The Simpsons: Season 5
Season five of The Simpsons, an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, continues the series' overarching saga across twenty‑two episodes. Set in Springfield, an archetypal average American town, the season follows the familiar Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—as they navigate the everyday absurdities and social commentary that define the show. Building on
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- The Simpsons is set in Springfield, an average American town that serves as the backdrop for the series' satire.
- The core family consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, whose interactions drive the show’s humor and commentary.
- Created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, the series premiered on December 17, 1989, establishing its long‑running format.
- By season five, the show had established a pattern of self‑contained episodes that together continue an overarching saga across multiple seasons.
Season overview
Season five of The Simpsons, an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon, continues the series' overarching saga across twenty‑two episodes. Set in Springfield, an archetypal average American town, the season follows the familiar Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—as they navigate the everyday absurdities and social commentary that define the show. Building on the tone established since the series’ debut on December 17, 1989, the episodes maintain the animation and comedy style that earned the series its TV‑14 rating. While each episode presents its own self‑contained story, the season as a whole sustains the continuity of character relationships and the satirical portrayal of American culture. The season’s narrative arc is therefore less about a single plotline and more about the ongoing development of the family’s dynamics and the town’s quirky inhabitants, reinforcing the series’ reputation for blending humor with observations of societal norms.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
Homer's Barbershop Quartet
Sep 30, 1993
Homer recalls when he, Apu, Barney and Principal Skinner became recording icons.
Cape Feare
Oct 7, 1993
The Simpsons go incognito to avoid the newly paroled Sideshow Bob, who's out to get Bart.
Homer Goes to College
Oct 14, 1993
Homer takes Nuclear Physics 101 at the local college, where he gets a trio of nerdy tutors expelled for extracurricular activities.
Rosebud
Oct 21, 1993
Burns longs for a childhood toy that winds up in the grip of Maggie.
Treehouse of Horror IV
Oct 28, 1993
Homer sells his soul; Vampire Burns invites the Simpsons for dinner; Bart sees a gremlin damaging his school bus.
Marge on the Lam
Nov 4, 1993
Marge's wild night out with neighbor Ruth includes running from the police in Ruth's car, stolen from her ex.
Bart's Inner Child
Nov 11, 1993
Springfield emulates Bart after he's praised by a self-help guru.
Boy-Scoutz 'N the Hood
Nov 18, 1993
After a reckless Squishee bender with Milhouse, Bart wakes to the shocking realization that he joined the Junior Campers. Lured by pocketknives and knot-tying lessons, Bart assimil
The Last Temptation of Homer
Dec 9, 1993
Homer struggles with his attraction to new coworker Mindy, a beautiful engineer whose love for doughnuts is equal to his own.
$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)
Dec 16, 1993
Legalized gambling comes to Springfield, and Marge becomes addicted; Robert Goulet entertains at Bart's casino for kids.
Homer the Vigilante
Jan 6, 1994
Homer leads a vigilante group to catch the Springfield Cat Burglar, who then robs the museum.
Bart Gets Famous
Feb 3, 1994
When an on-air remark catapults Bart to instant stardom, he finds that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Homer and Apu
Feb 10, 1994
Homer accompanies Apu to the Kwik-E-Mart home office--in India--after Apu is fired.
Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy
Feb 17, 1994
Lisa's outrage over the gender stereotypes reinforced by a new talking doll prompts her to confront the dollmaker.
Deep Space Homer
Feb 24, 1994
Homer and Barney compete to be the first "average" American in space.
Homer Loves Flanders
Mar 17, 1994
Flanders' extra ticket to the big game makes him Homer's new best friend, a role that sorely tests Flanders' patience.
Bart Gets an Elephant
Mar 31, 1994
Bart wins an elephant, but Homer won't let him keep it.
Burns' Heir
Apr 14, 1994
Bart is picked to be Burns' heir and moves into the Burns mansion, prompting Homer and Marge to hire a deprogrammer to get him back.
Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song
Apr 28, 1994
Bart takes his dog to school, which gets Skinner fired, which in turn leaves Bart missing his archnemesis.
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
May 5, 1994
Bart can clear Mayor Quimby's nephew of a charge of battery, but only by implicating himself as a hooky player.
Lady Bouvier's Lover
May 12, 1994
Grandpa Simpson falls for Marge's mother, but loses out to a competitor; Bart gets ripped off shopping at home with Homer's credit card.
Secrets of a Successful Marriage
May 19, 1994
Homer teaches a class on marriage, but sharing secrets about his own union gets him kicked out of the house.