The Burns and the Bees

"The Burns and the Bees" is the eighth episode of Season 20.
==Synopsis==
When Mr. Burns wins a professional basketball team in a poker game, he plans to build a new sports arena in Springfield for them - on the site where Lisa is trying to keep Springfield's bee population from becoming extinct, and Homer tries to solve the problem by mating the bees - with "killer" Africanized bees (Aka African Honey Bees).
== Full Story ==
Mr. Burns wins a basketball franchise the Austin Celtics (which he renames the Springfield Excitement) in a poker game from the Rich Texan at Billionaire Camp. However, he fails to keep the spectators after an incident where he, under the mistaken belief that the mascot of the team was a live gorilla instead of a man dressed as one, shot the mascot and killed him. Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney dare Bart to prank the second graders by hitting a beehive with his slingshot. Meanwhile, Lisa discovers that bees all over the world are dying of bee measles ("beesles"). Lisa starts a colony of healthy bees, and gets a sanctuary for them. However, Mr. Burns builds a basketball stadium on the reserve. Homer then rebuilds a new bee colony from African bees. However, the new bees are attracted to the stadium, which looks like a beehive. Burns opens the stadium's retractable roof, causing the bees to enter the arena and attack everyone inside. In the last scene, Burns returns to Billionaire Camp, but learns he is four million dollars short of a billion dollars, so he is kicked out and sent to the Millionaires' camp.
==Broadcast History==
===United States===
Broadcast date(s)	Channel aired
*December 7, 2008
*January 18, 2009
*April 5, 2009	
*December 26, 2020	
==Behind the Laughter==
===Production===
Billionaires Mark Cuban and Jeff Bezos and sportscaster Marv Albert guest star as themselves. The episode marks a second use of the Christmas-themed opening, first seen in "Kill Gil: Vols. 1 & 2".
===Opening Sequence===
A Christmas-themed opening sequence was animated for this episode and was later re-aired with "The Burns and the Bees". Not counting the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, this is the second time that the title sequence is radically different from the norm.
It begins with two lines of instrumental "O Christmas Tree" and then the normal theme music begins. This version is similar to the normal version, except for several key differences:
#Everything outside is covered with snow.
#Bart's skateboard has been replaced with a snowboard.
#Everyone is wearing winter clothes.
#Mr. Burns and Smithers have been replaced by a Scrooge-esque Burns and Ghost of Marley-esque Smithers, and there are several Christmas banners in the plant.
#Lisa's saxophone solo is a jazzy version of "Deck the Halls".
#Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is now deceased, has been replaced with Jasper in a Santa costume. Maude Flanders, however, remains in the pan across Springfield, despite having also passed away.
In the end, the family sits on the couch and the camera then pulls out to reveal that the family was reflected in a Christmas ornament, which rests on a Christmas tree.
TownSwoopChristmas.png
SchoolChristmas.png
BartFlyingChristmas.png
BartSnowboard.png
HomerWorkChristmas.png
LisaOpeningChristmas.png
LargoDismissalXMas.png
LisaLeavesChristmas.png
HomerDriveXmas.png
BartSwoopsXmas.png
HomerGarageX-mas.png
HomerRunningChristmas.png
Simpsons Opening Couch Gag Season 20 (Christmas Version).jpg
===Reception===
IGN gave the episode 7/10 and said that, with an episode like this, "I just don't laugh as much as I would have liked."
fr:Burns est piqué
pl:The Burns and the Bees
pt:Queimaduras e Abelhas
Category:Lisa & Mr. Burns Episode
Category:Mr. Burns Episodes
Category:Lisa episodes
Category:WGA Award nominated episodes
Category:Environment-themed episodes
Category:Episodes named after a character
Category:Animal-themed Episodes
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Professor Frink Episodes
Category:Episodes named after Mr. Burns
Category:Episodes where Bumblebee Man speaks English
Category:Principal Skinner episodes
Category:Lisa seeks understanding episodes
Category:Christmas Episodes
Category:History
Category:Film Roman
Category:Nature episodes
Category:Smithers Episodes