The Simpsons (season 24)

The Simpsons (season 24)
Digital download cover
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	September 30, 2012 – May 19, 2013
Season chronology

The Simpsons' twenty-fourth season began airing on Fox on September 30, 2012 and concluded on May 19, 2013.^[1][2]

Advertising revenue

An August 2011 article in Advertising Age reported that the average cost of a 30-second advertising spot during a first-run episode of The Simpsons was $286,131—up from $254,260 in season 23. In 2012, The Simpsons was the sixth-most expensive television series in the United States to sponsor. The top five were (in ascending order) American Idol (Thursday), New Girl, Modern Family, American Idol (Wednesday), and NBC Sunday Night Football. A first-run, season 24 episode of The Simpsons was the Fox Broadcasting Company's fourth-most expensive program to sponsor, up from fifth in 2011.^[3]

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
509	1	"Moonshine River"	Bob Anderson	Tim Long	September 30, 2012	PABF21	8.08[4]
The Simpsons return to New York City after Bart discovers that, out of all of the female interests he has had, the only one who continued to like him was Cletus Spuckler's daughter, Mary who once helped him save a cow, and now that Mary has moved to the Big Apple to be a writer for Saturday Night Live, Bart wants to see her again. Guest star: Ken Burns, Zooey Deschanel, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anne Hathaway, Maurice LaMarche, Don Pardo, Natalie Portman, Kevin Michael Richardson, Al Roker and Sarah Silverman[1][5][6][7][8]
510	2	"Treehouse of Horror XXIII"	Steven Dean Moore	David Mandel & Brian Kelley	October 7, 2012	PABF17	6.57[9]
A Halloween special: -An intro showing a botched Mayan sacrifice in the past causing the end of the world in 2012. -The Greatest Story Ever Holed: Professor Frink's Subatomic Supercollider releases a black hole that Lisa takes in as a pet – and the hole ends up sucking up all matter thanks to everyone using it as a waste disposal unit. -Unnormal Activity: In this parody of the Paranormal Activity movies, a collection of video clips shows demonic activity in the Simpsons' house late at night – which may have something to do with Marge's deal with the Devil she made years ago. -Bart & Homer's Excellent Adventure: In this light parody of the Back to the Future film franchise, Bart steals Professor Frink's time-traveling car and heads to 1974 so he can buy a Radioactive Man comic at cover price (25 cents instead of the present-day price of $200), but his visit into the past alters the future and leads Marge to marry her first prom date, Artie Ziff. Guest star: Jon Lovitz
511	3	"Adventures in Baby-Getting"	Rob Oliver	Bill Odenkirk	November 4, 2012	PABF18	5.65[10]
Marge gets the car of her dreams until her dreams start including the possibility of a fourth child, since the car only seats five. Meanwhile, Bart and his friends spy on Lisa. Guest star: Jeff Gordon
512	4	"Gone Abie Gone"	Matthew Nastuk	Joel H. Cohen	November 11, 2012	PABF16	6.86[11]
Homer puts Lisa's college fund into online poker as a way to fight back against big banks, and Lisa must become a player to get her college fund back. Meanwhile, Grampa Simpson mysteriously disappears from the Springfield Retirement Castle, and leaves behind clues to parts of his life that the family never knew before, like the time he was married to a black singer named Rita LaFleur, and when he worked in a restaurant with Marvin Hamlisch. Guest star: Jennifer Tilly, Anika Noni Rose and Marvin Hamlisch
513	5	"Penny-Wiseguys"	Mark Kirkland	Michael Price	November 18, 2012	PABF19	5.06[12]
Homer is shocked to discover that his bowling teammate Dan Gillick is an accountant for Fat Tony and his mob. Meanwhile, Lisa adds insects to her vegetarian diet after passing out during a saxophone solo from iron deficiency, but immediately quits when the bugs guilt her in her dreams. Guest star: Steve Carell, Joe Mantegna and Alex Trebek
514	6	"A Tree Grows in Springfield"	Timothy Bailey	Stephanie Gillis	November 25, 2012	PABF22	7.46[13]
Lisa wins a Mapple MyPad for Homer at a school raffle and Homer becomes obsessed with it until he falls and breaks it. Feeling depressed over his life and the loss of his MyPad, Flanders picks up Homer's spirits when he finds the word "Hope" written on The Simpsons' backyard tree in sap and everyone sees it as a miracle. Guest star: Kelsey Grammer
515	7	"The Day the Earth Stood Cool"	Matthew Faughnan	Matt Selman	December 9, 2012	PABF20	7.44[14]
Homer wants a younger, hipper image, so he starts hanging out with Terrence and Emily, two hipsters from Portland, but Marge and Bart find the couple, their child, and their ilk who take over the unhip town of Springfield to be irritating and pretentious. Guest star: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Patton Oswalt, and The Decemberists[15]
516	8	"To Cur with Love"	Steven Dean Moore	Carolyn Omine	December 16, 2012	RABF01	3.77[16]
When a fire at the retirement home forces Grampa to move home with the Simpsons, Homer throws out his back on moving day and decides to stay home to recover. While enjoying his time alone, Homer gets distracted by a tablet game called "VillageVille" and loses the family dog, Santa's Little Helper. Once they find him, Homer says he never cares for dogs, except for his childhood dog named Bongo and tells the family how Mr. Burns tried to take him for attacking him.
517	9	"Homer Goes to Prep School"	Mark Kirkland	Brian Kelley	January 6, 2013	RABF02	8.97[17]
After a lockdown at a kids' fun center (caused by a kid chasing after a ball and a negligent worker talking on her cell phone), Homer is traumatized over seeing everyone panic in the chaos, and meets a doomsday prepper who introduces him to some Springfield residents who are preparing for the day when society crumbles from a disaster. Guest star: Tom Waits
518	10	"A Test Before Trying"	Chris Clements	Joel H. Cohen	January 13, 2013	RABF03	5.04[18]
Springfield Elementary School is in danger of shutting down due to low test scores on the latest standardized test, and Bart may be the school's only hope. Meanwhile, Homer uses a discarded parking meter to rake in some extra money. Guest star: Valerie Harper
519	11	"The Changing of the Guardian"	Bob Anderson	Rob LaZebnik	January 27, 2013	RABF04	5.23[19]
After surviving a tornado, Marge and Homer seek out guardians for the kids, in case the worst should happen. They first turn to friends and family, including Homer's half-brother, Herb Powell (who inexplicably has gone broke again), with whom to entrust their kids, but when Bart and Lisa fall in love with a super-cool couple, Mav and Portia, Marge starts to question their potential guardians' true motivations. Guest star: Danny DeVito and Rashida Jones
520	12	"Love is a Many-Splintered Thing"	Chris Clements	Tim Long	February 10, 2013	RABF07	4.19[20]
A "special Valentine's-themed outing" in which Bart's heartstrings are pulled once again when Mary Spuckler returns to Springfield, but his failure to pay her enough attention strains their relationship. Guest star: Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Caro, Zooey Deschanel and Max Weinberg
521	13	"Hardly Kirk-ing"	Matthew Nastuk	Tom Gammill & Max Pross	February 17, 2013	RABF05	4.57[21]
Bart gives Milhouse a haircut to get the epoxy out of his hair, and ends up making Milhouse look like his loser father, Kirk. Meanwhile, Marge tries to wean Maggie off a series of DVDs for toddlers that were pulled for stunting children's developmental growth, and Homer gets addicted to "find the hidden object" puzzle books. Guest star: Kevin Michael Richardson
522	14	"Gorgeous Grampa"	Chuck Sheetz	Matt Selman	March 3, 2013	RABF06	4.66[22]
Homer buys a storage locker after watching a reality show, only to discover that it is Grampa's, from the days when he was Glamorous Godfrey, the most hated wrestler in the business.
523	15	"Black Eyed, Please"	Matthew Schofield	John Frink	March 10, 2013	RABF09	4.85[23]
A new substitute teacher named Miss Cantwell is hired while Miss Hoover is out with severe depression, and Lisa must figure out why Miss Cantwell hates her. Meanwhile, Flanders tries to atone for punching Homer in the eye after Flanders' parents take a liking to him instead of their own son. Guest star: Richard Dawkins and Tina Fey
524	16	"Dark Knight Court"	Mark Kirkland	Billy Kimball & Ian Maxtone-Graham	March 17, 2013	RABF10	4.89[24]
Lisa must defend Bart after he is accused of pulling an Easter prank on the school marching band. Meanwhile, Mr. Burns fulfills his dream of becoming a superhero, and Smithers pays the townspeople to be supervillains. Guest star: Janet Reno
525	17	"What Animated Women Want"	Steven Dean Moore	J. Stewart Burns	April 14, 2013	RABF08	4.11[25]
Homer takes a page from 50 Shades of Grey and decides that a sadomasochistic relationship with Marge is the way to go. Meanwhile, Milhouse uses Marlon Brando's ghost to get advice on how to impress Lisa. Guest star: Wanda Sykes and George Takei
526	18	"Pulpit Friction"	Michael Polcino	Bill Odenkirk	April 28, 2013	RABF11	4.54[26]
Reverend Lovejoy leaves his pulpit after a charismatic new minister usurps him and finds a new job as a hot tub salesman, while Homer's newfound devotion and work as a deacon starts to annoy Bart. Guest star: Edward Norton
527	19	"Whiskey Business"	Matthew Nastuk	Valentina L. Garza	May 5, 2013	RABF13	4.43[27]
Homer and Marge help a suicidal Moe get a new lease on life and Moe's homemade alcohol pings the radar of venture capitalists. Elsewhere, Grandpa gets hurt at home and finds Bart takes better care of him than the nursing home staff does, and Lisa complains about the "exploitation" of her dead jazz mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy after he 'performs' at a concert as a projected image. Guest star: Tony Bennett, Kevin Michael Richardson, Sonny Rollins and Ron Taylor
528	20	"The Fabulous Faker Boy"	Bob Anderson	Brian McConnachie	May 12, 2013	RABF12	4.16[28]
Bart's interest in piano lessons surges when he sees the instructor is a beautiful young woman, while Homer tries to keep Marge from finding out he has lost the final two original hairs on his head, and Marge helps a Russian man pass his driver's test. Guest star: Justin Bieber, Bill Hader, Jane Krakowski and Patrick Stewart
529	21	"The Saga of Carl"	Chuck Sheetz	Eric Kaplan	May 19, 2013	RABF14	4.01[29]
Homer, Moe, Lenny and Carl team up to buy a winning lottery ticket, but when Carl absconds with the winnings and heads to his homeland of Iceland, Homer, Lenny, and Moe set out to get him and the money back. Guest star: Sigur Rós
530	22	"Dangers on a Train"	Steven Dean Moore	Michael Price	May 19, 2013	RABF17	4.52[29]
Marge stumbles upon a website for married women to arrange affairs (after mistaking it for a cupcake delivery website) and meets a man named Ben, who falls for Marge after the two bond over a Downton Abbey-esque period drama. Meanwhile, Homer takes home a steam train that used to belong to Springfield's high-end, outside mall and recruits Reverend Lovejoy, Moe, Lenny, Carl, and Larry the Lush to fix it for his wedding anniversary. Guest star: Lisa Lampanelli and Seth MacFarlane

References

1. Marnell, Blair. "Fox Announces Fall 2012 Season Premiere Dates". CraveOnline.
2. FOX Broadcasting Company - The Simpsons TV Show - The Simpsons TV Series - The Simpsons Episode Guide. Fox.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-29.
3. Steinberg, Brian (21 October 2012). "TV Ad Prices: 'Idol' No Match for Football". AdAge. Crain Communications. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
4. Bibel, Sara (October 2, 2012). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon A Time', 'The Simpsons', 'Bob's Burgers' Adjusted Up; '666 Park Avenue', '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down & Final Football Numbers". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
5. Snierson, Dan (2012-05-03). "Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sarah Silverman join Zooey Deschanel on 'The Simpsons' – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
6. Reg. #PAu003601700 in the U.S. Copyright Records database Retrieved on March 20, 2012
7. "'The Simpsons' Season 24 Guest Voices And More Fox Cartoon Guest Stars". The Huffington Post. 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
8. "Fox Primetime". Fox Flash. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
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11. Bibel, Sara (November 13, 2012). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Revenge', 'The Mentalist' & 'The Amazing Race' Adjusted Up; '666 Park Avenue' & '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
12. Kondolojy, Amanda (November 20, 2012). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Family Guy', 'Amazing Race', 'American Dad' and 'The Good Wife' Adjusted Up; 'America's Funniest Home Videos', '60 Minutes' & 'The Simpsons' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
13. Bibel, Sara (November 27, 2012). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time', 'Family Guy' & 'The Cleveland Show' Adjusted Up; 'The Good Wife' & '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
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24. Bibel, Sara. "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Amazing Race', 'Family Guy', 'The Cleveland Show, 'The Simpsons, 'Bob's Burgers' & 'The Mentalist' Adjusted Up". Zap2it. TV by the Numbers.
25. Bibel, Sara (April 16, 2013). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Cleveland Show', 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Amazing Race', 'Family Guy', 'Celebrity Apprentice' & 'American Dad' Adjusted Up; '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down + Final Golf Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
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Bibliography

• Turner, Chris (2004). Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation. Foreword by Douglas Coupland. (1st ed.). Toronto: Random House Canada. ISBN 978-0-679-31318-2. OCLC 55682258.