"The Telltale Head" is the eighth episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 25, 1990. It was written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon and Matt Groening, and directed by Rich Moore. In the episode, Bart cuts the head off the statue of Jebediah Springfield in the center of town to impress Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, three older kids he admires. The town's residents, including the three boys, are horrified and Bart regrets his actions. After telling Lisa and Marge, Homer and Bart head to the center of town, where they are met by an angry mob. After Bart tells the mob that he has made a mistake, the townspeople forgive Bart and the boy places the head back on the statue. The episode's title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. Plot On Monday night, Homer and Bart are chased through the streets of Springfield by an angry mob while carrying the head of the statue of their town founder, Jebediah Springfield. Surrounded by the mob, Bart begins to explain the events of the previous day. After going to church with his family, Bart is forbidden by Marge to see the violent movie Space Mutants 4. Later on, he runs into three of Springfield's bullies: Jimbo Jones, Kearney Zzyzwicz, and Dolph Starbeam, who invite Bart to sneak into the movie theater to watch Space Mutants 4. After being thrown out of the theater by the manager, the gang shoplifts from the Kwik-E-Mart, owned by store clerk Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, throw rocks at the Jebediah Springfield statue and watch clouds. Bart remarks that one cloud resembles the statue, but without a head. His new friends remark that they wish someone would decapitate the statue, saying it would be funny to see the town upset over it. When Bart disagrees, the bullies make fun of him. Bart is conflicted and asks Homer whether it is okay to compromise one's beliefs to be popular. Homer tells Bart that popularity is the most important thing in the world, as long as it does not involve killing someone. That night, Bart sneaks out of the house and decapitates the statue. The town is shaken by the crime, which causes Bart to feel guilty about his action. The act also does not make