MY NAME ISN'T KRUSTY THE KLOWN. IT'S HERSCHEL KRUSTOFSKY. MY FATHER WAS A RABBI. HIS FATHER WAS A RABBI. HIS FATHER'S FATH ... WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA: We, too, will offer the Poniewozik/Sepinwall challenge in advance of Sunday night's 500th episode of The Simpsons: name one -- and only one -- episode of the show which is your favorite.
Mine is the one referenced in the title, and per their challenge I will not list the 5-10 others I could have chosen. Nor should you.
The Simpsons go into foster care with the Flanderses.
ReplyDeleteSideshow Bob runs for Mayor. If for no other reason than the disclosure statement on the willie horton spot against Quimby.
ReplyDeleteIt's so tempting to put the shortlist so you all know what else was in contention, but it's a form of hedging, I guess. So I'll say just one: "Hurricane Neddy". Swanson Angry Man Dinners! The University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol! "GOD WELCOMES HIS VICTIMS"! "Now I'm Prune Tracy!" Flanders's dismantling of the town's efforts to rebuild his house!
ReplyDeleteDelightful, is my point.
While there are many I could name, I'll have to stake my claim on "Marge vs. the Monorail."
ReplyDeleteBart Sells His Soul. Funny, moving, even a little creepy (that dream sequence . . . )
ReplyDeleteMatt took my top choice, but I also have a professional and personal fondness for "Lisa the Iconoclast," in which the true history of Jebediah Springfield is revealed, thereby embiggening even the smallest man.
ReplyDeleteCape Feare. It's the circle of rakes.
ReplyDeleteI will be shocked if the vast majority of selections DON'T come from 1990-1998. For me, the one episode (of the two dozen or so that come to mind immediately) would have to be "Lisa's Substitute". Not the *funniest* ep they've done, but probably the most moving. I even quoted it in another comment yesterday: "You mean there is a place where my intelligence is an asset and not a liability?"
ReplyDeleteAlso, this ep has a terrific B-plot, with Bart running against Martin for class president. "He says there are no easy answers. I say he's not looking hard enough!"
ReplyDeleteYou don't win friends with salad. You don't win friends with salad. You don't win friends with salad.
ReplyDeleteWe can do a whole other post -- and we may this weekend -- on Greatest Single Gag/Quote on The Simpsons -- but let's be clear that this is not that post.
ReplyDeleteBart's Inner Child. I still shout "We Like Roy!" from time to time.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone else here who has never watched a single episode?
ReplyDeleteYou Only Move Twice.
ReplyDeleteProbably because I was just talking about dental plans, I'll go with Last Exit to Springfield and won't mention the other dozen episodes that I would name in slightly different moods.
ReplyDeletetwo other site users, at least check.
ReplyDeleteMr. Plow.
ReplyDeleteLisa the Vegetarian is also my favorite, esp the conversation about the wonderful, magical animal that bacon, ham, and pork chops come from.
ReplyDeleteSummer of 4 Ft. 2 (Simpsons go to the Flanders beach house, Lisa gets friends, Bart gets jealous and tries to ruin it)--I might quote other episodes more frequently, but this one's closest to my heart. "I tried being myself, and that didn't work. I tried being someone else and THAT didn't work. I guess I'm just not meant to have friends." I very nearly weep every time. Also, the boys playing Mystery Date--POINTDEXTER!
ReplyDelete"22 Short Films About Springfield". Arguably for the Skinner/Chalmers scene on its own.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a regular viewer, but I'll go with "Homer Phobia."
ReplyDeleteHomer Simpson vs. The City of New York. The "Flushing Meadows" sequence, the crappy musical about a thinly veiled Robert Downey Jr. checking into rehab. Mad magazine! I love it, and it sucks that 9/11 causes it to be imbued with so much more emotional baggage. (I don't mean for that to sound glib if it does.) I actually showed that episode in my TV criticism classes.
ReplyDeleteThat's my runner-up!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a big fan of Apu's remark about non-alcoholic beer in that one.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ralph's proud "When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University!"
ReplyDeleteMr. Plow, which just never lets up: "It's a pornography store. I was buying pornography." The Adam West cameo, the Sorcerer reference (had me on the floor the first time I saw it, and it's still funny), the Mr. Plow theme song...the show was at the height of its brilliance then.
ReplyDeleteAw, that was mine!
ReplyDeleteLinda Ronstadt!!!!
ReplyDelete"Dad, why did you bring me to a gay steel mill?"
ReplyDeleteStreetcar!
ReplyDelete"Mel Brooks is Jewish?"
ReplyDeleteI like that one that people are always quoting all the time.
ReplyDeleteI have also never really watched a full episode.
ReplyDeleteBart rowing in circles is one of my favorite metaphors ever. Not sure for what, but I love it. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat one's a perfectly cromulent episode.
ReplyDeleteCompletely understood - that was a vote for Lisa the Vegetarian as the favorite episode. So much good stuff - in addition to what people have already pointed out, there's the BBBQ / BYOBB invite, and "it's just a little airborne, it's still good, it's still good."
ReplyDeleteLast Exit to Springfield.
ReplyDeleteLisa needs braces! Dental plan. Lisa needs braces! Dental plan.
Definitely Deep Space Homer.
ReplyDelete<pre>Stupid carbon rod. It's all just a popularity contest!</pre>
Moaning Lisa, season 1
ReplyDeleteworst repeated word ever
ReplyDeleteI Love Lisa. I find the redemption of Ralph moving.
ReplyDeleteA Streetcar Named Marge.
ReplyDelete"Stella! Stella! Can't you hear me yell-a? You put me through hell-a! Stella! STELLA!"
You Only Move Twice. Four solid stories, each member of the family getting their due, the single best guest voice appearance ever, a Bond parody story that my wife (a Bond nut) notes that is from people who seriously love even the bad Moore movies (all of them), and it has a hammock district.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was Monorail, but I'll also through out there Treehouse of Horror IV. Forbidden donut....
ReplyDeleteThis episode won me $500!
ReplyDeleteHomer at the Bat, without which I would not know the correct rules of softball.
ReplyDeleteHomer at the Bat, without which I would not know the correct rules of softball.
ReplyDeletePretty much every episode that's been listed here (and discussed on Twitter and at Sepinwall's), I can endorse as a Best. Episode. Ever. Even though I think post-season 8 the show became a different entity, there are so many Great episodes from the run of the show.
ReplyDelete"The Good, The bad and the drugly" because of it's great Milhouse quotes; "Suprised to see me at sea level?" and the Milhouse collector's plate series.
ReplyDelete"Meat and You: Partners in Freedom"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bps-xbo8wnA
"Don't kid yourself, Jimmy, if a cow could, he'd eat you and everyone you care about."
"You know me, Marge. I like my beer cold, my steak rare, and my homosexuals flaming."
ReplyDelete<span>"He prefers the company of men." "Who doesn't?"</span>
ReplyDeleteActually came here to cite the same episode, for the same reason. Absolutely classic scene. "The Northern Lights. At this time of year. In this part of the country. Localized entirely within your kitchen?" "Yes!"
ReplyDeleteAgree about the voice appearance. Brooks was brilliant in that one.
ReplyDelete