"The Seemingly Never-Ending Story" is the thirteenth episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons.

The episode contains many levels of nested storytelling, much like the novel The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, which the title references.

The episode received positive reviews, and it won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.

Burns and Rich Texan were involved in a scavenger hunt where the winner receives the loser's possessions.

Before leaving with Moe, Edna stopped by Springfield Elementary School to resign and found Bart seemingly in detention.

The entire episode turns out to be a story told by Bart to Principal Skinner, explaining why he did not have time to study for a test.

[1] Timothy Sexton of Yahoo said that The Seemingly Never-Ending Story was "innovative", and "featured the kind of intricate development that you don't get in shows such as Friends, Will & Grace, Ally McBeal or Everybody Loves Raymond".

Sexton noted that each of those series won the Best Comedy Emmy Award in a year that The Simpsons aired but was not even nominated.

[3] Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide said the episode "manages a clever approach to the" anthology genre and enjoyed the changes with the characters.

[4] On Four Finger Discount, Brendan Dando and Guy Davis liked the episode as long as viewers ignore continuity or logic.