“Who Shot Mr. Burns? It all ends with Homer getting one over his boss, too. Best gaming chair for PS5, PS4, and Xbox: get comfy whatever your console setup, Best card games - find new favorites that won't get lost in the shuffle. Classic Episode. On top of mining a ton of absurd humor out of the premise of Homer leading a workers’ strike, “Last Exit to Springfield” has a lot to say about the balance of power between workers and their corporate overlords. The episode’s successes are summed up by one small throwaway gag: Boo-urns. The episode: Homer undergoes trial by public opinion after allegations of sexual assault. Get the best gaming deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable gaming news and more! GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. Lisa is allergic to her new environment, Bart is in the remedial program in school and Marge feels useless in their new self-cleaning house).But what makes th… 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) … Grab some popcorn and enjoy some of the Simpsons funniest moments. Many of The Simpsons original writers were heavily involved with the show during these seasons. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. Don’t be fooled by the dry-sounding plot. 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. The ending is also excellent and an example of The Simpsons at the absolute peak of its powers. Why it’s one of the best: It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times. Often regarded as the show’s best (close here, but no dice), it’s not hard to see why everyone loves it thanks to the many cultural parodies, rambling Grandpa stories, and even some vaudeville-style innuendo. RELATED: D’oh! Which means this list needs a Lisa episode—and not a Lisa episode that's really a Bart episode (''Lisa's First Word'') or a Lisa episode … They have become a permeant, and influential member in pop culture history. To date, the series has aired 640 episodes … ", Ma Rainey's Black Bottom review: "Chadwick Boseman is astonishing in his final film performance", WandaVision episode 2 review: "Marvel's remarkably bizarre new show", WandaVision episode 1 review: "Shows just how experimental Marvel can be with these Disney Plus shows", Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 13 review: "An anti-climax", Doctor Who Revolution Of The Daleks review: "The meat ‘n’ veg version of Who", Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 12 review: "A spectacular run of episodes continues". mishap and a dangerous space mission complicated by a sentient cranberry sauce. Whether it’s Bart dialling up his prank game to 11, the Westworld-style meltdown of the robots, or the creative staff’s barbed digs at Walt Disney’s, ahem, dubious background, it all comes together to provide us with a riotous episode that allows the family to breathe away from the confines of Springfield. Worst. Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons. While the segment has a fair bit of slapstick and a number of witty verbal gags, there is a da… Besides being the first episode that aired, it is also the first of a very popular type of Simpsons episode: one in which Homer gets a different job. The show has been going on for so long that its steady decline in quality has now lasted for longer than the “golden age” did, but those early seasons contain some of the funniest material ever put on television. New York, The first 10 seasons of The Simpsons are often considered by fans as containing the classic episodes of the animated sitcom. 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. That includes what works, what doesn’t work, and even a certain Treehouse of Horror that ranks up there with some of the best Simpsons episodes … ... Why it’s one of the best: It doesn’t appear that way at first – or even up until the episode… As a result, some of the show's greatest episodes … Learn more. GamesRadar+'s Entertainment Writer. Still, this is one road trip you won’t mind revisiting again and again. Ok, maybe not that last bit. The Simpsons has had a run that no other show of its kind can match, what with its 25 seasons and 550 episodes (and counting). The jokes, inevitably, come thick and fast (Homer’s obviously-edited interview to make him look bad is a definite highlight), but it’s the fact that it’s still as relevant today as it was a quarter of a century ago that sets it apart from all the others. 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. The series was created by writer and cartoonist Matt Groening, with producers James L. Brooks and Sam Simon. Homer’s union antics very much play second fiddle to a show that decided it wouldn’t let something as flimsy as a plot get in the way of jokes. 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. There’s Man Getting Hit by Football, The Eternal Struggle, and so much more besides that. But this is more than merely a benchmark. As The Simpsons turns 30, a superfan picks the best 20 episodes ever. There was a problem. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. In the episode’s final moments, Mr. Burns is shot by an unseen assailant. Though The Simpsons appeared in shorts from 1987, December 17, 1989, saw the first full episode of the show air on Fox, meaning that the iconic cartoon is … Another regular pick for The Simpsons’ best episode, “Last Exit to Springfield” sees Homer elected the head of his workers’ union after Lisa is told she needs braces and Mr. Burns tries to cut his dental plan. In preparation of season 32 (!) 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. Best Simpsons episodes: 10 classic Simpsons episodes to watch on Disney Plus 650+ episodes, but which Simpsons episode is the best? Throughout the episode, the Simpsons are all driven to despise their new lives – all except for Homer, who loves his new boss (and is completely oblivious to his out-in-the-open global terrorism). Visit our corporate site. There are extensive historical references as Bobo’s journey is traced from Mr. Burns through the hand… In this episode, Homer is recruited to work for Hank Scorpio’s Globex Corporation, which means moving out of Springfield. They are the most well-known animated family in the world. In this case, he becomes a … 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! 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Marge has reservations about Homer’s plan and he finds people’s attitudes toward him change. 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These seasons contained the most original storylines, drawn from the heart of the writers. Two years after making their first appearance in short episodes on The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons debuted as a half hour series on the Fox network on December 17 1989. Ever. Classic Episode. D'oh! Commentary: For the 30th anniversary of The Simpsons, a look back at the funniest, quirkiest and weirdest episodes. GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Strap in, because it doesn't end until Labor Day is over. 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. 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. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Due to this success, Fox decided to switch The Simpsons ' timeslot in hopes of higher ratings for the shows airing after it. The Simpsons face various Thanksgiving nightmares, including the first Thanksgiving, an A.I. Why it’s one of the best: Homer Badman deals in serious issues – such as sexual assault and alarmist media coverage – and wraps it all up into a package worthy of being on any 'best of' list, Simpsons or otherwise. 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. 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. 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. 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.". RELATED: 5 Reasons Why Hit & Run Is The Best Simpsons Game (& 5 Why It's "The Simpsons Game"). Mr. Burns is at his tyrannical best here, trying his absolute best to rig a small-town film festival by throwing millions of dollars at an ego-fuelled production of his life. The 25 best Simpsons episodes you should choo-choo-choose to watch. Thank you for signing up to GamesRadar+. Not so for The Simpsons. Since its second season, The Simpsons has delivered an annual Halloween special under the iconic “Treehouse of Horror” banner. Dark humour is most prevalent in first segment ‘Hex and the City’, which sees Homer be cursed by a gypsy. That’s the sign of a show at the top of its game. RELATED: The Simpsons: 10 Best Games Of All Time, Ranked. 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. 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. The episode aired in 1997 and was removed from syndication for a while in the wake of 9/11. © Directors: Rob Oliver, Mike B. Anderson | Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith. These episodes are anthologies comprised of three spooky shorts and it’s very rare that all three are great, but “Treehouse of Horror V” manages it. Top 10 Simpsons Episodes From The First 10 Seasons. Fans were left to ponder the titular question for months before the season 7 premiere paid it off. Votes: 677 If that sounds like too much of a time commitment, or you're struggling with which ones to watch, start here. Mulder and Scully travel to Springfield when Homer claims he saw an alien in the woods and nobody in town believes him. The animators painstakingly recreated Manhattan for the episode, which adds a visual supplement to timeless gags like the Khlav Kalash vendor and the “Checkin’ In” number from Kickin’ It: A Musical Journey Through the Betty Ford Center. The sixth-season finale of The Simpsons set up the show’s first (and, so far, only) two-part episode. “The Simpsons” premiered on December 17, 1989, to the biggest ratings Fox had ever seen at that point. 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. It doesn’t take you to one side for a stern lecture, either. “The Shinning” puts Homer in Jack Torrance’s place in a Shining parody, “Time and Punishment” explores thought-provoking themes as Homer keeps unwittingly altering the course of history, and “Nightmare Cafeteria” plays like a regular episode that takes a dark turn into cannibalism. 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. Here is a selection of the 25 best Simpsons episodes ever. You will receive a verification email shortly. Each joke set-up quite easily could’ve been the high point for many a different comedy series. 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