Why it’s one of the best: God, I love this episode. It doesn’t take you to one side for a stern lecture, either. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Don’t be fooled by the dry-sounding plot. “Who Shot Mr. Burns? One of The Simpsons’ most uncharacteristically dark episodes, “Homer’s Enemy” revolves around a hard-working self-made man who is hired to work at the nuclear plant and is subsequently astounded by the way Homer lives. Why it’s one of the best: Ideally, this should have served as the series finale to The Simpsons.A meta deconstruction of everything that was good (and bad) … However, Marge uncovers the history of Lanley’s monorail scams on the eve of the maiden voyage of Springfield’s monorail – conducted by none other than Homer. From Bob’s hilariously drawn-out rake gag to Homer’s inability to grasp his new identity as Homer Thompson, “Cape Feare” is filled with classic Simpsons moments that’ll never get old. Because that’s what The Simpsons does, and why it's one of the best Simpsons episode ever: it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and, just sometimes, you can relate to it on a level that other shows daren’t even attempt to reach, let alone pull off with as much grace as The Simpsons does in "Homer Badman.". Many of The Simpsons original writers were heavily involved with the show during these seasons. Everything that comes before the final few minutes, where almost all the town gets crammed into Ned’s bunker, is exceptional (“There’s a 4:30 in the morning now?” Bart quips after being forced into early-morning science work with Principal Skinner), but Ned belting out the first few lines of Que Sera Sera elevates it into something even greater. With the show's 500th episode airing this Sunday, we take a look back at the animated Springfield family's best efforts. Since its second season, The Simpsons has delivered an annual Halloween special under the iconic “Treehouse of Horror” banner. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The series moved from 8:00 p.m. on Sunday nights to the same time on Thursdays, where it competed with The Cosby … GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The 10 Best 'The Simpsons' Episodes On Disney+ (According To Esquire Editors) ... At which point, more than 600 episodes will be yours, to stream at your leisure. While Homer and Hank hit it off right away, the rest of the Simpson crew is miserable (i.e. This first aired not long after President George H.W. What other show could mesh The Beatles, Jimmy Hoffa, Batman, and The Grinch into 22 minutes quite so expertly? Visit our corporate site. The episode: Homer undergoes trial by public opinion after allegations of sexual assault. Here is a selection of the 25 best Simpsons episodes ever. You’ll groan along with Bart and Lisa as they pass the Flickey’s sign (probably the best sight gag in the show’s history), you’ll be embarrassed and want to be thrown in a (not-so-literal) hole just as Marge does after Homer and Bart’s shenanigans, and you’ll cheer as the family eventually bond as they come face-to-face with killer robots. These Episodes of The Simpsons Have NOT Aged Well. 10 Pokemon That Can Learn Fire Blast That Aren't Fire-Types, The 10 Best Simpsons Episodes, According To IMDb, quickly scrawled a family with three kids, one of the most beloved and groundbreaking TV series, The Simpsons: 10 Best Games Of All Time, Ranked, D’oh! © Dark humour is most prevalent in first segment ‘Hex and the City’, which sees Homer be cursed by a gypsy. Grab some popcorn and enjoy some of the Simpsons funniest moments. Chaos ensues. Nine major league All-Stars appear in the episode, which was the first installment of The Simpsons to beat The Cosby Show in the ratings. Worst. Why it’s one of the best: It doesn’t appear that way at first – or even up until the episode’s final act, really – but this episode is a perfect marriage of what makes the (relatively) early years of the show so great as it makes your heart swell while also splitting your sides. Homer starts gaining weight more rapidly than usual when he realizes he’s just a few pounds away from qualifying for workers’ comp. Strap in, because it doesn't end until Labor Day is over. This Citizen Kane homage gets into the backstory of Mr. Burns, recalling his beloved childhood teddy bear, Bobo, that he discarded in exchange for ascension to a life of wealth — and his lifelong quest to recover the treasured object. He’s suddenly joined by the entire town, despite facing certain doom. The 100 Best Simpsons Episodes Since Season 9. It doesn’t make sense – much like a film festival being hosted in Springfield – but it didn’t have to, because the timing, set-up, and execution is all absolutely flawless. One of the common picks for The Simpsons’ best ever episode, “Marge vs. the Monorail” begins with Mr. Burns paying a huge fine to the … The episode: The end is nigh for Springfield as a comet hurtles towards the town. Share Tweet Submit Pin. If that setup doesn’t make you chuckle, then how about the countless other homemade movies on display which allows half of Springfield to really shine? RELATED: 5 Reasons Why Hit & Run Is The Best Simpsons Game (& 5 Why It's "The Simpsons Game"). Marathon" is currently underway on FXX! TV Galleries The Simpsons. The ending is also excellent and an example of The Simpsons at the absolute peak of its powers. In this episode, Homer is recruited to work for Hank Scorpio’s Globex Corporation, which means moving out of Springfield. Please refresh the page and try again. The Simpsons wasted no time slashing into politics and corporate greed: Blinky, the mutant three-eyed fish of this episode, became an enduring image of environmental negligence. The Simpsons: 10 Best Treehouse Of Horror Episodes ... With the exception of the first season of the show, every year has seen a new Halloween special from the Springfield family. That’s the sign of a show at the top of its game. The episode: Homer becomes union leader at the Power Plant and leads a strike to push through better benefits for the workers. “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson” is one of The Simpsons’ funniest episodes, but it, unfortunately, became retroactively controversial because Homer spends most of the episode at the World Trade Center. A snake oil salesman named Lyle Lanley pitches a monorail system and wows the town with a musical number. Commentary: For the 30th anniversary of The Simpsons, a look back at the funniest, quirkiest and weirdest episodes. Ok, maybe not that last bit. Directors: Rob Oliver, Mike B. Anderson | Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith. On the anniversary of the first-ever episode of The Simpsons, I take a deep dive into the nuances, background details and long-term impact. Part One” sets up beefs between various Springfieldians and Mr. Burns. Each joke set-up quite easily could’ve been the high point for many a different comedy series. Why it’s one of the best: We’ve all had a holiday go very, very wrong – but nothing quite like what goes down in "Itchy and Scratchy Land." Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, It all ends with Homer getting one over his boss, too. Legend has it that when Matt Groening was sitting in James L. Brooks’ waiting room, about to sell away his comic strip to become a TV show, he got cold feet about selling his life’s work and quickly scrawled a family with three kids and when he was called into Brooks’ office, he pitched this family for a TV show instead. The series was created by writer and cartoonist Matt Groening, with producers James L. Brooks and Sam Simon. In this case, he becomes a … The episode’s successes are summed up by one small throwaway gag: Boo-urns. To date, the series has aired 640 episodes … But this is more than merely a benchmark. ... Why it’s one of the best: It doesn’t appear that way at first – or even up until the episode… “The Simpsons” premiered on December 17, 1989, to the biggest ratings Fox had ever seen at that point. These seasons contained the most original storylines, drawn from the heart of the writers. It says a lot that this is an episode you can re-visit at any time, whether you’re watching the whole thing or just fancy a quick 20-second dip, and you’re going to be rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter, guaranteed. Best Simpsons episodes: 10 classic Simpsons episodes to watch on Disney Plus 650+ episodes, but which Simpsons episode is the best? Still, this is one road trip you won’t mind revisiting again and again. Sideshow Bob gets out of prison and terrorizes the Simpson family into witness protection in “Cape Feare,” a spot-on parody of Martin Scorsese’s remake of Cape Fear. Ever. The episode: A parody of VH1’s Behind the Music, the episode re-imagines the Simpsons as a real-life TV show, complete with behind-the-scenes interviews with Homer (the creator of the show) and his supporting cast. From Scully forcing Homer to exercise to Mulder having a glamor shot on his federal identification, “The Springfield Files” does a terrific job of transplanting The X-Files’ characters into The Simpsons’ world. The Simpsons, in its heyday, was something for everyone, yet this episode’s real skill was spinning so many plates at once and not having it all come crashing to the ground. The introduction to this episode sets the tone with a darkly comical slapstick piece that sees Smithers die trying to put up Mr. Burns’s Halloween decorations, and darkly comical is exactly what this episode is. Here, it was just another moment before an even bigger and better joke. The episode: The Simpsons decide to go on a vacation to the newly-opened Itchy and Scratchy Land theme park. Get the best gaming deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable gaming news and more! With its first season, The Simpsons became the Fox network's first series to rank among the top thirty highest-rated shows of a television season. NEXT: The 10 Best Simpsons Christmas Specials. Classic Episode. #1 Stark Raving Dad – Season 3. There was a problem. Ever. There are extensive historical references as Bobo’s journey is traced from Mr. Burns through the hand… The 25 best Simpsons episodes you should choo-choo-choose to watch. 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