[1] William Daniels made a guest appearance in the episode as the character KITT from the television series Knight Rider.

In general, "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" received positive reviews from television critics, with many singling it out as a strong beginning to a season.

Homer becomes depressed after learning he has lived past the halfway point of the average life expectancy for men, without accomplishing anything worthwhile.

The Simpson family try to cheer him up by showing him a film of his accomplishments and a special appearance by the character KITT from the Knight Rider television series that Homer is a fan of.

The family disapproves of his first few inventions, including a make-up shotgun, electric hammer, an "everything's OK" alarm that cannot be turned off but easily breaks, and reclining chair with a built-in toilet, making Homer more depressed.

"The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" was written by John Swartzwelder, who had a deal with the producers of the show to write five scripts for season ten.

He became heavily involved with the animation because he had grown up in New Jersey, where the Thomas Edison National Historical Park that Homer and Bart visit is located.

To help make the museum look as authentic as possible, Kirkland and Nastuk visited it and took a large number of photographs that they brought back to the animation studio.

The producers wanted them to be actual formulas, so writer David X. Cohen got in contact with a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who were able to provide them.

[3] The episode features a guest appearance by actor William Daniels as KITT, a character from the Knight Rider television series of which Homer is a fan.

In the episode, after failing to cheer Homer up with a film reel of his life, the family shows him a video featuring KITT.

The episode was the third highest-rated show (tied with Beverly Hills, 90210) on the Fox network that week, following Ally McBeal and Party of Five.

[7] The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, called it "a terrific episode, full of wit and sly digs at our expectations of Homer's abilities.

"[8] Writing for DVD Movie Guide, Colin Jacobson commented that "though 'Wizard' borders on 'Homer's wacky scheme' territory, his attempts to come up with something significant offer amusement.

Don Aucoin of The Boston Globe wrote that "It is gratifying to report that, based on the season premiere, The Simpsons promises to remain the most reliable half-hour of laughs on television.

"[11] Lauri Githens of The Buffalo News gave the episode a 5/5 rating, commenting that it shows that "This cynical, bleak yet somehow still hopeful comedy is nowhere near midlife crisis with Season No.