The best episodes

I have seen every episode of “The Simpsons,” all 400+ episodes. 

There is no agreement among critics, fans or casual viewers on when the show experienced the severe decline in quality that everyone today is convinced of. For me, it likely happened later than most, around the time of season 15. 

Surprisingly, the show is still firing on at least most of its cylinders with great guest stars, powerful statements about events in pop culture and brilliantly done parodies of an increasingly obscure nature. 

But I, like most fans of the show, prefer to watch the constant reruns in syndication, and these are 20 episodes that remain personal favorites. While it does include some iconic moments, episodes like “Mr. Plow,” the jump over Springfield Gorge or Bart stealing the head of the Jebediah Springfield statue are absent. 

That’s not a knock on the show, because one could argue there is no such thing as a bad episode of “The Simpsons,” and I would certainly apply that reasoning to these few, in chronological order.

Episode 36 — 3-1 — “Stark Raving Dad”
“The Simpsons” has a long history with guest stars, and one of the biggest and first the show has ever had was Michael Jackson (although he was credited as John Jay Smith). Homer is classified as crazy when he wears a pink shirt to work, and the jokes about Jackson being animated as a big white guy almost ironically predate the public’s impressions of him more than a decade later. Also, the song “Happy Birthday Lisa” at the end is one of the most sentimental moments in the show’s history.

Episode 81 — 4-22 — “Krusty Gets Kancelled”
When the puppet Gabbo begins to take away Krusty’s ratings, Krusty pulls a spectacle out of his hat. This episode has more guest stars than you can shake a stick at, and unlike episodes today that introduce guest stars who say nothing more than a line or two (or even just their name, David Mamet?), there are some truly memorable bits from Johnny Carson, Hugh Hefner and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others.  

Episode 83 — 5-2 — “Cape Feare”
Sideshow Bob is the best non-regular recurring character. The goofy bit in this episode where Bob constantly steps on rakes has become a running inside joke for the show. But this episode also has one of my all-time favorite lines as Homer enters witness protection. “Now when I press down on your foot three times and say ‘Hello Mr. Thompson,’ you smile and nod. Hello Mr. Thompson! (long pause, then whispered) I think he’s talking to you.”

Episode 109 — 6-6 — “Treehouse of Horror V”
The best of the “Treehouse of Horror” series, Homer’s “No beer and no TV make Homer something something” rant is a true work of art. Plus, Groundskeeper Willie dying three times and the inside out dance number can’t be beat.

Episode 111 — 6-8 — “Lisa on Ice”
When Lisa fails gym and takes up hockey, competing with Bart, this hilarious episode offers a touching brother/sister moment to close the show. Although this line is also a favorite of me and my younger sister: “I’m gonna start doing this (Bart swings his arms in the air), and if any part of you gets hit, it’s your own fault!”

Episode 133 — 7-5 — “Lisa the Vegetarian”
“Lisa the Vegetarian” is my favorite episode in the series. It has enough good jokes to rival any on this list (“What a bunch of crappity, crap, crap”), great one-liners (“I’m going to graduate from Bovine University”), some very witty moments (“Do you remember when you lost your passion for this work?” followed by the Independent Thought Alarm), sight gags (the parts that make up a hotdog), and one of the biggest of all guest stars (“If you play ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ backwards, you’ll hear a really great recipe for lentil soup.” — Paul McCartney). I consider this one of my first favorites, reminiscing of the days when my sister and I would sing, “You don’t make friends with salad!” This episode features the biggest character development of the series in Lisa’s conversion to be a vegetarian, but it’s also the most touching.

Episode 181 — 9-3 — “Lisa’s Sax”
Firstly, that “All in the Family” spoof is one of the most brilliant things “The Simpsons” has ever done. Beyond that, this is a hilarious episode that retells the story of how Lisa came to get her saxophone, all told through the lens of Bart’s first day at school. There’s a powerful and soulful Lisa sax solo at the end that is just right in so many ways.

Episode 191 — 9-13 — “The Joy of Sect”
The family joins a religious cult. Na na na na na na na na Simpsons, na na na na na na na na Simpsons, Simpsons, Simpsons, Batman! I mean Simpsons! I love “The Simpsons!”

Episode 196 — 9-18 — “This Little Wiggy”
Ralph Wiggum is easily my favorite go-to character for one-liners, and this is his best episode. Marge makes Bart spend more time with Ralph, and we’re given insight into this otherwise one-dimensional supporting character’s head. Turns out he has leprechauns telling him to burn things.

Episode 216 — 10-13 — “Homer to the Max”
Homer changes his name to Max Power, a name he got off a hair dryer. In my opinion, this is the funniest episode ever made, and I realize that’s an unpopular position to make.
1. “Name one thing mankind’s done better. The Renaissance. This is better.”
2. “It’s just a coincidence, like that guy Anthony Michael Hall that stole your car stereo? Yeah, coincidence.”
3. “Kids: There’s three ways to do things; the right way, the wrong way and the Max Power way! Isn’t that the wrong way? Yeah, but faster!”
4. “You like Thai? Thai good. You like shirt?”
5. “Oh shoot, Quebec’s got the bomb.” — Bill Clinton
6. “It’s a go-kart powered by my own sense of self-satisfaction.” — Ed Begley Jr.

Episode 227 — 11-1 — “Beyond Blunderdome”
It’s amazing how quickly things get old. Consider that when this episode aired as the season premiere in 1999, Mel Gibson was an A-lister everyone loved. Gibson enlists Homer to help him remake “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” and in another hilariously dated line on a Hollywood set: “Look kids, Robert Downey Jr. is having a shootout with the police. I don’t see any cameras.”

Episode 238 — 11-12 — “The Mansion Family”
Homer is in charge of looking after Mr. Burns’ mansion when he goes away for health reasons. He hijacks Burns’ yacht and sails it to international waters, upon where they are boarded by pirates. Homer’s next line has become one of my catch phrases of late: “Shut up netface. Hey, you’re in the net too. I said, shut up netface!”

Episode 248 — 11-22 — “Behind the Laughter”
“The Simpsons” rip off “Behind the Music” as though Homer, Marge and the kids were all actors on a sitcom. This is the best full-blown spoof “The Simpsons” has ever done. It is so exaggerated in every way, seemingly to satirize the entire series. If the episode is taken literally, Homer says this would be the last season (not true) and the Simpsons are from northern Kentucky (Springfield is a FICTIONAL location).

Episode 262 — 12-14 — “New Kids on the Blecch”
I love how “The Simpsons” can poke fun of an entire genre of music like boy bands and still seem to pay homage to it. Back when ‘N Sync was popular, the band guest starred on the show and was lampooned to no end when Bart, Milhouse, Nelson and Ralph autotune their way to stardom.

Episode 268 — 12-20 — “Children of a Lesser Clod”
When Homer breaks his knee and is bored at home, he starts a day care for children but continues to neglect his own. Don’t remember this one? Maybe a little morphine will refresh your memory.

Episode 278 — 13-9 — “Jaws Wired Shut”
Homer breaks his jaw after running into a statue of Drederick Tatum. Now how is it that in an episode where Homer doesn’t even talk during half of it, he still manages to be one of the funniest characters in TV history?

Episode 284 — 13-15 — “Blame it On Lisa”
It’s the one where they go to Brazil. This episode has more great quotes, sight gags and family quirks than most episodes combined, and in terms of grandly preposterous episodes and plots, this one’s up there.

Episode 293 — 14-2 — “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation”
When Homer goes to Rock and Roll Camp after an embarrassing family moment on TV, “The Simpsons” assembled possibly the best and funniest collection of guest stars in any show, ever.
Mick Jagger — “It’s only Rock and Roll Camp. But I like it.”
Keith Richards — “I gotta put up the storm windows. Winter’s coming.”
Tom Petty — “See that drunk girl speeding down the street? She’s worried about the state of our public schools.”
Brian Setzer — “ A guitar has a lot of nicknames; an axe, a git-box. Well I guess that’s it. And now to the basics; playing a flaming guitar with your teeth.”
Elvis Costello — “Come on now. There are lots of fun instruments. Like Bass!”
Lenny Kravitz — “Apu just asked a question about crotch stuffing. Now I don’t do it. Kenny Loggins does.”

Episode 298 — 14-7 — “Special Edna”
Bart nominates Edna for teacher of the year, and the show’s Edna/Seymour plotline reaches a high point. Despite taking place in Epcot Center, there’s nothing boring about this episode.
1. “I’m an electric car. I can’t go very fast or very far, and if they see you driving me, people will think you’re gay. One of us. One of us.”
2. “The only ride for me is the ride of broken dreams. Oh you mean the Enron ride!”
3. “I love teachers. In fact, I’m a teacher. I taught Paul McCartney how to go WHOOOO! Purple Rain! Shut Up! Marge, Michael Jackson just told me to shut up.” — Little Richard
4. “One churro please. That’ll be $14.”

Episode 308 — 14-17 — “Three Gays of the Condo”
What began as a hilarious quest for a puzzle piece became a hysterical, yet tasteful account of gay life when Homer moves in with a gay couple. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s brief appearance provided him with yet another song to add to his repertoire.