| Season 9
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| Season Information
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Season 9 originally aired between September 21, 1997 and May 17, 1998.
Highlights
The Simpsons' ninth season originally aired between September 21, 1997 and May 17, 1998, beginning with "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson". The show runner for the ninth production season was Mike Scully. The aired season contained three episodes which were hold-over episodes from season eight, which Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein ran, as well as two episodes from season seven. It also contained two episodes which were run by David Mirkin, and another two episodes which were run by Al Jean and Mike Reiss.
Season nine won three Emmy Awards: Trash of the Titans for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1998, Hank Azaria picked up "Outstanding Voice-Over Performance" for the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and Alf Clausen and Ken Keeler picking up the "Outstanding Music and Lyrics" award. Clausen was also nominated for "Outstanding Music Direction" and "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)" for Treehouse of Horror VIII. Season nine was also nominated for a "Best Network Television Series" award by the Saturn Awards and "Best Sound Editing" for a Golden Reel Award.
The DVD box set was released in Region 1 on December 19, 2006, Region 2 on January 29, 2007, and Region 4 on March 21, 2007. The set was released in two different forms: a Lisa-shaped head to match the Homer, Marge and Maggie shaped heads of the previous two sets and also a standard rectangular shaped box. Like the eighth season box set, both versions are available for sale separately.
Episodes
| Picture
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#
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Original title
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Original airdate
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Directed by
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Written by
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Prod. code
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| 100px
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179 - 1
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"The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson"
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September 21, 1997
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Jim Reardon
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Ian Maxtone-Graham
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4F22
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| Homer allows Barney to use his car when Barney is picked to be the designated driver for that night at Moe's Tavern. However, Barney disappears for two months with the car, and returns without it. Homer searches for his car, and eventually receives a letter from the City of New York. The family is excited to go there to obtain the car, but Homer, who had had a bad experience in New York when he was younger, is reluctant. After reaching New York City, Homer sees the car parked near the World Trade Center, where he must wait by so that an officer can remove the wheel clamp. He is distracted from standing watch for the police when he has to go the bathroom, and causes him to miss the police officer. Homer gets angry, and leaves the city with the clamp on
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180 - 2
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"The Principal and the Pauper"
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September 28, 1997
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Steven Dean Moore
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Ken Keeler
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4F23
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| When a celebration is held at Springfield Elementary to honor his 20 years as principal, Seymour Skinner is revealed to be an impostor when the real Seymour, Sgt. Seymour Skinner, shows up. The principal's real name is revealed to be Armin Tamzarian, an orphan from Capital City. Armin soon leaves to return to Capital City, and Sgt. Seymour Skinner takes over as principal. However, many, including Agnes Skinner, soon decide they preferred the old Seymour. After persuading him to come back from Capital City to be Principal Skinner again, the townspeople send Sgt. Skinner out of town on a railroad.
Guest starring Martin Sheen
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| 100px
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181 - 3
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"Lisa's Sax"
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October 19, 1997
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Dominic Polcino
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Al Jean
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3G02
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| After being disrupted by Lisa's saxophone practice, Bart gets into a fight with Lisa, ultimately causing her saxophone to be thrown out the window and run over by a truck, flattening it. Trying to console her, Homer shares the story of how she got her saxophone: With Bart struggling to fit in at school, Homer and Marge go to the school's psychologist. While doing little to help Bart, the doctor notices Lisa's "gifts" and recommends a private school, though the family cannot afford it. Instead, Homer decides to buy a saxophone with the money he was saving for an air conditioner because of the hot summer. After finishing the story, Homer once again decides to not spend the money on an air conditioner and buys a new saxophone for Lisa instead.
Guest Starring Fyvush Finkel
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182 - 4
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"Treehouse of Horror VIII"
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October 26, 1997
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Mark Kirkland
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Mike Scully, David S. Cohen and Ned Goldreyer
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5F02
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| A Halloween special which is divided into three short stories:
The HΩmega Man – After the French strike Springfield with a nuclear bomb, Homer discovers that he is the only one who survived the attack, until mutants come after him.
Fly Vs. Fly – Bart uses Professor Frink's teleporter to turn himself into a fly.
Easy Bake Coven – In a 1600s Puritan town, Marge is accused of being a witch, which turns out to be true. She flees to her sisters' cave, where the three become the inventors of Halloween.
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183 - 5
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"The Cartridge Family"
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November 2, 1997
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Pete Michels
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John Swartzwelder
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5F01
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| After a large soccer riot leads to an extended period of mob rule throughout Springfield, Homer decides to forgo an expensive security system in favor of a gun. As Marge disapproves of a gun in the house, Homer takes her to an NRA meeting to sell her on the concept. Marge's objections continue, finally forcing Homer to agree to get rid of the weapon. Unfortunately, Bart and Milhouse later discover it concealed in the refrigerator. Infuriated and frightened, Marge takes the kids and leaves Homer. With nothing but his gun and his indignation for company, Homer hosts an NRA meeting in his empty house, only to be kicked out of the group when the gun-nuts themselves acknowledge his reckless and irresponsible treatment of firearms. Thusly humbled, Homer seeks out his family to admit his mistake.
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