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The Many Saints of Springfield
Carl Carlson Rides Again
Bartless

Carl Carlson Rides Again is the fourteenth episode of Season 34.

Synopsis[]

When Carl is smitten by a beautiful black woman, he looks into the roots of his own identity by discovering the origins of a mysterious rodeo buckle.

Plot[]

In the start of the episode, when Homer wakes up in the morning, he smells chili con carne where Marge is cooking it. However, he finds out it's empty and is disappointed that Marge made it for Ned Flanders after falling from the roof and broke his arm, and he's unable to cook for a few weeks. Marge explains to Homer that she and many people in Springfield must set up a Meal Train for Ned where everyone makes for him since he's unable to cook with a broken arm. Homer has an idea to pretend to be injured so that he can also give people to make food for him. At Moe's Tavern, Homer and the barflies put their Meal Train fraud into action and start getting different meals from people. However, Carl decides to quit the fraud early as the bowling league is about to start soon and started exercising. After losing the weight, Carl tries putting pants on, but it felt off, so he needs a belt buckle with a man riding a bull engraved to hold on it.

At Barney's Bowlarama, the Pin Pals are getting ready to play in the first game of the league. When Carl sees Naima, he immediately falls in love with her, and he ends up spending the day bowling with Naima beside the team. When Carl asks Naima if he wants to see her again, she decides to meet up again on Friday at SoulHouse, where she owns the restaurant. When Carl tells them about Naima, Lenny tells him that his team has lost to the worst team in the league, The Weaklings and Moleman taunted the Pin Pals by saying, "Good game. B****es."

Carl is getting prepared for his date by going for a makeover. He goes to the barber shop to get a haircut and has no idea how to pick the style. Carl eventfully picked Denzel Washington style cut. When everyone in the barbers sees Carl's belt buckle, they tease him about it. After getting his haircut, Carl goes to Second Hand Bros Clothing to get a new wardrobe. After shortchanging the room montage, the store employee turns off the music and tells them to go somewhere, but he offers to give Carl an outfit in exchange for a bull engraved and Carl accepts and gets the own clothes. He then goes on his date with Naima. After he learned more about Naima where the restaurant opened, she asked Carl about himself, and he got mixed up about his heritage and pretended to someone and he wasn't impressed with Naima and abruptly ended the date. Carl then goes back to Moe's and reveals that his belt buckle traded away. When none of his friends talk about uncertainties over his racial identity, Carl will take some time away from Moe's.

At home, Homer is worrying about Carl, and he will text Carl's friends to help Carl to get his belt buckle back. Outside of Second Hand Bros, Carl has the same idea and meets them there. However, Carl finds that the employee had just sold a belt buckle to The Rich Texan. They visit The Rich Texan's mansion to reclaim it, only to discover he has already sold it and has gone to the studio, Find Your Roots. There, The Rich Texan reveals that Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the new owner, and Carl has the opportunity to meet him. Dr. Gates, intrigued by Carl's lack of knowledge about his ancestry, invites him to participate in the show to explore his family history. During the show, Dr. Gates unveils that Carl's lineage includes Ellis, a cowboy who was once a slave. He also learns that his father, Wyatt, was a champion bull rider, known for staying on a bull for 20 seconds and earning a prized buckle. This revelation gives Carl a profound sense of his identity.

His friends and Naima are watching him ride a bull, which invites them. Everyone tries to tell Carl to get off it since riding a bull isn't something that could be passed down. However, Carl does it anyway and manages to ride the bull for three seconds before sending it in the air, and falls, which Naima is impresses him, but his arm is broken, and she gives Carl blood as the ambulance driven to the hospital together.

Behind the Laughter[]

Awards[]

Writer Loni Steele Sosthand won this episode for the Writers Guild of America in 2024.

Navigation[]

Season 33 Season 34 Episodes Season 35
Habeas TortoiseOne Angry LisaLisa the Boy ScoutThe King of NiceNot ItTreehouse of Horror XXXIIIFrom Beer to PaternityStep Brother from the Same PlanetWhen Nelson Met LisaGame Done ChangedTop GoonMy Life as a VlogThe Many Saints of SpringfieldCarl Carlson Rides AgainBartlessHostile Kirk PlacePin GalFan-ily FeudWrite Off This EpisodeThe Very Hungry CaterpillarsClown V. Board of EducationHomer's Adventures Through the Windshield Glass
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