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Season guide

The Simpsons: Season 4

22 episodes Premiered Sep 24, 1992 Updated Sep 18, 2026

Season four of The Simpsons, the long‑running American animated sitcom set in the fictional town of Springfield, carries forward the series’ established comedic examination of everyday American life. Created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, the show follows the everyday misadventures of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—alongside the town’s eclectic residents. In this fourth ins

Previously on The Simpsons

Season 4 Lore Primer

Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.

  • The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon.
  • It is set in Springfield, an average American town, and centers on the Simpson family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.
  • The series debuted on Fox on December 17, 1989, establishing its format of satirical humor and family dynamics.
  • Prior seasons established the core characters, setting, and tone that season four continues to develop across its twenty‑two episodes.

Season overview

Season four of The Simpsons, the long‑running American animated sitcom set in the fictional town of Springfield, carries forward the series’ established comedic examination of everyday American life. Created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, the show follows the everyday misadventures of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—alongside the town’s eclectic residents. In this fourth installment, the narrative continues across twenty‑two episodes, maintaining the series’ blend of satire, family dynamics, and cultural references that have defined earlier seasons. The season builds on the established setting of Springfield as an average American town, preserving the show’s signature animation style and humor while further developing recurring characters and situational comedy. By extending the overarching saga, season four reinforces the series’ reputation for witty social commentary and character‑driven storylines, keeping viewers engaged with familiar personalities and new comedic scenarios within the same familiar world.

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Season 4 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 4 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 4: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

Time Saved 0.8h Skipping 1 filler episode
14%
82%
Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (18): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (1): Standalone / filler
S4·E1 Mytharc

Kamp Krusty

Sep 24, 1992

Bart leads an uprising at Krusty's summer camp after he and Lisa are subjected to a Dickensian sweatshop.

S4·E2 Core

A Streetcar Named Marge

Oct 1, 1992

Marge is cast in a version of "A Streetcar Named Desire," playing Blanche to Ned Flanders' Stanley.

S4·E3 Core

Homer the Heretic

Oct 8, 1992

After skipping church one Sunday morning, Homer decides to quit church altogether and spend Sundays worshiping in his own way -- with cigars and beer.

S4·E4 Core

Lisa the Beauty Queen

Oct 15, 1992

Homer enters Lisa into the Little Miss Springfield Pageant to help her feel better about her looks. But when she must choose between the title and her integrity, she realizes that

S4·E5 Core

Treehouse of Horror III

Oct 29, 1992

A Halloween trilogy includes a murderous Krusty doll; a "King Kong" parody; an invasion of zombies unleashed by Bart's incantation.

S4·E7 Core

Marge Gets a Job

Nov 5, 1992

Mr. Burns is instantly smitten when Marge takes a job at the nuclear power plant.

S4·E8 Core

New Kid on the Block

Nov 12, 1992

Bart has a crush on his new neighbor, a teenage girl who only has eyes for Jimbo Jones. Bart sets out to prove that Jimbo is not as tough as he seems.

S4·E9 Core

Mr. Plow

Nov 19, 1992

Homer and Barney become competitors in the snow-plowing business.

S4·E10 Core

Lisa's First Word

Dec 3, 1992

While trying to get Maggie to say her first word, Marge and Homer reminisce about Bart's and Lisa's first words.

S4·E12 Core

Marge vs. the Monorail

Jan 14, 1993

When Springfield gets a sudden windfall, a charismatic traveling salesman convinces the town to build a monorail.

S4·E13 Core

Selma's Choice

Jan 21, 1993

After seeing Aunt Gladys die alone, Aunt Selma wants to get married and have a baby... until she spends a day babysitting Bart and Lisa at Duff Gardens.

S4·E14 Core

Brother from the Same Planet

Feb 4, 1993

When Homer neglects Bart once too often, Bart goes to the Big Brother program to get a new father figure. Stung, Homer replaces Bart with a little brother.

S4·E15 Core

I Love Lisa

Feb 11, 1993

Chief Wiggum's son has a crush on Lisa after she gives him a Valentine out of pity.

S4·E16 Core

Duffless

Feb 18, 1993

After a DUI, Homer swears off beer for a month. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa's sibling rivalry plays out in the school science fair.

S4·E19 Core

The Front

Apr 15, 1993

Lisa and Bart write an Itchy and Scratchy episode; Homer makes up a missing high-school credit.

S4·E20 Core

Whacking Day

Apr 29, 1993

Lisa takes a stand against Springfield's annual snake-bashing festival.

S4·E21 Mytharc

Marge in Chains

May 6, 1993

Overwhelmed by her family's demands during a flu epidemic, Marge accidentally shoplifts at the Kwik-E-Mart and winds up in prison.

S4·E22 Mytharc

Krusty Gets Kancelled

May 13, 1993

Krusty's Hollywood pals help when his show is canceled after a new star causes his ratings to plummet.