# EW's Top 25 Simpsons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570 "2003-02-03T19:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/21 "2003-02-04T06:26:33Z")
These lists are of course always fraught with peril since you can never please everyone. I wasn’t horrified by any of their picks and their top four would all fit in my top ten (Cape Feare at #1) so I have to say they did a good job, for once. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/22 "2003-02-04T09:14:38Z")
Wow, who would think that EW and myself would pick the same favourite episode? Hats off to EW for seeing through the post season 7 illusion that the simpsons is better than ever, because it ISN’T. Tomorrow I may post my own top 25… ---
**Author:** ![Madawc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Madawc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madawc)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/23 "2003-02-04T10:41:02Z")
what about the Hank Scorpio episode? where Homer goes to work for rich evil villian. I thought this was quite a good episode and well deserving of one of the places of the top 25 episodes ever. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/24 "2003-02-04T11:40:58Z")
I’ll second the $pringfield (casino) episode. Very underrated and not often played locally. Burns threatening Smithers to get into the Spruce Goose is great, Homer’s flashback to the town meeting is one of the funniest moments in the series. But why even give this list any credibility, it’s from the people who gave The Two Towers and Biker Boyz the same grade… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/25 "2003-02-04T13:44:56Z")
They left out my two favorite episodes: **Brother from Another Series** and \*\*Homer vs. the City of New York \*\*. Granted, the second one doesn’t get aired much since 9/11, but I thought the first one was great with the interplay between Bob and Cecil, the plot, and everything. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/26 "2003-02-04T14:02:49Z")
" ‘Homer vs. the City of New York.’ Granted, the second one doesn’t get aired much since 9/11…" #13, **Annie**. Though the other one isn’t on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/27 "2003-02-04T14:49:12Z")
I loved the episode when Bart became the bartender for the Mob and went on trial for Skinner’s murder. That was my fave. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/28 "2003-02-04T15:38:31Z")
Worst. List. Ever! (I can’t believe no one’s said it yet.) And “A Streetcar Named Marge” is my all-time favorite. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/29 "2003-02-04T16:24:43Z")
The list was a decent effort. A lot of the ones on their made me think the writers had decent taste. And as has been said, these lists can never capture all of the great episodes. But how on Earth could they leave off my #1 choice- Mountain of Madness? The funniest episode ever. This is the one where the Plant has a team building retreat in the snowy mountains. That episode was Burns and Homer at their finest! BURNS:Sir, I am in your debt! HOMER:Use it wisely! LENNY: I thought he said there’d be sandwiches Not to mention Burns’ cheating justification. My top five SNUB list: 1 Mountain of Madness 2 Homer’s Barbershop Quartet 3 You Only Move Twice 4 Homer the Great 5 Behind the Laughter ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/30 "2003-02-04T16:27:27Z")
Boy Scoutz N the Hood. Best episode ever. Homer: Aww…twenty dollars? I wanted a peanut. Homer’s Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts. H: Explain how. HB: Money can be exchanged for goods and services. H: Woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/31 "2003-02-04T16:52:58Z")
Well, this thread pretty much proves that no list would satsify everyone. My personal favorite is when Homer gets Apu fired from the Kwik-E-Mart. It has a great song, Homer corrected Apu on karma, the great sign “The Master knows all except combination to safe” and my favorite guest appearance of all time, James Woods. Woods: But as for me, I’m off to battle aliens on a faraway planet. Marge: That sounds like a good movie. Woods: Yes…yes, a…a movie, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/32 "2003-02-04T17:35:28Z")
The list failed to repulse me utterly and I wasn’t left saying “What kind of moron came up with this thing!” The only two episodes on the list that I absolutely disagree with are How I Spent My Strummer Vacation (an okay episode that showed that series can still produce something worth watching, but there have been a couple of better episodes this season), Itchy and Scratchy Land, and the Homer vs. New York which I didn’t like at all. The rest are ones that make me go “Yeah, that was a great episode,” even if I’d change up maybe half the list for my own personal favorite picks (like The PTA Disbands, Homer the Heretic, Homer the Vigilante, and Treehouse of Horror IV (“They’re dogs! AND THEY’RE PLAYING POKER!! AHA-HA-HAHAHA!!”)). ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/33 "2003-02-04T17:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > \*\*“Behind the Laughter” was a glaring exclusion. \*\* I could not agree more. Its omission was one of only two glaring errors on the list, the other being, of course, the inclusion of the token recent episode, “How I Spent My Strummer Vacation.” There have been a handful of episodes in the last three seasons better than “Just O.K.,” and maybe that’s one of them, but it ain’t top 25. hrh ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/34 "2003-02-04T17:46:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Madawc \* > \*\*what about the Hank Scorpio episode? where Homer goes to work for rich evil villian. I thought this was quite a good episode and well deserving of one of the places of the top 25 episodes ever. \*\* I had forgotten about this ep when I posted my above message. This is another glaring error. Albert Brooks 0wnZ j00 @11z! hrh ---
**Author:** ![abatha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@abatha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abatha)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/35 "2003-02-04T18:29:08Z")
i don’t know the name of the episode, but the one where lisa and bart both play kiddie hockey is actually VERY good, and VERY overlooked by almost everyone I’ve ever met. people should like it more. hmph. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/36 "2003-02-04T18:54:12Z")
They’re choice of “Bart to the Future” as worst episode was pretty accurate, as it is way down there. But the Mel Gibson one is really the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/37 "2003-02-04T19:03:59Z")
Frank Grimes Lemon of Troy glarring!!! ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/38 "2003-02-04T19:11:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Madawc \* > \*\*what about the Hank Scorpio episode? where Homer goes to work for rich evil villian. I thought this was quite a good episode and well deserving of one of the places of the top 25 episodes ever. \*\* Best. Episode. Ever. If, on the way out, you fell like killing anybody, it would really help me out a lot. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/39 "2003-02-04T19:11:14Z")
I didn’t think Bart to the Future was awful. Pretty mediocre to decent episode. I’ll vote for what a Doper said in a previous thread (I don’t recall who to give credit): My vote for the worst episode ever is Saddlesore Galactica. Not only is it boring (with a ridiculous elf musical number), but it really did signal the beginning of the end of the true quality of the show. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570/40 "2003-02-04T19:45:32Z")
Episodes that should not be on the list: **Life on the Fast Lane** **Who Shot Mr. Burns?** **Bart the Daredevil** **A Fish Called Selma** **Homer Badman** Two that are good, but have far superior counterparts: **Treehouse of Horror V** is good, but **Treehouse of Horror IV** is much better **Itchy and Scratchy Land** is good, but both **The Itchy and Scratchy Movie** and **The Firm** (in which Bart and Lisa write I&S episodes with Grampa taking the credit) are better Some others that deserve to be included: (as others have said) **Behind the Laughter** , **Lisa’s Substitute** , **Lisa the Vegetarian** , **Homer’s Enemy** and the Hank Scorpio episode **Bart Vs. Thanksgiving** (Not hilarious, but very very touching) **Whacking Day** (I am evil ho-mer!) **Lisa’s Wedding** (We’re both utterly humorless about our vegetarianism) **Lisa’s Rival** (My cat’s breath smells like catfood) Overall, though, a much better list than I thought they would come up with. By the way, all the episodes that either they or you all have mentioned as worst ever are, imho, reasonably good. My vote for worst ever is the recent one where Grampa drives. Or maybe he doesn’t drive. I don’t remember. It was painful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ews-top-25-simpsons/152570.md?page=3)