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!
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 the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
Season 9 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Simpsons" season 9 is "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson", rated 9/10 from 5223 user votes. It was directed by Jim Reardon and written by Ian Maxtone-Graham. "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" aired on 9/21/1997 and is rated 2.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Principal and the Pauper".
9.0/10 5,223 votes#1 - The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Season 9 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1997
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
6.9/10 3,734 votes#2 - The Principal and the Pauper
Season 9 Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1997
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
8.1/10 2,770 votes#3 - Lisa's Sax
Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/1997
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
8.2/10 3,048 votes#4 - Treehouse of Horror VIII
Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/1997
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
Writer: David X. Cohen, Mike Scully, Ned Goldreyer
8.2/10 3,053 votes#5 - The Cartridge Family
Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/1997
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
7.6/10 2,590 votes#6 - Bart Star
Season 9 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/1997
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
7.6/10 2,516 votes#7 - The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons
Season 9 Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/1997
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
8.1/10 2,777 votes#8 - Lisa the Skeptic
Season 9 Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/1997
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
7.6/10 2,530 votes#9 - Realty Bites
Season 9 Episode 9 - Aired 12/7/1997
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
7.6/10 2,775 votes#10 - Miracle on Evergreen Terrace
Season 9 Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/1997
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
5.0/10 2,875 votes#11 - All Singing, All Dancing
Season 9 Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/1998
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
7.6/10 2,598 votes#12 - Bart Carny
Season 9 Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/1998
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
8.3/10 2,910 votes#13 - The Joy of Sect
Season 9 Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/1998
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
8.2/10 2,849 votes#14 - Das Bus
Season 9 Episode 14 - Aired 2/15/1998
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
7.4/10 2,446 votes#15 - The Last Temptation of Krust
Season 9 Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/1998
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
7.6/10 2,477 votes#16 - Dumbbell Indemnity
Season 9 Episode 16 - Aired 3/1/1998
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
8.0/10 2,741 votes#17 - Lisa the Simpson
Season 9 Episode 17 - Aired 3/8/1998
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
7.8/10 2,554 votes#18 - This Little Wiggy
Season 9 Episode 18 - Aired 3/22/1998
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
8.1/10 3,074 votes#19 - Simpson Tide
Season 9 Episode 19 - Aired 3/29/1998
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
Writer: Joshua Sternin, Jennifer Ventimilia
7.8/10 2,884 votes#20 - The Trouble with Trillions
Season 9 Episode 20 - Aired 4/5/1998
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
7.8/10 2,497 votes#21 - Girly Edition
Season 9 Episode 21 - Aired 4/19/1998
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
8.4/10 3,317 votes#22 - Trash of the Titans
Season 9 Episode 22 - Aired 4/26/1998
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
8.2/10 2,975 votes#23 - King of the Hill
Season 9 Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/1998
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
7.7/10 2,424 votes#24 - Lost Our Lisa
Season 9 Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/1998
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
8.0/10 2,598 votes#25 - Natural Born Kissers
Season 9 Episode 25 - Aired 5/17/1998
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