Almost every episode of a TV comedy has an A-plot and a B-plot. The A-plot is the main storyline, while the B-plot serves to break it up with a “Meanwhile, back at the ranch...” subplot. As the name would suggest, the B-plot tends to be less inspired and sharply written than the A-plot, as the writer will usually focus on the main plot.
But sometimes, a B-plot turns out to be as memorable – or even more memorable – than the A-plot. The Simpsons is a show with plenty of examples of unforgettable B-plots, owing to an all-star team of comedy writers.
Bart Buys A Factory (Homer’s Enemy)
“Homer’s Enemy” is one of The Simpsons’ darkest episodes, as Frank Grimes starts working at the nuclear plant, is driven insane by Homer’s idiocy (and everybody else’s ignorance of it), and eventually dies trying to prove his point.
In the B-plot, Bart buys a dilapidated factory at auction for a dollar and hires Milhouse as his night watchman. Eventually, the whole factory collapses and Milhouse narrowly survives.
Grampa Works At Krusty Burger (Lisa Vs. Malibu Stacy)
While Lisa is tackling sexism in the toy industry in “Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy,” Grampa becomes concerned about his mortality after seeing the star of Matlock getting mobbed at a public appearance.
He begins working at Krusty Burger, where he’s constantly chewed out by his teenage boss and accidentally serves his dentures in a burger bun. In the end, he realizes he’d rather be a complaining customer than an employee.
Mr. Burns Turns Into Howard Hughes ($pringfield)
When gambling is legalized and Mr. Burns opens a casino in “$pringfield,” the town’s wealthiest resident slowly transforms into fellow industrialist Howard Hughes.
He grows out a long beard, pees in bottles, and designs a wooden plane called the “Spruce Moose.” Unlike Hughes, Burns seems to think that the tiny scale model of his plane concept will function as the actual plane.
School Uniforms (Team Homer)
While Homer’s bowling team is invaded by its financier Mr. Burns in “Team Homer,” Bart lands in trouble when he incites a riot at Springfield Elementary with his inflammatory “Down with homework” custom t-shirt. Principal Skinner’s response is to institute a school uniform policy, much to the students’ chagrin. As Lisa reluctantly models the dull, gray uniform, Lunchlady Doris quips, “How about little Lisa Simpson? She’ll have no reason to play the blues in this snappy ensemble.”
The kids lose any semblance of individuality as the uniforms turn them all into conformist drones that blend into the sea of students. However, when rain washes out the gray and all the uniforms start bursting with bright colors, the kids what it’s like to feel joy and fun and individuality returns to their lives.
Homer Raises Pinchy (Lisa Gets An ‘A’)
Homer comes up with another zany get-rich-scheme in the B-plot of “Lisa Gets an ‘A’” when he notices that smaller lobsters are a lot cheaper than the bigger ones. His plan is to buy a baby lobster, raise it to adult size, and eat the profits.
As he raises Pinchy like a pet, Homer decides he doesn’t want to eat him. Sadly, he accidentally cooks Pinchy in a bath. As long as he’s been cooked, Homer still eats him – but he flits between crying away his grief and enjoying the succulent seafood.
All You Can Eat (New Kid On The Block)
In the A-plot of “New Kid on the Block,” Bart falls for his new babysitter, only to be devastated when he finds out she has a boyfriend. Homer and Marge initially hire the babysitter so they can go to an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant owned by the Sea Captain, kicking off the B-plot.
Homer devours everything on the buffet and insists he’s still hungry, so the Sea Captain eventually has to kick him out. Naturally, Homer feels scorned enough that his gluttony wasn’t facilitated that he sues the restaurant.
The Ayn Rand School For Tots (A Streetcar Named Marge)
While Marge is busy at rehearsals for a musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire in “A Streetcar Named Marge,” she leaves Maggie at the Ayn Rand School for Tots, a daycare center that bans the use of pacifiers.
Nobody stands between Maggie and her pacifier. Set to the unforgettable theme from The Great Escape, Maggie pulls off a daring heist to liberate everyone’s pacifiers.
Homer’s Autodialer (Lisa’s Date With Density)
While Lisa falls for Nelson in the A-plot of “Lisa’s Date with Density,” Homer finds an autodialer and uses it to run a telemarketing scam under the name “Happy Dude” in the B-plot.
Homer’s autodialer annoys everybody in Springfield – including, unbeknownst to him, himself, as the autodialer keeps calling the Flanders house in the middle of the night and Flanders is too polite to unhook the phone or ignore the calls, so Homer screams at him from his bedroom window: “Will you two shut up? People are trying to sleep!”
Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag (Bart Sells His Soul)
During Bart’s existential crisis in “Bart Sells His Soul,” Moe decides to turn his dive bar into a family restaurant called Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag to attract a new clientele.
The restaurant is wildly successful, with parents all across Springfield bringing their kids along, but Moe’s frustrations with the children – who, to be fair, keep drawing unflattering cartoons of him and scolding his head with their entrees – eventually become his downfall.
Homer’s Sugar (Lisa’s Rival)
While Lisa is contending with a classmate who’s younger, smarter, and better at playing jazz than her in “Lisa’s Rival,” Homer stumbles across a big pile of sugar at the side of the road and loads it into the trunk of his car so he can sell it door-to-door.
This is one of Homer’s most poorly conceived get-rich-quick schemes. The sugar is full of broken glass and it keeps getting attacked by bees and Englishmen with sugarless cups of tea. For some reason, Homer is convinced he can acquire Scarface-level riches by peddling his filthy second-hand sugar.