October 27, 1996: Treehouse of Horror VII: A Halloween trilogy. This time, Bart meets his "pure evil" Siamese twin; Lisa's science project attacks Bart; aliens Kang and Kodos invade Clinton and Dole's replicas just before the 1996 Presidential election.

November 3, 1996: You Only Move Twice: In an idyllic planned community, Homer works for a new boss who has trouble with the Government. Meanwhile, the rest of the family has difficulty dealing with the bucolic 'burg.

November 10, 1996: The Homer They Fall: Moe turns Homer into a prizefighter, who meets the champ in a bout called by ring announcer Michael Buffer.

November 17, 1996: Burns, Baby Burns: Rodney Dangerfield is the voice of Mr. Burns' illegitimate son, who irritates Burns with his lack of social graces.

November 24, 1996: Bart After Dark: While Marge and Lisa are away, Bart becomes the right-hand man for the owner of a burlesque house.

December 1, 1996: A Milhouse Divided: Milhouse's parents decide to divorce, prompting Homer to take action to prevent a similar fate for himself and Marge.

December 15, 1996: Lisa's Date with Density: Lisa develops a crush on Nelson, and then she tries to change him. Meanwhile, Homer solicits money over the phone using an automatic telephone dialer.

December 29, 1996: Hurricane Neddy: Citizens rebuild the Flanders' hurricane-damaged house. But Ned's guilt about criticizing their work sends him to a mental hospital.

January 5, 1997: The Mysterious Voyage of Homer: Chief Wiggum's chili peppers send Homer on a hallucinatory, spiritual journey that makes him question whether Marge is his soulmate.

January 12, 1997: Springfield Files: Homer's claim of an alien sighting brings FBI agents Scully and Mulder to investigate. Guest voices: Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Leonard Nimoy.

January 19, 1997: The Twisted World of Marge: A smooth talker sells Marge on the pretzel business. But when sales go soft, Homer asks crime boss Fat Tony for help.

February 2, 1997: Mountain of Madness: On a company mountain retreat, an avalanche traps hiking partners Homer and Mr. Burns in a cabin.

February 7, 1997: Simpsoncalifragilisticexpialaanoyedgruntcious: When Marge suffers stress-related hair loss, the Simpsons hire nanny Shary Bobbins, who speaks in song and inspires others to do so. But the Simpsons may prove too much for her.

February 9, 1997: They Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show: Itchy and Scratchy creator Roger Myers picks Homer to be the voice of a new canine character — who is roundly rejected by the public.

February 16, 1997: Homer's Phobia: Homer's fearful about the potential influence that the Simpsons' new gay friend may have on Bart.

February 23, 1997: The Brother from Another Series: Murderous convict Sideshow Bob is released to work for his brother Cecil (David Hyde Pierce), whom Bob bested at the Krusty-sidekick audition.

March 2, 1997: My Sister, My Sitter: Lisa's reputation as a first-rate baby sitter is jeopardized when she's put in charge of Bart, who's determined to make things tough.

March 16, 1997: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment: Homer becomes a bootlegger when Springfield decides to enforce a 200-year-old prohibition decree.

April 6, 1997: Grade School Confidential: After witnessing a kiss between Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel, Bart becomes their confidante. But rumors of their passion lead to their being fired — until Skinner reveals a secret.

April 13, 1997: The Canine Mutiny: Bart replaces Santa's Little Helper with a "limited edition" dog he bought with a fraudulent credit card.

April 20, 1997: The Old Man and the Lisa: Penniless from bad investments, Burns asks for help from Lisa, who turns him into a profitable recycler. But then Burns takes things a nasty step further to increase his dividends. Pro wrestler Bret "The Hit Man" Hart has a voice cameo.

April 27, 1997: In Marge We Trust: Reverend Lovejoy puts Marge in charge of counseling parishioners; Homer finds his likeness is popular in Japan as the symbol for a cleaning product.

May 4, 1997: Homer's Enemy: A new plant employee who's had it tough resents Homer's lack of professionalism and his cushy life. Meanwhile, Bart buys an abandoned factory at an auction for a dollar.

May 11, 1997: The Simpsons Spinoff Showcase: Three mock spinoffs: Chief Wiggum, P.I.; The Love-Matic Grandpa; and The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour, with guest star Tim Conway and a teen stand-in for Lisa.

May 18, 1997: The Secret War of Lisa Simpson: Lisa joins the all-male military school where Bart is sent for discipline. Then comes the hazing

September 21, 1997: The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson: The Simpsons go to New York City and, while there, Homer tries to retrieve his illegally parked car, and Marge and the kids see the sights, including a Broadway musical about the Betty Ford Center.

September 28, 1997: The Principal and the Pauper: Skinner is declared an impostor by a POW whose identity he assumed in Vietnam.

October 19, 1997: Lisa's Sax: The story of how Lisa got her sax includes Bart's first day at school, his visit to the school psychologist and a heat wave in Springfield. Fyvush Finkel has a voice cameo.

October 26, 1997: Treehouse of Horror VIII: In a Halloween trilogy, nuclear survivor Homer battles mutants; Bart is morphed with a fly; Marge is accused of being a witch in 1649.

November 2, 1997: The Cartridge Family: Homer buys a gun, but after a few mishaps, Marge demands he get rid of it. When he doesn't, she leaves with the kids.

November 9, 1997: Bart Star: Homer heckles Flanders out of coaching Pee Wee football — and then takes over, replacing winning QB Nelson with Bart. Joe Namath has a cartoon cameo.

November 16, 1997: The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons: Marge pretends to be Apu's wife so he can avoid an arranged marriage. But his mother learns the truth, and sends for his intended.

November 23, 1997: Lisa the Skeptic: Lisa unearths a human skeleton with extra bones suggesting angel's wings to all but Lisa, who's suspected when it disappears. Scientist Stephen Jay Gould has a cameo.

December 7, 1997: Realty Bites: Marge gets a realtor's license and goes to work — for Lionel Hutz, who finds her honesty a dubious asset. Meanwhile, Homer buys a hot rod at a police auction, but the incarcerated former owner protests.

December 21, 1997: Miracle on Evergreen Terrace: After accidentally destroying the Simpsons' Christmas gifts, Bart claims a burglar stole them, and Springfield responds generously to that false news.

January 4, 1998: All Singing, All Dancing: Homer's declared distaste for musicals prompts flashbacks to song-and-dance scenes from past episodes.

January 11, 1998: Bart Carny: Homer and Bart become carnival workers, and take in two fellow carnies whose crooked game is closed by Chief Wiggum.

February 8, 1998: The Joy of Sect: Cult members find Homer difficult to win over as they woo Springfield citizens with the promise of a life of serenity with their Leader. That is, as soon as they can fuel their spaceship for the trip to the planet Blisstonia.

February 15, 1998: Das Bus: A bus accident strands Bart, Lisa and their classmates on an island; Homer starts a business on the Internet.

February 22, 1998: The Last Temptation of Krust: After bombing at a comedy festival, Krusty retires — briefly. Jay Leno, Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait and Steven Wright have cameos.

March 1, 1998: Dumbbell Indemnity: Broke from courting his new girlfriend, Moe recruits Homer for an illegal scheme so he can keep financing the romancing.

March 8, 1998: Lisa the Simpson: Grandpa says "Simpson genes" are behind Lisa's sudden lack of brain power; Jasper tries to live for the future in the Kwik-E-Mart freezer.

March 22, 1998: This Little Wiggy: Marge orders Bart to play with Ralph Wiggum, an appalling task — until Bart gets hold of Chief Wiggum's master key to the city.

March 29, 1998: Simpson Tide: A nuclear-sub captain (Rod Steiger) puts naval reservist Homer in command during war games. Bob Denver has a cameo.

April 5, 1998: The Trouble with Trillions: During a tax audit, Homer strikes an unusual deal — he agrees to work for the FBI and to recover a trillion-dollar bill embezzled by Mr. Burns.

April 19, 1998: Girlie Edition: Lisa is "anchorchild" of a TV news show for kids, but Bart steals the show after some coaching from Kent Brockman. Meanwhile, Homer's "helper monkey" is no help to Marge.

April 26, 1998: Trash of the Titans: Steve Martin and rock band U2 are guest voices as Homer defeats the sanitation commissioner with a dirty campaign and a slew of crazy promises.

May 3, 1998: King of the Hill: Homer gets in shape (no, really!) and climbs a mountain to promote the alleged health-food product that helped him achieve success.

May 10, 1998: Lost Our Lisa: Lisa tricks Homer into giving her permission to take the bus downtown alone — then she gets lost.

May 17, 1998: Natural Born Kisser: Marge and Homer nearly get caught when they re-create their first intimate encounter — at a miniature-golf course; Bart and Lisa unearth a film can containing an alternate ending to "Casablanca."

August 23, 1998: Lard of the Dance: A hip new student makes an impression at Springfield Elementary; Homer drags Bart into grease recycling.

September 20, 1998: The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace: Homer patterns himself after Thomas Edison, but his inventions leave something to be desired. William Daniels has a voiceover.

September 27, 1998: Bart the Mother: Bart accidentally kills a bird with Nelson's new BB gun, then tries to care for its orphaned eggs.

October 25, 1998: Treehouse of Horror IX: The ninth Halloween show. Included: Homer turns evil after a hair transplant; Bart and Lisa get trapped inside their TV; the alien Kang is revealed as Maggie's father. Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford appear in live-action.

November 8, 1998: When You Dish upon a Star: Homer becomes an assistant to Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin (and their houseguest, Ron Howard), none of whom are interested in his screenplay.

November 15, 1998: D'oh-in in the Wind: George Carlin and Martin Mull play former hippies who join newly dropped-out Homer on an "old-time freak-out."

November 22, 1998: Lisa Gets an A: Springfield Elementary earns a grant, thanks to Lisa's latest A — a grade acquired by cheating; Homer plans to fatten up a small lobster, but becomes emotionally attached.

December 6, 1998: Homer Simpson in Kidney Trouble: After inadvertently damaging Grandpa's kidneys, Homer offers one of his, then chickens out and runs away to the sea, boarding "The Ship of Lost Souls."

December 20, 1998: Mayored to the Mob: Homer becomes the mayor's bodyguard and puts a stop to a crooked operation involving Fat Tony, who vows revenge on the mayor.

January 10, 1999: Viva Ned Flanders: Seeking more fun out of life, Flanders asks for help from Homer, who takes him to Las Vegas. The Moody Blues have a cameo.

January 17, 1999: Wild Barts Can't Be Broken: Wiggum declares a curfew for kids, who are being blamed for school vandalism committed by a drunken Homer and friends. Cyndi Lauper has a cameo.

January 31, 1999: Sunday, Cruddy Sunday: Homer leads a slew of Springfield denizens to the Super Bowl. Guest voices include Rupert Murdoch, Dolly Parton, John Elway, Dan Marino, John Madden and Pat Summerall.

February 7, 1999: Homer to the Max: Having the same name as a bumbling TV character prompts Homer to change his name. Ed Begley Jr. has a cameo.

February 14, 1999: I'm with Cupid: Elton John has a cameo, as Apu's valentines to his wife make the rest of Springfield's men pale in comparison. And neither the men nor the women like it.

February 21, 1999: Marge Simpson in 'Screaming Yellow Honkers': The Simpsons' new sport-utility vehicle gives Marge road rage against less powerful vehicles, sending her to traffic school taught by Chief Wiggum.

February 28, 1999: Make Room for Lisa: The Simpsons are forced to house a cellular transmitter, giving Lisa stress, while Marge hears calls through Maggie's baby monitor.

March 29, 1999: Maximum Homerdrive: Truck drivers target Homer after he blabs about an industry scam while filling in for a recently deceased driver.

April 4, 1999: Simpsons Bible Stories: The family's biblical dreams include Homer and Marge as Adam and Eve, with Flanders as God; Milhouse as Moses; and Bart as David battling Goliath's son ("this time, it's personal").

April 11, 1999: Mom and Pop Art: Isabella Rossellini plays a gallery owner who sees art in the concrete mess that results from Homer's attempt at building a barbeque. After the piece sells, she arranges a one-man show. Pop artist Jasper Johns has a voice cameo.

April 25, 1999: The Old Man and the C Student: Bart is assigned to do community service at the Retirement Castle, where he tries to inject some life into the recreation activities.

May 2, 1999: Monty Can't Buy Me Love: After another billionaire makes a memorable impression on Springfield, Burns asks for Homer's help on a quest for popularity, which eventually takes them both to Scotland. .

May 9, 1999: They Saved Lisa's Brain: Lisa is invited to join local members of Mensa, who take a complaint to City Hall — and wind up running it.

May 16, 1999: 30 Minutes over Tokyo: After getting tips on thrifty living, the family takes a vacation to Japan, where they appear on a game show to win plane tickets back home

September 26, 1999: Beyond Blunderdome: Mel Gibson brings the Simpsons to Hollywood so Homer can help "tweak" his new film after Homer's is the sole negative voice at a test screening. First tweak: add action, and lots of it.

October 3, 1999: Brother's Little Helper: A drug for Attention Deficit Disorder makes Bart studious, productive — and paranoid about satellites spying on him. Mark McGwire has a cameo.

October 24, 1999: Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner: With Lisa's help, Homer becomes the food critic for the Springfield Shopper, but fellow critics criticize his always-positive reviews, prompting a radical change — and revenge by restaurateurs.

October 31, 1999: Treehouse of Horror X: From 1999: Homer causes a Y2K catastrophe; superheroes Lisa and Bart save actress Lucy Lawless; Marge runs Flanders over, and Homer tries to cover it up. Dick Clark and Tom Arnold also appear as themselves.

November 7, 1999: E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt): To avoid a duel, Homer moves the Simpsons to Grandpa's old farm, and grows a profitable, but dangerous, hybrid crop.

November 14, 1999: Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder: Homer bowls a perfect game, but celebrity goes to his head. Cameos: Ron Howard; Penn and Teller; entertainment reporters Nancy O'Dell and Pat O'Brien.

November 21, 1999: Eight Misbehavin': Feeling more stressed than blessed after the birth of their octuplets, Apu and Manjula get child-care help in a deal they come to regret.

November 28, 1999: Take My Wife, Sleaze: John Goodman and Henry Winkler guest star as bikers who protest when Homer takes their gang name for his own after winning a Harley. Jay North ("Dennis the Menace") has a voice cameo.

December 19, 1999: Grift of the Magi: Bankrupt Springfield Elementary is taken over by a private outfit whose members' real goal is to mine the kids' minds for toy ideas. Voices include Tim Robbins and Gary Coleman.

January 9, 2000: Little Big Mom: With Marge laid up by a skiing (lodge) accident, Lisa tries to run the house and plays a trick on Homer and Bart to get them to help clean.

January 16, 2000: Faith Off: After Bart's successful laying on of hands at a revival meeting, a preacher declares Bart has "the power." So the boy pitches his own tent.

January 23, 2000: The Mansion Family: While housesitting for Burns (who's getting a checkup at the Mayo Clinic), Homer throws a party aboard the billionaire's yacht in international waters — where anything goes. Britney Spears is a guest voice.

February 6, 2000: Saddlesore Gallactica: At the state fair, Lisa feels robbed at the band competition, and the family acquires a horse that becomes a winner after an attitude adjustment.

February 13, 2000: Alone Again Natura-Diddly: Homer tries to help a grieving Springfieldian after an accident at the new auto-racing venue has fatal consequences.

February 20, 2000: Missionary: Impossible: Homer becomes a South Seas missionary to escape an angry PBS mob that includes Betty White, who wants to collect his pledge of $10,000.

February 27, 2000: Pygmoelian: Moe wins Duff's "beer-tending" contest but loses out on making their calendar. So he undergoes plastic surgery and lands a soap-opera role that he missed years before.

March 19, 2000: Bart to the Future: A mystic shows Bart his future as a ne'er-do-well musician rooming with Ralph Wiggum — and brother to President Lisa Simpson, who inherits a fiscal crisis that Bart makes worse.

April 9, 2000: Days of Wine and D'oh'ses: Barney quits drinking to take helicopter-flying lessons, leaving Homer feeling resentful and inferior; Lisa and Bart enter a contest to photograph the cover of the Springfield phone book.

April 30, 2000: Kill the Alligator and Run: The family seeks a restful vacation in Florida, but arrives during spring break, which Homer extends. Guest voices include Charlie Rose, Kid Rock and Joe C.

May 7, 2000: Last Tap Dance in Springfield: Lisa struggles in a tap-dance class taught by a former child star; Bart and Milhouse ditch camp to spend a week creating havoc in the mall.

May 14, 2000: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge: Otto's girlfriend (Parker Posey) seems to be usurping Marge's role when she moves in with the family after a dispute over heavy metal.

May 21, 2000: Behind the Laughter: A Behind the Music-style look at the Simpsons, narrated by VH1's Jim Forbes, shows their rise to stardom — and the "private hell" that followed. Willie Nelson has a cameo

November 1, 2000: Treehouse of Horror XI: Behold the horrors that spring forth in the 11th annual Halloween trilogy. For starters, Homer is "Shoved by an Angel" as St. Peter sends him back to Earth to perform a good deed before entering Heaven. As you might guess, there's an encounter with Satan. "Scary Tales Can Come True" for Bart and Lisa after Homer grimly banishes them to a Brothers Grimm forest, where they narrowly miss the Three Bears, and then decide to trust a witch in a gingerbread house. In the finale, Springfield plunges into the "Night of the Dolphin" after Lisa frees a dolphin from the Marine Park, only to learn that it's plotting a revolt against humans.

November 5, 2000: A Tale of Two Springfields: The Who intervenes after Homer leads a revolt against a new area code that splits the town along lines of affluence. Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Zac Starkey provide voices.

November 12, 2000: Insane Clown Poppy: Drew Barrymore plays Krusty's long-lost daughter, a surprise to the clown, who betrays her in a poker game with Fat Tony. Stephen King, Amy Tan and John Updike have cameos.

November 19, 2000: Lisa the Tree Hugger: Joshua Jackson plays a committed — and cute — teen environmentalist who inspires Lisa to take up residence in a redwood tree to save it from destruction.

November 26, 2000: Homer vs. Dignity: With Smithers away, Burns hires a cash-hungry Homer as his "prank monkey" to perform stunts that ultimately damage Homer's dignity. Leeza Gibbons has a cameo.

December 3, 2000: The Computer Wore Menace Shoes: Homer buys a computer and builds a Web site where he anonymously spreads local rumor and innuendo, and makes things up when his sources run dry.

December 10, 2000: The Great Money Caper: With Homer-logical justification, Bart and Homer go on the grift and do fairly well before joining a more experienced con man for a big score. Edward Norton plays an FBI man.

December 17, 2000: Skinner's Sense of Snow: A blizzard traps Skinner and Groundskeeper Willie with an assortment of students at Springfield Elementary. Bart (of course) leads the revolt.

January 7, 2001: Homr: Researchers find and fix the cause of Homer's "subnormal" intelligence, but Homer finds life as a brain is a drain on his popularity.

January 14, 2001: Pokey Mom: Homer hurts his back at a prison rodeo, where Marge meets an artistic inmate (Michael Keaton) whom she takes under her wing.

February 4, 2001: The Worst Episode Ever: Bart and Milhouse are banned for life from the comic-book store, until Comic Book Guy becomes a man in need of friends.

February 11, 2001: Tennis the Menace: The Simpsons win points for their new tennis court, but constantly lose on Homer's poor play. Serena and Venus Williams, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have voice cameos.

February 18, 2001: Day of the Jackanapes: Sideshow Bob talks his way out of prison and into a job at the school. There, he hypnotizes Bart — to make him kill Krusty, who plans a final show after growing sick of network interference.

February 25, 2001: New Kids on the Blecch: 'N Sync has a cameo as a record producer tries to create the next big boy band out of Milhouse, Bart, Nelson and Ralph Wiggum.

March 4, 2001: Hungry Hungry Homer: Homer's newfound advocacy for the little guy prompts him to protest against the Duff executive (Stacy Keach) who owns the local ballclub.

March 11, 2001: Bye Bye Nerdy: Lisa's attempt to befriend the new girl in school is met with a fist; Homer enters the baby-proofing business.

April 1, 2001: Simpson Safari: The Simpsons win a trip to Africa, where they get lost on safari and become caught between poachers and a chimp researcher.

April 29, 2001: Trilogy of Error: Homer's severed thumb, Lisa's science project and Bart's discovery of fireworks prompt separate but simultaneous adventures that conclude with an encounter with mobster Fat Tony.

May 6, 2001: I'm Goin' to Praiseland: Flanders fulfills his late wife's dream by building a Bible-themed amusement park. Shawn Colvin plays Christian singer Rachel Jordan.

May 13, 2001: Children of a Lesser Clod: Homer opens a day-care center in the house, prompting envy in Lisa and Bart when he treats other kids better than he treats them.

May 21, 2001: Simpsons Tall Tales: Features folk-tale parodies, with Homer as Paul Bunyan; Lisa as Connie Appleseed; and Bart as Tom Sawyer, helping to save Huck Finn from a shotgun marriage to Becky Thatcher

November 6, 2001: Treehouse of Horror XII: Pierce Brosnan bonds with the Simpsons in their 12th annual Halloween trilogy. In "House of Whacks," Brosnan is the voice of UltraHouse 3000, a computer that runs the Simpsons' home. But this is no impersonal machine — it falls in love with Marge and tries to kill Homer. In "Hex and the City," a curse from a tarot-reading gypsy gives bad luck to those Homer loves, resulting in bizarre physical transformations for his family. What's required to alter the curse, Homer believes, is a leprechaun. In the finale, magic students Lisa and Bart are competing "Wiz Kids," with Bart seeking to best Lisa in the school talent by aligning with an evil duo (Burns and Smithers) who have a secret agenda.

November 11, 2001: The Parent Rap: Jane Kaczmarek lends her voice to a role with similarities to her Lois character from Malcolm in the Middle in the 13th-season opener. It begins with Bart and Milhouse accidentally stealing a police car. Bart expects to face an easy judge, but instead meets Judge Constance Harm (Kaczmarek), a stern, no-nonsense arbiter. Noting Homer's contribution to the incident and sensing that Bart is "crying out for adult supervision," Harm orders the young troublemaker to be tethered to his father. The plan does bring the pair closer to each other, but their new link interferes with the relationship between Homer and Marge — who literally cuts the cord, landing her in Harm's way, too.

November 18, 2001: Homer the Moe: To change his attitude, Moe changes his bar, but the result drives his regulars out...and into Homer's garage bar, where R.E.M. performs.

December 2, 2001: A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love: Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the voice of Gloria, a comely cop who catches the eye of Mr. Burns in this madcap romance. Thanks to a fortune cookie (written by Homer) that says he'll find true love on a particular day, Mr. Burns sets out for a night of "womanizing," much to Smithers' dismay. He eventually meets Gloria, who agrees to a date but ultimately finds the tycoon too old. Burns allays her fears by drafting Homer to testify to his youthful rowdiness. The courtship commences, assisted by Homer — and a vial of a "rare and powerful" physical stimulant. When Mr. Burns pops the question, a charmed Gloria accepts. But not everyone is happy for the couple.

December 9, 2001: The Blunder Years: A hypnotist unlocks a repressed memory in Homer, who recalls childhood times with Moe, Carl and Lenny — and his finding of a corpse. Paul Newman has a voice cameo.

December 16, 2001: She of Little Faith: Richard Gere guest stars in a Christmas episode that spawns a crisis of religious conscience in Lisa. The trouble starts when congregants of the First Church of Springfield, faced with a sudden need for funds, turn for help to Mr. Burns, who turns the church into a business ("The old church was skewing pious," says his advisor). Enter podium-placed advertising and in-sermon commercials; and exit an outraged Lisa. Her disenchantment leads her to the Springfield Buddhist Temple and to Gere, who introduces her to teachings she finds easy to embrace. All of which has Rev. Lovejoy wondering what to do about "Marge Simpson's devil daughter."

January 6, 2002: Brawl in the Family: A social worker is assigned to try to bring the family together after police respond to a fight between Bart and Homer during a game of Monopoly.

January 20, 2002: Sweets and Sour Marge: Ben Stiller plays a sugar company's CEO who draws Marge's ire after Springfield is declared the "World's Fattest Town."

January 27, 2002: Jaws Wired Shut: An(other) accident forces Homer's jaws to be wired shut, and improved listening skills result in a kinder, gentler — and more boring — Homer.

February 10, 2002: Half Decent Proposal: Jon Lovitz plays Marge's one-time prom date Artie Ziff, a nerd who turned Marge off when he turned all-hands that night. Now, a techno-invention has made him rich. Encouraged by her sisters, and some girls-night imbibing, Marge e-mails Artie, who responds by helicoptering onto the Simpsons' lawn and inviting the family to his yacht. There, he makes his proposition: one million bucks to spend a weekend alone with Marge. And Artie promises "no funny stuff." The Simpsons agree when they realize the money will help their marriage — by paying for an operation to cure Homer's snoring.

February 17, 2002: The Bart Wants What It Wants: Reese Witherspoon and Wolfgang Puck are guest voices as Bart and Milhouse fight over a girl. The object of their affection — and altercation — is Greta Wolfcastle (Witherspoon), the daughter of action-film star Rainier Wolfcastle (Puck). After Bart and his slingshot rescue her backpack from bullies, Greta is immediately smitten. But her crush is unrequited, and the oblivious Bart blows off a date with her in order to harass Principal Skinner at his stand-up comedy debut. Clued to Greta's feelings, Bart breaks off the relationship — until Milhouse steps in. It's only then, in the name of love, that Bart asks his parents' help to win Greta back by following her to her dad's film set...in Toronto.

February 24, 2002: The Lastest Gun in the West: Dennis Weaver, whose nearly 50-year career on TV includes Gunsmoke, McCloud and Gentle Ben, provides the voice of Buck McCoy, an old cowboy star who becomes Bart's new hero. They first meet after a stray dog chases Bart onto the grounds of Buck's mansion. Bart becomes pals with the horse-opera great, who later visits the Simpsons and brings along video highlights of his career. With Bart's help, it's not long before a Western craze sweeps Springfield Elementary, and he and Lisa land Buck a guest spot on Krusty the Clown's TV show. This could be Buck's big shot at a comeback, but there's a problem: His film career isn't the only thing that could use rehab.

March 10, 2002: The Old Man and the Key: Grampa Simpson regains his driver's license to woo a new woman (Olympia Dukakis), but is goaded into a race by senior punks.

March 17, 2002: Tales from the Public Domain: In a trilogy of classics parodies, Homer seeks to destroy Troy as Odysseus; Lisa's Joan of Arc leads the French; and Bart plays Hamlet, with Moe as Claudius.

March 31, 2002: Blame It on Lisa: The Simpsons go to Brazil when the orphan whom Lisa's been sponsoring there is reported missing.

April 7, 2002: Weekend at Burnsie's: The band Phish has a cameo in an episode in which Dr. Hibbert prescribes medicinal marijuana for Homer's eye injury, and the resulting joviality nets Homer a promotion from Mr. Burns.

April 21, 2002: Gump Roast: The Springfield Friars Club roasts Homer, with emcee Krusty the Clown introducing friends, family and their memories from past episodes.

April 28, 2002: I Am Furious Yellow: Encouraged by comic-book guru Stan Lee (in a cameo), Bart creates a strip about Homer that gets onto the Internet.

May 5, 2002: The Sweetest Apu: Apu's fling with the Squishee Lady is caught live by Homer, but on tape by his wife Manjula (Jan Hooks). James Lipton has a cameo.