Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood (S05, E08-089)

Remember: cartoons don't have to be 100% realistic.

Plot Summary
Kicked out of the arcade for having no money, Bart and Milhouse are fortunately when a $20 bill glides gently in front of them.  Instead of using the money sensibly, the boys use it at the Kwik-E-Mart, requesting Apu prepare a Super Squishee, containing only the syrup, much to everyone's astonishment.  The boys take a sip of the thick concoction, and immediately experience a sugar high unlike any other.  They go on a Broadway-themed spree, doing quite a few things along the way.  The next morning, Bart wakes up having remembered none of it, but is stunned to see himself in a Junior Camper uniform, having joined the group during his sugar high.

Although Bart is initially determine to take back his uniform at the end of the school day, he learns that the Campers are excused for a meeting, just in time to avoid a test.  Bart takes his chances and attends the meeting, led by Ned Flanders, but a combination of having to bathe old man Jasper and being given CPR after passing out from seeing naked old man Jasper, Bart's ready to give up.  Until he hears the campers get pocket knives.  Upon learning that he needs to pass a safety test to get one, Bart's ready to give up.  Until he sees the various uses of knives in everyday life, like using it to perform emergency appendectomies.  Homer finally picks up that Bart's a camper, and mocks him for it.  Bart does pass the test, but it turns out the pocket knife is made of rubber, then Bart's ready to give up again.  Until he learns how to trap animals.  Using that and similar knowledge, Bart builds a few traps to ensnare Homer, and becomes fully engaged with the campers.

One day, though, Flanders announces the campers will be having a father-son river rafting trip, with Ernest Borgnine as a celebrity dad for one of the kids.  Bart is less than thrilled with the prospects of bringing Homer along.  Still, Bart asks under the impression Homer will say "no".  Homer gets his signals mixed up with his brain, and unwittingly agrees to go.  On the trip, Homer is forced to share a raft with Flanders and his son Rod, and soon enough Homer loses the map - and his Krusty Burger location map is of no help -  leaving Flanders to take a wrong turn at a pass, heading into a current that spills into the ocean.  Just as well - Borgnine leads everyone else into the correct route, but its a creepy route with stalkers, bears, and an abandoned summer camp with a mysterious figure lurking the premises.

Homer's brashness and poor survival skills leave the four in dire straights faster than usual, though its not known how long they've become stranded.  With the end nearing, Homer decides to give Bart his present now: an actual pocket knife (that Homer stole from Borgnine), which Homer promptly drops, eventually popping a hole into the raft.  Just then, Homer and the rest smell hamburgers, thanks to an odd Krusty Burger location at an abandoned oil rig.  Homer's nose is able to navigate the group through some fog, and they are able to reach the location before the raft sinks and the oil rig location closes down because nobody would normally go to a Krusty Burger at an abandoned oil rig.  Homer saves the day, and Bart couldn't be prouder.

Quick Review
This ended up being a strong episode overall.  I'm not normally against musical numbers in episodes, especially if the lyrics are written well, but I wasn't of fan of the New York, New York themed song about Springfield that Bart and Milhouse sing while on their sugar high.  Otherwise, there were plenty of good jokes and laughs to be had, and it more than made up for the musical number.

Final Score: 8.6