The Simpsons S22E07 How Munched is That Birdie in the Window

When a pigeon flies through the Simpsons' home and suffers a broken wing, Bart makes it his duty to care for the bird - whom he names Ray - and nurse it back to health. When Ray is ready to fly, Homer decides to enter him in a bird race when Danica Patrick appears to him in a dream. Things don't go according to plan, however, when Santa's Little Helper swallows Ray. Worried that Bart needs some help getting over the loss, Marge and Homer take him to a therapy session with Dr. Thurston, who advises that the only cure for Bart's blues is to give away the family dog. But when the Simpsons visit the pup's new home, a shock causes them to rethink their decision. Blackboard: ' "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is as good as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" '.

FAN DESK VERDICT A top-shelf entry. Not quite canon, but you’ll be quoting it all week — the fan desk says don’t skip.

Dan Castellaneta AS HOMER SIMPSON Julie Kavner AS MARGE SIMPSON Yeardley Smith AS LISA SIMPSON Nancy Cartwright AS BART SIMPSON Hank Azaria AS MOE SZYSLAK Harry Shearer AS CHARLES MONTGOMERY BURNS