Hollywood producers choose Springfield as the location for their big-budget feature film, Radioactive Man, based on the popular comic book series, with Rainier Wolfcastle, star of the popular McBain films, in the title role. They hold local auditions for Radioactive Man's trusted sidekick, Fallout Boy. Bart gives a brilliant reading, but loses the part to Milhouse because he is too short.

As film production begins, city officials and local retailers greet the production crew with outrageously expensive permit fees and overpriced merchandise. Milhouse runs away when the pressure of publicity and demands on him escalate. A manhunt is organized.

Bart finds Milhouse hiding in his treehouse. Milhouse insists that stardom is hollow and meaningless. Despite Mickey Rooney's attempts to convince him to return to the film, Milhouse refuses to go back to work. Without their co-star, and already overbudget, the production company shuts down.