Editing Bart Simpson (section)

== Reception ==
=== Bartmania ===
Bart became one of television's most popular characters in 1990, sparking a [[cultural phenomenon]] known as "Bartmania".{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=120–121}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22062437-5009160,00.html|title=''Simpsons'' Set for Big Screen|access-date=October 27, 2008|date=July 15, 2007|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|archive-date=March 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301032414/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22062437-5009160,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Kleinfield">{{Cite news |last=Kleinfield |first=N.R. |date=April 29, 1990 |title=Cashing in on a Hot New Brand Name |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/29/business/cashing-in-on-a-hot-new-brand-name.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830184121/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/29/business/cashing-in-on-a-hot-new-brand-name.html |archive-date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=October 27, 2008 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He became the most prominent ''Simpsons'' character on merchandise, particularly [[T-shirt]]s; during the early 1990s, millions of Bart-themed T-shirts were sold.<ref name="k622">{{cite web | title=The T-Shirt Industry Sweats It Out | website=[[The New York Times]] | first=Isadore | last=Barmash | date=December 30, 1990 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/business/the-t-shirt-industry-sweats-it-out.html?smid=url-share | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 3, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203024322/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/business/the-t-shirt-industry-sweats-it-out.html?smid=url-share | url-status=live }}</ref> Bart's rebellious persona led some American public schools to ban T-shirts with sayings such as "I'm Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you?" and "Underachiever (and proud of it, man!)".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/30/business/the-t-shirt-industry-sweats-it-out.html|title=Overacheiver&nbsp;– And Learning to Deal With It, Man|access-date=September 18, 2008|date=December 30, 1990|last=Rohter|first=Larry|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="p594">{{cite web | last=Robinson | first=Gaile | title=Schools, Penney's Having a Cow About Bart Simpson T-Shirt | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | url-access=subscription | date=May 3, 1990 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-03-vw-411-story.html | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> A T-shirt with the latter caption is in the [[National Museum of American History]].<ref name="z648">{{cite web | title=Bart Simpson "Underachiever and Proud of it, Man!" t-shirt | publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]] | url=https://www.si.edu/object/bart-simpson-underachiever-and-proud-it-man-t-shirt%3Anmah_2028836 | access-date=December 22, 2024 |archive-date=December 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219075451/https://www.si.edu/object/bart-simpson-underachiever-and-proud-it-man-t-shirt%3Anmah_2028836 |url-status=live}}</ref> The popularity of ''Simpsons'' merchandise was a commercial success, generating $2 billion in revenue in its first 14 months of sales.<ref name="j552">{{cite web | title=''Simpsons'' Couch on the Run | website=[[The New Indian Express]] | date=February 18, 2009 | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2009/Feb/18/simpsons-couch-on-the-run-26653.html | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219234148/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2009/Feb/18/simpsons-couch-on-the-run-26653.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Bart's appeal also inspired a thriving black market for [[Counterfeit consumer good|counterfeit merchandise]], particularly T-shirts. The items featured Bart with various slogans and redesigns, including "Teenage Mutant Ninja Bart", "Air Simpson Bart", and "RastaBart".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/07/27/bootleg-simpsons-shirts/|title=But Is It Bart?|access-date=October 28, 2008|date=July 27, 1990|last=Svetkey|first=Benjamin|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003050127/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C317834%2C00.html|archive-date=October 3, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Groening generally tolerated bootleg merchandise, he objected to a series of "[[Nazism|Nazi]] Bart" shirts with Bart in Nazi uniforms or as a [[white power skinhead]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.02/futurama_pr.html|title=One-Eyed Aliens! Suicide Booths! Mom's Old-Fashioned Robot Oil!|access-date=October 30, 2008|year=1999|last=Kelly|first=Kevin|magazine=[[WIRED]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004174227/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.02/futurama_pr.html|archive-date=October 4, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> 20th Century Fox sued the creator of the offensive designs, who agreed to cease production.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metzger Stops 'Nazi Bart' T-Shirt Sales|date=June 4, 1991|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

[[File:Michael Jackson with the Reagans (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|alt=Michael Jackson in a blue suit with a gold diagonal strike, and a white shirt underneath. He has white gloves, waving with his right hand. He is wearing sunglasses.|[[Michael Jackson]] (''pictured in 1984'') provided backing vocals for "Do the Bartman".]]
Bart was described as "television's king of 1990",<ref>{{cite news|title=Television in 1990&nbsp;– Among Bright Spots: 'Civil War,' CBS, 'Simpsons'|date=December 30, 1990|last=McDaniel|first=Mike|work=The Sunday Times}}</ref> "television's brightest new star",<ref>{{cite news|title=Bart Simpson Was Ray of Hope in a Year of Generally Drab Television|date=December 30, 1990|last=Boone|first=Mike|work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]]}}</ref> and an "undiminished smash".<ref name="Shirts">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114134,00.html|title=Bart Simpson–Defiant, Saw-Topped And Cheeky—the Brat Terrible Gave Underachievers a Good Name|access-date=September 18, 2008|date=December 31, 1990|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=34|issue=26|archive-date=February 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206050228/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114134,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was one of the most popular [[write-in candidate]]s in the 1990 United States [[1990 United States House of Representatives elections|congressional]], [[1990 United States Senate elections|senatorial]] and [[1990 United States gubernatorial elections|gubernatorial]] elections, second in a number of areas only to [[Mickey Mouse]] among fictional characters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Write-Ins Galore: Cast of Ballot Characters Widens|date=December 30, 1990|last=Potter|first=Bruce|work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mickey, Bart Fit Write-In At Ballot Box|date=November 9, 1990|last=Stromberg|first=Amy|work=[[Sun-Sentinel|South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-11-09/news/9002240447_1_write-in-votes-bart-simpson-election-day|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914172710/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-11-09/news/9002240447_1_write-in-votes-bart-simpson-election-day|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 1990 [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]], Bart debuted as one of the giant helium-filled balloons for which the parade is known.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bart Simpson, 'Falloon' Floats Debut at Macy's N.Y. Thanksgiving Parade|date=November 23, 1990|last=Stromberg|first=Amy|work=[[The Press of Atlantic City]]}}</ref> This was noted in ''The Simpsons'' episode "[[Bart vs. Thanksgiving]]", which aired the day of the parade, where Homer tells Bart: "If you start building a balloon for every flash-in-the-pan cartoon character, you turn the parade into a farce!". Behind and unbeknownst to Homer, the television briefly shows a Bart Simpson balloon.<ref name="Thanksgiving">{{cite episode|title=Bart Vs. Thanksgiving|episode-link=Bart vs. Thanksgiving|series=The Simpsons|credits=Meyer, George; Silverman, David|network=Fox|airdate=November 22, 1990|season=02|number=07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season2/page7.shtml|title=Bart Vs. Thanksgiving|access-date=October 30, 2008|last1=Martyn|first1=Warren|last2=Wood|first2=Adrian|year=2000|website=[[BBC News]]|archive-date=May 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525122625/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season2/page7.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The album ''[[The Simpsons Sing the Blues]]'' was recorded in September 1990 and released in December. It peaked at number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=22526&model.vnuAlbumId=378393|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301051415/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=22526&model.vnuAlbumId=378393|archive-date=March 1, 2009|title=Artist Chart History&nbsp;– ''The Simpsons''|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=October 28, 2008}}</ref> and was certified double platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Simpsons&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA Searchable Database&nbsp;– Gold and Platinum|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=November 5, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103134319/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Simpsons&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25|archive-date=November 3, 2015}}</ref> The first single from the album was the [[Hip-hop|pop rap]] song "[[Do the Bartman]]", performed by Cartwright and released on November 20, 1990. The song was written by [[Bryan Loren]], a friend of [[Michael Jackson]] (who provided backing vocals on the track).<ref name="fact">{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/07/22/the-simpsons-do-the-bartman-michael-jackson-bryan-loren/|website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|title=Michael Jackson Didn't Write 'Do The Bartman' After All|access-date=July 22, 2015|date=July 22, 2015|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723004024/http://www.factmag.com/2015/07/22/the-simpsons-do-the-bartman-michael-jackson-bryan-loren/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jackson was a fan of ''The Simpsons'' (especially Bart),{{sfn|Cartwright|2000|pp=115–117}} and had called the producers offering to write Bart a single and make a guest appearance on the show.<ref name="h963">{{cite magazine | last=Rincón | first=Alessandra | title=Matt Groening Confirms Michael Jackson Was On ''The Simpsons'': 'We Really Did Have Him' | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=August 30, 2018 | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/matt-groening-confirms-michael-jackson-was-on-the-simpsons-8472940/ | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219185055/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/matt-groening-confirms-michael-jackson-was-on-the-simpsons-8472940/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson guest-starred in the episode "[[Stark Raving Dad]]" ([[The Simpsons season 3|season three]], 1991) with the pseudonym John Jay Smith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season3/page1.shtml|title=Stark Raving Dad|access-date=October 28, 2008|last1=Martyn|first1=Warren|last2=Wood|first2=Adrian|year=2000|publisher=[[BBC]]|archive-date=June 23, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623191042/https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season3/page1.shtml}}</ref> Although "Do the Bartman" was never released as a single in the United States, it was successful in the United Kingdom; it was the number-one song from February 16 to March 9, 1991, and was the year's fifth-best-selling song.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Copsey |first1=Rob |title=Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1991 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-top-40-best-selling-songs-of-1991__33179/ |website=[[Official Charts Company]] |date=May 21, 2021|access-date=9 February 2025}}</ref> It sold half a million copies, and was certified gold by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] on February 1, 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=18135|title=Certified Awards|access-date=October 28, 2008|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525230952/http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=18135|archive-date=May 25, 2008}}</ref>

=== Cultural influence, reception, and commendations ===
Bart has been described as one of the most iconic television characters of the 1990s,<ref name="s099">{{cite web | last=Parker | first=Jake | title=The 10 Best Characters in ''The Simpsons'', Ranked | website=[[Collider.com|Collider]] | date=May 11, 2024 | url=https://collider.com/simpsons-characters-ranked/ | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=May 12, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512074814/https://collider.com/simpsons-characters-ranked/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="r815">{{cite web | last=Sargeant | first=Rebecca | title=10 Iconic TV Characters That Defined The 1990s | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=May 25, 2024 | url=https://screenrant.com/tv-show-characters-1990s-defined-iconic/ | access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name="o959">{{cite web | last=Rosenberg | first=Howard | title=Dude of the Year: Bart Simpson was TV's Bitingly Funny Anti-Hero in a Year That Saw Both Ambitious Flameouts and Eloquent Triumphs | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=December 23, 1990 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-23-ca-9707-story.html | access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref> and is considered an American [[cultural icon]].<ref name="h053">{{cite web | last=Hajek | first=Danny | title='Whoa, Mama!': A Voice Actress's Road To Fame As A 10-Year-Old Boy | publisher=[[NPR]] | date=February 28, 2015 | url=https://www.npr.org/2015/02/28/389575645/whoa-mama-a-voice-actresss-road-to-fame-as-a-10-year-old-boy | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=July 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719174100/https://www.npr.org/2015/02/28/389575645/whoa-mama-a-voice-actresss-road-to-fame-as-a-10-year-old-boy | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="j592">{{cite web | first=Susan | last=Cheng | title=Emmanuel Mauleón's Illustrations of Black Bart Simpson Ev... | website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] | date=January 23, 2014 | url=https://www.complex.com/style/a/susan-cheng/emmanuel-mauleon-black-bart-simpson-bartmania | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=August 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811041253/https://www.complex.com/style/a/susan-cheng/emmanuel-mauleon-black-bart-simpson-bartmania | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="u994">{{cite web | title=Bart's Voice Tells All | website=[[BBC News]] | date=November 10, 2000 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1017238.stm | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=July 1, 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040701164123/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1017238.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named him Entertainer of the Year, writing that "Bart has proved to be a rebel who's also a good kid, a terror who's easily terrorized, and a flake who astonishes us, and himself, with serious displays of fortitude".<ref name="k288">{{cite magazine | title=Flashback! EW's Entertainers of the Year Since 1990 | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=November 6, 2008 | url=https://ew.com/gallery/flashback-ews-entertainers-year-1990-0/ | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=June 12, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612114957/https://ew.com/gallery/flashback-ews-entertainers-year-1990-0/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' included Bart on the magazine's list of the [[Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century|100 most important people of the 20th century]], the only fictional character on the list.<ref name="j265">{{cite magazine | last=Corliss | first=Richard | title=The Cartoon Character Bart Simpson | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=June 8, 1998 | url=https://time.com/archive/6598178/the-cartoon-character-bart-simpson/ | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219211332/https://time.com/archive/6598178/the-cartoon-character-bart-simpson/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="k818">{{cite web | last=Amlen | first=Deb | title=Stock Character | website=[[The New York Times]] | url-access=subscription | date=July 24, 2020 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2020-07-24.html | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220024840/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2020-07-24.html | url-status=live }}</ref> He had appeared previously on the cover of ''Time''{{'s}} December 31, 1990, issue.<ref name="a643">{{cite magazine | title=Time Magazine Cover: Bart Simpson | date=December 31, 1990 | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | url=https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19901231,00.html | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220012034/https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19901231,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, Bart was named 48th on [[TV Guide]]'s list of "50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Beyond Our 50 Greatest Stars|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|date=1997|volume=45|page=44}}</ref> In 2002, he and Lisa were ranked eleventh on TV Guide's "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/|title=TV Guide's 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time|date=July 30, 2002|access-date=December 19, 2024|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208160659/https://edition.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/|archive-date=February 8, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022, ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' writers ranked Bart the 26th-greatest cartoon character of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-50-best-cartoon-characters-of-all-time/#26-bart-simpson-the-simpsons | title=The 50 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time | first1= Joseph |last1=Stanichar | first2=Josh |last2=Jackson | website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | date=May 10, 2010 | access-date=April 4, 2022 | archive-date=April 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404051515/https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-50-best-cartoon-characters-of-all-time/#26-bart-simpson-the-simpsons | url-status=dead }}</ref>

From entertainment critics, Bart has received mostly positive reviews. ''[[Screen Rant]]''{{'}}s Dan Peeke praised him as the "best main character" in 2020, calling him "relatable" and saying that "everyone can relate to at least some element of his personality".<ref name="z099"/> In a 2024 review, Darryn King of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' called Bart a "back-talking, trouble-making, prank-calling, cherry-bomb-detonating, and, yes, graffiti-tagging cartoon creation, who was at the time fast becoming a cultural icon".<ref name="z107">{{cite web | last=King | first=Darryn | title=What the Hell Was Bartmania? | website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]] | date=December 17, 2024 | url=https://www.vulture.com/article/the-simpsons-bartmania-bart-simpson-matt-groening-interview.html | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 17, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217235638/https://www.vulture.com/article/the-simpsons-bartmania-bart-simpson-matt-groening-interview.html | url-status=live }}</ref> A 2023 ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' review said that the episode "[[Bart Gets an 'F']]" was a "turning point for the show, showing that Bart could be more than just a punchline while paving the way for future episodes that fleshed out his character".<ref name="c631">{{cite web | last=Williamson | first=Samuel | title=''The Simpsons'' Episode That Changed Bart Forever | website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] | date=November 12, 2023 | url=https://collider.com/the-simpsons-bart-gets-an-f/ | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 8, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208085915/https://collider.com/the-simpsons-bart-gets-an-f/ | url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Erma Bombeck]], "Kids need to know that somewhere in this world is a contemporary who can pull off all the things they can only fantasize about, someone who can stick it to their parents once in a while and still be permitted to live".<ref name="u725">{{cite web | last=Bombeck | first=Erma | author-link=Erma Bombeck | title=Children's TV role models stand tall | website=[[Deseret News]] | date=May 27, 1990 | url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/5/27/18864113/children-s-tv-role-models-stand-tall-warts-and-all/ | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219210419/https://www.deseret.com/1990/5/27/18864113/children-s-tv-role-models-stand-tall-warts-and-all/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2003, a survey of parents in the United Kingdom ranked Bart the most influential fictional character for children under age twelve.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_2972000/2972291.stm|title=Bart Simpson Is Your Top Role Model|date=April 24, 2003|access-date=October 28, 2008|work=[[CBBC Newsround]]|archive-date=November 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108013700/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/uk/newsid_2972000/2972291.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:The Simpsons star.jpg|thumb|alt=A red star with a small medal inside of it and text that reads THE SIMPSONS.|''The Simpsons'' has been awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].]]
Cartwright has received a number of awards for her performance. At the [[44th Primetime Emmy Awards]] in 1992, she received a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] for her portrayal of Bart in the season-three episode "Separate Vocations", sharing the award with five other voice actors from ''The Simpsons''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Briefing–'Simpsons' Score Big in Prime-Time Emmys|date=August 3, 1992|page=L20|work=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]}}</ref> Episodes featuring Bart have been nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program]], including "[[Radio Bart]]" in 1992,<ref name="m526">{{cite web | last=Sherlock | first=Ben | title=''The Simpsons'': Every Emmy-Nominated Episode, Ranked | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520155519/https://screenrant.com/simpsons-every-emmy-nominated-episode-ranked-animated-series/ | url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-every-emmy-nominated-episode-ranked-animated-series/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> "[[Future-Drama]]" in 2005,{{sfn|Gitlin|2013|p=105}} and "[[Homer's Phobia]]" in 1997.{{sfn|Gitlin|2013|p=104}} Cartwright received an [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production|Annie Award for Voice Acting in the Field of Animation]] in 1995 for her work as Bart.<ref name="s173">{{cite web | title=Nancy Cartwright - ''The Simpsons'' | publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] | url=https://www.fox.com/the-simpsons/credits/nancy-cartwright-bartholomew-jo-jo-bart-simpson/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> In 2000, Bart and the rest of the Simpson family were recognized with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.{{sfn|Waltonen|Du Vernay|2014|p=11}}<ref name="m113">{{cite web | title=Matt Groening | publisher=[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] | date=October 25, 2019 | url=https://walkoffame.com/matt-groening/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref>

=== Negative influence on children ===
Bart's rebellious nature, often accompanied by a lack of consequences for his actions, led some parents, educators, and conservative groups to view him as a negative influence on children.{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=131}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252856.stm|title=Is ''The Simpsons'' Still Subversive?|access-date=August 6, 2007|date=June 29, 2007|last=Rosenbaum|first=Martin|website=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825051633/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252856.stm|archive-date=August 25, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics said that Bart's behavior made him a poor role model, with Robert Bianco of the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' describing him as a character who "outwits his parents and outtalks his teachers; in short, he's the child we wish we'd been, and fear our children will become".<ref>{{cite news|title=Weekend TV: Beer'N' Bart Giving Parents Prime-Time Hangover|date=June 28, 1990|last=Bianco|first=Robert|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref> Educators expressed concern that Bart's "underachiever and proud of it" attitude and disdain for education posed a "threat to learning",<ref name="BartaBrat">{{cite news|title=Is Bart a Brat? Popular Cartoon Kid as Annoying to Some as He Is Funny to Others|date=June 2, 1990|last=Freedman|first=Donna|work=[[Anchorage Daily News]]}}</ref> and others called him "egotistical, aggressive, and mean-spirited".<ref name="CoolDude">{{cite news|title=Bart Simpson: Cool Dude or Smart-Aleck Menace?|date=June 1, 1990|last=Dunne|first=Mike|work=[[The Sacramento Bee]]}}</ref> In response to criticism, producer James L. Brooks defended the character: "I'm very wary of television where everybody is supposed to be a role model. You don't run across that many role models in real life. Why should television be full of them?"<ref name="w387">{{cite news | last=Shales | first=Tom | title=''The Simpsons'' | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | date=October 11, 1990 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/10/11/the-simpsons/4b6c0919-b26f-47a3-946b-1046f47fcfcf/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref>

U.S. [[drug czar]] William Bennett visited a Pittsburgh drug treatment center in 1990 and saw a poster of Bart. Bennett said, "You guys aren't watching ''The Simpsons'', are you? That's not going to help you any".<ref name="f165">{{cite web | title="You guys aren't watching ''The Simpsons'', are... | website=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=May 29, 1990 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/05/29/you-guys-arent-watching-the-simpsons-are/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name="q047">{{cite web | title=Names in the News: Drug Czar Snipes at 'Simpsons' | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | url-access=subscription | date=May 17, 1990 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-17-vw-611-story.html | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> Bennett later apologized, saying that he was "just kidding": "I'll sit down with the little spike head. We'll straighten this thing out."<ref name="f175">{{cite web | title='Just kidding' About Bart, Drug Czar Bennett Says | website=[[Orlando Sentinel]] | url-access=subscription | date=May 27, 1990 | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/05/27/just-kidding-about-bart-drug-czar-bennett-says/ | access-date=December 19, 2024 | archive-date=September 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907053108/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/05/27/just-kidding-about-bart-drug-czar-bennett-says/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="j510">{{cite web | title=Drug Czar Says He'd Like to Have a Talk with Bart Simpson | website=[[The Morning Call]] | date=May 26, 1990 | url=https://www.mcall.com/1990/05/26/drug-czar-says-hed-like-to-have-a-talk-with-bart-simpson/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> [[Bill Cosby]] called Bart a poor role model in a 1991 interview,  describing him as "angry, confused, [and] frustrated".<ref name="Nowayman">{{cite news|title=Bart Simpson a Role Model? No Way, Man, Groening Says|first1=Marilyn|last1=Beck|first2=Jenel Smith|last2=Stacy|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]]|date=September 23, 1991|page=F02}}</ref> Groening responded, "That sums up Bart, all right. Most people are in a struggle to be normal. He thinks normal is very boring and does things that others just wished they dare do".<ref name="Nowayman"/> U.S. president [[George H. W. Bush]] said in 1992, "We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, to make American families a lot more like [[the Waltons]] and a lot less like the Simpsons".{{sfn|Anderson|2024|p=209}} The show's writers then produced a short segment that aired three days later (before a rerun of "[[Stark Raving Dad]]"), in which Bart says: "Hey, we're just like the Waltons. We're praying for an end to the Depression, too."<ref name="z432">{{cite magazine | last=Snierson | first=Dan | title=Read the Apology Letter Barbara Bush Once Wrote to Marge Simpson | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=April 18, 2018 | url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/04/18/the-simpsons-barbara-bush-apology-letter-to-marge/ | access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name="s787"/>

=== Merchandising ===
In addition to T-shirts, Bart has been featured in a variety of ''The Simpsons''-related merchandise which includes  dolls, napkins, [[air freshener]]s, cups, chewing gum, beach towels, sleeping bags, snow boots, rubber [[sponge ball]]s, license-plate frames, [[scratch paper]], laminated magnets, and handheld [[pinball game]]s.<ref name="Kleinfield" /> Two [[List of The Simpsons books|books]] have been published about the character: ''[[Bart Simpson's Guide to Life]]'' (1993) and ''The Bart Book'' (2004, both primarily by Groening).{{sfn|Groening|2004|p=cover}}{{sfn|Groening|1996|p=cover}} ''[[The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer]]'' (2001) contains a chapter analyzing Bart's character and comparing him to the "[[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzschean]] ideal".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/weekinreview/word-for-word-deconstructing-simpsons-aristotelian-logic-bart-homer-it-platonic.html|title=The Aristotelian Logic of Bart And Homer|access-date=October 29, 2008|date=September 9, 2001|last=Blair|first=Jayson|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=subscription|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108030441/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/weekinreview/word-for-word-deconstructing-simpsons-aristotelian-logic-bart-homer-it-platonic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bart has appeared in media related to ''The Simpsons''. He is featured in most of [[List of The Simpsons video games|''The Simpsons'' video games]], such as ''[[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World|Bart vs. the World]]'' (1991),{{sfn|Scullion|2019|p=166}} ''[[Bart Simpson's Escape from Camp Deadly]]'' (1991),{{sfn|Scullion|2024|p=22}} ''[[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants|Bart vs. the Space Mutants]]'' (1991),<ref name=Kesten>{{cite news|last=Kesten|first=Lou|title=''The Simpsons: Bart Vs. The Space Mutants''|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313917,00.html|accessdate=December 20, 2024|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 21, 1991|archive-date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021214439/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313917,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness|Bart's House of Weirdness]]'' (1992),<ref name="p369">{{cite web | title=''The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness'' | website=[[IGN]] | date=July 22, 2022 | url=https://www.ign.com/games/the-simpsons-barts-house-of-weirdness | access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref> and ''[[The Simpsons Game]]'' (2007).<ref name="x990">{{cite web | last=Stedman | first=Alex | title=EA Will Be Sunsetting ''The Simpsons'': Tapped Out After 12 Years | website=[[IGN]] | date=September 26, 2024 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-will-be-sunsetting-the-simpsons-tapped-out-after-12-years | access-date=December 20, 2024 | archive-date=November 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120083305/https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-will-be-sunsetting-the-simpsons-tapped-out-after-12-years | url-status=live }}</ref>{{NoteTag|See the [[List of The Simpsons video games|List of ''The Simpsons'' video games]].}} Bart was a recurring character in the [[Bongo Comics]]-distributed ''[[Simpsons Comics]]'', which debuted in November 1993 and was published until October 2018.{{sfn|Fink|2019|p=146}}<ref name="msnbc">{{cite web|url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/features/simpsons_sundays/simpsons_on_sundays.asp |title=Sundays with ''The Simpsons''|access-date=December 20, 2024|last=Shutt|first=Craig|publisher=[[MSNBC]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070708094751/http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/features/simpsons_sundays/simpsons_on_sundays.asp |archive-date = July 8, 2007}}</ref> He headlined [[List of The Simpsons comics#Bart Simpson|his eponymous comic-book series]], which was distributed by Bongo Comics from 2000 to 2016.<ref name="msnbc"/><ref name="gazette">{{cite news|title=Groening Launches Futurama Comics|work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]|date=November 19, 2000|last=Radford|first=Bill}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In Stores 2-24-16|date=February 22, 2016|access-date=December 20, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324034636/https://www.bongocomics.com/blog/02/22/2016/in-stores-2-24-16-0|publisher=[[Bongo Comics]]|url=https://www.bongocomics.com/blog/02/22/2016/in-stores-2-24-16-0}}</ref> Bart plays a role in [[The Simpsons Ride|''The Simpsons'' Ride]], a [[simulator ride|motion-simulator ride]]{{sfn|Sehlinger|2009|p=208}} launched in 2008 at [[Universal Studios Florida]] and [[Universal Studios Hollywood]].{{sfn|Waltonen|Du Vernay|2019|p=12}} On December 9, 2024, ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' hosted an [[The Simpsons Funday Football|animated ''Simpsons'' version]] of the [[2024 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]-[[2024 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] game which paralleled the events on the field.<ref name="r960">{{cite news | last=Bieler | first=Des | title=Cowboys, Bengals to enter 'Simpsons' universe in alternate 'MNF' telecast | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | date=December 9, 2024 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/12/09/monday-night-football-simpsons-broadcast/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209164246/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/12/09/monday-night-football-simpsons-broadcast/ | archive-date=December 9, 2024 | url-status=live | url-access=subscription | access-date=December 21, 2024}}</ref>

Bart and other ''Simpsons'' characters appeared in television commercials for [[Nestlé]]'s [[Butterfinger]] candy bars from 1988 to 2001, using the slogan "Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger!".<ref name="h181">{{cite web | last=Schultz. | first=E.J. | title=Rewind: Butterfinger at 90 | website=[[Ad Age]] | url-access=subscription | date=January 7, 2013 | url=https://adage.com/article/news/rewind-butterfinger-90/239030 | access-date=December 20, 2024 | archive-date=December 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219235658/https://adage.com/article/news/rewind-butterfinger-90/239030 | url-status=live }}</ref> Groening later noted that the success of the Butterfinger commercials played a significant role in Fox's decision to greenlight the half-hour series.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Portrait of the Bartist&nbsp;– ''The Simpsons'' Matt Groening Has Fulfilled His Dream of Invading Mainstream U.S. Pop Culture|date=May 13, 1995|work=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref> Bart has also appeared in commercials for the fast-food [[Burger King advertising|Burger King]] chain.<ref name="h709">{{cite web | agency=[[Associated Press]] | first=Gail | last=Schiller | title=''Simpsons'' Fans Have it Their Way | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=July 20, 2007 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/simpsons-fans-have-way-144210/ | access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref> In 2001, [[Kellogg's]] introduced the limited-edition Bart Simpson Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch cereal.<ref name="x608">{{cite web | last=Collins | first=Tim | title=Bernie Sanders Coming To Battle Creek To Support Striking Kellogg Employees | publisher=[[WBCK-FM]] | date=December 15, 2021 | url=https://wbckfm.com/bernie-sanders-coming-to-battle-creek-to-support-striking-kellogg-employees/ | access-date=December 20, 2024 | archive-date=May 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508235638/https://wbckfm.com/bernie-sanders-coming-to-battle-creek-to-support-striking-kellogg-employees/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Groening pitched Bart as a spokesperson for Jell-O before the launch of the half-hour series, suggesting a commercial in which Bart would sing "J-E-L-L-O" and burp the letter "O". He believed that kids would try to mimic it, but the idea was rejected.<ref>{{cite news|last=Groening|first=Matt|year=2001a|title=Commentary for "[[There's No Disgrace Like Home]]", In ''The Simpsons: The Complete First Season''|publisher=[[20th Century Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> On April 9, 2009, the [[United States Postal Service]] introduced a series of five 44-cent stamps commemorating Bart and the other members of the Simpson family. The stamps were the first since ''[[Sesame Street]]'' which were issued while their show was still in production. Designed by Groening, they became available for purchase on May 7, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifcc0b6f995bc3974307adf134bb3a5a5 |title=Postal Service Launching 'Simpsons' Stamps |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2009 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |last=Szalai|first=George |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404084132/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifcc0b6f995bc3974307adf134bb3a5a5 |archive-date=April 4, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_048.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=SimpsonsStandingOvation |title=''The Simpsons'' Get 'Stamping Ovation' To Tune of 1 Billion Stamps |date=May 7, 2009 |publisher=[[United States Postal Service]] |access-date=May 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606080140/http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_048.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=SimpsonsStandingOvation |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}</ref>