The Old Man and the "C" Student

In the episode, after offending the Olympic committee during their visit to Springfield Elementary, the school's students are committed to 20 hours of community service.

When the IOC inspects the town, things go well until Bart does a disparaging stand-up comedy routine, which only Principal Skinner, Homer, and the kids find funny.

In response, the IOC refuses to let Springfield host the Olympics (they award it to Shelbyville), and Superintendent Chalmers blames Skinner for putting Bart on stage with his racy jokes.

He uses various get-rich-quick schemes to sell off the mascots, but fails miserably and gets abused due to Springfield's hatred of Bart's comedy routine and everyone including Marge being annoyed by the springs.

However, the springs that Homer flushed down the toilet save them, causing the boat to bounce up at the surface long enough for the Coast Guard to rescue everyone.

The episode's plot was based on a "disastrous" school program, in which students had to participate in community service in order to be allowed to advance to the next grade.

Thacker, whose oldest daughter was a student at the school, was signed up to do community service at an old folks home in the town they lived in.

[1] The "clunky, Up With People-type" dance that the students perform for the Olympic jury was partly demonstrated during the animatic by Simpsons writer George Meyer.

[7] In its original American broadcast on April 25, 1999, "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" received a 6.9 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research, translating to approximately 6.9 million viewers.

Matt Groening, Mike Scully, George Meyer, Julie Thacker, Ron Hauge, Nancy Cartwright and Mark Kirkland participated in the DVD's audio commentary of the episode.

[10] Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood of I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide described the episode as "A marvellous feel-good story" and "Very sweet, very endearing.

[7] Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide was positive as well, writing "I gotta admit I like Springy, the Olympic mascot, and the spring-related aspects of the show entertain.

"[11] He added that the story involving Bart "offer more than a few good moments," and concluded by writing "Though the episode never quite excels, it’s pretty solid.

[12] Jake McNeill of Digital Entertainment News described the episode as "not-so-good," adding that "by this point, this show has expended just about every old folks joke there is.