Difference between revisions of "Season 2"

"Bart Gets an F"

Bart is continually failing tests and is warned that if he fails an upcoming history exam, he will be held back to repeat the fourth grade. Not wanting to be held back, Bart enlists the help of Martin Prince, the class brain, to study for the history test, in exchange for Bart teaching Martin how to be cool. Bart is left to study on his own when Martin is distracted by his new popularity. However, Bart passes the test anyway, thanks to some last-minute extra credit from Mrs. Karbappel.

Homer learns of a new hair growth formula, called Dimoxinil, and is eager to try it as he has come to resent being bald. Unable to afford the Dimoxinil, Homer cheats on his medical insurance forms to obtain it. The forumula works, and a no-longer-bald Homer is promoted to executive and gets a male secretary named Karl. Homer's cheating is eventually found out and Homer is nearly fired, but Karl takes the blame and Homer keeps his job. Unfortunately, Bart spills the Dimoxinil and Homer goes bald again. When a speech he gives is a complete failure, Homer is summoned to Mr. Burns' office. Burns proves to be surprisingly sympathetic (as a fellow bald man) and doesn't fire Homer, but merely demotes him back to his old job.

"Treehouse of Horror"

"The Simpsons Halloween Special"

Opening Sequence: Marge warns viewers that the following episode is unsuitable for children, and suggests that they not be allowed to watch it. Prologue: Bart and Lisa are in the treehouse telling stories, while Homer eavesdrops on them after trick-or-treating.

Bad Dream House: The Simpsons move to a new house, and discover that the house is alive and evil and wants to get rid of them.

Hungry are the Damned: The Simpsons are abducted by aliens (including Kang and Kodos in their first appearance) who say that they're taking the family to their home planet for a feast. When family are well-treated (for example, being served sumptuous meals), Lisa becomes suspicious of the aliens' motives.

The Raven: A retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem,"The Raven," narrated by James Earl Jones (who had guest voices in all three story segments).

Closing Sequence: The children sleep soundly, but Homer is so scared that he's still wide awake, and laments that he hates Halloween.

"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish"

Bart and Todd Flanders compete in a miniature gold tournament, which brings out the competitive sides of their fathers and leads them to have a bet on the tournament: The father of "the boy who doesn't win" must mow the other one's lawn while wearing his wife's Sunday dress. The game ends in a tie, resulting in both Bart and Ned having to wear dresses and mow each other's lawn. As the neighbors wolf-whistle at them, Ned sees the humor in the situation and starts to enjoy it -- much to Homer's dismay.

After Bart destroys the centerpiece that Lisa had made for Thanksgiving, Marge demands that he apologize to Lisa. Bart refuses and runs away from home, taking Santa's Little Helper with him. After Bart wanders into the seedy part of town and talks to some of the bums there, he realizes how good he has it and returns home. When he hears Lisa crying, he is moved to apologize, and the family finally sits down to a thankful Thanksgiving dinner.

Bart sees a daredevil stunt by Captain Lance Murdock and is inspired to become a daredevil himself. After succeeding in several minor stunts, Bart pridefully announces that he plans to jump Springfield Gorge on his skateboard. Homer talks Bart out of it at the last second, but accidentally ends up trying the jump himself. Homer fails and ends up in the same hospital as Lance Murdock, to whom he says, "You think you've got guts? Try raising my kids!"

When Maggie copies things she sees in Itchy & Scratchy cartoons and injures Homer, Marge mounts a protest against the show's producers. A citizens' group called S.N.U.H. (Springfieldians for Nonviolence, Understanding and Helping).quickly forms, and the producers comply with Marge's demands and remove the violence from Itchy & Scratchy. The kids of Springfield then quit watching the cartoon and embrace the concept of wholesome outdoor playtime. However, when Marge refuses to oppose an exhibition of Michaelangelo's David (to which S.N.U.H. objects because the statue is naked), the protest movement fizzles, Itchy & Scratchy returns to its old form, and the kids resume watching it.

Bart is run over (accidentally) by Mr. Burns in his car. At the instigation of dodgy lawyer Lionel Hutz and with some help from Dr. Nick Riviera, Homer exaggerates Bart's injuries and brings a suit against Burns for a million dollars. Homer's dreams of easy wealth crumble when Marge is put on the stand and her basic honesty compels her to tell the truth about Hutz's and Riviera's scheme. The episode marks the first appearances of Lionel Hutz (voiced by Phil Hartman in his first guest appearance), Dr. Nick, Burns' Blue-Haired Lawyer, and Lunchlady Doris.

Al Jean, Mike Reiss & Sam Simon

March 7, 1991