The Simpsons

Season 8 Episode 10

The Springfield Files

Aired Sunday 8:00 PM Jan 12, 1997 on FOX
out of 10
User Rating
310 votes

By Users

Episode Summary

The Springfield Files
Leonard Nimoy opens a tale about a typical Friday night. Homer goes to the Moe's but has to walk home after Moe tells him that his blood alcohol level is too high to drive. A bunch of creepy things happen on this walk home, including seeing an alien. He tells people, but no one believes him. A couple of Special Agents from the FBI, named Mulder and Scully, come to investigate. The alien comes back every Friday, like Urkel. Homer and Bart venture out late at night to get hard evidence and film the latest encounter and get the footage shown on the news. The whole town shows up the following Friday evening. They all see it, but Smithers reveals that it is just Mr. Burns on his medication. They all sing together, as Homer brings the town peace and love.moreless

Who was the Episode MVP ?

  • After (another) night of heavy drinking at Moe's, Homer is forced to walk home because he is too drunk to drive. On the way he runs into a wooded area and sees an alien. Homer tells everybody about what he saw but nobody believes him.moreless

    "I bring you love!" The good amount of laughs, as well as the amusing guest appearances but Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny help make this predictable episode very entertaining. Yes, it was painfully obvious that what Homer saw was not an alien, but the audience is still left guessing what the alien really is up until the end. The revalation as to what the alien really is (and how he came to be) is hysterical. This episode is certainly worth the viewer's time. When you're not watching the skies, watch this very funny episode of The Simpsons.moreless
  • this was a good ep

    in this ep of the simpsons show homer sees a extra tereal thing is no one belives him in the town and they make jokes at him even his own family but bart belives him and they camp out togeather and they get footage and this ep also involes molder and skully and they see it too. and then the whole town sees it when there waiting for it. and lenorade nemoy is in it and other gust stars. and turns out its mr burns and he looks like a alen when he gets extra shots because he is so old. and they join togeathe and they sing a song. good morning star shine the earth says a hellomoreless
  • X-Files Spoof

    I have not seen the X-files, but thst didn't really hurt this high on laughs episode. First, after a night of drinking, Homer swears he saw an alien, but no one belives him. He then gets the help of Mulder and Scully, however thier investigation doesn't go very far. Homer then takes Bart with him to the spot where he saw them, and Bart catches a video of the alien, and in minutes Homer becomes the hero of the town. However, it is soon revealed that it's actually a highly medicated Mr.Burns. Overall, it's worth a watch or 2 or 100. 10/10 A+moreless
  • Is it... an alien?!

    This episode is awesome. From the very opening with Leonard Nimoy, to the end. Awesome. This is my favorite episode, and to be honest, I have not even seen an episode of The X Files, which it is parodying. But the entire episode is high on laughs, and the whole mystery "Is there an alien?" thing is very clever and very well done, I think. The plot, and the humor, make this easily my favorite episode of the series. Every joke was spot on. "Don't be afraid!" was funny. The billboard "Diet". Yep. All these reasons is why this episode is my all-time favorite.moreless
  • Homer thinks he sees a creature from another world.

    Homer drinks too much at Moe's and opts to walk home late one night. He encounters an eerie glowing figure emerging from the woods. At home, dishelved and shaken, Homer's sighting is passed off as a product of too much drinking. The Springfield Shopper publishes a story about his encounter which is read by the FBI. X-Files agents Mulder and Scully arrive in town to interview Homer and visit the site. They find Homer's credibility shaky and the people of Springfield annoying, so they quickly leave. Bart and Homer set up camp at the site and videotape the alien. The following Friday, hundreds of Springfielders gather to catch a glimpse. The creature finally appears and its true identity is revealed as Mr. Burns, who had been receiving longevity treatments from Dr. Nick. This is one of my favorite episodes in the series. It keeps you laughing from start to finish, and the X Files parody was just gold. This is surely one of the best episodes the Simpsons ever made.moreless
Julie Kavner

Julie Kavner

Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier

Harry Shearer

Harry Shearer


Dan Castellaneta

Dan Castellaneta


Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright


Yeardley Smith

Yeardley Smith

Lisa Simpson

Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria


Gillian Anderson (I)

Gillian Anderson (I)

FBI Special Agent Dana Scully

Guest Star

David Duchovny

David Duchovny

FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder

Guest Star

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy


Guest Star

Pamela Hayden

Pamela Hayden

Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and others

Recurring Role

Tress MacNeille

Tress MacNeille

Agnes Skinner, Brandine Del Roy, Dolph and others

Recurring Role

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions


  • TRIVIA (11)

  • QUOTES (33)

    • Homer: T.G.I.F. Guys, I'm off to Moe's.

    • Homer: Whatever you do don't tell Marge. God how I love her and, oh a penny!

    • Lisa: Dad, according to Junior Skeptic magazine, the chances are 175 million to one of another form of life actually coming in contact with ours.
      Homer: So?
      Lisa: It's just that people who claim they've seen aliens are always pathetic lowlifes with boring jobs. Oh, and you, dad. He, he, he...

    • Homer: I can't believe it. I'm being mocked. By my own children. On my birthday.
      Bart: It's your birthday?
      Homer: Yes. Remember, it's the same day as the dog's.
      Lisa: Santa's Little Helper, it's your birthday? Ooh, we've gotta get you a present. Yes, we do! Yes, we do!
      Bart: We love you, boy.
      Marge: Good, doggy. Good, doggy.
      Homer: Lousy, lovable dog.

    • Leonard Nimoy: And so, from this simple man came the truth, that we are not alone in the universe. I'm Leonard Nimoy, good night.
      Squeaky-Voiced Teen: (from off-screen) Uh, Mr. Nimoy, we have ten minutes left.
      Leonard Nimoy: Oh, fine. Let me, uh, just get, uh... something out of my car.
      (runs off and car is heard driving away)
      Squeaky-Voiced Teen: (walking into camera shot) I don't think he's coming back.

    • Dr. Hibbert: Thank God it's Friday!
      (He closes the door to reveal Hans Moleman standing behind an X-Ray machine.)
      Moleman: Hello? Hello?

    • Milhouse: (putting money into arcade game) 38, 39, 40 quarters. This better be good.
      (The character in the game takes two steps and stops.)
      Game's Voice: Game over, please deposit 40 quarters.
      Milhouse: What a rip!
      (Milhouse starts depositing quarters again.)

    • Jasper: Thank God it's Wednesday. (swallows cup of pills)
      Mrs. Glick: It's Friday.
      Jasper: Uh oh, wrong pills. (suddenly becomes covered in hair) Uh, little help?

    • (When the "alien" is revealed)
      Lisa: Stop! You want an alien? This is your alien!
      (Lisa shines a flashlight at the alien, which turns out to be a glowing Mr. Burns.)
      Mr. Burns: (high-pitched voice) Hello, children. I bring you love.
      Groundskeeper Willie: Aaaah! It's a monster! Kill it! Kill it!
      (Smithers steps in.)
      Smithers: Stop! It's not a monster. It's Mr. Burns!
      Groundskeeper Willie: Awww. It's Mr. Burns. Kill it! Kill it!

    • Bart: Hey, Dad, can I have a sip of your beer?
      Homer: Now, son, you don't want to drink beer. That's for mommies and daddies, and kids with fake IDs.

    • Homer: Oh, Marge, I never felt so alone. No one believes me ... uh, this is the part where you're supposed to say "I believe you, Homer."
      Marge: I don't believe you, Homer.
      Homer: You do? Oh, Marge, you've made me so happy!
      Marge: You're not listening. You're only hearing what you want to hear.
      Homer: Thanks! I'd love an omelet right about now.

    • Homer: The alien has a sweet, heavenly voice... like Urkel! And he appears every Friday night... like Urkel!
      Chief Wiggum: Well, your story is very compelling, Mr. Jackass, I mean, uh, Simpson. So, I'll just type it up on my invisible typewriter! (pretends to type)
      Homer: You don't have to humiliate me.
      (Homer leaves and a man walks in covered with soot, holding a lighter)
      Man: I just torched a building downtown, and I'm afraid I'll do it again!
      Chief Wiggum: Oh, yeah, right. I'll just type it up on my invisible typewriter!

    • Mr. Burns: So, another Friday is upon us. What will you be doing, Smithers? Something gay, no doubt!
      Smithers: What?!
      Mr. Burns: You know. Light-hearted, fancy-free. Mothers, lock up your daughters! Smithers is on the town!
      Smithers: Exactly, sir! (laughs nervously)

    • Lisa: All right! It's time for ABC's TGIF lineup!
      Bart: Lis, when you get a little older, you'll learn that Friday is just another day between NBC's Must-See Thursday and CBS's Saturday Night Crap-o-rama.

    • (Mulder and Scully watch Homer jogging on a treadmill)
      Agent Mulder: Wait a minute, Scully. what's the point of this test?
      Agent Scully: No point. I just thought he could stand to lose a little weight.
      Agent Mulder: His jiggling is almost hypnotic!
      Agent Scully: He's like a lava lamp.

    • Leonard Nimoy: (Sitting behind a darkened desk) Hello, I'm Leonard Nimoy. The following tale of alien encounters is true. And by true, I mean false. It's all lies. But they're entertaining lies, and in the end, isn't that the real truth? The no...

    • (The doorbell rings, and Homer is greeted by a large crowd)
      Homer: I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the alien. Any questions at all. Dr Hibbert?
      Dr. Hibbert: Yes, is the alien carbon based or silicon based?
      Homer: Uh, the second one. Zillophone. Next question.
      Barney: Is the alien Santa Claus?
      Homer: Uh, yes.
      Flanders: Were you on my roof last night stealing my weather vane?
      Homer: This interview is over!
      (Slams door, and the weather vane falls)

    • Agent Scully: Now we're going to run a few tests. This is a simple lie detector. I'll ask you a few yes or no questions, and you just answer truthfully. Do you understand?
      Homer: Yes!
      (The lie detector blows up.)

    • (Grampa is chasing a turtle that stole his dentures)
      Agent Scully: This is the worst assignment we've ever had.
      Agent Mulder: Worse than the time we were attacked by the flesh-eating virus?
      Grampa: Ow, it bit me with my own teeth!
      Agent Scully: No, this is much more irritating. I've seen enough, Mulder, let's go.
      Agent Mulder: Yeah, okay. But somewhere out there, something is watching us.
      (Scully rolls her eyes and leaves)
      Agent Mulder: There are alien forces acting in ways we can't perceive. Are we alone in the universe? Impossible. (hours later) When you consider the wonders that exist all around us, voodoo priests of Haiti, Tibetan numerologists of Appalachia. The unsolved mysteries of... Unsolved Mysteries. The truth... is out there!

    • Agent Mulder: Look at this, Scully. There's been another unsubstantiated UFO sighting in the heartland of America. We've got to get there right away.
      (He hands her a newspaper that reads "HUMAN BLIMP SEES FLYING SAUCER")
      Agent Scully: Well, gee, Mulder, there's also this shipment of drugs and illegal weapons coming ashore in New Jersey tonight.
      Agent Mulder: (indignant) Well, I hardly think the FBI is concerned with matters like that!

    • Bart: Leonard Nimoy? What are you doing here?
      Bart: Uh huh.
      Hot Dog Vendor: Hey Spock, what do you want on your hot dog?
      Leonard Nimoy: Surprise me.

    • Agent Scully: Mr. Simpson, look at this line-up and tell me if these were one of the aliens you saw.
      Alf: (In line-up) Yo!
      Homer: No, I'm sorry.
      (Most of the aliens except for Kang and Marvin the Martian grumble and leave.)
      Marvin the Martian: Oh, this makes me very angry!

    • Frog 1: Bud--
      Frog 2: wise--
      Frog 3: er
      Frog 1: Bud--
      Frog 2: wise--
      (Alligator leaps up and eats the frogs)
      Alligator: Coors!

    • Agent Mulder: All right, Homer. We want you to recreate your every move the night you saw this alien.
      Homer: (In English accent) Well, the evening began at the Gentleman's Club, where we were discussing a Wittgenstein over a game of backgammon.
      Agent Scully: Mr. Simpson, it's a felony to lie to the FBI.
      Homer: (No accent) We were sitting in Barney's car eating packets of mustard. Ya happy?

    • (Homer runs into a sign that says DIE)
      Homer: Ahh!
      (Wind blows to reveals DIET)
      Homer: Ahh!

    • Homer: Take a look this, Lisa. You don't see any "Homer is a Dope" T-shirt, do ya?
      Clerk: Those sold out five minutes ago!
      Homer: D'oh!

    • (A glowing and drugged up Mr. Burns emerges from the forest.)
      Mr. Burns: I bring you... love.
      Lenny: It brings love, don't let it get away!
      Carl: Break it's legs so it won't get away!

    • Homer: I'm like the man who singlehandedly built the rocket and went to the Moon. What was his name? Apollo Creed?

    • Homer: Well, it's 1 AM. Better go home and spend some quality time with the kids.

    • Marge: Bad dog! Bad cat! Bad fawn! (to the fawn) Shoo!

    • Marge: Have you been drinking?
      Homer: NO! Well, ten beers.

    • Homer: Do you think you can cut out the casual swearing?
      Bart: Hell yes.

    • (trying to film the alien)
      Homer: We can fake it and sell it to the FOX network.
      Bart: They'll buy anything.
      Homer: Now, son, they do a lot of quality programming, too.
      (Bart and Homer laugh.)

  • NOTES (4)

  • ALLUSIONS (12)

    • Family Matters
      Homer says the alien resembles Steve Urkel from the TV show Family Matters. He says "the alien has a sweet heavenly voice... like Urkel. And, he appears every Friday night... like Urkel."

    • Budweiser / Coors
      The three frogs on the swamp attempt to croak "Bud-weis-er." This is a reference to Budweiser Beer's frog commercials during the 90s. The alligator, who interrupts the frogs, is obviously a fan of Coors beer.

    • Agent Mulder: Voodoo priests of Haiti...
      A 1995 episode of The X-Files called "Fresh Bones" had a plot involving Haitian voodoo curses.

    • High Anxiety
      The scene with the Springfield Philharmonic playing the suspenseful music on their bus is reference to the Mel Brooks film High Anxiety, which features a scene where Mel is riding in a car and you hear highly suspenseful music and then you see the Los Angeles Symphony going by on their bus.

    • Close Encounters of the Third Kind
      Several references to Steven Spielberg's 1977 film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, are made.
      - Devil's Tower is pictured on Lisa's Junior Skeptic magazine and on Mulder's office wall.
      - Kent Brockman muses on a "Close Encounter of the Blurred Kind".
      - The school band plays the notorious five-note music.
      - Clouds swarm around Marge's hair before the alien appears, just like around Devil's Tower before the mother ship appears.

    • Psycho
      The Springfield Philharmonic plays the famous Bernard Herrmann score from the shower scene of Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1960 film, Psycho.

    • Waterworld
      Milhouse plays an arcade game version of the 1995 movie Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner. The game takes 40 quarters, this is a knock at the over-the-top budget Waterworld required.

    • Hair
      At the end of the episode, Mr. Burns starts singing "Good Morning Starshine" in his dazed state. This song is sang during the second act of the Broadway musical and film, Hair (1979). They sing this song in their car.

    • The Shining
      "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" (repeated uncountable times) is an allusion to Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining.

    • Episode Title: The Springfield Files
      This episode's title and its content are obviously a parody of The X-Files.

    • Homer: I learned this from a movie I saw about a bus that has to speed around the city, keeping its speed above 50, and if its speed dropped, it would explode. I think it was called The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down.
      Homer describes the plot but can't remember the name of the 1994 action movie Speed, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

    • Dr. Hibbert: Is the alien carbon based or silicon based?
      This is a reference to Star Trek's "Devil in the Dark" episode in which there was a silicon based life form or to The X-Files' episode "Firewalker" in which a similar creature is featured.