In an effort to increase the dismal television ratings for their space launches, NASA decides to send an ordinary man into space, and Homer is chosen for the task.
After Flanders invites Homer to a football game, the pair become friends, but Homer's possessiveness and loutish behaviour slowly turns Ned against him.
After Bart receives an elephant as a prize for calling in to a radio station, the animal proves to be too costly to care for and Homer decides to sell it.
Bart witnesses the alleged assault of a waiter by Mayor Quimby's nephew, but coming forward will mean admitting to skipping class and facing the consequences.
Confined to his room with a broken leg, Bart suspects Ned Flanders of murdering Maude; the family's new swimming pool earns Lisa popularity among the neighborhood kids.
When Sideshow Bob is released from prison and is elected Mayor of Springfield, Bart and Lisa suspect foul play and are determined to expose his corruption.
The family's job at Mr. Burns' country estate goes awry when Homer goes mad; Homer's attempt to repair a toaster results in inadvertent time travel; The school staff turn cannibalistic.