While riding the bus to school, Milhouse shows Bart his new fortune-telling toy, a Magic 8 Ball.

The same day, a new student from Phoenix named Samantha Stanky joins the fourth grade class at Springfield Elementary School and Milhouse instantly falls in love with her.

[7][8] Bart, in the role of Indiana Jones, steals a penny jar (instead of a Fertility Idol) from Homer before heading to school on the bus.

When Samantha's father takes her away, Bart comforts Milhouse with some words from "In Memoriam" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

The episode's closing sequence in which Bart and Milhouse visit Samantha at Saint Sebastian's is a reference to Casablanca (1942).

[2] Cast member Maggie Roswell provided the voice of the nun, but did she not know the actual French lyrics to the song so she made up her own.

It was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following Beverly Hills, 90210, In Living Color, and Married... with Children.

"[2] DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson said that "from the ingenious and hilarious Raiders of the Lost Ark parody at the show’s start, 'Bart's Friend Falls in Love' is a keeper.

Still, the love triangle makes for some interesting drama and the script's observations about childhood infatuations are right on point.

"[17] Bill Gibron of DVD Verdict, however, thought the plot seemed drawn out and "only Homer's eating disorder and subliminal tape attempts at weight loss have lasting appeal.

Since the tape turns out to be a vocabulary builder, hearing Homer expound in flowery language is a real, rare treat.

[10] Empire's Colin Kennedy also named it the best film parody in the show, calling it the series' "most famous opening sequence."

He noted Homer played "both his roles – half-naked native; big fat boulder – with consummate aplomb.

"[9] The Canadian television series The Hour, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, ranked the Raiders of the Lost Ark parody as the greatest in the "Top Five Male Underwear Moments of All Time".