The Best Episodes of The Simpsons Season 6

When Homer gropes for a gummy candy stuck to the babysitter's pants, she mistakes his intentions and turns the town against him.

Director: Jeffrey Lynch

Writer: Greg Daniels

Homer joins the secret society of the Stonecutters and is suddenly exalted when the brethren discover his birthmark. The ancient order is shaken to the core by the ineptitude of its new Chosen One.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Lack of beer and cable TV make Homer a crazed killer; the present is altered by a time-traveling Homer; and Principal Skinner turns detention students into food.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Bob Kushell, Dan McGrath, David X. Cohen, Greg Daniels

Film critic Jay Sherman is among the judges at the Springfield Film Festival, which Mr. Burns conspires to win by bribing some judges.

Director: Susie Dietter

Writer: Ken Keeler

Mr. Burns makes many enemies when he steals the oil discovered beneath Springfield Elementary.

Director: Wes Archer, Jeffrey Lynch

Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

The family's trip to Itchy & Scratchy Land takes an unexpected turn when high-tech robots malfunction and become violent.

Director: Wes Archer

Writer: John Swartzwelder

The story of Maggie's birth is told in flashbacks: after Homer quits the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to pursue his dream of working at a bowling alley, Marge reveals that she is pregnant.

Director: Swinton O. Scott III

Writer: Jennifer Crittenden

When Bart is forced to assist Principal Skinner in early-morning astronomy observations, he discovers a giant comet heading towards Springfield. Facing impending doom, the entire town shows up at the Flanders family bomb shelter.

Director: Bob Anderson

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Stuck in his room with a broken leg, Bart hears a high-pitched scream. When he looks through his telescope, he sees a guilty Ned Flanders burying the evidence.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Dan McGrath

Lisa's surprising ability at hockey spawns jealousy in Bart and a showdown when their teams meet.

Director: Bob Anderson

Writer: Mike Scully

Krusty the Clown's reckless spending forces him to open a clown college to keep afloat. New graduate Homer discovers the perks and perils of being Krusty.

Director: David Silverman

Writer: John Swartzwelder

A fortuneteller predicts Lisa's engagement and wedding to a fellow student from an upper-crust British family.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Greg Daniels

After tricking an Australian boy into accepting a collect call, Bart flies Down Under to apologize.

Director: Wes Archer

Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

Grandpa's homemade tonic puts life back in the Simpson bedroom, so he and Homer hit the road to sell the stuff.

Director: Wes Archer

Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

When they try to go on vacation, the family discovers Marge's debilitating fear of flying. Marge consults a psychoanalyst to find the source of her baffling fear.

Director: Wes Archer, Mark Kirkland

Writer: David Sacks

Bart helps precipitate a teachers strike, but he rues his handiwork when Marge takes over for Mrs. Krabappel.

Director: Swinton O. Scott III

Writer: Jennifer Crittenden

Bart winds up in the hospital as a result of eating Krusty cereal, and when Lisa comes to visit him, she is reunited with her sax idol.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Jennifer Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin

Marge joins the police force after thwarting a criminal, and Homer thinks he now has a free ride as a cop's spouse.

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Jonathan Collier

Springfield boys try to recapture the town's beloved lemon tree after it's stolen.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Brent Forrester

Mayor Quimby pardons attempted murderer Sideshow Bob, who then runs against Quimby for mayor.

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein

The Simpson household's overrun with puppies--the offspring of Santa's Little Helper and his new girlfriend from which Mr. Burns would love to make a greyhound-skin tuxedo.

Director: Bob Anderson

Writer: Mike Scully

Bart learns that the good Reverend Lovejoy's daughter is really bad.

Director: Susie Dietter

Writer: Jonathan Collier

A loan from Patty and Selma makes Homer their slave; Bart is forced to take ballet.

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Brent Forrester

Lisa feels threatened when a new girl moves to Springfield: Allison is smart, pretty, a great saxophone player and a crack diorama builder. Lisa tries to befriend her new rival, but she's consumed with envy and competitiveness.

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Mike Scully

After reading the weepy best-seller The Bridges of Madison County, Marge sits down with the family and recalls romantic moments, along with temptations from her bowling instructor Jacques and Homer's coworker Mindy.

Director: David Silverman

Writer: Jon Vitti