The Best Episodes Written By Al Jean

A deviation from his norm lands Homer in a mental institution, where he shares a room with a man who thinks he's Michael Jackson.

Director: Rich Moore

Writer: Al Jean

Cousin Elliot shows up at the Pembroke house. His ideas on how to deal with children do not coincide with Charles' opinions.

Director: Alan Rafkin

Writer: Al Jean

When the TV breaks, Marge and Homer entertain the kids with the story of how they first met.

Director: David Silverman

Writer: Al Jean

After seeing families being nice to each other at a company picnic, Homer orders the Simpsons to a family therapist.

Director: Gregg Vanzo

Writer: Al Jean

The meaning of life and second grade have Lisa playing the blues solo--until she jams with a kindred spirit; Homer seeks tutelage to beat Bart at video boxing.

Director: Wes Archer

Writer: Al Jean

Maggie uses one of three wishes; a mind-reading Bart rules Springfield; Homer donates his brain to Mr. Burns' science project.

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Al Jean

A Halloween trilogy includes a murderous Krusty doll; a "King Kong" parody; an invasion of zombies unleashed by Bart's incantation.

Director: Carlos Baeza

Writer: Al Jean

While working as a human guinea pig (to pay off the family's lost savings after making a bad investment), Homer discovers the root cause of his subnormal intelligence: a crayon that was lodged in his brain ever since he was a boy. He decides to have it removed to increase his IQ, but discovers that being smart does not necessarily equal being happy.

Director: Mike B. Anderson

Writer: Al Jean

Marge is stressed by the demands of motherhood and the Simpsons get a magical British nanny, who floats down from the sky holding an umbrella.

Director: Chuck Sheetz

Writer: Al Jean

Homer's failed do-it-yourself project gets mistaken for "outsider art." Suddenly in the limelight, Homer must come up with new "works" to impress the art world.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Al Jean

Marge comes upon a surprising windfall and, angry with Homer, spends it secretly on herself.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Al Jean

Bart pulls a stunt that shocks the entire town, including the new friends he was trying to impress.

Director: Rich Moore

Writer: Al Jean

After disappointing Lisa, Homer buys her a pony, solving one problem, but creating others, requiring a second job--at Apu's Kwik-E-Mart.

Director: Carlos Baeza

Writer: Al Jean

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

When Ned Flanders falls on hard times, Fat Tony makes him an offer he can't refuse.

Director: Bob Anderson

Writer: Al Jean

The new and improved Pin Pals travel to Capital City for their first ever state bowling championship.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Al Jean

With Lisa's help, Homer uses his vast knowledge of food to become the town's leading restaurant critic. But when he gets petty and vindictive in his criticisms, all the other chefs in town try to kill him.

Director: Nancy Kruse

Writer: Al Jean

During a trip to "Dizzneeland" the Simpsons board the wrong ride, Rocket To Your Doom, and are transported through the galaxy to Kang and Kodos' home planet, where they are held captive at the local zoo and the inhabitants decide to eat Homer.

Director: David Silverman

Writer: Al Jean

After spraining his knee during a basketball game, Homer begins taking care of the neighborhood kids to cure his boredom, prompting jealousy from Bart and Lisa, who feel that Homer is giving the kids the attention they never had.

Director: Michael Polcino

Writer: Al Jean

After Moe convinces Homer to stay out drinking on Christmas Eve, Marge tells Homer not to come home. This leads to Homer's sad trek through lonely Springfield, where he learns that the only place where one should truly get drunk on Christmas is home.

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Al Jean

Krusty announces his retirement due to interference from network executives and the growing popularity of the big-money game show "Me Wantee", but when Krusty reveals to Sideshow Bob that all of the episodes featuring him have been erased, Sideshow Bob uses Krusty's biggest fan (Bart) to murder him during Krusty's farewell show.

Director: Michael Marcantel

Writer: Al Jean

As future Lisa writes her college application essay for Harvard, she recalls past disappointing birthdays that helped shape her.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Al Jean

ALF befriends the Ochmoneks' belligerent nephew, Jake.

Director: Burt Brinckerhoff

Writer: Al Jean

ALF is convinced that a reclusive neighbor is actually Elvis Presley.

Director: Nick Havinga

Writer: Al Jean

Homer bowls a perfect 300 game, then concludes that the greatest accomplishment of his life is behind him. He reconnects with the world by bonding with baby Maggie.

Director: Mike B. Anderson

Writer: Al Jean