The Love Connection

Season 1

Considering Season one was slimed down to 13 episodes, it's understandable that only one pairing hooked up. As the show would later repeat, it was about temptation and betrayal, but in the end the destined couple would reunite.

Life on the Fast Lane

A thoughtless gift on Marge's birthday forces Homer to the dog house, and pushes away any romance for Marge's 37th. Although a bowling ball isn't what she was hoping for, Marge decides to pick up the sport in spite of her husband. At the alley, she meets the smooth talking Jacques who after giving a few lessons finds himself entranced by the mother of three. Homer is soon aware that his sweetheart may be falling for someone else, and when Jacques finally asks Marge to his apartment, she's faced with a decision she'd rather avoid. With hope and time running out, Marge returns to Homer, thus completing the first of many love triangles.

Season 2

The second season brought more love affairs, each with endings at the opposite end of the spectrum. The successful hookup of Marge and Homer remains one of the few relationships that have withstood the test of time despite numerous speed bumps in the way.

The Way We Was

The year was 1974, and two young go-getters named Homer and Marge were both seniors at the same high school. Homer - the often late for class trouble student, and Marge - model classmate and honour roll member seemed like two complete opposites, but destiny had made up it's mind. When Marge's pro-feminine speech got her in detention, Homer (a usual suspect to the detention hall) laid eyes on the blue haired beauty, and was instantly in love. With senior prom just around the corner, Homer knew it was Marge who he wanted to take along, but getting his foot in the door proved to be a difficult task. After breaking the ice, Homer asked Marge to tutor him in French - a simple ploy to get her over to his house. The tutoring went smoothly, and Homer gained the nerve to ask out Marge. She happily accepts, but Homer, caught up in the moment, tells Marge he actually didn't need help in French, he just wanted to spend time together. The innocent remark sends Marge storming out the door, and into Artie Ziff's hands. Prom night arrives, but Artie too ruins his chance with Marge when his hands get away from his head. Marge quickly realizes it was the innocence of Homer who she should be with, and the two get together. Twenty years and three kids later, their love has yet to flicker.

Old Money

It was a normal day at the Springfield Retirement Castle until a lonely Grandpa Simpson set his sites on Bea Simmons. It was fate's turn to intervene as a simple mix up of pills brought the couple together. Grandpa found Bea irresistible, and likewise, Bea found Grandpa charming. On Bea's birthday, Grandpa was ready to make a lasting impression but his hopes for an eventful evening were thwarted when Homer and the rest of the Simpsons showed up for their monthly 'do something with Grandpa day.' The family wasn't willing to come back on another occasion, so any efforts from Grandpa to stay back were downplayed. The next day, an angry Grandpa returned to the Castle to apologize to Bea for skipping out on her birthday, but when he learns she had passed away the night before, he blames himself. This relationship ends on a sad note, even though a pile of money was left to Grandpa in Bea's will, he was also left with a broken heart.

Season 3

The third season brought three more relationships that would end in heartbreak, and the pattern of unfair love continued. By now, the show was proving to the audience that it could convoy a true sense of emotion, that few other programs could match.

Colonel Homer

Feeling depressed, Homer goes out for a ride and winds up at a sleazy bar, a couple kilometres from the Simpson home. When a waitress Lurleen Lumpkin steps to the microphone and begins singing her country-style trademark tunes, all of Homer's trouble's seem to melt away. Seeing potential in the attractive singer, Homer offers to be her manager, and an attraction between the pair ensues. Promoting Lurleen goes smoothly, and Homer is able to land her client a spot on a television program. A more than grateful Lurleen hopes to 'repay' Homer after the show, and the father of three and husband of one is tested. At the last moment, Homer breaks free, and returns to his true love, Marge.

Black Widower

Selma's lonely romantic life gets a flicker of hope when her jailbird pen pall is intrigued with her letter. Not too long after, Selma's mystery man is released from jail, so she travels to the Simpson house to introduce him to the family. Much to their surprise, Sideshow Bob shows up holding Selma's hand, and although Bart senses something is amiss, Selma is to love struck to notice. At dinner, Bob proposes and Selma gratefully accepts. The storybook marriage switches gears when it is revealed that Sideshow Bob plans to kill Selma, and cash in on the inheritance. Although Bart is able to foil Bob's plans yet again before disaster, Selma is left with another shattered relationship, and another chapter in her less than successful love life.

Season 4

A lonely season four only saw only one couple get together, and two broken hearts. Nonetheless, the bizarre Lisa/Ralph pairing and Bart dressed up as Hugh Heffner made it all worth while.

New Kids on the Block

The Simpsons get new neighbours, and fifteen year old Laura quickly catches Bart's eye. Bart does everything he can to grab Laura's attention, and while Lisa can't stand the charade, the girl next door doesn't pick up. A few days later, Laura asks Bart to meet her in the tree house, and his hopes and excitement get the better of him. She informs the Simpson that she has a boyfriend - Jimbo, and Bart's heart is crushed. When Laura comes to baby-sit and brings the Elementary School bully with her, Bart's jealousy takes over, and revenge moves in. He pulls one of his usual prank calls to Moe, but this time he leaves his name (Jimbo) and location. Moe bursts through 743 Evergreen Terrace with a knife in one hand, and a crazed look on his face. Jimbo breaks down in tears, and when Moe finally leaves, Laura sees that her 'tough' boyfriend isn't exactly what she had imagined. Bart is happy that he chased away his competition, and Laura has a new found respect for the 10 year old Simpson.

I Love Lisa

Lisa thinks she's doing a nice gesture when she sees a lonely Ralph Wiggum with an empty card box on Valentines day, and places one of her cards inside. Ralph on the other hand sees this as an opening to sink his hands on a girlfriend and takes full advantage. For the next few days, Ralph works on courting the young Simpson but faces much resistance. When he asks Lisa to the Krusty Special, Lisa overlooks her lack of interest in Ralph in order to go see the show. Her plan unfolds that night when Ralph shouts out he's going to marry Lisa Simpson on camera, and a fed up Lisa harshly admits the feelings aren't mutual. Ironically, this is one of the worst break-ups in a relationship that never really began.

Season 5

Now that the show had established it knew how to get characters together, it was time to expand the horizon with more interesting and unusual match-ups. Homer's father and Marge's mother come close to marriage, Homer and Ned come close to friendship, and of course, another temptation for the father of three.

The Last Temptation of Homer

The Nuclear Powerplant is forced to hire female employees which doesn't excite Homer and his co-workers. However, it's crush at first site when a stunning red-head, Mindy shows up to fill the void, and Homer is taken by surprise. It turns out, the new co-worker is a female version of Homer - likes beer, doughnuts, and lounging, but with the exception of being rather good looking. Homer realizes his crush is developing too quickly, and works on avoiding Mindy during his daily routine. His plan takes a u-turn when the Plant awards the two king and queen of Nuclear power, and sends them off to New York. During the getaway, temptation between both workers ensues, and Homer becomes increasingly worried of the possibility of 'getting together.' Just before Mindy is ready to make her final move, Homer puts an end to the tension. He declines Mindy's offer, and calls Marge up to New York instead, where his conscience remains intact, knowing he's with the woman he truly loves.

Homer Loves Flanders

Homer try's desperately to get his hands on a ticket for the much anticipated football game, but his luck runs short. His plan to steal Ned's ticket changes gears when Flanders offers him a seat. Homer prepares for a miserable outing with his geeky neighbour but surprisingly enough, the two hit if off. Homer continues the friendship and in a bizarre match-up, Flanders's's and Simpsons go out for a picnic. Although Rod and Todd don't exactly mesh with Bart and Lisa, Homer still feels a strong bond between him and Neddy. The only problem is, the feelings aren't mutual. Ned quickly gets an overdoes of Homer, and when his charity work gets overlooked while Homer receives the credit, his temperature rises. An unaware Homer gets a reality check at church when Ned blabs out his true feelings. Kind words from Homer wins over Ned, and the two agree to continue to be friends. But of course, a few days later, everything is back to normal and the awkward relationship is never spoken of again.

Lady Bouvier's Lover

A lonely Abe Simpson and Jackie Bouvier gives Marge the idea that the two grandparents should hook up. Grandpa's all for the relationship, and works on wooing Marge's mother. His attempts are successful, and Abe quickly finds himself falling in love. A few days later, Grandpa tries to put on some finishing touches at the local seniors dance, but a swift Monty Burns steals his thunder. The Powerplant owner swoops in and dances Jackie away from Abe altogether. Burns also finds himself infatuated with Bouvier, and after laying on a few moves of his own, asks her to marry him. Jackie accepts, and both Abe and Marge aren't fond of the decision. During the wedding, a desperate Grandpa rushes in to stop the ceremony, and Jackie announces she really doesn't want to marry anyone at all. That's a good enough response for Grandpa, who whisks the runaway bride out of the church, leaving an angry Monty and relieved Marge behind.