Preview for Sunday's Episodes of The Simpsons on FOX  1/17/09

--“THE SIMPSONS”—(8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CC

LISA TRIES TO SAVE THE ENDANGERED SPRINGFIELD BEE POPULATION FROM MR. BURNS AND HIS NEW SPORTS ARENA ON “THE SIMPSONS” SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, ON FOX

Mark Cuban (Owner, Dallas Mavericks), Marv Albert (Award-Winning Sportscaster) and Jeff Bezos (Founder, Amazon.com) Make Guest Voice Appearances

During the annual billionaires’ retreat, Mr. Burns wins the Boston Celtics in a casual game of poker. While hosting the season opener in Springfield, Mr. Burns witnesses the antics of Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban (guest-voicing as himself). Fascinated with his behavior, Mr. Burns decides to emulate Cuban’s over-the-top crowd pleasing stunts in order to win over the hearts of Springfield’s basketball fans. In the midst of his failing endeavor, Mr. Burns decides that the best way to win over the fans is to build a brand new, state-of-the-art sports arena. 

Unfortunately, the last remaining bee colony in Springfield is located on the proposed stadium site, and Lisa is single-handedly spearheading a movement to protect them. As Lisa fights for a safe haven for the bees, Homer attempts to help the quickly diminishing bee population by mating the Springfield bees with Africanized bees, creating a buzzworthy fiasco in “The Burns and the Bees” episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Jan. 18 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-1921) (TV-PG D, V)

Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Pamela Haden as Milhouse; Tress MacNeille as Dolph

Guest Voice Cast: Mark Cuban as himself; Marv Albert as himself; Jeff Bezos as himself

--“THE SIMPSONS”—(8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) CC

LISA BECOMES A CROSSWORD PUZZLE PHENOM ON “THE SIMPSONS” SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, ON FOX

Merl Reagle (Crossword Puzzle Creator) and

Will Shortz (New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor) Guest-Voice

Lisa discovers her amazing talent for doing crossword puzzles and becomes an expert cruciverbalist, and she soon enters a citywide crossword puzzle tournament. Homer, short on cash after abandoning his “Sweet Conclusions” professional break-up artist business, goes to cheer Lisa on at her tournament and discovers an underground crossword puzzle betting ring. In the ultimate betrayal, Homer profits from betting against Lisa in the championship match. 

When the heartbroken Lisa finds out, Homer must spell out his love for her with a little help from New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz (guest voice as himself) and master crossword constructor Merl Reagle (guest voice as himself) in the “Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words” episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, Jan. 18 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-1919) (TV-PG D, V)

Voice Cast: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson; Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson; Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson; Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; Hank Azaria as Moe; Harry Shearer as Skinner; Pamela Haden as Milhouse; Tress MacNeille as Dolph

Guest Voice Cast: Merl Reagle as himself; Will Shortz as himself

Source: FOX Press Release

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