"The Wandering Juvie" is the sixteenth episode of The Simpsons' second season. The episode aired on March 28, 2004.

Episode details

Production Number: FABF11
Original Air Date: March 28, 2004
Writers: John Frink & Don Payne
Director: Lauren MacMullan
Couch Gag: A large Polaroid photo drops on the couch, developing into a picture of the family.
Guest Voice: Sarah Michelle Gellar as Gina Vendetti and Charles Napier as the Warden

Synopsis

When the Simpson family is at the Costington's department store, Bart uses the wedding gift registry as a prank to sign himself and his bride, "Lotta Cooties", for wedding presents. Bart invites many people to his so-called "wedding" and delivers all the unused gifts he expects to return to his guests, but he is stopped in his tracks by Chief Wiggum, who arrests Bart. Bart is sentenced to six months of juvenile detention by Judge Constance Harm, going to a detention center.

At the detention center, Bart tries to escape, but he encounters Homer, who has taken the job of being a prison guard. He has another problem when he meets a girl he thinks he likes—a girl who is as bad as him named Gina Vendetti—and is made her dancing partner. When they are dancing, Gina thinks of a way she and Bart can escape. But due to the fact that they are handcuffed together, she automatically brings Bart along. They are on the lam and look for a blacksmith who can remove their cuffs. They are freed, but after it happens, Gina is alone and she is worried she does not have a family. Gina confesses she does not have a family when she returns to jail, but the family and the prison warden step in to help Gina by offering a Mexican food feast in the end.

Trivia

• This appearance was Sarah Michelle Gellar's first television appearance since Buffy the Vampire Slayer was cancelled.

Quotes

• "Yes" guy: Sir, our customers need to use their dressing room!
  Homer: Dressing room? Uh-oh.
• Mayor Quimby: Remember, if anyone asked, you're my niece from out of town.
  Quimby niece: I am your niece, Uncle Joe.
  Mayor Quimby: Good lord! I'm an abomination!
• Bart: Come on, Chief, it was just a prank. Would some flatware make things right?
  Chief Wiggum: Um, what does it say on my badge? "Cash Bribes Only"! Let's go! (he handcuffs Bart)
• Ralph Wiggum: Your eyes need diapers.
• Homer: It's not all your fault. All these years, I watched you turn our son into a time bomb, and yet, I did nothing.
• Warden: The part of the brain that remembers dance steps is also the anger center. So, juveniles who know how to fox trot are 10% less likely to commit a double homicide.
  Juvie (possibly Jimbo): Who conducted this study?
  Warden: The Institute of SHUT YOUR FAT FACE! Now pair up!
• Kent Brockman: We've brought in an expert, former under-age defender Snake.
  Snake: If they're smart, Kent, they'll stay off the main road. It's all here in my book, Ten Habits of Highly Successful Criminals.
  Kent Brockman: All right. I plug your book, now put down the gun.
  Snake: (cocking a gun) Tell 'em I'll be on Conan Thursday with Heather Locklear and Third Eye Blind.