Top 10 - Episodes of The Simpsons

By Jim Feighan
Senior Staff Writer
March 21, 2007

I grew up with The Simpsons, and, like most, I was upset with the decline in the writing of the show around season 10. Plots became weak, jokes either fell flat or went on too long and characters began acting noticeably out-of-character. Here are 10 personal favorite episodes of mine; so even if The Simpsons Movie sucks, we can still look back to a time when everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family was still funny.

10) “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” (Season Five)—Bart’s conscience is tested when he has the ability to save the mayor’s nephew’s reputation, even though it will get him in trouble. Freddy Quimby also teaches America the proper way to pronounce “chowderrre.”

9) “Homer Badman” (Season Six)—Homer, after being accused of sexually-harassing a college student, is put through hell by the media and his friends while trying to clear his name. We all know that he just wanted the Gummi de Milo she was sitting on, and not her “suh suh suh sweeeeet can.”

8) “A Star is Burns” (Season Six)—After being deemed the worst city in America, Springfield decides to hold a film festival to showcase its true artistic selves. Highlights: Barney’s brilliant yet poorly-titled film Pukahontas, Hans Moleman’s clip of “Man Getting Hit by Football” and Mr. Burns’ impression of E.T.

7) “Homer at the Bat” (Season Three)—Mr. Burns hires MLB players to ensure a win over a rival chemical plant. As fate would have it, each of the nine players falls victim to bizarre occurrences, and Homer has to save the day.

6) “Marge Vs. The Monorail” (Season Four)—After Springfield procures a $3,000,000 debt, the naïve city gets scammed into building a shoddy, dangerous monorail. Marge tries her best to save the city, but it’s Homer who must use his cunning to stop the monorail from killing its townspeople. Mayor Quimby shines as he mistakes Leonard Nimoy for being one of the original Lil’ Rascals.

5) “Homer’s Phobia” (Season Eight)—After the Simpson family makes a new friend, John, Homer doesn’t know how to react when he finds out that John is gay. So to secure that Bart will turn out straight, Homer takes Bart hunting and to a steel mill (they work hard and they play hard).

4) “Who Shot Mr. Burns? Pts. 1 & 2” (Seasons Six and Seven)—The show’s producers surprised America with a two-part cliffhanger whodunit mystery that kept fans on the edge of their seats for the summer of 1995. The two episodes showcase Mr. Burns at his worst, The Simpsons writing staff at their best and Grandpa Simpson at his funniest.

3) “Homer Goes to College” (Season Five)—Homer, only being educated about college from frat comedies, tries his best to make three geeks more popular, while also trying to pass Nuclear Physics 101. Highlights: a visit from the wallet inspector and Homer splitting a case of malt liquor with a rival college’s mascot.

2) “You Only Move Twice” (Season Eight)—After being offered a luxurious job in Cypress Creek, Homer and the family move and restart their lives with more cultured townspeople. While Homer is feeling accomplished for the first time in his life (thanks to boss/supervillian Hank Scorpio), the rest of the family is having a tough time fitting in. Bart is placed in the “leg-up” remedial class, Lisa is allergic to everything and Marge is having a glass of wine a day.

1) “Duffless” (Season Four)— After Homer skips work to go on a Duff Brewery Tour with Barney, they get pulled over for drunk driving. To make it up to Marge, Homer promises to go a full month without a sip of beer. Highlights: JFK’s Duff commercial, Ned Flanders’ speech at the Alc-Anon meeting and Homer’s conversation with his own brain.

feighanj1@lasalle.edu