The Simpsons: Season 5 (1993-1994)
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Season Info
It's a season of extraordinary accomplishments for Homer, who spends the premiere telling his children about his time in a barbershop quartet whose popularity briefly reached Beatlesesque heights (George Harrison even makes a cameo as himself). By the season's end, he's teaching an adult-education class on how to have a successful marriage?and, of course, his teaching style causes a fight with Marge that nearly leads to their divorce. In between, he embarks on a space mission with Buzz Aldrin,
Network: FOX
Cast
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Episodes
Homer's Barbershop Quartet
The Simpson family decides to sell off a few old things at a swap meet, and while looking through the merchandise Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) discover a used LP by a group called the Be Sharps, which features a vocalist who looks like Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta). It turns out the singer really is Homer, and he tells the kids about his short-lived career in music. In 1985, barbershop quartets were enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Springfield, and Homer, Principal Skinner (voice of Harry Shearer), Apu (voice of Hank Azaria), and Chief Wiggum (also voiced by Azaria) put together a group they call the Be Sharps. After playing a show at Moe's Tavern, Nigel (also voiced by Shearer), a British talent scout, approaches the group and tells them he can make them stars if they're willing to get rid of Wiggum. Barney Gumble (also voiced by Castellaneta), who has a lovely tenor voice when he isn't drunk to the point of collapse, joins the group, and seemingly overnight, the Be Sharps are earning gold records, playing sold out shows, and winning Grammy awards. But fame takes its toll on the group, especially after Barney's conceptual artist girlfriend begins sticking her nose into the act, and the Be Sharps call it quits after their five-and-a-half weeks of stardom. "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" features guest appearances by George Harrison and David Crosby during the Grammy Awards sequence; Harrison was the second surviving Beatle to appear on The Simpsons when this episode first aired on September 30, 1993.
Cape Feare
Former highbrow children's entertainer and failed criminal genius Sideshow Bob (voice of Kelsey Grammer) has once again won parole, and decides to get revenge against the person who twice put him behind bars: Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright). While Bob convinces the authorities that he means no harm to his young nemesis (explaining that his "Die, Bart, Die" tattoo is actually a German expression, "The, Bart, The"), it doesn't take long for Bart to figure out that Bob is the man who's been sending him threatening letters written in blood. After Bob begins stalking Bart and his family, the FBI enrolls the Simpsons in the Witness Relocation Program; renamed the "Thompsons," Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) move the kids to a houseboat in the riverfront community of Cape Feare. However, Bob manages to hitch a ride on the underside of the family car, and soon Bob is battling Bart "Thompson" mano a mano as the family's home floats down the river. "Cape Feare" first aired on October 7, 1993.
Homer Goes to College
A team of inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission make an unannounced visit at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and several employees are tested to see how they would deal with an emergency. Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) proves to astoundingly inept, bringing the test's phony plant to the point of a meltdown, and Homer is ordered to return to school and pass a course in Nuclear Physics before he can return to his job. Homer enrolls in Springfield University after Mr. Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) intercedes on his behalf, but true to form, Homer's notion of academia seem to be informed more clearly by bad 1980s college comedies rather than the pursuit of higher learning. With his grades going steadily downhill, Homer is introduced to three science students who will be his tutors, Doug (voice of Hank Azaria), Gary (voice of Dan Castellaneta), and Ben (voice of Harry Shearer). Homer is more interested in teaching his nerdy new friends the fine art of partying rather than doing schoolwork, and after Homer talks them into stealing the mascot of crosstown rivals Springfield A&M, Doug, Gary, and Ben are kicked out of school. "Homer Goes to College" was first aired on October 14, 1993.
Rosebud
Elderly nuclear power magnate C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) is celebrating his birthday, but while his loyal assistant, Waylon Smithers (also voiced by Shearer), stages a very special party, complete with international dignitaries and an appearance by the Ramones, Burns is still unhappy. Lately, Burns has been pining for the teddy bear he had as a child, Bobo, and he won't be happy until he can recover the toy. Smithers is put on the project, but the bear soon turns up in a very unlikely place -- in a bag of ice purchased by Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castallaneta). Homer gives the teddy bear to his baby daughter, Maggie, and when Homer learns that there's a very valuable old teddy bear in his home, he discovers that Maggie doesn't want to give up her new teddy. Burns offers Homer a large sum of money for the bear, but Homer is forced to turn it down when Maggie refuses to give up the bear; angry, Burns then tries to force Homer to give up the bear by cutting off his supplies of beer and television, and eventually Burns and Smithers plan an elaborate plot to steal the bear. "Rosebud" first aired on April 18, 1993.
Treehouse of Horror IV
When Homer announces he would sell his soul for a donut, the Devil, disguised as Ned Flanders, shows up to take him up on the offer. While riding to school, Bart believes he sees a malevolent gremlin on the side of the bus. And Mr. Burns is Dracula, in a spoof of Francis Ford Coppola's vampire film.
Marge on the Lam
Marge Simpson (voice of Julie Kavner) feels an understandable need to bring some more culture into her life, and gets tickets for a ballet performance to be held in Springfield. Her husband, Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta), who has somehow gotten the idea that ballet involves bears driving golf carts, tells Marge he'd be happy to join her, but when he gets his arm stuck in a pop machine, Marge needs to find someone to go to the ballet with her at the last minute. Ruth Powers (voice of Pamela Reed), a divorced single mother new to the neighborhood, agrees to tag along with Marge, and the two have a great time. Marge and Ruth agree to have another "girls' night out" soon, and one night Ruth rolls up ready to party behind the wheel of a 1966 Thunderbird. However, it's not until well into the evening that Marge discovers the car was stolen by Ruth from her former husband, and after a run-in with Police Chief Wiggum (voice of Hank Azaria), Marge finds herself on the wrong side of the law; while Ruth isn't scared of potential danger, Marge is terrified -- and Homer will do nearly anything to get her back to safety. "Marge on the Lam" first aired on November 4, 1993.
Bart's Inner Child
When Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) brings home a trampoline and most of the neighborhood children quickly proceed to injure themselves on it, Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) once again finds herself enraged with her husband, and she's afraid the tension is taking a toll on their relationship. At the advice of her sisters, Patty and Selma (both voiced by Kavner), Marge gets a videotape by self-help guru Brad Goodman (voice of Albert Brooks), and soon Homer and Marge are both spouting his self-help psychobabble. When Goodman makes a personal appearance in Springfield, Marge insists the entire family attend, and after a predictable outburst from Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright), Goodman tells the crowd that Bart represents the free and uninhibited inner child we need to find within ourselves, and tells the city they should strive to be like Bart. Practically overnight, Bart becomes a role model, but he soon finds it's not much fun being a rebel with nothing to rebel against, while the rest of the town comes to realize there's a downside to following Bart's example. "Bart's Inner Child" first aired on November 11, 1993; soul legend James Brown makes a guest appearance as the star attraction at Springfield's first-ever "Do What You Feel Festival."
Boy Scoutz N the Hood
Bart joins the Junior Campers, which isn't all bad until he goes on a rafting trip that includes Flanders and "celebrity dad" Ernest Borgnine. Other voices: Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria, Pamela Hayden.
The Last Temptation of Homer
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) learns that he'll be having a new co-worker at the Nuclear Power Plant, but he's more than a bit surprised by who it turns out to be -- Mindy Simmons (voice of Michelle Pfeiffer), a very sexy redhead. Homer is all the more amazed when he discovers just how much he and Mindy have in common -- they both love doughnuts, beer, hero sandwiches, televised sports, and napping. Homer is more than a bit infatuated with Mindy, and Mindy is obviously attracted to Homer, so when the two are sent to Capital City to represent the Springfield plant at the National Energy Convention, Homer is afraid he may not have the strength to remain faithful to Marge (voice of Julie Kavner). Meanwhile, after a visit to the doctor, Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) comes home wearing glasses, corrective shoes, and salve in his hair. Bart is told he'll only need to keep up the regimen for a month, but his new nerdy look earns him the ire of the school bullies, and the not-entirely welcome friendship of the geekier kids. "The Last Temptation of Homer" was first aired on December 9, 1993; Werner Klemperer reprises his Hogan's Heroes role as Col. Klink in a dream sequence, in which Homer's guardian angel takes on the form of the sitcom character.
Springfield
Legalized gambling comes to Springfield, and Marge becomes addicted; Robert Goulet entertains at Bart's casino for kids. Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer.
Homer the Vigilante
One morning, the Simpsons wake up to discover that they have become the latest victims of the Springfield Cat Burglar, a thief who has been breaking into peoples homes and robbing them under the cover of night. (Of course, it was a rather simple matter at the Simpson household, since Homer [voiced by Dan Castellaneta] left his keys in the front door.) Upset over the recent crime wave, Homer starts a Neighborhood Watch group to catch the burglar, but for some reason Homer and his friends seem attract the wrong element, and they end up creating more crime than they prevent. When the Springfield Museum gets word that they're to be the burglar's next target, Homer and his watchdogs stake out the museum, but Homer ends up getting drunk with a group of juvenile delinquents, and the cat burglar makes off with the world's largest cubic zirconia. Grampa Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta), however, has uncovered the identity of the cat burglar -- he's an elderly gentleman named Molloy (voice of Sam Neill) who lives at the same retirement home. "Homer the Vigilante" was first broadcast on January 6, 1994.
Bart Gets Famous
After sneaking away from a school field trip to a box factory, Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) makes his way to the television studio where his hero, Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta), tapes his show. When Krusty throws a star fit after not being served the Danish he demanded, Bart steals one for him from newsman Kent Brockman (voice of Harry Shearer), and the grateful clown gives Bart a job as his assistant. Bart soon discovers that being Krusty's assistant means doing the errands no one else is willing to do ("Now I need you to go clean out my toilet . . . Eew! I don't know what I was thinking last night!"), but when Sideshow Mel falls ill, Bart is given a small part in a sketch. Bart muffs his entrance, then tries to cover by saying "I didn't do it." The line gets a big laugh, and Krusty brings Bart back again to say the line several more times. Soon Bart is famous as "The I Didn't Do It Boy," but he grows tired of being known only for his catch phrase. He soon discovers, though, that his fans aren't all that interested in watching him expand his repertoire. "Bart Gets Famous" first aired on February 3, 1994.
Homer and Apu
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) makes his regular daily stop at the Kwik-E-Mart to discover they're having a sale on luncheon meat. Homer immediately buys the meat and wolfs it down, only to discover Apu (voice of Hank Azaria) was selling the meat cheaply because it was spoiled and out of date. Homer gets terribly sick, and at the urging of his daughter Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), he takes part in a TV news program's undercover investigation. Apu's underhanded back-dating practices are revealed, and he loses his longtime job at the Kwik-E-Mart. After actor James Woods takes over Apu's job as he researches a film role, Apu moves into the Simpson home to make amends for poisoning Homer. While Apu becomes a part of the family, the Kwik-E-Mart is in his blood, and so he journeys to India (with Homer in tow) to appeal his case with the spiritually enlightened president of the Kwik-E-Mart corporation. "Homer and Apu" first aired on February 10, 1994.
Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy
After a brush with death during a personal appearance by the cast of Matlock, Grampa Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) decides to give his inheritance to his family while he's alive, rather than wait until he passes on; this of course means the Simpsons all go on a shopping spree. Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) buys herself the talking Malibu Stacy doll she's always wanted, but to her annoyance she discovers all Stacy has to say is puerile nonsense about how she can't do much because she's just a girl. Lisa is convinced the next generation of American girls deserve better, and finds Stacy Lovell (voice of Kathleen Turner), the secretive creator of Malibu Stacy. Lisa persuades Stacy to help her design a new doll that will offer a better role model for girls, and after a lot of hard work, the new Lisa Lionheart doll is rolling off the production line. But will young customers take to the new doll in numbers large enough to make it profitable? "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" first aired on February 17, 1994.
Deep Space Homer
NASA has discovered that public interest in the space program has plummeted to an all-time low, and they decide it's imperative to get folks excited about space travel again if they want to continue receiving federal funding. With this in mind, NASA decides to try an experiment -- sending a ordinary blue-collar working stiff into space as part of their next mission. Somehow, Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and his alcoholic friend Barney Gumble (also voiced by Castellaneta) end up on the short list of "regular guy" astronaut candidates. Barney quits drinking and quickly becomes the stronger candidate, until he goes on a bender with non-alcoholic champagne and Homer gets the spot by default. Launched into space with Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Homer proves to be the greatest menace to face our space program since the explosion of the space shuttle, but he's given a chance to save the day after releasing ants and potato chips in the space capsule. "Deep Space Homer" was first aired on February 24, 1994; singer/songwriter James Taylor makes a guest appearance, serenading the astronauts from mission control.
Homer Loves Flanders
So far back as anyone can remember, Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has never gotten along with his annoyingly good-natured neighbor Ned Flanders (voice of Harry Shearer), but when Homer is stuck without tickets for the upcoming Springfield vs. Shelbyville football game and Ned wins a pair of tickets, Homer grudgingly agrees to go along. The game turns out to be a near-perfect day for Homer: the seats for the game are great, Flanders springs for drinks and snacks, Springfield wins the game, and after being presented with the game ball, Ned gives it to Homer. Suddenly, Homer has decided that Ned is his new best friend, and begins spending even less time with his family to hang out with Flanders. Ned, however, soon discovers a little time with Homer goes a long way, and suddenly their attitudes have been reversed -- Homer is the well-meaning friendly one, while Flanders is the cranky guy who keeps wishing his neighbor would go away. "Homer Loves Flanders" was first aired on February 24, 1994.
Bart Gets an Elephant
Bill and Marty (voices of Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer), wacky morning drive-time DJ's on Springfield's radio station KBBL, are staging a new contest in which the winner gets to choose between two prizes -- a full grown African elephant or 10,000 dollars. Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) ends up winning the contest, and decides he wants the elephant. Bill and Marty were never expecting anyone to actually choose the elephant, and tell Bart they don't have one to give him. Bart refuses to change his mind, and after the local media picks up on the story, KBBL relents and gives Bart an elephant, which he calls Stampy. Bart loves his new pet, but Stampy is less than excited about his new environment, while Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) aren't sure how they'll pay for the elephant's feeding and upkeep, and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) believes Stampy should be in a jungle, where he belongs. Eventually, Homer and Marge put their feet down and tell Bart that Stampy can't stay with them; an animal sanctuary is willing to take Stampy, but they can't pay anything for him, while a less than scrupulous ivory dealer is willing to give the Simpsons a big check for the elephant, but he would almost certainly kill the animal. "Bart Gets an Elephant" first aired on March 31, 1994.
Burns' Heir
Nuclear power magnate C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) has a near-death experience after almost drowning in a bathtub, and he decides since he has no children, he should choose a young boy to become his ward and take over his empire (and his fortune) after he passes on. Burns stages open auditions for the position, and Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) prods his son, Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright), into asking for the honors. Burns, as is his custom, is appallingly rude to Bart, and the boy gets revenge by damaging Burns' property. Appreciating Bart's defiant nature, Burns makes him his ward, and Bart begins spending much of his free time at the lavish Burns estate. Homer and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) discover that this is doing nothing to improve the behavior of their already troublesome son, and after an attempt to discipline the boy, Bart simply moves out to take up permanent residence with Burns. Eventually, even Burns sees that Bart should be with his family, but it takes some doing to convince him to go home. "Burns' Heir" was first aired on April 14, 1994.
Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song
Bart takes his dog to school, which gets Skinner fired, which in turn leaves Bart missing his archnemesis. Voices: Harry Shearer, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria.
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Aspiring truant Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) hopes to get out of school by presenting his teacher with a phony note, purportedly written by his mother and excusing him for a dental appointment. However, Bart's frequent nemesis Principal Skinner (voice of Harry Shearer) smells a rat, and devotes his day to tracking down Bart. As Skinner gives chase, Bart slips away and sneaks into what turns out to be the Quimby Family compound, where Springfield political kingpin Mayor Joe Quimby (voice of Dan Castellaneta) is holding a lavish birthday party for his nephew Freddy (also voiced by Castellaneta). Arrogant Freddy begins taunting a waiter, and later the waiter turns up seriously injured; everyone naturally assumes that Freddy roughed up the server, and he's soon on trial for assault. However, Bart was the only witness to the event, and as the trial goes on, he's torn between the dictates of his conscience and his fear that he'll be in for big punishment from his parents as well as Skinner if he admits to the court he was playing hooky. "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" first aired on May 5, 1994.
Lady Bouvier's Lover
Marge and Homer Simpson (voices of Julie Kavner and Dan Castellaneta) are celebrating the birthday of their baby daughter Maggie, and since it wouldn't be a birthday party without grandparents in attendance, Homer's father, Grampa (also voiced by Castellaneta), and Marge's mother, Jacqueline Bouvier (also voiced by Kavner), are invited to join the fun. Marge thinks both Grampa and Jacqueline seem a bit lonely, and she encourages the two to spend time together. They do, and before long Grampa has fallen in love with Jacqueline. Grampa is considering popping the big question to Jacqueline during a dance at the Senior Citizen's Center when he discovers that he has a rival for her affections -- aging multi-millionaire C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer). Grampa can't match Burns' bankroll (or his dancing ability), but when he learns that Burns has planned to wed Jacqueline, he's determined to stop the ceremony however he can. Meanwhile, rabid Itchy and Scratchy fan Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) can't resist temptation when rare animation cells from the show are offered for sale on television. However, after putting 400 dollars on Homer's credit card without his permission, Bart gets his cell and discovers it's just a frame of Itchy's arm, and practically worthless. "Lady Bouvier's Lover" first aired on May 12, 1994.
Secrets of a Successful Marriage
While no one has ever accused Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) of being an intellectual heavyweight, one day he finally tires of people suggesting he's stupid and decides to enroll in an adult education course. He soon discovers, though, that most of the classes he's interested in are being taught by family and friends, and he's too intimidated to attend. Instead, Homer signs up to teach a class of his own on how to have a successful marriage; however, since he doesn't have much to say, most of his students look bored to tears until he starts telling secrets about his wife, Marge (voice of Julie Kavner), including the fact that she dyes her hair and gets turned on when Homer nibbles her elbow. When word of this gets back to Marge, she's understandably furious, and orders Homer not to talk about her in class. But the next time Homer runs out of material in class, he relapses into stories about Marge, and she kicks him out of the house. Marge begins to seriously consider following the advice of Reverend Lovejoy (voice of Harry Shearer) and divorce Homer, while Homer moves into Bart's tree house, desperate to win his wife back. "Secrets of a Successful Marriage" was first aired on May 19, 1994.
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