The Mayhem Critic
Hello, my fellow readers. It is I, the great James Stryker bringing you another hilarious chapter of The Mayhem Critic and a Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all are enjoying the first day of 2020. And here's a new chapter of 2020. Today, Sean counts his top 11 favorite episodes of the long-running animated show The Simpsons. So sit back, relax, grab yourself a bottle of Duff Beer and some Lard Lad Donuts and enjoy the new chapter of The Mayhem Critic. Mmm, donuts.
P.S.: I do not own anything involved in this story. All rights belong to their respective sources. The Simpsons is owned by Gracie Films and Twentieth Century Fox.
Episode Eighty
The Top 11 Simpsons Episodes
We see our favorite critic Sean J. Archer a.k.a. the Mayhem Critic sitting on his couch with a smile on his face as he prepares to talk about today's topic.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Sean the Mayhem Critic, the critic that rips movies a new one." Sean said. "Let's talk about The Simpsons."
(The title screen for "The Simpsons" is shown, followed by a montage of clips from the show's earlier seasons and current seasons)
Sean: (Narrating) Yes, they've entered our living rooms since 1989 and still going on 31 seasons strong. Yeah, this is the show that would never die.
(A clip from the season nineteen episode "Midnight Towboy" is shown, showing Homer hitting the breaks after he sees the stop sign, causing Bart to run into the back of the tow truck, knocking himself out. Homer looks out the car window and sees Bart lying on the ground. Bart wakes up and starts laughing along with Homer)
Sean: (Narrating) With the show renewed for season thirty-two, don't we all wish that the show could die? Didn't we say the same about South Park? Yet, they're still going. But hey, the show is still on and it's on FXX and on Disney Plus so we can get our Simpsons fix. Plus, season nineteen is out on DVD so yeah, I'm adding that to my collection.
"But the question today here is 'Wasn't The Simpsons funny?'" Sean asked.
(Clips of classic episodes from the show are being shown)
Sean: (Narrating) And the answer is "Yes." Yes it is, unless you make episodes like this. (The title screen for the season thirty-one episode "Thanksgiving of Horror" is shown) What the hell were you thinking? Seriously? It's still one of the most influential shows ever with it's humor, clever satire, performance, writing, hilarious moments and quotable lines. And I'm going to talk about my top 11 favorite episodes.
"So, grab yourself some Duff Beer and some Lard Lad Donuts. Mmm, donuts." Sean said, imitating Homer Simpson. "Let's take a look at the top 11 Simpsons episodes.
(The intro for the show plays out with the title in the clouds)
Background Singers: The Simpsons
Sean: (Sings, accompanying the text underneath the title) Top 11 episodes.
(We get a parody of The Simpsons intro as we see Sean pulling up in his driveway as we see Dave on his skateboard bouncing off the roof of Sean's Ford Explorer and skating away, followed by Sean's cousin Cami riding her bike past Sean as the young critic looks on. Sean, then turns and sees Taylor coming up the driveway in her Ford Escape as he screams and runs into the house while she pulls up. We get a little couch gag featuring Sean running towards the couch and he sees movie critics like Decker Shado, the Nostalgia Critic, the Unusual Suspect and Chris Stuckmann sitting on his couch as the four of them wave at him before Sean turns to the camera and makes a WTF face while pointing at the four movie critics)
(For each interlude on the Top 11 list, there is a shot of the Simpson's family television screen with a numbered entry on it)
Number 11: Bart of Darkness (Season 6, Episode 1)
Sean: (Narrating) An excellent start to the show's sixth season. This episode has a lot of good jokes, and it does. We see that a heat wave is hitting the town of Springfield, which leads to Bart and Lisa persuading Homer to buy them a swimming pool. And once they have a pool, every child in town comes to swim in it. Bart gets dared to do some crazy stunt by diving into the pool, which results in…
Nelson Muntz (Voiced by Nancy Cartwright): Hey, Bart, your epidermis is showing!
Bart Simpson (Also voiced by Nancy Cartwright): (Worried) It is.
(Bart checks himself while the children laugh at him. Bart falls off of the treehouse, yelling)
Nelson: (To Kearney) See, epidermis means your hair.
(Bart falls to the ground with a thud)
Nelson Muntz: So, technically it's true. That's what makes it so funny. Pardon me a moment. (Sees Bart lying on the ground) Ha-ha!
Milhouse Van Houten (Voiced by Pamela Hayden): Hey, Nelson, he's really hurt. I think he broke his leg.
Nelson Muntz: (Exasperated) I said, "Ha-ha!"
Sean: (Narrating) This forces Bart becomes confined to his room bored out of his mind because of a broken leg and being in a wheelchair while he's friends are having fun in the pool. With a telescope Lisa loaned him, Bart begins to spy on his neighbors to entertain himself. But he soon hears the sound of a woman screaming coming from Flanders' house.
Ned Flanders (Voiced by Harry Shearer): Oh, my God. What have I done? I've killed her.
Sean: (Narrating) This leads Bart to think that Flanders has killed his wife Maude. Wait until season eleven. This episode is an excellent parody to one of my favorite Hitchcock movies Rear Window and it's one of the best parodies ever. We get a couple of jokes thrown in like this little bit with Bart looking through his telescope and sees Jimmy Stewart's character from Rear Window.
L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (Voiced by Dan Castellaneta): Grace, come here. There's a sinister-looking kid I want you to see.
Sean: (Narrating) Another joke where Martin is wearing seventeen layers of bathing suits and the kids just mercilessly rip his swim trunks off and leaving him naked.
Martin Prince (Voiced by the late Russi Taylor) Ha ha ha ha! (Notices that his layers are gone) Ooh! I brought this on myself.
Sean: (Narrating) Plus, the music is similar to Bernard Hermann's music score. An excellent parody that will make you laugh, even if you're a fan of Alfred Hitchcock. You're sure in for a good laugh, coming in at number 11.
Ned Flanders: I'm a murder. I'm a murderer.
Bart Simpson: Then that's not the real Ned Flanders.
Ned Flanders: (Yelling) I'm a murdiddly-erdler!
Bart Simspson: If that's not Flanders, he's done his homework.
(Interlude to the next entry)
Number 10: Mona Leaves-a (Season 19, Episode 19)
Sean: (Narrating) Now, this is one of those heartwarming episodes of the show. In the episode, Homer's political activist mother Mona, who's brilliantly voiced by Glenn Close, reunites with her son, but he's not willing to forgive her for all the times he's left her when he was young.
Homer Simpson (Voiced by Dan Castellaneta): Mom, I can't believe you're here. You keep disappearing and reappearing and it's not funny. You're just like the show Scrubs. (Eats his slice of pie)
Mona Simpson (Voiced by Glenn Close): Homer, I'm sorry I had to pretend to be dead. But it worked because the government isn't looking for me anymore. I can finally stop running and be your mom.
Homer Simpson: No thanks.
Mona Simpson: What do you mean?
Homer Simpson: Every time you go, I feel abandoned. But not this time. I'm not gonna let myself get hurt.
Sean: (Narrating) Mona tries to make up for lost time with Homer, but Homer doesn't listen to her. Afterwards, Homer tries to forgive his mother by making a card for her but she suddenly dies. A guilt-ridden Homer watches a video will that his mother made and she gives him a chance of redemption by asking him to do something special for him.
Mona Simpson: (On the video will) Go to Springfield Monument Park and climb to the highest point. At exactly 3:00, release my ashes. I love you, Homer.
Sean: (Narrating) Aside from the sudden death of Mona Simpson, we do get a funny line from Grampa about always wanting to dance on his dead ex-wife's grave and admitting that he doesn't feel like dancing and he just walks out wearing tap dancing shoes. I get a good laugh from seeing that. But the episode does take an odd turn which could have been funny, where Mona's ashes gets sucked into a missile guidance system which disrupts a rocket from launching. It felt all forced and clunky. But this show handles death perfectly, with some humor and more emotion. We've seen characters like Bleeding Gums Murphy, Maude Flanders, Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky and Edna Krabapple, this is another episode done well. Coming in at number ten.
Homer Simpson: (While is mother is pouring sugar into his cereal) More sugar! More sugar!
Mona Simpson: (Stops pouring) No.
Homer Simpson: Why not?
Mona Simpson: Because you're sweet enough.
(Mona hugs Homer while he starts eating a spoonful of sugar. Homer chuckles)
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 9: Cape Feare (Season 5, Episode 2)
Sean: (Narrating) This is another classic episode that people talk about and it's one of the best episodes ever. I talk to my friends about that episode and they say that it's their favorite episode to watch. We can all agree that this is the best Sideshow Bob episode ever. This episode marks the third appearance of Sideshow Bob. Does he have a diabolical scheme for power? Nope. He wants straight-up vengeance against the person who keeps thwarting him, his arch-nemesis Bart. This was the first time that we see Bart in actual danger, someone wants him dead. And who can you expect from a guy like Sideshow Bob? And yes, we get their confrontation in every season of the show but in this one, we see the confrontation between the two of them building up, it's the perfect set-up. We get a few classic and hilarious moments that we can never forget. Like this one:
Radio DJ (Voiced by Harry Shearer): All right. This is dedicated to Bart Simpson with the message, "I am coming to kill you slowly and painfully."
(Bart wakes up in fear upon hearing this and clutches his bedsheets)
Background Singer: (Laughs maniacally) Wipeout!
(The music to the song "Wipeout" plays as Bart cowers underneath the sheets)
Sean: (Narrating) Or this one…
(As the Simpsons move to a new location while under the witness protection program, Sideshow Bob sneaks a ride underneath their car)
Homer Simpson: (While driving) Hey, kids, want to through that cactus patch?
Bart Simpson: Yeah!
Lisa Simpson (Voiced by Yeardley Smith): Yeah!
Sideshow Bob (Voiced by Kelsey Grammer): No.
Homer Simpson: Well, two against one.
(Homer drives through the cactus patch)
Sideshow Bob: Oh! Ow! Oh! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
Sean: (Narrating) Let's not forget about the funny bit where Sideshow Bob gets trampled by the marching band and the elephants.
(A marching band tramples Sideshow Bob as he groans in pain)
Sideshow Bob: (As the elephants arrive) Not the elephants! No!
(Sideshow Bob gets trampled by the elephants)
Sean: (Narrating) And of course, who can forget…
(As the Simpsons enter their houseboat, Sideshow Bob unstraps himself from underneath the car and has the misfortune of stepping onto a rake, which ends up hitting him in the face, which makes him groan. This happens to him several times as we see that someone has left a bunch of rakes lying on the ground)
Sean: (Narrating) Classic. This clever parody of the 1991 remake of Cape Fear with a clever script from the episode's writer Jon Vitti and the show's composer Alf Clausen did an excellent job with the music on the episode by using elements of Bernard Hermann's music score from the original Cape Fear movie. This is an episode that you gotta check out and have a lot of laughs, coming in at number nine.
Marge Simpson (Voiced by Julie Kavner): You awful man! Stay away from my son.
Sideshow Bob: Oh, I'll stay away from your son, all right. Stay away forever.
Homer Simpson: Oh, no.
Sideshow Bob: Wait a minute. That's no good. (Turns around) Oh!
(Sideshow Bob gets up from out of his seat and leaves while Homer shrugs his shoulders. Then all of a sudden, Bob runs back)
Sideshow Bob: Wait. I've got a good one now. Marge, say, "Stay away from my son" again.
Marge Simpson: No!
(Sideshow Bob groans and leaves the theater)
(Interlude to the next entry)
Number 8: Some Enchanted Evening (Season 1, Episode 13)
Sean: (Narrating) Now, I know what you're going to say: "An episode from the first season? The animation looked horrible!" Okay, okay. Despite the first season's crappy animation and my god, does the animation looked improved in the second season. But, this is an episode that I like from season one. In the episode, Marge feels that Homer is taking her for granted and when Homer hears her call on the radio, he asks Moe for some advice and Homer invites her for a romantic night. Which means, they need to call a babysitter for Bart, Lisa and Maggie. So, they hire a babysitter from a babysitting service by the name of Ms. Botz, voiced by the late Penny Marshall, and she does a tremendous job at the character. But when Bart and Lisa are watching this show called America's Most Armed and Dangerous, they learn that Ms. Botz is actually a burglar known as "The Babysitter Bandit".
TV Host (Voiced by the late Christopher Collins): In a moment, we will show you a picture of the real Babysitter Bandit, Miss Lucille Bozcowski. Remember, she maybe using a clever alias- -
Lisa Simpson: (To Bart) Botz!
TV Host: …and should be considered armed and dangerous!
(A picture of Ms. Botz a.k.a the Babysitter Bandit is shown on television as Bart and Lisa start screaming. They turn around and see Ms. Botz holding a rope in her hands and they scream again)
Sean: (Narrating) The two of them try to fend themselves from the psychotic babysitter and boy do they do that. This episode was originally supposed to be the first episode of the series but was pushed back because of the poor animation quality, but hey, I have a soft spot for it. I happened to enjoy this episode. With some hilarious gags in it and some great writing, this episode comes in at number eight.
Ms. Botz (Voiced by the late Penny Marshall): Mr. Sampson, can I give you a little bit of advice?
Homer Simpson: Sure.
Ms. Botz: Don't turn your back on that boy for a second.
Homer Simpson: Ain't that the truth? You know, one time he- -
(Ms. Botz drives away as the cops arrive)
Homer Simpson: (Looking confused) Huh?
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 7: Homer's Enemy (Season 8, Episode 23)
Sean: (Narrating) Okay, I have to talk about this episode and I'm not gonna lie to you but this is one of the darkest episodes of The Simpsons ever and yet, it's so damn enjoyable. We're introduced to Frank Grimes, voiced by Hank Azaria, whose life has had a series of misfortunes: he was abandoned by his parents at age four, he never got into school, he spent his years as a delivery boy. Hell, he was blown up in a silo explosion on his 18th birthday. Damn, he's had a bad life. Until, he gets a job at the power plant and he comes across Homer Simpson, who's the polar opposite. He becomes confused and angered by Homer's laziness and his irresponsibility. See people have to pay for their consequences and take responsibility for their actions. But Homer's actions don't get him into trouble, but they do get Frank in trouble.
(Grimes prevents Homer from drinking a flask of sulfuric acid by slapping it out of his hands and into a wall. We then see a passing Mr. Burns noticing the wall)
Mr. Burns (Voiced by Harry Shearer): Who did this to my wall?
Homer Simpson: (Points to Frank) He did it.
Sean: (Narrating) And boy does it get him in trouble, which causes him to get pissed off at Homer.
Frank Grimes (Voiced by Hank Arzaria): (To Homer) I don't like you. In fact, I hate you. Stay the hell away from me! Because from now on… we're enemies!
Homer Simpson: Do I have to do anything?
(Grimes groans to himself in frustration)
Sean: (Narrating) He tries to expose Homer for the fraud that he is and the more and more Homer gets rewarded, Grimes is the one that gets punished and this drives him to the brink of insanity. Now, I know that I want this to be spoiler-free but I got to talk about this ending because this is the most darkest shit ever. After Homer wins first prize at a nuclear power plant design contest that's intended for kids, Frank snaps and goes insane because his plan to expose Homer backfired. He does this by mimicking and mocking Homer's habits, he sees a high voltage machine and he declares that he doesn't need gloves, resulting in…
(Grimes grabs the wires on the high voltage machine, which immediately electrocutes him)
Sean: (Narrating) And then we cut to his funeral, where everybody is there in attendance and Homer falls asleep and talks in his dream and everybody laughs while Grimes' coffin is being lowered! Jesus Christ, that's mean-spirited! I mean, this show has some happy endings to an episode but this one's very controversial and we enjoy it, coming in at number seven.
(Grimes looks out the window, laughing as he sees Homer gets in his car. Homer starts his car up and backs it into Grimes' car)
Frank Grimes: Oh, God!
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 6: Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk (Season 3, Episode 11)
Sean: (Narrating) Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk, which is in German for Burns sells the power plant, is another classic episode. In this episode, Mr. Burns tells his assistant Mr. Smithers that he's considering to sell the power plant. And what do you know? He sells the power plant to two German businessmen after they offer him $100 million and he accepts. So, the new owners of the plant begin a thorough evaluation of the plant and since Homer is the safety inspector, they begin to interview him, which worries Homer about him losing his job. Not only that this is a great episode but what makes this episode great was the "Land of Chocolate" sequence.
Homer Simpson: (Thinking) Mmm… the land of chocolate!
(Homer begins to slip into a fantasy about being in the Land of Chocolate)
Sean: (Narrating) Not only that this is a hilarious sequence but they remade that sequence in cutscenes in The Simpsons Game. Okay, they need to do a remastered version of the game. The idea of Homer dancing around in an imaginary land made out of chocolate was pitched by the late Sam Simon, who was one of the executive producers of the show. Props to him for pitching that hilarious idea.
"You know something? All this talk about chocolate is making me want to get some chocolate right now. We're going to take a quick commercial break. I'll be right back." Sean said as he gets up from off of his couch and leaves the room.
(Commercial Break)
We cut back from the commercial as we see Sean eating some Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles as he makes a satisfied look on his face.
"Mmm, chocolate truffles melt in my mouth." Sean said, imitating Homer Simpson while eating his chocolates.
"Psst! Sean, you're on." Cami said.
Sean realizes that the camera's back on. He wipes his mouth and pushes his chocolates over to the side and gets back to work.
"Let's continue on with the countdown." Sean said.
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 5: Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (Season 4, Episode 6)
Sean: (Narrating) Okay, so there are certain demographics out there who want to see a truly big movie event. You have your Avengers, your Dark Knight Rises, you have the Star Wars movies and you have Avatar. These are examples of the greatest movie event of the season. This episode parodies it as we see that in the episode Bart and Lisa are excited to see Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie. But here's the problem: Bart keeps getting into trouble.
Mrs. Krabapple (Voiced by the late Marcia Wallace): Bart has been guilty of the following atrocities: (Reads a list) synthesizing a laxative from peas and carrots, replacing my birth control pills with Tic-Tacs.
Marge Simpson: Well, I'm sorry. I'm sure Bart doesn't really mean to be bad.
Sean: (Narrating) And you know how Bart is, he's always getting into trouble. So, how do you solve a problem like Bart? Well, punish him by sending him up to his room without supper, but Homer is the good guy here by giving Bart some supper. Anyway, Bart neglects to watch Maggie, leaving her to joyride in the family car and crash into the wall of Springfield Prison! And Homer gives his bad seed of a son the ultimate punishment.
Homer Simpson: All right, boy, this calls for the biggest punishment I ever handed down, and this time it's going to stick.
Bart Simpson: Come on, Homer, this isn't funny.
Homer Simpson: Damn right. (Points at Bart) Bart, you can't go to see that Itchy and Scratchy movie, ever!
(Bart gasps as Homer takes his ticket and rips it up)
Sean: (Narrating) I mean, come on, Homer. Your son wants to see the biggest movie event of his generation. I mean, how would I like it if someone told me that I couldn't watch Avengers: Endgame? I'd be upset. What Homer did was a little harsh and I understand what Bart did was stupid but let him see that movie. We get the relationship between father and son in the episode, even though we don't see the two of them beating the crap out of each other. Not only that this is a funny and sweet episode, but a great parody of the biggest movie event of the year. Yeah, just wait until The Simpsons have the biggest movie event of the year.
(The poster for The Simpsons Movie pops up)
Homer Simpson: Which one's the mouse?
Bart Simpson: Itchy.
Homer Simpson: Itchy's a jerk.
Bart Simpson: (Chuckles) Yeah.
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 4: Days of Wine and D'oh'ses (Season 11, Episode 18)
Sean: (Narrating) This is an episode that we see see an interesting change of character in Barney Gumble. We know that he's known as the town drunk, but after an embarrassing video of him at his birthday party, Barney realizes what a pathetic drunk that he is.
(Barney walks down the stairs dressed as Marge)
Barney Gumble (Voiced by Dan Castellaneta): (High voice) Well, I'm off to market. (Belches)
Homer Simpson: Marge, you're making a complete fool of yours… (Sees that it's Barney) Oh, it's just Barney.
(Barney leans into the railing and falls off and lands on a tray of liquor, causing it to spill all over the carpet)
Barney Gumble: (Gasps) Precious alcohol soaking into shag.
(Barney tries to lick up the alcohol as Santa's Little Helper arrives to lick it up. He sees the dog and growls at him)
Barney Gumble: (After watching the video) Oh, how embarrassing.
Sean: (Narrating) And because of him being a tanked-up loser, Barney quits drinking for good. I like this change of character in Barney. We see him trying to get sober. He finds it tough at first, but with Homer's help, he finds his way to an A.A. meeting. The episode was written by the voice of Homer Simpson himself Dan Castellaneta and his wife Deb Lacusta. A few critics and some of the staff writers didn't care for the changes in Barney. We all enjoy him as the loveable drunk. It has a few funny jokes in it and I thought the idea was pretty good. Let's hope that Moe doesn't do anything drastic.
Moe Szyslak (Voiced by Hank Azaria): Nobody gets away from Moe. Nobody.
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 3: Two Bad Neighbors (Season 7, Episode 13)
Sean: (Narrating) This is an episode that people say that this is the best episode of the show and man, is this episode a ton of laughs. We see that there's a new neighbor moving in an empty house across the street from where the Simpsons live. And guess who's the new neighbors?
(A clip from Game of Thrones is shown)
Bronn (Played by Jerome Flynn): Jaime fucking Lannis….
"SHUT UP!" Sean yelled out.
Sean: (Narrating) The new neighbors happen to be former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara. We get a hilarious parody of Dennis the Menace with Bart causing some trouble. Because of Bart's rebellious attitude annoying him, George spanks Bart and when Homer finds out about that, he's not to happy with the former President whooping his son. And we get a hilarious confrontation between Homer and George. The idea for the episode came up when there was a feud between the show and the Bushes, with Barbara Bush saying that the show was the dumbest thing she had ever seen and in 1992 during President Bush's re-election, he bad-mouthed The Simpsons in his speech. If you wanted to see Homer Simpson and George H.W. Bush duke it out, then this is the episode for you, coming in at number three.
George H.W. Bush (Voiced by Harry Shearer): You want trouble, you're going to get trouble.
Homer Simpson: Oh, I want trouble, all right.
George H.W. Bush: Then you're going to get trouble.
Homer Simpson: No, you're going to get trouble.
George H.W. Bush: Oh, that's good, that's good 'cause I want trouble.
Homer Simpson: Then we're agreed there'll be trouble.
George H.W. Bush: Oh, yeah, lots of trouble.
Homer Simpson: Trouble, it is.
George H.W. Bush: For you.
Homer Simpson: For… D'oh!
(Interlude to next entry)
Number 2: Marge vs. the Monorail (Season 4, Episode 12)
Sean: (Narrating) This is another episode which is comedy gold. This episode has tons of energy and lots of laughs and this is one of the best episodes ever. We see in the episode that Springfield comes into a ton of money because of Mr. Burns getting fined for $3 million dollars after the Environmental Protection Agency busts him for dumping toxic waste. There's a town meeting being held to decide on how to spend the money, so this shady salesman by the name of Lyle Lanley voiced by the late Phil Hartman convinces the people to build a monorail, but they're unaware that he's out to con them. This episode has tons of funny moments. We get a musical number parodying The Music Man.
Lyle Lanley (Voiced by Phil Hartman): (Speaks in rhythm) I swear it's Springfield's only choice. Throw up your hands and raise your voice.
All: (Singing) Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: (Singing) Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again.
All: (Sining) Monorail!
Sean: (Narrating) We get a funny moment where Homer becomes the conductor and he shows off the steering compartment to his family and Marge discovers an opossum family in the fire extinguisher compartment, which leads to this hilarious line.
Marge Simpson: Homer, there's a family of possums in here.
Homer Simpson: I call the big one Bitey.
Sean: (Narrating) We get a shocking revelation on what happened to the original monorail, a bunch of character onboard the monorail and to top it all off, they even got Leonard Nimoy to guest star on the episode.
Leonard Nimoy: Heh heh. I'd say this vessel could do at least warp five.
(Everyone laughs and applauds)
Mayor Quimby (Voiced by Dan Castellaneta): And let me say, "May the force be with you." (Smiles)
Leonard Nimoy: Do you even know who I am?
Mayor Quimby: I think I do. Weren't you one of the Little Rascals?
Sean: (Narrating) An episode with a song and dance number, some great action, excellent humor and a great script written by Conan O'Brien. This episode gave the biggest laughs. I only have three things to say.
"Monorail. Monorail. Monorail." Sean chanted.
Homer Simpson: (Sings) Mono… (Realizes that the song is over) D'oh!
"Now, before I get to number one, here are a few runners up." Sean said.
Runners Up
The Treehouse of Horror Episodes (Seasons 1-31)
Rosebud (Season 5)
King Size Homer (Season 7)
The Springfield Files (Season 8)
Miracle on Evergreen Terrace (Season 9)
Round Springfield (Season 6)
Black Widower (Season 3)
The Great Louse Detective (Season 14)
Radioactive Man (Season 7)
Last Exit to Springfield (Season 4)
(Interlude to next entry)
Sean: (V/O) And the number 1 Simpsons episode is…
Number 1: Who Shot Mr Burns? (Season 6, Episode 25 and Season 7, Episode 1)
Sean: (Narrating) Before "Who Shot Ghost?" in Power, there was one of the greatest cliffhangers of all time and a great parody of the "Who Shot J.R.?" phenomenon. This is the one that I remembered watching when I was young and I loved that episode. So, why is this episode special? Why is this the funniest episode? Well, we all know that C. Montgomery Burns is an evil son of a bitch, right? And in this episode, he does the most sinister thing ever and a lot to list. In the episode, Mr. Burns steals oil from Springfield Elementary after they discover oil. And because of his slant drilling operation, this distresses some of the citizens of Springfield. You have Tito Puente and Groundskeeper Willie getting laid off, Moe's Tavern getting closed down due to harmful fumes from the drilling which pisses off Moe and Barney, the Springfield Retirement Castle gets destroyed from Mr. Burns' drilling operation, which leads to Grampa moving in with the Simpsons and Bart's treehouse gets destroyed and the dog gets injured as well. How evil is that? And if that's not evil enough, he does his most diabolical plan. Creating a giant disc that blocks out the sun permanently in Springfield. Oh, yeah. He also forgets Homer's name, in which Homer attacks him in rage. And to end this episode, Mr Burns gets shot!
(A gunshot is heard as Mr. Burns staggers out in the open, clutching at a gunshot wound to the chest)
Jimbo (Voiced by Pamela Hayden): Hey, man. Are you okay?
Mr. Burns: Won't… dignify that… with response.
(Mr. Burns collapses on the sundial)
Sean: (Narrating) This whodunit was the hot topic of the summer of 1995. There was a special edition of America's Most Wanted and there was a real contest that nobody won. Then you have part two. You have a list of suspects on who shot Mr. Burns. Heck, our primary suspect is Homer because Mr. Burns couldn't remember his name and then there's Waylon Smithers, who he fired after revealing his evil plan. And then there are clues. Heck, this episode has a few funny moments in it that I like. I love Homer's reaction to when his name is not on the thank-you card from Mr. Burns.
Homer Simpson: Kids, would you step outside for a second?
(Bart and Lisa run outside as Homer stands up)
Homer Simpson: (Inhales deeply) F…
(A church organ plays a chord, birds fly away and everyone looks at the Simpsons house with shock)
Ned Flanders: Dear Lord! That's the loudest profanity I've ever heard!
Sean: (Narrating) Plus, the musical number performed by Tito Puente and his band was the greatest highlight of the season. Now, the shooter was revealed in part two, but I'm not going to spoil it for you and let me tell you the reveal was the funniest thing ever that you didn't see coming. There were several alternate endings to see who the shooter was but I'm glad that they've stuck with this ending. This is a truly popular episode and this is one mystery that needs to solved.
(The camera pans across the Springfieldians and stops on Dr. Hibbert, who chuckles)
Dr. Hibbert (Voiced by Harry Shearer): Well, I couldn't possibly solve this mystery. Can you?
(Dr. Hibbert points to the camera, which pulls back to reveal that he's pointing to Chief Wiggum)
Chief Wiggum (Voiced by Hank Azaria): Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I mean, it's my job, right?
"Well, that's all for today. If there's any episodes that you like, let me know in the comments section. Until then, I'm Sean the Mayhem Critic, and… wait a minute. It's January, you know what that means? STALLONE MONTH!" Sean shouted in joy as he dances to the "Stallone" song before getting up to leave.
Mayhem Critic Tagline- D'oh!
And that's all for the Top 11 Simpsons Episodes for The Mayhem Critic. I hope you all liked my picks for the best Simpsons episodes. If you have any episodes that are your favorites, feel free to share with me. Next time on The Mayhem Critic, Sean kicks off Stallone Month as he takes a look at another Stallone guilty pleasure, a little movie based on the 1972 David Morrell novel, First Blood. Don't forget to review this story, add it to your favorites and follow it for future updates. I'll see you guys next time for Stallone Month. Till next time, my fellow readers.