Episode title meanings

This page shows the meanings of the titles in each episode.

Season 1
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
 * The episode is a Christmas centric episode, and the title alludes to "The Christmas Song", which is also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire".

"Bart the Genius"
 * The episode features Bart cheating in an IQ test, which makes everyone thinking he's a genius.

"Homer's Odyssey"
 * The title is a reference to both the character Homer's name, and to the Greek poet Homer, who is often attributed to the epic poem Odyssey.

"There's No Disgrace Like Home"
 * In the episode we see Homer disgraced about his family. It is a pun of "There's no place like home."

"Bart the General"
 * Bart became a 'general' to stop Nelson and his weasels.

"Moaning Lisa"
 * The title refers to Lisa being sad and upset. It is also an allusion to the Mona Lisa.

"The Call of the Simpsons"
 * The title is a reference to The Call of the Wild and the Simpsons were stranded in the forest, or the 'wild' as it were.

"The Telltale Head"
 * The episode and title are references to The Telltale Heart. It is about a severed statue head that Bart sees speaking to him.

"Life on the Fast Lane"
 * A reference to a bowling lane.

"Homer's Night Out"
 * Homer spent a night out at a Stag Do which led to Bart seeing him with Princess Kashmir.

"The Crepes of Wrath"
 * Crepes are a French delicacy and the two Frenchmen, Bart was staying with were treating him wrathfully. It is also a reference to The Grapes of Wrath.

"Krusty Gets Busted"
 * Krusty gets sent to jail or 'busted' because Sideshow Bob framed him for robbing the Kwik-E-Mart.

"Some Enchanted Evening"
 * Homer was planning to have an enchanted evening with Marge, but they had to cancel it because the kids had tied up Ms Botz.

Season 2
"Bart Gets an "F""
 * Bart originally got two 'F's before getting his 'A' goal.

"Simpson and Delilah"
 * The title alludes to the story of Samson and Delilah, Samson had long hair which made him strong, but Delilah cut it off.

"Treehouse of Horror"
 * The wraparound was set in the Treehouse and the kids were telling each other Horror stories.

"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish"
 * The title refers to Blinky the Three-Eyed Fish.

"Dancin' Homer"
 * Dancin' Homer was the name of Homer's mascot.

"Dead Putting Society"
 * Todd and Bart were both in a Golf tournament which involves 'putting'.

"Bart vs. Thanksgiving"
 * Bart is against Thanksgiving after he commits a selfish act, it is also the first "versus" episode.

"Bart the Daredevil"
 * Bart becomes a Daredevil.

"Itchy & Scratchy & Marge"
 * Marge took matters into her own hands when she found out about the violent teachings of Itchy and Scratchy.

"Bart Gets Hit by a Car"
 * Bart gets hit by Mr Burns' car.

"One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish"
 * The title refers to the poisoned Blowfish Homer ate; it is also an allusion to One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss.

"The Way We Was"
 * Marge and Homer were telling a story to the kids about how they were.

"Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"
 * Homer was stealing cable TV without a second thought and didn't want Lisa stopping him.

"Principal Charming"
 * Principal Skinner was acting charming for Patty; this is also the first major episode for Skinner. The title is a reference to Prince Charming, a fictional character.

"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
 * Homer spent the first half of the episode searching for his half-brother, Herb.

"Bart's Dog Gets an F"
 * Santa's Little Helper fails at dog obedience school until the end of the episode.

"Old Money"
 * Old Money is a term to describe whether money is inherited or has been in the family for a long time. Grampa is old, and received $100,000 from Bea, who is also old.

"Brush with Greatness"
 * Marge had a brush with Ringo Starr when he replied to her letter.

"Lisa's Substitute"
 * Lisa had Mr. Bergstrom as a substitute teacher.

"The War of the Simpsons"
 * Marge and Homer were having problems with their marriage, and Marge was angry at Homer for avoiding counselling. Bart and Lisa were also fighting at the house about abusing Grampa.

"Three Men and a Comic Book"
 * Bart, Milhouse and Martin were forced to share the first issue of the Radioactive Man comic book.

"Blood Feud"
 * Bart and Homer were trying to get back at Mr. Burns for not giving them money after Bart donated his blood to him.

Season 3
"Stark Raving Dad"
 * The title is a play on the phrase Stark Raving Mad and Homer (the kids' dad) had to go to a mental hospital.

"Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"
 * The title is play on the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Lisa went to Washington.

"When Flanders Failed"
 * Ned Flanders shop fails. It is also a play on the World War One poem: In Flanders' Field.

"Bart the Murderer"
 * Bart Simpson is accused of murdering Principal Skinner.

"Homer Defined"
 * Named after Homer's admission to the dictionary, which defines him.

"Like Father, Like Clown"
 * A reference to the phrase Like father, like son. The episode focuses on Krusty and his father.

"Treehouse of Horror II"
 * A sequel to the first Treehouse of Horror.

"Lisa's Pony"
 * Lisa gets a pony.

"Saturdays of Thunder"
 * A reference to the racing film Days of Thunder. The episode is centered around racing.

"Flaming Moe's"
 * Moe names his drink the Flaming Moe.

"Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk"
 * The title is German. Mr. Burns sells the power plant to German businessmen. In English, the title means Burns to Sell (sic) the Power Plant.

"I Married Marge"
 * The episode centers around the relationship of Homer and Marge.

"Radio Bart"
 * Bart receives a radio microphone for his birthday, and uses it to play pranks.

"Lisa the Greek"
 * A reference to sports commentator Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder. The episode centers around Lisa predicting the outcome of football matches.

"Homer Alone"
 * Homer is left alone at his house with Maggie. The title also parodies Home Alone.

"Bart the Lover"
 * Bart pretends to be an adult male named Woodrow who falls in love with Mrs. Krabappel.

"Homer at the Bat"
 * Homer plays baseball. The title is also a play on the baseball poem Casey at the Bat.

"Separate Vocations"
 * Bart and Lisa take a vocational test in school.

"Dog of Death"
 * Santa's Little Helper becomes one of Mr. Burns' attack hounds.

"Colonel Homer"
 * Homer becomes a manager for Lurleen Lumpkin. His attire and the title are both references to Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager.

"Black Widower"
 * A black widow is a female murder who kills her husband or boyfriend. Sideshow Bob attempts to kill Selma, so the title is a twist.

"The Otto Show"
 * The episode is focused on Otto, therefore making it an Otto show.

"Bart's Friend Falls in Love"
 * Bart's friend, Milhouse falls in love with Samantha.

"Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?"
 * Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? is a song written during the Depression, where money was tight. Homer's half-brother Herb asks Homer for money.

Season 4
"Kamp Krusty"
 * Bart and Lisa spent six weeks at Kamp Krusty.

"A Streetcar Named Marge"
 * A references the film A Streetcar Named Desire. Marge played Blanche DuBois in the musical version of the film.

"Homer the Heretic"
 * Homer decided to leave the Christianity and created his own religion.

"Lisa the Beauty Queen"
 * Lisa entered into the beauty pageant.

"Treehouse of Horror III"
 * A sequel to the second Treehouse of Horror.

"Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie"
 * Homer banned Bart to see newly released Itchy & Scratchy Movie.

"Marge Gets a Job"
 * Marge got a job at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.

"New Kid on the Block"
 * Bart fell in love with a teenage girl who moved to next door.

"Mr. Plow"
 * Homer started a new business with his new snowplow truck.

"Lisa's First Word"
 * The episode tells the story of Lisa and her fist word.

"Homer's Triple Bypass"
 * Homer got three heart attacks and needed a triple bypass heart operation.

"Marge vs. the Monorail"
 * The citizens of Springfield decided to build a monorail in the town. Marge saw it dangerous and then found out the truth about it.

"Selma's Choice"
 * A reference to a film Sophie's Choice. Selma decided to become pregnant, but then changed her mind.

"Brother from the Same Planet"
 * A reference to a film The Brother from Another Planet. Bart was angry at Homer and joined the Big Brother program posing as an abandoned child to hang out with a better father figure. As an revenge, Homer became a Big Brother for a little orphan Pepi.

"I Love Lisa"
 * Ralph fell in love with Lisa.

"Duffless"
 * Homer decided to give up beer for a month. Also, Duff is a name of popular Springfield beer.

"Last Exit to Springfield"
 * A reference to a book Last Exit to Brooklyn. The episode tells the story of the citizens of Springfield who protest against revoking their dental plan.

"So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show"
 * The episode showed the best moments from previous episodes, making itself to be a clip show instead of a typical show.

"The Front"
 * A reference to a film The Front. Bart and Lisa couldn't set out their Itchy & Scratchy scripts under their names, they used a front person, Grampa.

"Whacking Day"
 * The episode tells the story of the day were citizens of Springfield whack snakes.

"Marge in Chains"
 * A reference to a rock band Alice in Chains. Also, Marge got arrested.

"Krusty Gets Kancelled"
 * Krusty had to cancel his show.

Season 4
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet"
 * Homer told the story of his old barbershop quartet.

"Cape Feare"
 * A reference to a film Cape Fear. The Simpson family had to move to the town Cape Fear because Sideshow Bob threatened Bart.

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