You may not know this about me, but I’m a huge fan of the Simpsons – have been ever since the beginning. In high school, I would frequently take in 1-2 hours of episodes every day, so I quickly became adept at spouting off obscure references and quotes from the show.
Last night I was finally able to take in the Simpsons Movie with a couple of friends, and it was everything I could have hoped for. The jokes came fast and often, and the story was great. The writers did an amazing job.
So, in honor of the awesome movie, I decided to give you my top ten Simpsons episodes of all time. With 400 episodes and counting, this was harder than you might expect. These my top picks from my list of about 50 amazing episodes. I hope you enjoy!
10. Homer at the Bat (Season Three)
Mr. Burns fills the power plant softball team with ringers from Major League Baseball in order to win a $1 million bet with a competitor. The recruiting scenes for each player, and their eventual mishaps that prevent them from playing in the big game, are great.
9. Sleeping With The Enemy (Season Sixteen)
The only episode on my list from the more recent seasons of the show (I think it peaked in season eight). Marge takes in Nelson Muntz after feeling that Bart and Lisa don’t appreciate her attention anymore. Bart’s “party” — classic.
8. Deep Space Homer (Season Five)
There’s so much to like in this one. Homer becomes an astronaut after TV ratings suffer for NASA and they decide to put an “average shmoe” into space. This episode also gave birth to the famous Kent Brockman quote, “I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.”
7. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show (Season Eight)
The episode that marked the Simpsons as the longest running animated series on TV (surpassing the Flintstones), it was a commentary on the frequent decline of long-running shows. It featured the introduction and farewell of two new characters: Poochie in the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon, and Roy in the Simpsons’ household. The kids focus group and network staff meeting scenes are both hilarious.
6. Homer’s Enemy (Season Eight)
This one centers on Frank Grimes, a new worker at the power plant who eventually becomes Homer’s enemy. It’s probably the darkest episode in the series, but definitely a classic.
5. Team Homer (Season Seven)
Homer creates a bowling team with some friends (The Pin Pals) and gets sponsored by Mr. Burns, causing some problems later in the episode. At the same time, the kids are forced to wear uniforms at school after a MAD magazine incident.
4. Radioactive Man (Season Seven)
Springfield hosts the filming of the Radioactive Man movie, with Milhouse landing the role of Fallout Boy, the main character’s sidekick.
3. Itchy & Scratchy Land (Season Six)
The Simpson family visits the newly opened Itchy & Scratchy Land theme park for their family vacation. Lots of great Disney spoofs, plus the origin of my nickname I use on the Internet.
2. Bart on the Road (Season Seven)
Armed with a fake drivers license and some cash, Bart, Milhouse, Nelson, and Martin head out for a spring break road trip. Their destination: The Worlds Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.
1. Lemon of Troy (Season Six)
Bart leads several other boys into Springfield’s rival town, Shelbyville, to recover their prized lemon tree that stolen. The interaction between the kids is great, and the dialog throughout the episode is top-notch.
So, there you go — my current top 10 list as of today. I’m interested to hear from you in the comments — what are your favorite Simpsons episodes?
4 replies on “My Favorite Simpsons Episodes”
Okay, the one where Homer becomes a missionary; the one where Homer & Ned go to Las Vegas. They were kind of the spawn of the “jerk-ass Homer” run, but those two were funny. Also, the one where Homer says “…why must everything I do be so hard…” I think it’s the one where he attempts to assemble a grill “…le grille, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!” Offdah, golden stuff.
Oh, the ‘Beer Baron’ was grand.
What about season 2? Season 1 makes me wonder how they ever made it a go, but then I do remember having a “don’t have a cow, man” sweatshirt. And I once borrowed a tape of “The Simpson’s Sing the Blues” that stuff was terrible. Entertaining, yes, but terrible.
Good call on the Beer Baron – that one was a classic, with the drunk Bart and the exploding beer kegs…
I’ve got the first three seasons on DVD, and you’re right – that first one is painful to watch at some points. It’s missing what’s now that signature Simpsons humor.
the song “talkin’ softball” in the episode you listed as #10 stands out in my mind.
Well Mr. Burns had done it.
The power plant had won it, with Roger Clemens clucking all the while.
Mile Scioscia’s tragic illness made us smile.
While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the bar room tile.
We’re talkin softball, from Maine to SanDiego.
Talkin’ softball: Mattingly and Conceco.
Ken Griffey’s grotesquely swollen jaw;
Steve Sax and his run-ins with the law.
Were talkin Homer, Ozzie and the Straw