Bart accidentally sprays epoxy in Milhouse's hair — and the resulting haircut makes Milhouse look like his father, prompting Bart and Lisa to dress Milhouse like an adult so they can do things that require parental supervision. Meanwhile, Marge tries to wean Maggie off an educational DVD series that was pulled for stunting developmental growth in younger children and Homer becomes incredibly skilled at "find-the-hidden-object" picture puzzle books.
This episode contains examples of (YMMV tropes can be found here):
- Bait-and-Switch: It appears that a woman is reading a children's story at the library as part of an event, but then she gets detained by a security guard, who points out that she doesn't work there.
- Bland-Name Product: "Baby Pointdexter" is a parody of famous baby educational video franchise "Baby Einstein"
- Casting Gag: The episode revolves around Milhouse (voiced by Pamela Hayden) sounding indistinguishable from his dad Kirk (voiced by Hank Azaria) when Bart pulls his tie too tight; whenever Milhouse's tie is tightened, Hank Azaria voices Milhouse. When the tie is pulled another notch, Milhouse sounds like (and imitates the speaking style of) Duffman, another of Azaria's characters, whose voice is a deeper version of Kirk's.
- Extreme Doormat: All it takes is the assumed adult authority of Kirk, the show's greatest Straw Loser, for Milhouse (and Bart, via Milhouse) to be able to effortlessly order Homer around.Lisa: Dad, why are you kowtowing to Mr. Van Houten?Homer: Sometimes it's just so nice to have a man take charge.
- Karma Houdini: Skinner and Chalmers coerce "Kirk" into voting their way and aren't seen receiving any sort of punishment for it, unless you consider all the hell they constantly go through from Bart punishment as is along with Skinner's mother in general for the former.
- Kids Driving Cars: One of the first things Milhouse does while impersonating Kirk is to rent out a truck and drive it. He then crashes it, which doesn't deter him from renting another one.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: The episode ends with a nice father-son moment between Kirk and Milhouse—or would if it weren't for Bart leveling his typical snark at Homer instead of following suit, causing Homer to strangle him while exclaiming, "That's not a heartwarming thing to end on!"
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Marge quickly recognizes Milhouse through his disguise because she can see the marks where his hair was shaved; something Kirk doesn't have. Homer is fooled and thinks "Kirk" knows a way to grow hair.
- Robosexual: Professor Frink is married to a fembot.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Just how much alike are Milhouse and his dad? When, after Bart shaves Milhouse bald to get epoxy out of his hair, circumstances allow him to do a Voice Changeling impression of Kirk and he proceeds to wear stilts under one of Kirk's suits, everyone is fooled, even Luann.
