Lisa's Date with Density

"Lisa's Date with Density" is the seventh episode of season 8. It originally aired on December 15, 1996. The episode was written by Mike Scully and directed by Susie Dietter.

Plot
At Springfield Elementary School, Superintendent Chalmers visits Principal Skinner to show off his newly purchased car – a 1979 Honda Accord – but becomes distraught when he discovers the car's hood ornament missing. Principal Skinner orders a search of everyone's lockers, and it is soon determined that Nelson Muntz is the culprit. As punishment, Nelson is forced to apologize and then help Groundskeeper Willie with chores around the school campus. In music class, Lisa is caught looking out of the window at Nelson irritating Groundskeeper Willie, and is given detention. After school, she continues to watch Nelson, and realizes she has developed a crush on the bully.

Lisa lets Nelson know how she feels about him after asking Milhouse to pass her love note to Nelson but she forgot to sign it. As a result, Nelson beats Milhouse unconscious thinking the note was from him, due to the latter's having given himself away with ridiculous hand gestures and guilty expressions. Lisa is regretful about his but is still resolved to reform Nelson into a model student. She changes his appearance by taking him to the Wee Monsieur (where he is dressed in a sweater and slacks) and giving him a new hairdo. The two later share a kiss during their date at the Springfield Observatory.

However, the influence of Nelson's friends – Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney – proves to win out when they convince him to throw spoiled coleslaw at Principal Skinner's house. Skinner immediately fingers the juvenile delinquents as suspects, and they flee. Nelson takes refuge with Lisa, proclaiming his innocence. Lisa believes him, until Nelson unwittingly lets slip the truth. Lisa realizes that Nelson is always going to be Nelson and ends their relationship, much to the relief of an overjoyed Milhouse.

In the subplot, Chief Wiggum arrests a confidence trick scam artist for telemarketing fraud. Homer witnesses the arrest and sees the discarded autodialer in a nearby Dumpster. Homer takes the autodialer home to use for tele-panhandling. Homer ends up annoying most of Springfield with his "Happy Dude" confidence trick scam, and it isn't long before Chief Wiggum catches him. Instead of confiscating the autodialer and taking Homer into custody, Wiggum gives him a citation and asks him to bring the autodialer with him to his court hearing. Homer does just that, and is ordered to apologize to everyone he had scammed. He does so using a pre-recorded message and the autodialer, and at the end of the message asks for more money.

Lisa's Date With Density