Episode 9F09
Written by Gary Apple and Michael Carrington
Directed by David Silverman
Also starring: Maggie Roswell

Premise: All Homer's years of bacon-gorging have caught up with him. A massive heart attack will mean massively expensive surgery - unless he goes to Dr Nick Riviera. His special offer - $129.95 for an operation. Any operation.

Features: Chief Wiggum, Lou and Eddie, Rev. Lovejoy, Snake, Mr Burns, Smithers, Patty and Selma, Grampa, Rabbi Krustofsky, Dr Nick, Ned Flanders, Miss Alibright, Knisty, Lenny, Carl, Barney, Moe, Apu, Jasper, Hans Moleman.

Couch: The Simpsons rush in - but they've been miniaturized.

Homage: Homer quotes the German philosopher Nietzsche: 'Whatever does not kill me can only make me stronger.' Cops in Springfield, featuring Chief Wiggum and his bungling deputies, is homage to the US camcorder police documentary series Cops. Homer performs a sock-puppet show to Bart and Lisa using puppets of Akbar and Jeff from Matt Groening's Life in Hell cartoon strip.

Mmmmm: ...ham.

Notes: 'Cloud goes up, cloud goes down...' A cautionary tale that gives Dr Nick his biggest chance to shine.