"The Crepes of Wrath" is the eleventh episode of Season 1. Agnes Skinner made her first appearance on the show in this episode, although her voice is different to that of later episodes.
After getting in trouble for flushing a cherry bomb down the boys' room toilet (which leads to Principal Skinner's mother, Agnes, getting hurt), Bart is sent to France on a foreign-exchange program, where a pair of low-rent winemakers treat him like a slave. Meanwhile, the rest of the Simpson family host an Albanian boy named Adil whom Homer loves, but does Adil love Homer or is he using him to get information on the nuclear plant for his country?
Full Story[]
Forced to clean his room (after accidentally causing Homer to trip and fall down the stairs, tearing a ligament in his back), Bart finds Marge and Lisa at home upon their return. Marge instructs Bart to clean his room as punishment. While cleaning, he discovers an old cherry bomb and hatches a prank – flushing it down the school toilets. Unbeknownst to him, Principal Skinner's mother, Agnes Skinner, is visiting the school at the same time. Bart shows the cherry bomb to Milhouse, Lewis, and Richard, planning its detonation. When Agnes enters the girls' restroom, Bart detonates the bomb in the boys' restroom, unaware of her presence in the adjacent stall. The explosion sends Agnes flying off her seat due to the toilets' violent reaction.
Shortly afterward, Principal Skinner arrives at the Simpsons' house with Bart in tow. Skinner declares that the incident has "transcended incorrigible." Feeling that traditional punishment won't suffice, he proposes a radical solution: deportation. Though shocked, Marge hears Skinner out as he details a plan to get rid of Bart – a foreign exchange program. Bart is sent to France, while the Simpsons host an Albanian student named Adil Hoxha.
In France, Bart is greeted by two winemakers, Cesar and Ugolin, who work him harder than their donkey, Maurice. They confiscate his belongings and force him to collect and crush grapes, sleep on the floor, and sample wine adulterated with antifreeze.
Back in Springfield, Adil enjoys the comfortable life with the Simpsons, a stark contrast to Bart's situation. He's very appreciative and helps out with chores, pleasing Homer, who is relieved to be free of Bart's negativity. However, a hidden agenda is revealed – Adil is actually a spy after nuclear secrets, which he intends to obtain from Homer. Homer, thrilled by Adil's apparent interest in his work, readily shows him around the power plant.
Meanwhile, Bart, sent to purchase antifreeze in France, encounters a police officer who doesn't speak English and only offers him candy. Feeling discouraged about never learning French despite being there for two months, Bart experiences a sudden turn of events. He starts speaking French fluently and tells the officer about the child abuse and the plot to put antifreeze in the wine. Cesar and Ugolin are promptly arrested for both the antifreeze and their treatment of Bart, who becomes a national hero in France.
Back in the United States, Adil is caught by the FBI and exchanged for an American spy captured in Albania. As Adil leaves, Bart returns, greeted with relief and gratitude by his family. Bart even buys gifts for everyone, which Lisa remarks is "his first unselfish act."
Behind the Scenes[]
James L. Brooks has stated that this is his favorite episode.
Deleted Scene[]
There's a deleted scene in this episode where Bart says "Wooo" to some dancers.
