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21 Episodes 2004 - 2005
Surprisingly, the characters of Patty and Selma Bouvier (Marge's grumpy, chain-smoking sisters) are the focus of two of Season 16's most-notable installments. In "There's Something About Marrying," Springfield legalizes same-sex marriage, which prompts Patty to finally come out of the closet (the episode was promoted with the teaser that one of show's characters would be revealed as gay). And in "Goo Goo Gai Pan," the Simpsons travel to China with Selma, who wants to adopt an orphan. The family, of course, also get into wacky antics that don't involve hot-button issues: Bart becomes a T-shirt designer, Homer teaches sports mascots how to dance and Marge enters a cooking contest.
Episode 1
Sun, Nov 7, 2004 30 mins
The annual Halloween trilogy begins Season 16, with Flanders having death premonitions; Lisa and Bart probing murders in 1890s London; and Burns swallowing a miniaturized Maggie. Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright.
Episode 2
Sun, Nov 14, 2004 30 mins
James Caan comes to party after Bart turns his tree house into a bachelor pad; Marge counters cheaters when she enters a bake-off. Writer Thomas Pynchon also has a cameo. Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden, Julie Kavner.
Episode 3
Sun, Nov 21, 2004 30 mins
Bully Nelson Muntz is the lucky beneficiary when Marge feels her mothering skills are lost on her own kids; teasing puts Lisa on a diet. Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith.
Episode 4
Sun, Dec 5, 2004 30 mins
Kim Cattrall plays Marge's former classmate, a famous TV newswoman who sparks inspiration in Lisa, and jealousy in Marge. Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer.
Episode 5
Sun, Dec 12, 2004 30 mins
Bart's success at selling novelty T-shirts enables Homer to quit his job and help Lisa with her science project---by supplying some plutonium. Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright.
Episode 6
Sun, Jan 16, 2005 30 mins
Cutbacks in prescription-drug benefits send Homer and Grandpa to Canada, and make them heroes upon their return.
Episode 7
Sun, Jan 30, 2005 30 mins
Marge insists on becoming an active partner in Moe's after Homer takes out another mortgage to finance the tavern's required repairs. Hank Azaria, Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta.
Episode 8
Sun, Feb 6, 2005 30 mins
Homer's victory dance at a carnival game leads to fame as a personal choreographer, and a gig producing the Super Bowl halftime show, with help from Flanders. Athlete cameos include Tom Brady, Michelle Kwan, Warren Sapp, LeBron James and Yao Ming.
Episode 9
Sun, Feb 13, 2005 30 mins
50 Cent has a cameo as Bart fakes his own kidnapping after defying his parents to attend a rap concert. Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Nancy Cartwright.
Episode 10
Sun, Feb 20, 2005 30 mins
Springfield legalizes gay marriage to attract tourists, and Homer becomes an ordained minister (via the Internet) to cash in. Tress MacNeille, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner.
Episode 11
Sun, Mar 6, 2005 30 mins
Tired of his teasing, Lisa gets a restraining order against Bart, with Gary Busey explaining how it works in an accompanying video. Jane Kaczmarek, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria.
Episode 12
Sun, Mar 13, 2005 30 mins
Homer poses as Selma's husband in China so she can adopt a baby, but a bureaucrat (Lucy Liu) checks up. Robert Wagner has a cameo. Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria.
Episode 13
Sun, Mar 20, 2005 30 mins
Financial concerns split Marge and Homer, who responds to her penny pinching by buying an RV. Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith.
Episode 14
Sun, Apr 3, 2005 30 mins
When Springfield's new Frank Gehry-designed concert hall fails to draw, Mr. Burns takes it over and gives a special job to Homer. Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta, Harry Shearer.
Episode 15
Sun, Apr 17, 2005 30 mins
Amy Poehler plays Bart's girlfriend during his teenage years as Prof. Frink reveals the future to Bart and a Yale-bound Lisa. Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright.
Episode 16
Sun, May 1, 2005 30 mins
Ray Romano plays a roofer who becomes Homer's new best pal, but his failure to show up for work leads Marge to suspect that he's imaginary---so she has Homer committed. Stephen Hawking has a cameo. Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer.
Episode 17
Sun, May 1, 2005 30 mins
Albert Brooks plays the director of the fat farm where Bart is sent after suffering a heart attack brought on by eating too much junk food. Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Julie Kavner.
Episode 18
Sun, May 8, 2005 30 mins
"American Idol" winner Fantasia plays a fellow contestant as Lisa enters Krusty's singing competition, where she performs a song written by Homer, who becomes an aggressive stage mother.
Episode 19
Sun, May 8, 2005 30 mins
A religious movie and subsequent coincidences convince Homer that "the Rapture is nigh," and the folks of Springfield, God love 'em, take him at his word. Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria.
Episode 20
Sun, May 15, 2005 30 mins
Flanders moves after Homer humiliates him, but neither man is pleased with his new neighbors. Jason Bateman has a cameo. Harry Shearer, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria.
Episode 21
Sun, May 15, 2005 30 mins
Liam Neeson voices a priest who counsels Bart, and later Homer, who embrace the faith when an expelled Bart attends Catholic school.