The Simpsons (season 28)
The twenty-eighth season of the animated television series The Simpsons began airing on Fox in the United States on September 25, 2016, and ended on May 21, 2017.[1] On May 4, 2015, Fox announced that The Simpsons had been renewed for season 28.[2]
The Simpsons | |
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Season 28 | |
Digital purchase image featuring Chief Clancy Wiggum | |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | 22 |
Release | |
Original network | Fox |
Original release | September 25, 2016 – May 21, 2017 |
Season chronology | |
This season includes the 600th episode of the show, "Treehouse of Horror XXVII".[3] On August 31, 2016, it was announced that an episode titled "The Caper Chase", inspired by Trump University, would air sometime in 2017; the episode aired on April 2.[4]
This season also includes the show's first hour-long episode, "The Great Phatsby", a parody of The Great Gatsby.[5] Other noteworthy events and gags include a Pokémon Go-themed episode ("Looking for Mr. Goodbart"),[6] couch gags spoofing Robot Chicken and Adventure Time, an episode that shows how Homer learned to feel better with food ("Fatzcarraldo"), Mr. Burns hiring all of the Simpsons (except Homer) to become his "pretend" family ("Friends and Family"), and Glenn Close returning as Mona ("Fatzcarraldo").[7]
This was the final season scored by longtime Simpsons composer Alf Clausen. This also marked the first season where former recurring guest star Kevin Michael Richardson joined the regular supporting cast, starting with the episode "The Last Traction Hero".
Episodes
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
597 | 1 | "Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus" | Matthew Nastuk | Tom Gammill & Max Pross | September 25, 2016 | VABF20 | 3.36[8] |
Mr. Burns puts on a variety show at the Springfield Bowl in exchange for rebuilding the town after it is burned to the ground. However, when the event brings back bad memories for the old man who bombed when he first performed there 100 years ago, Burns tries to muster up the courage to perform again in an effort to redeem himself. Guest stars: Amy Schumer as Mrs. Burns and Pendleton Ward as himself | |||||||
598 | 2 | "Friends and Family" | Lance Kramer | J. Stewart Burns | October 2, 2016 | VABF18 | 6.00[9] |
Homer finds a new friend in a woman who acts just like him, while Mr. Burns' search for a clan to play his virtual-reality family leads him to hire Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, since Burns intends to play the father. Guest star: Allison Janney as Julia | |||||||
599 | 3 | "The Town" | Rob Oliver | Dave King | October 9, 2016 | VABF17 | 3.22[10] |
Homer takes the family on a "hate-cation" to Boston when he catches Bart rooting for a rival football team. But after discovering the appeal of candlepin bowling over his regular bowling, and finding a better safety inspector job at a candy factory, they agree to move there. Meanwhile, Lisa discovers how much Boston has to offer academically compared to Springfield. Guest stars: Bill Burr as Townie, Michael Chiklis as Handsome quarterback, Rachel Dratch as Doctor, Doris Kearns Goodwin as herself and Dana Gould as Murphy | |||||||
600 | 4 | "Treehouse of Horror XXVII" | Steven Dean Moore | Joel H. Cohen | October 16, 2016 | VABF16 | 7.44[11] |
In the 27th annual Simpsons Halloween special, Mr. Burns makes the children fight to the death for a day in his personal reservoir, Lisa's imaginary friend kills her real friends, and Bart is recruited to Moe's group of secret barfly agents. Guest stars: Drew Carey as himself, Donald Fagen as himself, Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, Maurice LaMarche, Judith Owen as herself and Sarah Silverman as Rachel
| |||||||
601 | 5 | "Trust but Clarify" | Michael Polcino | Harry Shearer | October 23, 2016 | VABF21 | 3.36[12] |
Bart and Lisa investigate Krusty's new "Krustaceans" candy, while Homer asks Marge to help him dress for a promotion at the nuclear plant and Kent Brockman deals with the changing media world. Guest star: Dan Rather as himself | |||||||
602 | 6 | "There Will Be Buds" | Matthew Faughnan | Matt Selman | November 6, 2016 | VABF22 | 3.14[13] |
Homer coaches the kids' lacrosse team with Milhouse's dad Kirk, who really needs a friend. Kirk then disappears upon hearing Homer rant about him being a loser, just as the team needs him for the championship game. | |||||||
603 | 7 | "Havana Wild Weekend" | Bob Anderson | Deb Lacusta, Dan Castellaneta & Peter Tilden | November 13, 2016 | VABF19 | 7.13[14] |
The Simpsons go to Cuba to get Grampa cheap medical care, since neither the retirement home, nor the V.A. hospital are able solve his health issues. Guest stars: Stacy Keach as H.K. Duff and Deb Lacusta as Isabella | |||||||
604 | 8 | "Dad Behavior" | Steven Dean Moore | Ryan Koh | November 20, 2016 | WABF01 | 2.88[15] |
Homer discovers a new app that makes his life easier, and Grampa learns he's going to be a father again. Guest star: Matt Leinart as himself | |||||||
605 | 9 | "The Last Traction Hero" | Bob Anderson | Bill Odenkirk | December 4, 2016 | WABF03 | 5.77[16] |
Homer gets hurt in a workplace accident, and Marge turns to an unexpected source for romance. Meanwhile, Lisa is made "Bus Monitor". | |||||||
606 | 10 | "The Nightmare After Krustmas" | Rob Oliver | Jeff Westbrook | December 11, 2016 | WABF02 | 5.60[17] |
Krusty and his daughter spend Christmas with the Simpsons. Meanwhile, Reverend Lovejoy seeks converts to boost church attendance, and a Christmas toy scares Maggie. Guest stars: Wayne Gretzky as himself, Theo Jansen as himself, Natasha Lyonne as Sophie and Jackie Mason as Rabbi Krustofsky | |||||||
607 | 11 | "Pork and Burns" | Matthew Nastuk | Rob LaZebnik | January 8, 2017 | WABF06 | 8.19[18] |
Inspired by a Japanese self-help book on minimalist living, Marge makes the family get rid of the vast majority of their possessions. Homer attempts to give away his pet pig Plopper (who originally appeared in The Simpsons Movie) and ends up using him as a therapy animal. Meanwhile, Lisa takes the book's advice too far and gives away everything that she owns, including her saxophone. Guest stars: Joyce Carol Oates as herself and Michael York as Dr. Budgie | |||||||
608 609 | 12 13 | "The Great Phatsby (Vol. I & Vol. II)" | Chris Clements Timothy Bailey | Dan Greaney Dan Greaney & Matt Selman | January 15, 2017 | WABF04 WABF05 | 6.90[19] |
Mr. Burns plots revenge against the music mogul who conned him. Guest stars: Charles Barkley as himself, Jim Beanz, Common as himself, Taraji P. Henson as Praline, Phil LaMarr, Dawnn Lewis, Keegan-Michael Key as Jazzy James, RZA as himself and Snoop Dogg as himself | |||||||
610 | 14 | "Fatzcarraldo" | Mark Kirkland | Michael Price | February 12, 2017 | WABF07 | 2.40[20] |
When all the fast food restaurants in Springfield become healthy, Homer is forced to turn to chili dogs for comfort. Meanwhile, Lisa tries to save the school radio station. Guest stars: Glenn Close as Mona Simpson | |||||||
611 | 15 | "The Cad and the Hat" | Steven Dean Moore | Ron Zimmerman | February 19, 2017 | WABF08 | 2.44[21] |
Bart has to deal with his guilt after he betrays Lisa. Meanwhile, Homer begins playing chess, and everyone in Springfield becomes impressed by his talents. Guest stars: Magnus Carlsen as himself, Seth Green as the Robot Chicken Nerd and Patton Oswalt as Bart's Guilt | |||||||
612 | 16 | "Kamp Krustier" | Rob Oliver | David M. Stern | March 5, 2017 | WABF09 | 2.56[22] |
Bart and Lisa return from Kamp Krusty, both traumatized. Meanwhile, Homer becomes a more productive worker. Guest stars: Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson and Michael Sheen as William Masters | |||||||
613 | 17 | "22 for 30" | Chris Clements | Joel H. Cohen | March 12, 2017 | WABF10 | 2.61[23] |
In a parody of 30 for 30, Bart becomes a star basketball player, but things go awry when he gets involved with the mafia. Guest stars: Stephen Curry as himself, Earl Mann as the Narrator/Eddie Muntz and Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony | |||||||
614 | 18 | "A Father's Watch" | Bob Anderson | Simon Rich | March 19, 2017 | WABF11 | 2.40[24] |
Marge goes to parenting experts for advice when she thinks that Bart is on the road to failure. Following their advice, Homer opens a trophy store. Guest stars: Vanessa Bayer as Dr. Clarity Hoffman-Roth, Brian Posehn as Dumlee, Rob Riggle as Dr. Fenton Pooltoy and Adam Silver as himself | |||||||
615 | 19 | "The Caper Chase" | Lance Kramer | Jeff Westbrook | April 2, 2017 | WABF12 | 2.13[25] |
Mr. Burns opens a for-profit university, with Homer as one of its professors. Guest stars: Jason Alexander as Verlander, Ken Jennings as himself, Stan Lee as himself, Robert McKee as himself, Suze Orman as herself and Neil deGrasse Tyson as himself | |||||||
616 | 20 | "Looking for Mr. Goodbart" | Michael Polcino | Carolyn Omine | April 30, 2017 | WABF13 | 2.30[26] |
Bart spends time with Principal Skinner's mother, Agnes. Meanwhile, Homer and Lisa get addicted to Peekimon Get. Guest stars: Valerie Harper as Ma-Ma and Jennifer Saunders as Phoebe Pratt | |||||||
617 | 21 | "Moho House" | Matthew Nastuk | Jeff Martin | May 7, 2017 | WABF14 | 2.34[27] |
Homer and Marge try to work on their marriage. Meanwhile, Mr. Burns's boarding school friend Nigel comes to town and bets Mr. Burns that he can break up Homer and Marge. To do so, he gives Moe the funds to build a more upscale bar called Moho House. Guest stars: Valerie Harper as Mrs. Butterworth and Michael York as Nigel | |||||||
618 | 22 | "Dogtown" | Steven Dean Moore | J. Stewart Burns | May 21, 2017 | WABF15 | 2.15[28] |
After a legal issue, dogs become more important than humans, after which they start to take over the town. Guest stars: Michael York as Dr. Budgie |
References
- Al Jean [@AlJean] (May 22, 2016). "@87Loco87 @mxedtr @TheSimpsons yes with Monty Burns' Fleeing a Circus" (Tweet). Retrieved August 8, 2016 – via Twitter.
- "Release". Foxflash.com. May 4, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- "Exclusive: 'Simpsons' reveals Treehouse poster". Usatoday.com. July 15, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- "'The Simpsons' to Skewer Trump University on Upcoming Season". Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- Snierson, Dan (August 8, 2016). "The Simpsons to do first-ever hourlong episode". Entertainment Weekly.
- Al Jean [@AlJean] (December 15, 2016). "@jade210898 looking for mr goodbart, the cad in the hat" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Fall TV Spoilers 2016: Exclusive Scoop On 41 Season Premieres". TVLine. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- Porter, Rick (September 27, 2016). "Sunday final ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' and 'NCIS: LA' adjust up, FOX shows adjust down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
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- Porter, Rick (October 18, 2016). "'NCIS: LA' adjusts up, 'Simpsons' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
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- Porter, Rick (November 22, 2016). "'Family Guy' and 'Bob's Burgers' adjust up, 'NCIS: LA' and 'Elementary' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
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- Porter, Rick (January 10, 2017). "'The Simpsons' and FOX adjust down, still above average: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (January 18, 2017). "'The Simpsons,' many others adjust down, final NFL numbers: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (February 14, 2017). "Final Grammy numbers, plus 'AFV' and 'Dateline' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (February 22, 2017). "'The Simpsons,' 'The Good Fight,' all others unchanged: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 7, 2017). "'NCIS: LA' and 'Time After Time' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 16, 2017). "'American Crime' premieres low, 'Chicago Justice' fairly steady: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
- Porter, Rick (March 21, 2017). "'Little Big Shots' adjusts up, 'NCIS: LA' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
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