Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 20 Episode
← 425 "Dangerous Curves"	426 "Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words"	"MyPods and Boomsticks" 427 →

"Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words"

Episode Information Episode number: 426 Season number: S20 E6 Production code: KABF19 Original airdate: November 16, 2008 Couch gag: The Simpsons run to a roman coach. A volcano explodes and covers them in ash, probably a reference to the city of Pompeii. Guest star(s): Merl Reagle as himself Will Shortz as himself Scott Thompson as Grady Little Showrunner: Al Jean Written by: Tim Long Directed by: Nancy Kruse DVD features

"Homer And Lisa Exchange Cross Words" is the sixth episode of season 20 of The Simpsons and the four-hundred and twenty-sixth episode overall. It originally aired on November 16, 2008. The episode was written by Tim Long and directed by Nancy Kruse. It guest stars Merl Reagle as himself, Will Shortz as himself, and Scott Thompson as Grady Little.

Synopsis

"Lisa discovers she has an impressive knack for solving crossword puzzles and she enters in a city-wide crossword tournament. Feelings are hurt though when Homer bets against Lisa in the championship match. meanwhile, Homer become a whizz at breaking up couples."

Plot

Lisa becomes obsessed with crossword puzzles after she helps a man finish one at the bank. She later enters a crossword competition and begins winning rapidly fast. Meanwhile, Homer finds a pub where the competition is being held and bets all of his money on his daughter. In the last match, he bets against her and wins because Gil Gunderson tricks her into picking up his glasses, stalling her so he can win. Later, Lisa finds out that Homer is betting on her, and she becomes angry with him, and changes her last name to Marge's maiden name, Bouvier. Homer, feeling bad, and trying to have Lisa forgive him, gathers New York Times Crossword editors Will Shortz and Merl Reagle to help him get Lisa back.

Production

The episode was written by Tim Long (who was inspired by the 2006 documentary, Wordplay), and directed by Nancy Kruse. Merl Reagle and Will Shortz guest star and Scott Thompson reappears as Grady Little, the character from "Three Gays of the Condo".

The episode was promoted in the New York Times weekly crossword - Tim Long hid a secret Simpsons message in the puzzle, which actually later appeared in the episode itself.

Reception

"Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words" was nominated for a 2009 Writers Guild of America award in Animation, but it lost to "Apocalypse Cow".

External links

• The solved NYT Sunday Crossword of Nov 16, 2008 as featured in this episode, complete with hidden messages in the puzzle and clues.

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← Season 19 Season 20 Episodes Season 21 →

Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes • Lost Verizon • Double, Double, Boy in Trouble • Treehouse of Horror XIX • Dangerous Curves • Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words • MyPods and Boomsticks • The Burns and the Bees • Lisa the Drama Queen • Take My Life, Please • How the Test Was Won • No Loan Again, Naturally • Gone Maggie Gone • In the Name of the Grandfather • Wedding for Disaster • Eeny Teeny Maya, Moe • The Good, the Sad, and the Drugly • Father Knows Worst • Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh • Four Great Women and a Manicure • Coming to Homerica