:47–20:59 -
A blond boy in a purple cap with a white sling and a green-skinned boy in a matching cap stand before a crowd…
“No, son. You earned it. I might remind you both I did design that racer.”
20:59–21:08 -
Homer stands at left beside Bart, who clutches a large trophy topped with a golden toy car, while Marge…
“The better man wants, Simpson. You can really drive.”
21:08–21:19 -
Bart stands beside a tall golden trophy topped with a small figure as a crowd watches, with Marge…
“Mom, I never won before. I may never win again.”
21:19–21:32 -
Gate sign at the National Fatherhood Institute: a tan guard booth and a striped barrier beside a fenced…
“Did you ever know that you're my hero?”
21:32–21:35 -
Two grown men, one in a white jacket with brown hair and one in a red vest with light reddish hair, stand…
“You are the wind beneath my wings.”
21:35–21:45 -
No animated characters appear in this moment, which is a dark title sequence of yellow credit cards…
21:45–21:55 -
The moment is a plain black screen with centered yellow cartoon-style credit text that changes in sequence…
“Thank you.”
21:55–22:05 -
A black closing credits sequence with a plain dark background
22:05–22:15 -
No Simpsons characters appear in this moment, which is a sequence of yellow credit text on a black background
22:15–22:25 -
A black closing credits roll of The Simpsons with plain yellow text on a dark background
22:25–22:36 -
The scene is a dark background with yellow end-credit text that changes over the five moments
22:36–22:46 -
Silhouetted audience members sit in rows of seats in a dark cinema with a blank screen, and a beam of light…
22:46–22:57
Who's in it
Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Lisa Simpson, Marge Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Moe Szyslak, Milhouse Van Houten, Ned Flanders, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Dr. Hibbert, Nelson Muntz, Martin Prince, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier, Lewis Clark, Wendell Borton, Richard, Mayor Quimby, Sophie Jensen, Buck-toothed boy, Dr. Nick, Troy McClure, Chuck Berger, Black Weasel, Rainier Wolfcastle, Yellow Weasel, McBain, Albert Einstein, Bill Cosby, Dave, Dave Jr., Dexter Scoey, Newscaster, Roller Derby Announcer, Roller Derby Referee, Ronnie Beck, VHS Village Clerk
Everyone who appears in it, from the Simpsons wiki. Every character