Bart the Lover her role in the episode. She was one of six voice-actors from "The Simpsons" to win the award that year. She is one of three guest stars on the show to win the award. The other two are Jackie Mason, who shared the award in 1992, and Kelsey Grammer who won in 2006 for voicing Sideshow Bob. Since airing, the episode has received positive reviews from television critics. It was named the eighth best episode of "The Simpsons" by Sarah Culp of "The Quindecim". Bill Gibron of DVD Verdict said "Bart the Lover" represent "The Simpsons" "at its apex as
Media in The Simpsons his negative characteristics and silliness are prominently highlighted. By the close of the episode, Grimes, a hard working and persevering "real American hero," is relegated to the role of antagonist; it is intended that the viewer be pleased that Homer has emerged victorious. The episode "Behind the Laughter" is also largely self-referential. A series of T-shirts are shown sporting a number of Bart Simpson catchphrases: "You bet your sweet bippy, man." "Life begins at conception, man." These are parodies of both officially licensed and bootleg "Simpsons"-themed T-shirts in the early days of the series, usually revolving around Bart. The famous