The Simpsons is now in it's (Jesus Christ) 22nd season, and we've come to a sad moment in time where the show has been terrible far longer than it was ever good. There's a whole generation of people who probably don't understand why Abe Simpson sounding old folks like myself quote dialogue and swear it used to actually be a great show. "I'm tellin' you whippersnappers, Family Guy stole from the Simpsons, get yer paws off me....". Even if it's difficult to remember, there were actually a few classic television seasons in Springfield. These are my top 5 episodes (maybe not the 5 best episodes, but my personal favorites):
5. "Duffless"-season 4
This episode really hits closer to home now that I can't imagine a life without beer. Baseball really is the most boring game without a beer. "My name is Otto, and I love to get blotto".
4. "Homer Badman"-Season 6
Dennis Franz as Homer is always funny.
3. "Homer's Enemy"- Season 8
Most hard-core Simpsons fans will tell you that the show had already begun to slip at this point (Who Shot Mr. Burns between season 6 and 7 is sometimes thought of as the "jump the shark" moment), but this controversial episode is one of my favorites. A main character dies every episode of South Park, and Family Guy pretty much slaughters entire countries each season, but in 1997 when this first aired, an animated prime time television show ending with a character's casket being lowered into the ground amidst an entire town laughing was pretty unheard of.
2. "Homer at the Bat"- Season 3
The best baseball related comedy this side of The Naked Gun, this episode has it all: An all-star lineup of guest MLB voices, Mr. Burns doing his best Steinbrenner (you heard me, hippy), and of course, Talkin' Softball.
1. "Last Exit to Springfield"-Season 4
This is my favorite episode, and this one about Homer becoming president of the union and then leading a strike at the power plant might just be the Best Simpsons Episode Ever. Every time I watch it I remember how many classic lines and bits are in it: Lisa needs braces/dental plan, "first thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to punch Lenny in the back of the head", "The blurst of times", "I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style of the time" and on and on. Plus, Homer spinning on the ground making the Three Stooges noise will never not make me laugh.
Honorable mention: "A Star is Burns" from season 6 mostly for "I was saying Boo-urns" and Barney's short film.
If you Simpsons nerds have other favorites, let it be known.
