Episode 8F16
Written by Jon Vitti
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Also starring: Maggie Roswell, Pamela Hayden
Special guest voice: Marcia Wallace (as Ms Krabappel)

Premise: Inspired by a visiting team of yo-yo spinners, Bart learns the art of double loops, spins and backflips - and gets a week in detention. Rummaging through Ms Krabappel's drawer, he realises she has placed a Lonely Hearts ad. A cruel plan forms in his mind - and he assumes the persona of Woody to woo her - epistolarily.

Features: Ms Krabappel, Principal Skinner, Groundskeeper Willie, Miss Hoover, Milhouse, Nelson Muntz, Jasper, Apu, Ned Flanders, Maude Flanders, Todd Flanders, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, Rev, and Helen Lovejoy, Martin Prince, Sherri and Terri, Otto, Wendell, Ralph.

Couch: The Simpsons rush in - and the alien watching TV on the sofa escapes through a trapdoor.

Trivia:

• Ms Krabappel eats Chef Lonely Heart's Soup For One on a regular basis, it seems. Her choice this time is for Chicken Noodle.
• The restaurant chosen by Bart for Edna to meet Woody is The Gilded Truffle, while he nips next door to the cinema to see Ernest Needs a Kidney, which he finds very amusing.
• Marge only ever received one love letter from Homer, a drunken message scrawled on a postcard from the Duff Beer factory, site of the world's largest pull-tab.
• The Simpsons appear to live at 94 Evergreen Terrace in this episode.

Notes for Brits: Woody's name is adapted from that of ex-President Woodrow Wilson, although the picture Bart selects to accompany his letter is of National Hockey League player Gordie Howe.

Look out for: Homer determined not to swear, despite receiving some appalling injuries trying to build the dog house. Rev. Lovejoy's reaction to receiving (what is presumably one in a long line) a phone call from Ned Flanders.

Notes: Bart sees his pranks backfire, for once. We love Homer's suggestion for a good kiss-off letter ('Dear Edna, Welcome to Dumpsville, Population: You. PS I am gay.').