The Simpsons · Season 4

Homer's sanity was called into question when he wore a pink shirt to work, leading to a series of events that resulted in him being committed to a mental hospital. There, he met a man who claimed to be Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Lisa was struggling with her upcoming eighth birthday, but her mood improved when she received a song written specially for her. As the season progressed, Lisa's faith in government was shaken when she witnessed a bribery scandal involving Springfield's state congressman during an essay contest in Washington, D.C. However, her faith was restored when her essay led to the arrest of the corrupt congressman. Homer, on the other hand, made a wish for Ned Flanders to be a financial failure, which came true when Flanders's store went out of business. Feeling guilty, Homer helped Ned by promoting his store to the left-handed population of Springfield. Bart got into various misadventures, including working as a bartender for the Mafia, being blamed for Principal Skinner's disappearance, and playing pranks on the town using a radio transmitter microphone. He also improved his behavior and grades when he was chosen to be Principal Skinner's hall monitor, based on the results of an aptitude test. However, his good behavior was short-lived, as he later tricked the town into thinking a little boy was stuck in a well, and he ended up getting trapped himself. Homer's relationships with his family members were also explored throughout the season. He struggled to connect with Lisa, but eventually bonded with her over her ability to pick winning football teams. However, he secretly used her ability to gamble, which led to a rift between them. Homer also had to care for Maggie when Marge suffered a nervous breakdown and went to a spa resort, and he learned to appreciate the importance of Marge in their family's life. The season also saw the introduction of new characters, including Lurleen Lumpkin, a beautiful barmaid with a talent for singing, and Sideshow Bob, who married Selma but planned to kill her. Bart was able to stop Sideshow Bob's plan, saving Selma's life. The season ended with Homer's half-brother, Herb, returning with a plan to regain his wealth and life, and asking Homer for help.