"Marge, you make it sound so seamy. All I did was spend the afternoon in her trailer watching her try on some outfits."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#15 Colonel Homer
Season 3, Episode 20 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Angry with Marge after being publicly embarrassed by her, Homer drives into the night and visits a bar far outside Springfield. In it, he finds a singing waitress whose song he can’t get out of his head. A few days later, he goes back to see her, and takes her to one of those make-your-own-cd places. The owner of that place has a brother in the radio business and gets her some playtime on the local station. Homer becomes her manager, and her career continues to grow. Marge is displeased that he’s spending so much time with another woman, and catches on to the attraction she has to Homer, to which he is oblivious. She makes her move on Homer, and he has to make his decision. Naturally, he chooses Marge. Memorable moments include parking, drinking soda and other annoying behavior by Homer, Marge yelling at Homer, Bart explaining Homer’s anger, forgetting Maggie, Flaming Pete’s, smells, fighting words, Yodeling Zeke, pig, back at home, surgery, bowling, Moe’s disappointment in Homer, getting a copy of the song, song titles, smacking around Sideshow Mel, prison riot, Marge’s anger and Homer’s complete lack of understanding, Homer’s full disclosure, another of Homer’s lifelong dreams, recording studio, theory of lying, packaging records, complimenting Homer, portrait of Homer in the trailer, Homer missing (and then getting) the “hidden message” of the song, Hee Haw parody, Homer’s first meeting with the record company representative, Homer’s romantic life flashing before his eyes, negotiations, reunion with Marge, Marge’s reaction to the television, and all the songs (I’m not a huge country music fan or anything, but they’re well written, better than the parodies of Mary Poppins and Evita, which were the only episodes that had roughly equivalent amounts of singing (not counting the one clip show)).

"Let's see... I'm an elk, a Mason, a communist. I'm the president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance for some reason...ah, here it is. The Stonecutters."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#17 Homer the Great
Season 6, Episode 12 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Homer gets suspicious over the secrets Lenny and Carl are hiding from him, so he follows them one night to the meeting of their secret organization, the Stonecutters. Turned back at first, he manages to get in because his father is a member. Before long, he gets kicked out, but they discover a birthmark on him which signifies that he is their “chosen one” – a new leader of the organization. The power goes to Homer’s head at first, but he grows tired of it and, spurred on by Lisa, starts using his power to get his fellow members to do various community service projects. The membership rebels, abandoning their 1500 year old club for their new No Homers organization. Memorable moments include Stern Lecture Plumbing, traffic accident, parking spot (flexible reality annoys me, but it was a good joke), chairs, secrets, stalking, Homer enters the meeting, egg council, Grandpa’s memberships, Homer’s entrance to the meeting take 2, number 1, initiation, secret handshake, secret tunnel, parking spot reprise, jealousy, Stonecutter membership pack, Stonecutter history, phone message, schedule, singing, desecration of the sacred parchment, burning the underwear, stone of shame, stone of triumphant, power going to Homer’s head, painting, removal of the girl, Homer’s triumphs at games, Homer’s entrance at the elementary school, Stonecutter daycare, painting a building, meeting with the grand council, Baskin Robbins, No Homers, monkey Civil War reenactment, special rings, and initiation part two.

"At last, an excuse to wear makeup!"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#18 A Star is Burns
Season 6, Episode 18 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Springfield has been rated the least popular city in America. The town holds a meeting to come up with ideas for countering the notion and resurrecting tourism. Marge suggests the town hold a film festival and, unlike most of Marge's ideas, it is universally popular. She invites Jay Sherman (the title character from the short-run television show The Critic) to be a guest judge. Homer, jealous of Jay, demands that Marge include him as a judge as well. When it comes time to judge the contest, Homer doesn't take his job seriously, but Marge eventually gets him to do so, at which point he votes for the "right" film. There's also a nice subplot with Burns trying to win the contest through less than savory means. As an aside, Matt Groening absolutely hated this episode, and demanded that his name be removed from the credits; he hated the whole crossover bit and made a huge stink about it. Memorable moments include Eye on Springfield opening credits and programming, Bart's business, Abe's hatred of the metric system and his incredibly fuel inefficient car, filming movies, attractiveness of film critics, letter to Jay Sherman, loafers, name card, solution to the pimple/boil mystery, The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons (I had the video tape in my youth), dispelling perceptions of ogrehood, non-union Mexican counterpart, awards, Homer's attempt at cleverness (though I'm really not sure about that Jimmy Carter bit), MacGyver, respecting intelligence, Oscar Mayer weiners, lock of hair, auditions for the role of Burns, brilliant police work, groin injury, Barney's movie, lack of death, Burns's movie, Boo-urns, the quiet part loud and the loud part quiet, the inside happenings of Homer's head (parts one and two), ironic award, beer nuts, and groin injury reprisal take two.

"I'll admit I used the city treasury to fund the murder of my enemies, but as Gabbo would say, 'I'm a bad widdle boy.'"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#19 Krusty Gets Kancelled
Season 4, Episode 22 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

There’s a hot new kids’ show in town, and Krusty's ratings tank. His show gets cancelled, and he falls on hard times, as he had not saved any money from his many years in show business. Bart and Lisa see him on the side of the road and, after noticing all the celebrity connections he has, suggest a comeback special with many celebrity guests. It happens, it works, the end. Memorable moments include Springfield Squares, the teaser campaign for Gabbo, the Gabbo intro, Krusty’s mannequin, eastern European cartoon, Quimby getting away with murder, Johnny Carson, Krusty’s attempts to get money, Gabbo’s bad side, Kent Brockman’s bad side, Krusty’s rivalry with Luke Perry, Bette Midler, Chilly Willy, wall gazing, milkshakes, folding couch, getting back in shape, Sideshow Mel, Krusty’s backstage discussion with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Luke Perry shot out of a cannon, the love tester, and snapping Wiggum’s undies.

"I don't think this contest is over yet .... I believe there is still a little something called ‘The Swimsuit Competition'."

Simspsons Top 100 Countdown
#20 Deep Space Homer
Season 5, Episode 15 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Homer has that Rodney Dangerfield feeling, while NASA is looking for an average Joe to send into space so they can improve their television ratings. Watch this episode to see what hilarious hijinks ensue when they seek a mutual solution to their problems. Memorable moments include X-ray machine, union rule 26, Burns’s segue into the Worker of the Week Award, the award winner, reading the writing on the skull, respect of the tv, three musketeers, ratings war, tv shows, Homer’s harassment of government officials and quest for Tang acquisition, cudgel use, Beverly Hillbillies reference, press conference, opposite of shame, emotions, trials, second’s position relative to first, toasting, Barney’s escape, the two sweetest words in the English language, Itchy & Scratchy & placement of parental advisory, touchtone phone operation, cargo sedation, children’s letters to God, use of Mission Control equipment, the dangers of ruffled potato chips (presumably in opposition to the lack of inherent danger posed by the non-ruffled kind), horrible freedom, James Taylor (including revised lyrics), Kent Brockman selling out the human race, gingersnaps, mysterious camera outside the space shuttle, news summary, tv endings, media hero, and the obligatory 2001 reference.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to prove to you not only that Freddy Quimby is guilty, but that he is also innocent of not being guilty."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#21 The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Season 5, Episode 20 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Finding the day too beautiful to be kept in school, Bart skips out and plays hooky. After sneaking into the Quimby compound, Bart is the only witness to an altercation between Freddy Quimby (nephew of Mayor Quimby) and a French waiter, and, once the invited guests find the waiter badly injured, only Bart’s testimony can clear Freddy. However, Skinner is desperate to catch Bart for skipping school, so Bart is caught in a dilemma, eventually resolved when he comes forward with the information. Memorable moments include imprisoning the kids, Huck and “Lincon” in Bart’s fantasy, ergonomic chairs, forgery analyzation, good cop-bad cop, Skinner out of touch, Homer and Bart trying to fool each other, doubling, march through the river, spiking the punch, Bart-Bart, giant Rice Krispy treat, heckling Wolfcastle, chowder/chowdah/shao-dair, Chief Wiggum’s chief concern, the newspaper subheadline, chicks on the bench, laundry, telepathic communication, Freddy Quimby on the stand, Homer’s view of getting jury duty, Lionel Hutz, Apu, Lunch Lady Bart, the meaning of “if” and other words, disobedient whale and the director’s cut of the movie thereof, Odd Couple, McGarnigal, swiping everything not bolted down, the uncle never to be spoken of, “illegal and grossly unconstitutional” (though it’s not), what really happened, open-roofed rat trap delivery, and small man Skinner (times two).

"They took the foam off the market because they found out it was poisonous, but if you ask me, if you're dumb enough to eat it, you deserve to die."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#22 Homer’s Barbershop Quartet
Season 5, Episode 1 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

At a swap meet, Bart and Lisa discover a record album that has Homer’s face in its artwork. Homer goes on to tell the tale of his barbershop quartet. His group had modest local success with members Principal Skinner, Apu, and Chief Wiggum. A talent agent expresses interest, but only if they drop Wiggum (“too Village People”). After replacing him with Barney, they take off and have great international success, especially with Homer’s hit song “Baby on Board” (inspired by those signs hung in car windows). Unfortunately, they fall just as fast as they rose. As a side note, the barbershop group singing is the Dapper Dans, which many of you have probably seen at Disneyland; word is, they appreciate requests for the song. Memorable moments include Mayor Quimby at the swap meet, assorted junk, talent agent, dropping Wiggum, new member auditions, Homer writing music, Wiggum’s attempts to rejoin, naming the group, explaining it “that way” to Marge, the press conference, television, Grammy award category, Homer meeting George Harrison, further Grammy bashing, Marge compensating for Homer’s absence, the Yoko Ono character’s drink order, assorted Beatles jokes, and the fact that Jon Lovitz did an audio commentary for the episode despite having nothing to do with it.

"It's not easy to juggle a pregnant wife and a troubled child, but somehow I managed to fit in eight hours of TV a day."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#23 Lisa’s First Word
Season 4, Episode 10 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

I’m a sucker for flashback episodes, in case you couldn’t tell. With the whole family trying to get Maggie to say her first word, Marge tells the story of Lisa’s first word (which for some reason begins prior to even knowing she was pregnant with Lisa). The tale begins in 1983 and Lisa is born during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Bart is very jealous of the attention she gets and tries to get rid of her or find a way to trump her cuteness. Once he hears her say “Bart” as her first word, though, he decides he likes her after all. The show ends with Maggie’s first word (“daddy”). Memorable moments include Bart’s first word, Marge’s intro, house shopping, Homer asking his dad for money, Maggie outsmarting Homer, Homer’s efforts to get Bart to call him daddy, meeting Flanders, pretty much anything involving the 1984 Olympics (including coverage of it and Krusty(burger) bits, among others), trying to wean Bart off the crib, Bart’s new bed, Bart’s efforts to regain the focus of attention (including his efforts to get rid of Lisa), Bart’s newfound love of Lisa, and, of course, Maggie’s first word.

"Did you ever see that Blue Man Group? Total rip-off of the Smurfs. And the Smurfs -- they suck!"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#24 Trilogy of Error
Season 12, Episode 18 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

The three acts in this episode tell the story of the same day from three different perspectives: Homer’s, Bart’s, and Lisa’s. Homer, trying to steal some brownies that Marge is cutting, has his thumb accidentally severed. Marge calls 911, but Chief Wiggum wants to arrest her, so she ives a fake address, and takes Homer to the hospital. Unfortunately, Homer’s finger insurance does not cover thumbs. He then goes to Dr. Nick’s, but it’s on fire. Lisa is fixing her linguistic robot which Homer damaged and notices that Homer and Marge have suddenly disappeared, leaving her without a ride to work. She gets a ride from Krusty, but it’s to the wrong school. She comes across Marge, who’s waiting for Homer to come out of Moe’s, and decides to give Lisa a ride. While driving, she hits Bart as he comes out of a manhole. Milhouse tells Bart about some illegal fireworks, they set them off, which, among other things, involves setting Dr. Nick’s clinic on fire. They’re caught by the police, who turn them and have them wear wires while visiting the mafia. When Wiggum blows their cover, they flee and Bart emerges from a manhole cover to be hit by a truck driven by Marge. They continue fleeing, get cornered by the mafia, and Marge throws Lisa’s lingual robot at them, which explodes due to their bad grammar, with its head landing outside town next to Homer. The mafia, in an effort to get off the hook from the police, reattach Homer’s thumb and all is well. Memorable moments include escaping breakfast, party robot, thumb severing, train smashing, 911 call, car accident, Dr. Hibbert, Cletus, Blue Man group, sudden appearance of robot head, welding, ride with Krusty, French class, spinning for hours, blowing cover, Marge’s second auto theft, alarm clock, disturbingly comfortable bike ride, setting off fireworks, inflammable means flammable, busted by the cops, wearing a wire, guns of choice, robot throwing and destruction, thumb reattachment, and monkey message.

"Just remember: you represent the office of the mayor. So always comport yourself in a manner befitting -- quick! Honk at that broad!"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#25 Mayored to the Mob
Season 10, Episode 9 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

The Simpsons take a trip to a sci-fi convention, where both Mayor Quimby and Mark Hamill make an appearance. A nerd riot breaks out after Mark offers to reenact a scene from Star Wars with an audience member, and Homer, who despises nerds, rushes in to save Mark and Quimby, whose own bodyguards are busy cloudwatching. Quimby fires them and hires Homer as his new bodyguard (pending completion of a bodyguarding class, apparently). Homer gets an upclose look at the corruption of the mayor, but is fine with it until he discovers that the corruption includes selling rat milk to the elementary school. He accidentally knocks Quimby out a window during an argument, and only saves him after he agrees to put a stop to the rat milk in schools scandal. Local mafia don Fat Tony vows revenge on the mayor for this, eventually exacting it with a beating at a local dinner theatre while Homer is distracted by another potential assailant. Memorable moments include Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con (the commercial and the convention), bodyguard school, sleeperhold, protection from domestic animals, receiving change, milking room, almost killing and saving the mayor, busting the mafia, dinner theatre, and one last triumphant exit.

"I'm tired of being a wannabe league bowler. I wanna be a league bowler!"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#26 Team Homer
Season 7, Episode 12 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

In an effort to avoid spending time with his family, Homer goes with Moe to a bowling alley. Running into that frustration that we all know known as league night, they form a ragtag team with Apu and Otto. To get the money for the entrance fee, Homer hits up Mr. Burns, who is high on ether at the time. When Burns is reviewing finances in a more mentally fit state, he is outraged, but when confronting Homer, he has a change of heart and joins the team instead (kicking Otto off it). Despite Burns’s horrible play, they manage to win the league championship, at which point Burns steals the trophy and bids them all farewell. Memorable moments include drunken Kennedys – er, I mean, Quimbys, desperation to avoid home life, dirt, forming the team, initial efforts to raise funds, ether-induced hallucinations, opposing teams, cheers, beer, revealing the secret of success to Marge, reviewing financial matters, confrontation, Burns’s “strike”, poor bowling by Burns, leprosy, team shirts, the claw machine, going Tonya Harding on Mr. Burns, change of heart part 2, and hopping the fence.

“Although kissing you would be like kissing some kind of divine ashtray, that’s not what I had in mind.”

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#27 Black Widower
Season 3, Episode 21 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Selma has a new boyfriend, ex-convict Sideshow Bob. Bart carries a grudge against him, but the rest of the Simpson family takes a forgive-and-forget approach. Bob proposes to Selma, they get married, and go on their honeymoon. Without her sister around, Patty comes over to the Simpson house to watch MacGyver, and Bart realizes that Selma has one hour to live. He manages to get there in time to save her life and send Bob back to jail. Memorable moments include Dinosaurs parody, disturbing possibilities, Homer’s (would-be) revenge desires, daytime Emmy presentation and acceptance speech, Bob charming the Simpson family, Krusty’s telethon, cocktail wienies, MacGyver bashing, Krusty at the reception, Wiggum at the reception, Selma “quitting” smoking, honeymoon video (although, how did the Simpson family get it?), Bob cleaning up, Bob telling Selma he’s going to kill her, Bart’s realization, explosion for the lounge, reveal of Bart, Selma slapping Bob and asking for a “seperation” (not even a divorce), Wiggum, explaining to Homer, explaining it to mom, setting off the explosion, Bob’s parting words, and the gas-filled hallway.

"Do they have Krusty partially gelatinated non-dairy gum-based beverages?" "Mmhm. They call 'em shakes." "Shakes; you don't know what you're gettin'."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#28 22 Short Films about Springfield
Season 7, Episode 21 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

This was (at least in part) a parody of Pulp Fiction. However, this was more disjointed and had less of an overarching storyline, so I’m going to dispense with the normal plot summary. Also, it served as an inspiration for the Futurama episode 300 Big Boys and was the basis for a Simpsons spin-off pitch. Memorable moments include Apu partying, efforts to get the gum out of Lisa’s hair, Burns and Smithers, all of Dr. Nick, bar tab, Moe hiding behind the glass and flicking the light, Chalmers and Skinner, McDonald’s discussion, Bumblebee Man, traffic incident, Lovejoy’s dog, the Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel song, Cletus calling his mom, Comic Book Guy, van Houtens in Herman’s shop, Nelson’s ha-ha-ing, tall man talking to Nelson and exacting revenge, and Professor Frink.

"Why don't you invite him over. Turn him from an enemy to a friend. Then when he's not expecting it -- bam! -- the ol' fork in the eye."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#29 Homer’s Enemy
Season 8, Episode 24 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Seeing a moving story on the tv news about Frank Grimes, a man who has struggled through life, but still managed to get a degree in nuclear physics due to his perseverance, Mr. Burns asks Smithers to fetch him to make him his executive vice president. By the time he arrives, Burns has seen another moving story about a dog, and wishes to give him the EVP position instead, leaving Grimes with more of an entry-level position. Grimes meets Homer and is shocked by his incompetence, sloth, and general aptitude for annoyance. After several run-ins with Homer, Grimes tricks him into joining a power plant design contest for children, hoping to make a fool out of him before the entire company. His plan backfires when Homer wins first prize, which drives Grimes insane, resulting in his death by electrocution. Memorable moments include the news story about Grimes, Grimes’s first meeting with Burns, chair spinning, the gang meeting Grimes, Bart’s purchase, hiring Milhouse, lunch stealing, sulfuric acid, Grimes’s second meeting with Burns, Homer’s plan, photos, Grimes’s living situation, factory’s end, Grimes’s plan, Homer leaving work, basement work, the competition, descent into madness, and the funeral.

"A rabbi would never exaggerate! A rabbi composes. He creates thoughts. He tells stories that may never have happened. But he does not exaggerate!"

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#30 Like Father, Like Clown
Season 3, Episode 6 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Krusty finally makes good on his word to eat dinner with the Simpsons as thanks for Bart (and Lisa) exonerating him and getting him out of prison. The Simpsons learn of Krusty’s Jewish roots, and about his estranged father, Rabbi Krustofsky. Bart and Lisa get to work at reuniting them, but the rabbi proves to be a hard sell, as he feels betrayed by Krusty’s career choice. Eventually, they win him over with a quote by Sammy Davis, Jr., which shows him that entertainers aren’t all bad (although, earlier in the episode, he’d said a jazz singer (as opposed to a clown) would be forgivable, so why it should make a difference is unclear). Memorable moments include ax throwing, scheduling, party line, talking Krusty into doing the dinner, Milhouse showing up, monkey, saying grace, rabbi advice, early Krusty, family photos, time for Milhouse to go home, magazine rack, bus station television, phone calls without dialogue, Itchy and Scratchy, searching for a rabbi, finding the “wrong” rabbi, radio call-in, seeing through the disguise, Izzy’s menu, pop-up book, quoting scripture, guesses for quote origin, Krusty’s entrance, introducing the rabbi, Moe, and the pie.

"Oh, that's just drunk talk! Sweet, beautiful drunk talk."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#31 The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Season 9, Episode 1 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Moe forces one of his regulars to be a designated driver one night and the lot falls to Barney. After a night of frustration over his inability to drink, he drives the other home in Homer’s car and then disappears. Homer’s car turns up illegally parked at the New York World Trade Center plaza. Despite Homer’s misgivings, the Simpson family travels to New York to retrieve it. While Homer tries to get his car back, the rest of the family does tourist-y stuff. A series of further misfortunes afflict Homer before he gathers the family and takes them away from the city. Memorable moments include choosing lots, drunken fun, Barney’s reappearance, searching for the lost car, Homer’s New York memories, the food cart, tower jokes, MAD magazine, Broadway play, driving off, removing the boot, carriage in the park, retrieving the family, and driving behind a garbage truck.

"'Don't do what Donny Don't does' ... They could have made this clearer."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#32 Boy Scouts ’n the Hood
Season 5, Episode 8 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

After finding $20, Bart and Milhouse buy an all-syrup super squishy and go wild on the town (with their $20 stretching amazingly far). When he comes to in the morning, Bart realizes that he joined the Junior Campers (a boy scouts-style organization). Despite wanting to weasel his way out of it, he finds enough benefits to keep him attending. On a father-son rafting trip, Homer manages to cause Flanders, Rod, Bart, and himself to get lost at sea. After a funny interlude, they find an unmanned oil rig with people on it (yes, you read that correctly – unless you didn’t, in which case you should go back and read it again) and are saved. Memorable moments include Noiseland arcade (especially getting kicked out), the two tracks that appear in Songs in the Key of Springfield, advantages to the junior campers, knives (especially the book, Hans Moleman, and Dr. Hibbert), floor pie, Bart asking Homer to the father-son rafting trip, Homer’s joy at being right about their doom, the flare gun, sock washing, and Krusty Burger on the unmanned oil rig.

"Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#33 Mountain of Madness
Season 8, Episode 12 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Burns decides to add some excitement to the workplace by conducting a fire drill. The outright incompetence of his employees leads him to schedule a teamwork building exercise. The employees, plus the Simpson family (Homer mistakenly believed it was a family retreat) meet at Mt. Useful. Burns announces that the employees will form teams of two and must make it to a cabin located on the snow-covered mountain, and the last team to make it will be fired. Homer is paired with Burns, and they make it to the cabin well ahead of everyone else by using a snowmobile that Burns had hidden on the mountain and engage in pleasant conversation. While in the house, they are trapped by an avalanche, and start getting cabin fever, turning against each other in their madness. while fighting, they cause the propane tank to burst, which propells the house from under the snow, leaving everyone safe and sound. Memorable moments include chipper Burns, drill selection, employee reaction to the fire drill, fight over teamwork, family discussion on teamwork, parking, choosing teammates, cheating, entry to the cabin, sitting, Homer's new technique, avalanches galore, telegraph, Simpson kids "helping" Smithers, corpse-handling gloves and accompanied discussion, the drunk, burning moose, building real people out of snow, hallucination armies, rocket house, Lenny's misfortune, and never wanting to see each other again.

"When it comes to catching trout, nothing beats the German light infantry."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#34 Lemon of Troy
Season 6, Episode 24 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

After getting a lesson in town pride from Marge, Bart decides to lead a group of boys into Shelbyville to take back the town lemon tree when they discover it’s been stolen. The boys’ fathers come to Shelbyville looking for them and get recruited to the cause when they discover the reason the boys had crossed the town border. Memorable moments include everything Bart passes up to reach the wet cement, Bart’s fantasy, the story of the creation of a rift between Springfield and Shelbyville, Homer’s position on sidewalk defacement, the Isotopes, fishing, the journey to the lemon tree, warring across the border, old man talking, sticking to his words, the interpretation of Marge and Homer, the Shelbyville Daily, parents’ meeting, Country Time lemonade, Bart undercover, Springfield’s discipline problem, Bart’s escape, Shelbyville’s strange similarities, Rocky VII, what it feels like when doves cry, eating the lemon, Homer showering, the Trojan RV, acquiring a taste for meat, insufficient shaking, low clearance, and the stories losers tell.

"Argh, I'll kill that Mr. Burns! And, er, wound that Mr. Smithers."

Simpsons Top 100 Countdown
#35 Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)
Season 6, Episode 25 (Guide from the Simpsons Archive)

Okay, so I fiddled with the rankings just a little to make sure the two episodes appeared side-by-side. Springfield Elementary strikes oil, and everyone associated with the school has big plans for the newfound money. Mr. Burns can’t stand the sight of a nonprofit organization in possession of such wealth, so he manages to tap the oil reserve before the school turns on its pumps, thus claiming legal ownership for himself. The pumping causes a sinkhole under the retirement home, fumes that force the closure of Moe’s Bar, and an initial spurt of oil that destroys Bart’s treehouse, causing minor injuries to him and breaking the hind legs of Santa’s Little Helper. Meanwhile, Homer struggles with Burns’s inability to remember his name. Happy with his success on the oil front, Burns decides to advance his control over the town even further by constructing a machine that will block out the sun, forcing increased energy use. When Smithers stands in his way, Burns fires him. The entire town is angry with him, and many are stroking guns, when he walks into the town meeting discussing what to do about the whole Burns situation. A violent confrontation is avoided inside town hall, but after the meeting, Burns meets with someone offscreen behind the building and he’s shot. The show goes on its summer break with the cliffhanger in a parody of Who Shot J.R.? from Dallas in 1980. Memorable moments include finding Superdude, striking oil, package shipping, metric booby traps, newspapers, the workout, the elevator, funding requests, Burns’s school visit, “Marge’s” idea, stealing candy from a baby, eating chocolates, Oil Appreciation Day, school budget cuts and Willie’s response, thank-you note, Moe’s Bar, Burns revealing his evil plan, melted Homer, Homer driving to the plant, Burns catching a mysterious assailant, Grandpa’s gun, the town hall meeting from mayor’s opening to Krusty’s arrival, throwing out suspects, and Hibbert asking if the mystery can be solved.