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The Best Episodes of The Simpsons Season 9

Every episode of The Simpsons Season 9 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Simpsons Season 9!

Binge this in 9h 35m•Peaking at 9.0/10

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 1 - The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
    9.0/10(5719 votes)

    S9:E1

    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.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Ian Maxtone-Graham

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  2. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 22 - Trash of the Titans
    8.4/10(3543 votes)

    S9:E22

    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.

    Director:Jim Reardon
    Writer:Ian Maxtone-Graham

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  3. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 13 - The Joy of Sect
    8.3/10(3305 votes)

    S9:E13

    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.

    Director:Steven Dean Moore
    Writer:Steve O'Donnell

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  4. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 4 - Treehouse of Horror VIII
    8.2/10(3563 votes)

    S9:E4

    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.

    Director:Mark Kirkland
    Writers:Ned Goldreyer, David X. Cohen, Mike Scully

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  5. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 5 - The Cartridge Family
    8.2/10(3501 votes)

    S9:E5

    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.

    Director:Pete Michels
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  6. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 14 - Das Bus
    8.2/10(3233 votes)

    S9:E14

    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.

    Director:Pete Michels
    Writer:David X. Cohen

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  7. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 23 - King of the Hill
    8.2/10(3215 votes)

    S9:E23

    After Rainier Wolfcastle helps Homer get in shape, Homer accepts a challenge to climb the Murderhorn, the tallest mountain in Springfield.

    Director:Steven Dean Moore
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  8. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 3 - Lisa's Sax
    8.1/10(3166 votes)

    S9:E3

    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.

    Director:Dominic Polcino
    Writer:Al Jean

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  9. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 8 - Lisa the Skeptic
    8.1/10(3176 votes)

    S9:E8

    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.

    Director:Neil Affleck
    Writer:David X. Cohen

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  10. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 19 - Simpson Tide
    8.1/10(3236 votes)

    S9:E19

    When Homer joins the Naval Reserve, a captain takes a liking to him and leaves him in charge of a nuclear submarine.

    Director:Milton Gray
    Writers:Jennifer Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin

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  11. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 17 - Lisa the Simpson
    8.0/10(3127 votes)

    S9:E17

    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.

    Director:Susie Dietter
    Writer:Ned Goldreyer

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  12. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 25 - Natural Born Kissers
    8.0/10(2951 votes)

    S9:E25

    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.

    Director:Klay Hall
    Writer:Matt Selman

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  13. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 18 - This Little Wiggy
    7.8/10(2922 votes)

    S9:E18

    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.

    Director:Neil Affleck
    Writer:Dan Greaney

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  14. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 20 - The Trouble with Trillions
    7.8/10(3069 votes)

    S9:E20

    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.

    Director:Swinton O. Scott III
    Writer:Ian Maxtone-Graham

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  15. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 21 - Girly Edition
    7.8/10(2856 votes)

    S9:E21

    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.

    Director:Mark Kirkland
    Writer:Larry Doyle

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  16. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 24 - Lost Our Lisa
    7.7/10(2787 votes)

    S9:E24

    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.

    Director:Pete Michels
    Writer:Brian Scully

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  17. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 6 - Bart Star
    7.6/10(2986 votes)

    S9:E6

    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.

    Director:Dominic Polcino
    Writer:Donick Cary

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  18. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 7 - The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons
    7.6/10(2903 votes)

    S9:E7

    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.

    Director:Steven Dean Moore
    Writer:Richard Appel

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  19. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 9 - Realty Bites
    7.6/10(2921 votes)

    S9:E9

    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.

    Director:Swinton O. Scott III
    Writer:Dan Greaney

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  20. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 10 - Miracle on Evergreen Terrace
    7.6/10(3197 votes)

    S9:E10

    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.

    Director:Bob Anderson
    Writer:Ron Hauge

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  21. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 12 - Bart Carny
    7.6/10(2995 votes)

    S9:E12

    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.

    Director:Mark Kirkland
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  22. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 16 - Dumbbell Indemnity
    7.6/10(2833 votes)

    S9:E16

    Moe goes broke trying to wine and dine a new girlfriend. Desperate for money, he cooks up an insurance scam with Homer.

    Director:Dominic Polcino
    Writer:Ron Hauge

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  23. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 15 - The Last Temptation of Krust
    7.4/10(2821 votes)

    S9:E15

    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.

    Director:Mike B. Anderson
    Writer:Donick Cary

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  24. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 2 - The Principal and the Pauper
    6.8/10(4051 votes)

    S9:E2

    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.

    Director:Steven Dean Moore
    Writer:Ken Keeler

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  25. The Simpsons Season 9 Episode 11 - All Singing, All Dancing
    5.0/10(3303 votes)

    S9:E11

    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.

    Director:Mark Ervin
    Writer:Steve O'Donnell

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Season 9 Ratings Summary

"The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" is the best rated episode of "The Simpsons" season 9. It scored 9/10 based on 5719 votes. Directed by Jim Reardon and written by Ian Maxtone-Graham, it aired on 9/21/1997. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Trash of the Titans".