The Simpsons: Season 9

1997 · 25 episodes · ★ 7.3

What Season 9 of The Simpsons

The season kicks off with the Simpsons heading to New York. Barney takes off in Homer's car after a night at Moe's Tavern, so the family has to go and get it back in person. Homer hates the city because of a previous trip, so the reunion is sure to bring trouble. The season centers on Homer, a clumsy and careless safety inspector who becomes obsessed with a gun, coaches a kids' football team and keeps getting into trouble because of his decisions. Marge holds the household together and is forced to stand up to him. Bart comes up with pranks, and Lisa defends her saxophone against her brother's complaints.

25episodes

Sep 21, 1997premiered

May 17, 1998latest episode

9.6 hrtotal runtime

Season 9 Episodes

9x01 The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Sep 21, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 8.1
Designated driver Barney absconds to Manhattan in Homer's car and leaves it there. But when the family journeys to the Big Apple to retrieve their property, Homer discovers his car has been booted.
Directed by: Jim Reardon · Written by: Ian Maxtone-Graham · Starring: Joan Kenley
9x02 The Principal and the Pauper
Sep 28, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 6.7
Unmasked as an impostor, Principal Skinner flees to Capital City to reclaim his former life as a shiftless good-for-nothing. The people of Springfield gain a newfound appreciation for him and form a plan to bring him back.
Directed by: Steven Dean Moore · Written by: Ken Keeler · Starring: Martin Sheen, Maggie Roswell, Marcia Wallace, Pamela Hayden
9x03 Lisa's Sax
Oct 19, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
After Lisa’s saxophone is destroyed, the Simpsons reminisce about how she originally got the instrument. On the hottest day of the year, Homer must decide whether to buy an air conditioner or replace Lisa’s sax.
Directed by: Dominic Polcino · Written by: Al Jean · Starring: Fyvush Finkel, Doris Grau, Maggie Roswell
9x04 Treehouse of Horror VIII
Oct 26, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
In “The Homega Man,” Homer faces a post-apocalyptic Springfield. Next, Bart attempts to become Superfly in "Fly vs. Fly." In “Easy-Bake Coven,” amidst a witch hunt in 1649, Marge and her sisters invent trick-or-treating.
Directed by: Mark Kirkland · Written by: Ned Goldreyer, David X. Cohen, Mike Scully · Starring: Maggie Roswell, Marcia Wallace, Pamela Hayden
9x05 The Cartridge Family
Nov 2, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.5
Alarmed by a soccer riot, Homer buys a handgun. His reckless behavior drives Marge and the kids out of the house, and even his new gun club buddies desert him.
Directed by: Pete Michels · Written by: John Swartzwelder
9x06 Bart Star
Nov 9, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.2
When Homer becomes the coach of a peewee football team, he replaces star quarterback Nelson with the less talented Bart. Facing his teammates’ scorn, Bart looks for a way out but finds a better way to show his team spirit.
Directed by: Dominic Polcino · Written by: Donick Cary · Starring: Roy Firestone, Mike Judge, Joe Namath
9x07 The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons
Nov 16, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.1
Trying to escape his arranged marriage, Apu asks Marge to pose as his wife during his mother’s visit. When the ruse fails, Homer makes a last-ditch attempt to intervene, but Apu is smitten with his new bride Manjula.
Directing: Steven Dean Moore · Writing: Richard Appel · Starring: Jan Hooks, Andrea Martin, Maggie Roswell, Marcia Wallace
9x08 Lisa the Skeptic
Nov 23, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.5
When a skeleton is unearthed at the site of a future shopping mall, all Springfield is convinced it is the skeleton of an angel – except Lisa.
Directing: Neil Affleck · Writing: David X. Cohen · Starring: Stephen Jay Gould, Marcia Wallace
9x09 Realty Bites
Dec 7, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.3
When Marge gets her real estate license, she learns to put a positive spin on the flaws of the houses she’s selling. But when the Flanders buy the Murder House, she realizes she has to tell the truth.
Directed by: Swinton O. Scott III · Written by: Dan Greaney · Starring: Maggie Roswell
9x10 Miracle on Evergreen Terrace Mid-Season Finale
Dec 21, 1997 · 23 min · ★ 7.3
After accidentally ruining the family’s Christmas tree and presents, Bart buries the evidence and claims a burglar stole everything. When Kent Brockman does a human interest story on the family’s tragic loss, the townspeople shower the family with generosity… until the truth comes out.
Directed by: Bob Anderson · Written by: Ron Hauge · Starring: Maggie Roswell, Marcia Wallace, Alex Trebek, Pamela Hayden
9x11 All Singing, All Dancing
Jan 4, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 4.7
Homer rents a Clint Eastwood movie and is dismayed to find it's a musical. Using clips from past episodes, the rest of the family reminds him about the many times he and other members of the family and town have broken into song and dance.
Directed by: Mark Ervin · Written by: Steve O'Donnell
9x12 Bart Carny
Jan 11, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 6.7
When the carnival comes to town, Homer and Bart wind up working the ring toss. A father-son team of grifters shows them the downside of the “carny code,” but the Simpsons beat them at their own game.
Directing: Mark Kirkland · Writing: John Swartzwelder · Starring: Jim Varney
9x13 The Joy of Sect
Feb 8, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
A cult lures in most of Springfield to toil for “The Leader.” After Marge escapes and has the family deprogrammed, Homer exposes the man behind the spaceship.
Directing: Steven Dean Moore · Writing: Steve O'Donnell · Starring: Marcia Wallace
9x14 Das Bus
Feb 15, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
When Otto drives the school bus off a bridge, the kids wind up on a deserted island, fending for themselves in a “Lord of the Flies” parody. Back in Springfield, Homer takes on Bill Gates.
Directing: Pete Michels · Writing: David X. Cohen · Starring: James Earl Jones, Phil Hartman, Pamela Hayden, Russi Taylor
9x15 The Last Temptation of Krust
Feb 22, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.1
Krusty bombs at a charity comedy event and feels like a tired old hack. With the Simpsons’ support, Krusty takes his act in a fresh new direction… but in the end, his true nature asserts itself.
Directed by: Mike B. Anderson · Written by: Donick Cary · Starring: Steven Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait, Hank Williams Jr.
9x16 Dumbbell Indemnity
Mar 1, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.0
Moe goes broke trying to wine and dine a new girlfriend. Desperate for money, he cooks up an insurance scam with Homer.
Directed by: Dominic Polcino · Written by: Ron Hauge · Starring: Helen Hunt, Marcia Wallace
9x17 Lisa the Simpson
Mar 8, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.2
Lisa struggles with solving a simple puzzle and fears that the "Simpson gene” is suddenly wiping out her intelligence. Homer stages a family reunion in hopes of introducing Lisa to some Simpsons she can respect.
Directed by: Susie Dietter · Written by: Ned Goldreyer
9x18 This Little Wiggy
Mar 22, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
At Marge’s insistence, Bart has a “play date” with Ralph. Bart suddenly sees the upside of this friendship when he discovers Chief Wiggum’s “master key” and goes to explore Springfield’s abandoned prison.
Directed by: Neil Affleck · Written by: Dan Greaney · Starring: Marcia Wallace
9x19 Simpson Tide
Mar 29, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
When Homer joins the Naval Reserve, a captain takes a liking to him and leaves him in charge of a nuclear submarine.
Directed by: Milton Gray · Written by: Jennifer Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin · Starring: Bob Denver, Rod Steiger
9x20 The Trouble with Trillions
Apr 5, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
Facing an IRS audit, Homer agrees to help the feds bust Mr. Burns for a missing trillion-dollar bill. When Burns makes an anti-government stand, Homer flees with him to Cuba.
Directing: Swinton O. Scott III · Writing: Ian Maxtone-Graham · Starring: Paul Winfield, Maggie Roswell, Marcia Wallace
9x21 Girly Edition
Apr 19, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.1
Lisa becomes the anchor of a kids’ news program but is upstaged by Bart’s treacly human interest stories. At home, Homer corrupts a helper monkey.
Directing: Mark Kirkland · Writing: Larry Doyle · Starring: Marcia Wallace
9x22 Trash of the Titans
Apr 26, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
Homer feuds with the Springfield garbage men and decides to run for Sanitation Commissioner. After winning the election with a sleazy campaign, Homer can’t keep the extravagant promises he made to the town.
Directed by: Jim Reardon · Written by: Ian Maxtone-Graham · Starring: Steve Martin, Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.
9x23 King of the Hill
May 3, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
After Rainier Wolfcastle helps Homer get in shape, Homer accepts a challenge to climb the Murderhorn, the tallest mountain in Springfield.
Directed by: Steven Dean Moore · Written by: John Swartzwelder · Starring: Steven Weber, Brendan Fraser, Joe Mantegna
9x24 Lost Our Lisa
May 10, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
Bart’s latest stunt thwarts Lisa’s plan to attend a museum exhibit. When she tries to go alone and takes the wrong bus, Homer sets out to find her.
Directing: Pete Michels · Writing: Brian Scully · Starring: Marcia Wallace
9x25 Natural Born Kissers Season Finale
May 17, 1998 · 23 min · ★ 7.2
Homer and Marge try to spice up their love life and are caught baring it all in public. Bart and Lisa discover an alternate ending to Casablanca.
Directed by: Klay Hall · Written by: Matt Selman · Starring: Marcia Wallace