Episode 5F23
Written by Steve O'Donnell
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Also starring: Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille
Special guest voice: Marcia Wallace (as Ms Krabappel)

Premise: A new cult has established itself in Springfield, the Movementarians, whose unseen master promises them all a better life on the distant planet Blisstonia. One by one, Springfield's residents join in, until only one woman can expose them.

Features: Mr Burns, Smithers, Carl, Lenny, Moe, Barney, Jasper, Kent Brockman, Agnes Skinner, Skinner, Miss Hoover, Groundskeeper Willie, Otto, Jimbo, Dolph, Kearney, Rev. Lovejoy, Helen Lovejoy, the Flanders, Mr van Houten, Mrs van Houten, Ruth Powers, Hans Moleman, Android's Dungeon Guy, Krusty, Sideshow Mel, Apu, Manjula, Spotty Boy, Dr Frink, Cletus, Gerald the Baby, Dr Nick Riviera.

Couch: The Simpsons are tiny and clamber on to the couch, but Santa's Little Helper eats Homer.

Trivia:

• Homer goes fishing and sings about the sport to Nelson Riddle's theme to the sixties Batman TV show.
• Mr Burns only pays $3 tax per year.
• When Marge makes her bid for freedom, she is pursued by a Rover from the cult sixties TV series The Prisoner; they use Ron Grainer's excellent theme as well.

Look out for: Mr Burns' attempts to make himself popular, particularly his Michael Jacksonesque statues, and his intention to use the trademarks from both Kellogg's Special K breakfast cereal and also Disneyland's Mickey Mouse ears. We also like the robotic Barney the Dinosaur and the idea that Timothy Lovejoy would torch his church for the insurance money. But the best joke of the episode is that while Ban owns a L'il B*****d General Mischief Kit which he plans to use to effect an escape from the Movementarians, they in turn get him with their L'il B*****d Brainwashing Kit. Great!

Notes: An odd one this, with lots of good moments. It's a nice twist to see Burns determined to be loved, but another one where the central joke isn't strong enough to last the whole episode.