Ep 16. 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky

Bart buys a satellite dish with a credit card he obtained in the mail and the family gathers at their house to watch a boxing match. However, after the match, Lisa finds out via a news report on the television that a new comet will be visible from Earth soon, a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a comet up close. She is eager to view it, but the light pollution in Springfield makes it impossible to see the comet clearly. Lisa tries to convince the town to turn off all non-essential lights for one night, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, Homer is traumatized when he accidentally witnesses a stylized musical murder at the Manderley Castle dinner theater and finds himself unable to differentiate between fiction and reality. Marge takes him to a screening of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, which features a cameo by Ray Romano, to snap him out of it. There, Homer overhears a scientist talking about the comet and learns that Springfield's lack of stars make it an ideal viewing location for the event.

Lisa uses her science expertise to convince the townspeople to turn off their lights and the plan works. The comet is spectacularly visible in the night sky, but it is eventually obscured by a barrage of helicopter spotlights flown by a group of celebrities who booked helicopters for an aerial sightseeing tour. Lisa is outraged at the celebrities' disregard for the environment and their unwillingness to let the town enjoy the natural wonder of the comet, and she leads a protest against them.

The episode has several themes, including environmentalism, light pollution, and the importance of preserving natural beauty. It also tackles the issue of credit card debt and the ease with which teenagers can obtain credit. The episode features several celebrity cameos, including Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, boxer Joe Frazier, and voice actor Maurice LaMarche. The episode has been praised for its humor, social commentary, and heartwarming moments, including a scene where Homer helps Lisa set up a makeshift observatory to view the comet.