Reasons for your choices? Otherwise it's just a list thread and we all know much fun to read THOSE are.
Since it's been a good long while since I've responded to such a thread (I believe the last "top ___ Simpsons episodes" thread I responded to was way back in 2003!), I'll give another go at it.
Keep in mind these aren't in any particular order, they're just written as they come to me. So don't say "You picked ____ over ______?! Does not compute!"
1. Who Shot Mr. Burns Parts 1 & 2: Part 1 was pretty much the perfect balance of comedy and drama. Mr. Burns was arguably at his most diabolical in the series, even firing his loyal assistant Smithers for not stepping in line with his evil plan. Part 2 was a fast-paced, well-crafted conclusion that had people guessing, the good sign of a mystery. And despite the idea of Maggie shooting Mr. Burns sounding dumb on paper, it was actually executed well.
2. Treehouse of Horror V: (sigh) I miss the days when these Halloween specials were actually
scary, not full of corny jokes and gore that we can't take seriously if there isn't a dramatic underpinning to it. All three segments work, the animation is loose and cartoony (remember the "DON'T MIND IF I DO!" part? Why can't we have that on the show anymore?), and it had one of the most surreal endings to any THOH special.
3. Homer at the Bat: Excellent use of guest stars, some hilarious Mr. Burns remarks ("Mattingly! I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!"), and some amusing baseball related gags, like the complicated signals Burns gives a confused Homer.
4. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show: One of the best satires the show ever did. We can see the viewpoints of both the fans and the people who work on the show, and it doesn't pull any punches on making fun of either side. And Roy was a great representation of exactly what the episode itself was about.
5. Homer's Enemy: Perhaps the darkest episode, when a normal, "real world" person goes crazy from the antics of Homer and desperately tries to showcase his idiocy, only to be met with all his plans backfiring. It's possible to sympathize with BOTH Homer (being nervous about going to work and trying to act competent) and Grimes (criticizing Homer for getting rewarded for stupidity) in this episode, which is the sign of good writing. The only downside? The Bart/Milhouse factory subplot, which went nowhere.
6. Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie: This episode proves that despite Bart's ability to weasel out of punishment, there's only so far his parents can be pushed before they really lay down the law. And boy do they (or more accurately, "does he", as it's Homer who refuses Bart to see the I&S Movie). To top it off, it's just a funny episode, with some great lines ("We're talking about Bart." "Oh. THAT guy.") and memorable scenes (remember the ridiculously long line to get into the film?).
7. Lisa on Ice: A great satire on how insane parents get during youth sporting events. Some great animation (such as Homer shaking his fist at Bart in the car) and lots of witty one-liners and non-sequiturs ("Do you have my teeth?").
8. Homer Badman: A riotous episode which tackles the idiocy of tabloid TV. Pretty much every gag succeeds, and it has some exaggerated set pieces like Homer causing a deadly explosion at the candy convention just to get the Gummy de Milo, or Homer's obviously stitched together interview to make him look evil. Kent's commentary is the biggest highlight, though, being obviously misguided in his so-called "eye witness" accounts, like thinking a rotating chicken in the oven is Homer, or thinking that Marge put the cat out because it was harassed.
9. Homie the Clown: Thanks to David Silverman's razor sharp comic timing and the voice actors' excellent comedic deliveries, this episode ends up being a laugh riot. Not much more to say, really; it still provides LOL even after multiple viewings ("I'm seeing doubles, here. FOUR Krustys!")
10. Mother Simpson: Much like WSMB, this one successfully blends wacky comedy ("Damn you, Walt Whitman!"; "I'll cross him off the list.") and surprisingly emotional moments. Not only did it reveal a character we hadn't really seen before, but it ended on a bittersweet note, with perhaps the most beautiful moment in the series thus far.
11. Homer Goes to College: OK, so Homer is pretty ribald in this one, but I don't care. It's hilarious, partially thanks to Rough Draft's goofy animation, but also due to ridiculous situations (Burns blasting off in a pod to escape the safety inspectors).
12. The Boy Who Knew Too Much: The best "Bart's plans backfire" episode yet. The tenacity at which Skinner chases Bart in the beginning is always good for a laugh ("He's close, I can taste his fear!"), and the court room offers many hilarious moments ("We were collecting canned goods for the starving kids in... uh, you know, one of them LOSER countries. Oh good, my LAUNDRY, is done.").
13. Bart Gets an Elephant: Much like Homer Goes to College, it's not an emotional episode by any means, and played purely for laughs, but it succeeds wonderfully in that regard. My favorite part is probably when Homer visits the Milhouse parents, though a close runner-up is Homer giving away a second elephant (which he doesn't even own yet!) to the ivory dealer, disappointing Bart.
14. Itchy & Scratchy Land: For some reason, I&S episodes always end up being quality, and this is no exception. Not only did the animation crew have to design an entirely new setting for just this episode, but it was memorable and offered some fun Disney-parodying situations. Marge's wish to spend an uneventful family vacation provided a good backbone for the otherwise silly set of blackout gags. And it has one of the best screw-you jokes in the series: What we THINK is Homer's car crashing into a telephone pole, but then Bart remarks from a hotel window: "Whew, glad that wasn't us!"
15. Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious: The finest Mary Poppins parody ever made. Memorable songs, well-executed gags (Bart rasping when he doesn't have milk gets me every time), and one of the darkest but also funniest endings in the series.
16. Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming: Full of witty one-liners. Thanks, Spike "Soup Nazi" Ferestein.
17. Marge Be Not Proud: The best Marge/Bart plot ever. I think we've all been in the situation of having the urge to steal something, and I love Bart trying to hide his crime from his mother. The whole "Marge doesn't mother Bart" aspect in act three was really well-done and realistic. It's not a laugh riot episode, but it's not meant to be. It's a good character piece.
18. Last Exit to Springfield: OK, this is a predictable choice, I know. But I really do enjoy it. This one has a little bit of everything that makes The Simpsons good. I still chortle when Burns goes through an elaborate Get Smart-eque sequence of doors, but the final room is "guarded" by a crummy screen door and Burns kicks a stray dog that easily wandered in.
19. Homer's Triple Bypass: Heart attack scene. That's all I need to say. But the rest isn't half bad, either. I thought they handled the possibility of Homer's death in a less heavy-handed, sappy way than in "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish".
20. 22 Short Films About Springfield: The one episode that has no story, but rather numerous somewhat interconnected stories. They're all creative, though, and the rapid nature makes this episode fly by. My favorite skits are probably Lovejoy telling his dog to crap on Ned's lawn, and Skinner passing off Krusty Burgers as his own cooking.
21. Hurricane Neddy: One of my favorite Ned episodes, as seeing him finally lose his cool was a treat. Only complaint: That Ned became a goody two-shoes by being spanked for months. Uh, what?
22. The Homer They Fall: I know a lot of people don't really care for this one, but I love it. It's arguably the best Moe plot the series ever did, with a good inner conflict as to whether he should sacrifice Homer's safety just to gain a hefty check. Much like Marge Be Not Proud, it's not hilarious but it works as a more dramatic offering.
23. Homer the Vigilante: Season 5 was excellent at comedy, and this one's no exception. I also LOVE the ending: "No no, dig UP, stupid."
24. Bart vs. Australia: The best vacation episode, as it has the best set-up for the family taking a trip (i.e. they kinda HAVE to after Bart's major prank). The Aussie stereotypes are so ridiculous they're funny.
25. Homer the Smithers: Significant in that Burns learns to become independent after Homer punches him. Oakley & Weinstein were always trying to shake things up, yet it almost always felt natural. Homer was very believable and in character as a befuddled assistant who wasn't very good at his job, but still tried his best. And Mother Burns was a riot.
Wow, even with 25 choices I still left out a lot of quality episodes (I know Dalek is going to criticize me for not including "Cape Feare".
). Oh well, them's the breaks.
