| "Lisa's Rival" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Mark Kirkland |
| Written by | Mike Scully |
| Production code | 1F17 |
| Original air date | September 11, 1994 |
| Guest appearance | |
| |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "No one is interested in my underpants" (recycled from "So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show")[1] |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons swim to the couch.[2] |
| Commentary | Matt Groening David Mirkin Mike Scully Dan Castellaneta Yeardley Smith Mark Kirkland |
"Lisa's Rival" is the second episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on September 11, 1994. Winona Ryder guest stars as Allison Taylor, a new student at Springfield Elementary School. Lisa Simpson begins to feel threatened by Allison because she is smarter, younger, and a better saxophone player. The episode's subplot sees Homer steal a large pile of sugar from a crashed truck and sell it door-to-door. This episode was originally going to air as part of Season 5 but aired as a season six episode due to 1994 Northridge earthquake.
The episode was written by Mike Scully and directed by Mark Kirkland. "Lisa's Rival" was the first episode written by Scully. The episode was originally pitched by former writer Conan O'Brien, while the subplot was suggested by George Meyer. It features references to films such as The Fugitive and Scarface. Production of the episode was affected by the 1994 Northridge earthquake.