The Simpsons (season 29)

The twenty-ninth season of the animated television series The Simpsons premiered on Fox in the United States on October 1, 2017, and ended on May 20, 2018.[1] On November 4, 2016, The Simpsons was renewed for seasons 29 and 30. This season marked the show's surpassing Gunsmoke as the longest-running scripted series in primetime television by number of episodes, with the series' 636th episode "Forgive and Regret".[2]

The Simpsons
Season 29
Digital purchase image featuring Bumblebee Man
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	21
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	October 1, 2017 (2017-10-01) – May 20, 2018 (2018-05-20)
Season chronology

The season features guest appearances from Norman Lear,[3] Martin Short, Ray Liotta and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. In addition, Bill Plympton animated a sixth couch gag in "3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage", having previously done so in season 23's "Beware My Cheating Bart", season 24's "Black Eyed, Please", season 25's "Married to the Blob", season 27's "Lisa the Veterinarian", and season 28's "22 for 30".[4] This season also features Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as Sideshow Bob for a singing cameo and Homer seeking help from Shaquille O'Neal ("Gone Boy"),[5][6] and a song written by guest star Rachel Bloom ("Springfield Splendor").[7][8] The season also includes the Simpson family traveling to New Orleans for JazzFest ("Lisa Gets the Blues"), and an episode that reimagines Stephen King's It featuring Krusty the Clown ("Fears of a Clown").[4]

On August 30, 2017, it was announced that longtime Simpsons score composer Alf Clausen was let go from the series.[9] The series switched from a live orchestrated score to a produced score by Bleeding Fingers Music. Hans Zimmer (who composed the score for The Simpsons Movie) and Russel Emanuel are score producers, with Steve Kofsky executive producing. Clausen's last episode was "Whistler's Father".

During February 2018, episodes of The Simpsons were held back to avoid competing with the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, Super Bowl LII, the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the 90th Academy Awards. This resulted in a nine-week gap in between new episodes, and is the second season to not have any new episodes airing in February, after the twenty-fifth season (which also aired in a Winter Olympics year).

Episodes

See also: List of The Simpsons episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
619	1	"The Serfsons"	Rob Oliver	Brian Kelley	October 1, 2017 (2017-10-01)	WABF17	3.26[10]
Homer has to undertake a dangerous mission to save the life of Marge's mother. Guest stars: Billy Boyd as himself and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Markery
620	2	"Springfield Splendor"	Matthew Faughnan	Tim Long & Miranda Thompson	October 8, 2017 (2017-10-08)	WABF22	5.25[11]
Marge and Lisa have creative differences after creating a graphic novel together. Guest stars: Alison Bechdel as herself, Rachel Bloom as Annette, Roz Chast as herself, Dan Harmon as himself, Marjane Satrapi as herself and Martin Short as Guthrie Frenel
621	3	"Whistler's Father"	Matthew Faughnan	Tom Gammill & Max Pross	October 15, 2017 (2017-10-15)	WABF16	2.91[12]
Homer discovers Maggie can whistle. Meanwhile, Marge designs Fat Tony's brothel. Guest stars: Nick Fascitelli as Professor Whistler, Valerie Harper as Backstage Mom and Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony
622	4	"Treehouse of Horror XXVIII"	Timothy Bailey	John Frink	October 22, 2017 (2017-10-22)	WABF18	3.66[13]
In the segment "The Exor-Sis", Maggie is possessed by Pazuzu, a vengeful demon. In "Coralisa", Lisa discovers an alternate reality where the Simpsons are a disturbing (yet perfect) family. In "MMM... Homer", Homer cannibalizes himself after he runs out of food while Marge and the kids are away from home. Guest stars: Mario Batali as himself, Ben Daniels as a priest, Neil Gaiman as Snowball and William Friedkin as Dr. Kenneth Humphries
623	5	"Grampy Can Ya Hear Me"	Bob Anderson	Bill Odenkirk	November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05)	WABF19	2.86[14]
After getting hearing aids, Grampa finally figures out what everyone says about him. Meanwhile, Principal Skinner discovers that his mother hid an admission letter from Ohio State from him, sabotaging his burgeoning marching band career.
624	6	"The Old Blue Mayor She Ain't What She Used to Be"	Matthew Nastuk	Tom Gammill & Max Pross	November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)	WABF20	4.75[15]
Marge runs for mayor of Springfield, and she must make fun of Homer to win votes.
625	7	"Singin' in the Lane"	Michael Polcino	Ryan Koh	November 19, 2017 (2017-11-19)	WABF21	2.67[16]
Homer reunites his old bowling team, the Pin Pals, where they must compete against a team of millionaires. Meanwhile, Marge and Lisa are stunned by how greedy Bart has become and join forces to change his behavior.
626	8	"Mr. Lisa's Opus"	Steven Dean Moore	Al Jean	December 3, 2017 (2017-12-03)	XABF01	4.28[17]
Beginning from the age of one, Homer and Marge find out just how smart Lisa is, prompting her to go to the place she always wanted to go after she graduated from school: college. As Lisa begins to write her college application essay for Harvard, she recalls past disappointing birthdays and family events that have helped to shape her life. Throughout Lisa's story, Ned tries to cure Homer of his alcohol problem. Guest stars: Kat Dennings as Valerie, Valerie Harper as Ms. Myles, Norman Lear as himself, Kipp Lennon as Leon Kompowsky and Jon Lovitz as Artie Ziff
627	9	"Gone Boy"	Rob Oliver	John Frink	December 10, 2017 (2017-12-10)	XABF02	6.06[18]
When Bart goes missing, Sideshow Bob attempts to get Milhouse to reveal his location. Guest stars: Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, Valerie Harper as a Nurse and Shaquille O'Neal as himself
628	10	"Haw-Haw Land"	Bob Anderson	Tim Long & Miranda Thompson	January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07)	XABF03	6.95[19]
The Simpsons go to a STEM conference, where Lisa becomes smitten with an older musician called Brendan. Upon seeing them together, Nelson gets jealous because of his past relationship with Lisa and tries to win her over instead. Meanwhile, Bart discovers his affinity for chemistry. Guest star: Ed Sheeran as Brendan
629	11	"Frink Gets Testy"	Chris Clements	Dan Vebber	January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)	XABF04	8.04[20]
Mr. Burns builds a doomsday ark, after he believes that the end of the world is near when he sees an old Orson Welles show about Nostradamus. Professor Frink comes up with a new way of testing everyone in Springfield after Burns wants a test to determine who should go on a spaceship with him. Guest stars: Valerie Harper as Proctor Clarkeson and Maurice LaMarche as Orson Welles
630	12	"Homer Is Where the Art Isn't"	Timothy Bailey	Kevin Curran	March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)	XABF05	2.10[21]
Manacek, a detective, investigates a theft of a Joan Miró painting which Homer is accused of stealing. Guest stars: Bill Hader as Manacek and Cecily Strong as Megan
631	13	"3 Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage"	Matthew Nastuk	Tom Gammill & Max Pross	March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25)	XABF06	2.15[22]
While visiting their old apartment, Homer and Marge recount the story of how they transitioned from a fun and energetic childless couple to life-drained parents. In doing so, the story saves the relationship of the apartment’s current owners. Guest stars: John Baldessari as himself, Kevin Pollak as Ross, Bagel Man and Professor and J. K. Simmons as J.J. Gruff
632	14	"Fears of a Clown"	Steven Dean Moore	Michael Price	April 1, 2018 (2018-04-01)	XABF08	2.06[23]
Bart goes to prankster rehab after a clown-mask prank terrifies the town and destroys Krusty the Clown's career. A tortured Krusty then tries his hand at serious drama with a regional theater company. Guest stars: Andy Daly as Judge Dowd, Damian Kulash as himself, Dawnn Lewis as Children's Court Bailiff, Jon Lovitz as Llewellyn Sinclair, Jackie Mason as Rabbi Krustofsky and Tim Nordwind as himself
633	15	"No Good Read Goes Unpunished"	Mark Kirkland	Jeff Westbrook	April 8, 2018 (2018-04-08)	XABF07	2.15[24]
Marge forces the family to hand in their electronics and head to the library in an attempt to bring the family together again. This results in Bart using The Art of War to control Homer, and Marge discovering that a past favorite of hers is now offensive and insensitive. Guest stars: Daniel Radcliffe as himself and Jimmy O. Yang as Sun Tzu
634	16	"King Leer"	Chris Clements	Daniel Furlong & Zach Posner	April 15, 2018 (2018-04-15)	XABF10	2.26[25]
Homer and Marge find out that Moe is having a big argument with his father; the two try to reconnect their relationship. Guest stars: Ray Liotta as Morty Szyslak; Moe's father, Debi Mazar as Minnie Szyslak; Moe's sister and Jonathan Schmock as Salesman
635	17	"Lisa Gets the Blues"	Bob Anderson	David Silverman & Brian Kelley	April 22, 2018 (2018-04-22)	XABF11	2.19[26]
When Lisa is discouraged from playing the saxophone, the Simpsons travel to New Orleans to cheer her up. Guest star: Trombone Shorty as Trombonist
636	18	"Forgive and Regret"	Rob Oliver	Bill Odenkirk	April 29, 2018 (2018-04-29)	XABF09	2.47[27]
While on his deathbed, Grampa makes a confession to Homer about the past. He comes to realize that the issue will not be easy to reconcile when he makes a recovery. Guest star: Glenn Close as Mona Simpson
637	19	"Left Behind"	Lance Kramer	Story by : Al Jean Teleplay by : Joel H. Cohen & John Frink	May 6, 2018 (2018-05-06)	XABF12	2.15[28]
When the Leftorium shuts down, Homer helps Ned get a job at the Nuclear Power Plant. Meanwhile, Marge feels that her marriage has lost its spark. Guest star: Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel (via archive recording)
638	20	"Throw Grampa from the Dane"	Michael Polcino	Rob LaZebnik	May 13, 2018 (2018-05-13)	XABF13	2.14[29]
The Simpsons take Grampa to Denmark so that he can benefit from its socialized medicine system. Guest star: Sidse Babett Knudsen as Danish bar woman
639	21	"Flanders' Ladder"	Matthew Nastuk	J. Stewart Burns	May 20, 2018 (2018-05-20)	XABF14	2.10[30]
A lightning strike gives Bart supernatural visions. He is then visited by ghosts who want closure. Guest stars: Jackie Mason as Rabbi Krustofsky

References

1. Andreeva, Nellie (June 22, 2017). "Fox Sets Fall 2017 Premiere Dates: 'Empire', 'The Gifted' & 'Orville'". Deadline. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
2. "'The Simpsons' Renewed For Record-Breaking Seasons 29 and 30 On Fox". Deadline. Associated Press. November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
3. Price, Michael. "We were visited by royalty today. The great Norman Lear, coming soon to a Simpsons episode near you.pic.twitter.com/zGq62qmO05". @mikepriceinla. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 12:21 PM – March 23, 2017
4. "'Simpsons' Creator Says Owner Asked for Nicer Treatment After "Racist" Fox News Joke". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
5. Ledesma, Chris. "Diff kind of 2fer 2day, music spotting #TheSimpsons WABF14 MOHO HOUSE, then directing @KelseyGrammer singing as Sideshow Bob for next year.pic.twitter.com/94SUE3Xlxv". @mxedtr. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 9:53 AM – April 20, 2017
6. "'The Simpsons' Nets Shaq for Guest Role". EW.com. May 4, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
7. Price, Michael. "My old pal, the hilarious, talented & soon to be Simpsons guest star @Racheldoesstuff paid the Simpsons writers a visit today.pic.twitter.com/OIIGgZkUpm". @mikepriceinla. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 4:50 PM – April 24, 2017
8. Price, Michael (April 26, 2017). "A not yet officially announced episode for next season written by @mrtimlong". @mikepriceinla. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
9. Burlingame, Jon (August 30, 2017). "'The Simpsons' Composer Alf Clausen Fired After 27 Years (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
10. Porter, Rick (October 3, 2017). "'NCIS: LA' and '60 Minutes' adjust up, 'Wisdom of the Crowd' and 'Ten Days in the Valley' down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
11. Porter, Rick (October 10, 2017). "NFL adjusts up, all others unchanged: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
12. Porter, Rick (October 17, 2017). "'Madam Secretary' and 'Wisdom of the Crowd' adjust down, '60 Minutes, 'AFV' and NFL up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
13. Porter, Rick (October 24, 2017). "'NCIS: LA' and 'Shark Tank' adjust up, 'Madam Secretary' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
14. Porter, Rick (November 7, 2017). "'Family Guy,' '60 Minutes' adjust up, 'Bob's Burgers' and 'Madam Secretary' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
15. Porter, Rick (November 14, 2017). "'Wisdom of the Crowd' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
16. Porter, Rick (November 21, 2017). "'Sunday Night Football' adjusts up, '60 Minutes' and 'Madam Secretary' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
17. Porter, Rick (December 5, 2017). "'Sunday Night Football' adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
18. Porter, Rick (December 12, 2017). "'Bob's Burgers,' 'The Simpsons' and '60 Minutes' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
19. Porter, Rick (January 9, 2018). "'Shark Tank' adjusts up, 'Simpsons,' 'Ghosted,' Golden Globes arrivals down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
20. Porter, Rick (January 17, 2018). "'NCIS: LA' and 'Family Guy' adjust up, other FOX shows adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
21. Porter, Rick (March 20, 2018). "'Bob's Burgers,' 'NCIS: LA' and 'AFV' adjust up, 'Deception' and '60 Minutes' down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
22. Porter, Rick (March 27, 2018). "'NCIS: LA' and 'Bob's Burgers' adjust up, 'Instinct,' 'Simpsons' and 'Deception' down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
23. Porter, Rick (April 3, 2018). "'Bob's Burgers' and 'Dateline' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
24. Porter, Rick (April 10, 2018). "'America's Funniest Home Videos' rerun adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
25. Porter, Rick (April 17, 2018). "'Bob's Burgers,' 'Little Big Shots' adjust up, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and 'Genius Junior' down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
26. Porter, Rick (April 24, 2018). "'Timeless,' 'Family Guy' and all others hold: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
27. Porter, Rick (May 1, 2018). "'The Simpsons' adjusts up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
28. Porter, Rick (May 8, 2018). "'America's Funniest Home Videos' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
29. Porter, Rick (May 15, 2018). "'American Idol' and 'Genius Junior' finale adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
30. Porter, Rick (May 22, 2018). "'Bob's Burgers,' 'Family Guy' and 'Dateline' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 22, 2018.