The NHC Top 100 Episodes

[jonnymack]

Cool. I like (or at least find adequate) all but one of those episodes.

Yeah. There is a good chance that I would have voted for all of them had we been allowed to compile a list of 100. And there are some on the list that I DID vote for, so I obviously thought they deserved to be rated better than 81-100.

Mountain of Madness would be an exception for me. It had some amusing moments, but the launching of the propane tank was just too much non-funny wackiness for me and the episode in general left a bad taste in my mouth.

It is certainly better than just about everything after the 8th season, but it isn't quite top 100 worthy IMO.

[jonnymack]

^Fair enough, but I don't enjoy those things as much as you. The episode's ending feels rather out of place to me as well...

I agree that the ending could have been a little better, but this show has definitely seen worse.

I'm pleasantly surprised that this episode even made it to the top 100.

(Was it the first time we saw Dr. Nick as well? I'm not going to look it up, but I'm pretty sure it was.)

"The only one in this room that even comes close to being a doctor." Great stuff.

[cloneasaurus]

The ending to Bart Gets Hit by a Car is pretty bad, like genuinely. Feels incredibly tacked on and so so so so sappy. The rest of the episode is decent.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

I loved the ending, right amount of emotion and humour.

[jonnymack]

Lisa's Rival would have missed the Top 100 completely had I not bumped it up late.

I'm wondering if you may have saved the list from Saddlesore Galactica. If so, nice job there, Brad.

Even so, Lisa's Rival deserves to be in this list. So, nice job there, Brad.

[Prune Tracy]

Hmm, decent opening. I would have preferred a couple episodes to be a little higher, but I can accept where they are.

[Jims]

#80-61 has been posted. We're getting some more interesting results, most notably how A Streetcar Named Marge, which I recall used to be a critical darling around here, got relatively snubbed this time around.

I'm wondering if you may have saved the list from Saddlesore Galactica. If so, nice job there, Brad.

Heh, Saddlesore Galactica would've needed quite a surge to make the Top 100. It finished with only 42 points, while an episode needed 191 pts (Lisa's Rival) to make the list.

[Financial Panther]

A couple episodes in there I really dislike, but I'm not surprised they're present. Something I am surprised about is Homer's Barbershop Quartet. I don't find it all that great, and I thought most considered it one of the weaker season 5 episodes.

[ANdre1001]

Homer's Barbershop Quartet is AWESOME! it should be way up

[Jims]

Updated Post #2 to do an analysis comparing our tastes now, versus the NHC's tastes from 2004. Feel free to extrapolate whatever conclusions you want based on that data.

(Man, I Married Marge really took a beating this year.)

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

'74 Itchy and Scratchy and Marge Season 2'

Too low.

'71 Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish' Season 2'

Too low.

'66 A Streetcar Named Marge Season 4'

FAR too low.

'62 Selma's Choice Season 4'

Too high.

Except for that, it's fine.

[Prune Tracy]

'62 Selma's Choice Season 4'

Too high.

Just kidding, I'm actually surprised (and pleased) it made it this high.

ETA: I wish Homer's Phobia and Lisa the Vegetarian were higher.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Except for the "I am the lizard queen" line, I just don't think it's a great episode, for classic standards. I mean I still give it an 8/10 and B+

[Prune Tracy]

I find it to be an excellent episode. Here's just a sampling of the moments that made me laugh:

"I'm not pouting, I'm... mourning. Stupid dead woman."

Bart remembering Great Aunt Gladys: *shudders* "Ooh yeah, there she is."

"Legend of the dog-faced woman"

Homer's ordeal with the kiddie menus at the restaurant (especially his composed "please" in response to the waitress offering him another)

"Ach! Back to the Loch with ye, Nessie!"

The "It's a Duff World" ride

And there's loads more that I'm probably forgetting because it's been a while since I've seen the episode. I also think it explores Selma's character extremely well. I like how she shows that she vaguely respects Homer at the end. It's a fantastic episode, IMO.

Also, I actually find the "Lizard Queen" thing to be overrated. It's mildly funny, but I think the aforementioned jokes really make the episode.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

The best Lisa line in that episode is definitely, "Can't talk comin' down."

[Financial Panther]

I don't have a problem with it. Middle of the road for season 4.

[Lionel Hutz]

3 of my top 10 have fallen(100-61), however it appears that my high ranking was the push they needed to make it at all.
92.Brother From The Same Planet
90.Itchy And Scratchy: The Movie
89.Bart The Daredevil
I'm also disappointed that A Star Is Burns isn't as high as I'd hoped.
The love for Bart Gets Hit By A Car and Two Bad Neighbours is also puzzling me (There good but not top 100 good)

[ANdre1001]

And there's loads more that I'm probably forgetting because it's been a while since I've seen the episode. I also think it explores Selma's character extremely well. I like how she shows that she vaguely respects Homer at the end. It's a fantastic episode, IMO.

Also, I actually find the "Lizard Queen" thing to be overrated. It's mildly funny, but I think the aforementioned jokes really make the episode.

Ehmmm you're forgetting the single best part of this episode, the Homer and the sandwich story, OMG how i laughed with it

[Safety Inspector]

I agree:
97. Bart the Murderer (my #14)
93. Two Bad Neighbors (my #93)
91. Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind (my #10)
84. Mountain of Madness (my #45)
61. Bart the Lover (my #23)
BUT WHY THIS EPISODE IS SO LOW???
AND WHY ONLY 1 POST-CLASSICAL EPISODE IN THIS LIST???
I think, that although 15-20 episodes must be in Top100

[Brad Lascelle]

AND WHY ONLY 1 POST-CLASSICAL EPISODE IN THIS LIST???
I think, that although 15-20 episodes must be in Top100

The very nature of Top 50 polling makes it almost impossible for post-classic episodes to make the cut.
That's why you're only going to see Eternal Moonshine and one other (revealed tomorrow) make the Top 100.

[The Governor]

Homer's Barbershop Quartet at #65!? Huh?

Eternal Moonshine is NOT better than any of the 92-100, except for Two Bad Neighbors.

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

Huh, thought Lisa on Ice and Lisa the Vegetarian would be higher.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

The very nature of Top 50 polling makes it almost impossible for post-classic episodes to make the cut.
That's why you're only going to see Eternal Moonshine and one other (revealed tomorrow) make the Top 100.

Trilogy of Error.

[Toomanygrandmas]

...and now for round two (more nitpicking in this one, as there is more I disagree with)

80. Marge on the Lam
Sounds about right. It is one of Season 5s stronger episodes, with lots of funny moments, with good characterisations, to boot. Wasn't in my top 50, but I can see it being in my top 100.

79. $pringfield
I would have liked to have seen this one a fair bit higher. The story is nothing special - though sort of interesting, as we look at how legalised gambling affects different people throughout the episode - but this episode does excel in humour. This episode is funny. Like, really funny.

78. Kamp Krusty
Naaaah. To be fair, I haven't seen this episode in yonks. Each time I watch it though, I'm never really blown away by anything. The story never kept me that interested. Maybe I would have preferred it if they had used this episode as the plot for the film...

77. Bart vs. Australia
This was pretty low on my top 50 (think it just scraped in), so at least I'm glad that it got representation on the top 100. Yeah, it's just a standard 'Simpsons are going to...' episode, but unlike later episodes, there purpose for the trip is more developed. However, what makes this episode stick out is how funny it is. It's so ridiculous in its portrayal of Australia, and is probably one of the wackier (if not the wackiest) episodes of the classic era. The best travel episode by far, and the only one I believe that deserves to be in the top 100. Unless I'm forgetting one.

76. Separate Vocations
I can't really judge whether this is too high or low, as I don't have any strong opinions about this one. Like much of season 3, it needs a rewatch - which is why there wasn't much season 3 in my top 50. I remember liking the ending of this episode. Maybe it'll be like Bart the Lover - I'll suddenly love it upon rewatch. So maybe it's too low. I don't know, Daaaaaaaaavey.

75. Bart's Friend Falls in Love
I was planning to rewatch this one.... but didn't. Maybe it deserves to be here. Maybe it deserves to be higher. Maybe it doesn't deserve to be here at all (judging on somewhat faint memories, I don't think the latter is the case).

74. Itchy and Scratchy and Marge
This should be reasonably higher. Itchy & Scratchy-themed episodes are usually a blast, and this is no exception. Great satire here, and like much of the season it's from, a great story too. Not my favourite of Season 2 (which I'm glad to see hasn't popped up yet, and hopefully won't for a while), but definitely one of the stronger outings.

73. Homer Goes to College
I don't think I've ever been massively keen on this one, and I don't believe that it deserves a spot on the top 100. Homer's attitude here isn't what bugs me. It's that this episode is supposed to hilarious, but I never find myself laughing much. Watched it too many times? Possibly. What I do know though, is that bits of this episode drag (like the nerds staying over at the Simpson house), and that ultimately, I'm not left that entertained. Not a bad episode by any means, but not one of Season 5's better episodes, I feel.

72. Homer's Phobia
I might have had this on the lower end of my top 100, but I wouldn't have it here - above better episodes like Itchy and Scratchy and Marge, and Bart vs Australia. It is generally a great episode, but Homer's rampant homophobia can get a bit tiresome.

71. Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish
I think I might have this a little lower, but otherwise its position doesn't bug me. It is a fine episode, if not a little bit overrated. Just a taaaaaaad.

70. Bart Gets an F
Should be higher. I forgot exactly where I put this in my top 50 (and am too lazy to go and check), but I think this episode should at least be in the fifties. It's a really fine episode, this one. Plus the scene near the end, where Bart just breaks down, I found that to be a really poweful moment. Maybe because we've never seen (or have yet to see) him like that before. As well as the great main story, and ending, I do enjoy the little bit about Martin becoming 'cool'. Just how I'd imagine him to act.

69. Lisa the Vegetarian
Now this one, I personally believe, should be higher. Quite a bit higher. I had it in my top 10, and upon rewatching it recently, maybe it shouldn't be there. What I can say though, is that I defnitely believe it should be in the top 50. The guest stars are a bit shoehorned-in, and Lisa can seem overly angry at times, but otherwise it is a fiiiine episode. Maybe I'm just biased towards it cos I'm a vegetarian. I dunno. Beats me.

68. Bart's Girlfriend
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (a la Moe)? like number 69, this should be higher. Much higher. This was #12 on my list, which made it the highest episode to get an A, but not quite an A+. I really enjoy this episode, and it certaintly is one of Season 6's best. Bart's characterisation is excellent, I love the ending, and as a plus (which is always a plus), it is pretty damn funny at times. I ain't happy with where this is. As Little Vicki would say (yes I'm quoting Season 11, but it's a good episode, m'kay): 'I'm ever so pissed'.

67. Three Men and a Comic Book
As part of my Seaon 2 rewatching spree, I of course, watched this. Judging by this episode's position in relation to others, I could say that this episode is overrated. I think it is more the case of several episodes being underrated. I don't know about this one being in the top 100. It was one of the first episodes I owned (on vhs), but I don't know if it has aged as well as something like The Way We Was (that better be pretty high).

66. A Streetcar Named Marge
I felt kind of bad about leaving this episode out of my top 50, as I remember it being good, but never bothered to give it a rewatch (whereas Radio Bart I didn't rewatch at all, but kept it pretty high on my list). I can't say whether I think it should be higher or not.

65. Homer's Barbershop Quartet
I'm not massively keen on this episode, so don't believe it should be in the top 100. I used to like it more, but the last time I watched it, I found it to be quite dull. That last time I watched it was early last year, but I doubt my views would majorly change about this, if I did rewatch it.

64. A Fish Called Selma
I regret not putting this higher on my top 50. Or maybe I don't. This feels a bit like one of those episodes that grows on you when looking back on it with hindsight. I generally enjoy Selma episodes, and though I don't think it is reflected in my top 50, I think this is my favourite. However, the best thing about this episode is how Troy McClure is fleshed out for the first time, and we actually see what he's really like. Oh, and it's a funny episode too - who can get tired of those Troy McClure film names, eh? We miss you, Phil.

63. Lisa on Ice
I would have liked to have seen this higher. However, like a few of the previous episodes, I don't think where it is bothers me too much. It is only about 20 places (roughly) lower than where I would put it, so nothing major. I'm not a very sporty person, but this and Homer at the Bat are fine episodes. I like the whole sibling rivalry in this one, and I don't care if the ending is a little sappy, I still enjoy it.

62. Selma's Choice
I'm either overrating or underrating this one. I can't decide which of the two Selma episodes here is the better one. Still, ignoring A Fish Called Selma, this is a strong episode. So in short, I'm basically fine with where this has landed.

61. Bart the Lover
Tut, tut, tut. This, like Lisa the Vegetarian and Bart's Girlfriend should be higher. A lot higher (40 places, in this episode's case). I wouldn't have been saying this a few months ago, as back then, I didn't love this episode. I do now, though. Fine characterisations, fine plot, and some funny, funny moments (the humour is what really surprised me - I forgot how hilarious the subplot of this one was). Maybe eventually more people will see how good this episode is. Maybe it is one of those episodes, that people will slowly come to love. Hopefully, in the next top 100 the NHC makes, this will be in a higher spot.

That's all, folks. Tune in tomorrow, for more waffle about 20 more episodes.

[Prune Tracy]

Ehmmm you're forgetting the single best part of this episode, the Homer and the sandwich story, OMG how i laughed with it

Ahhhh! How could I forget that?! I need to watch the episode again.

[Brad Lascelle]

Some of you expressing shock over top-tier Lisa and Bart-centric episodes falling in the Bottom Half of the Top 100 really shouldn't be surprised. Once again, the nature of the way this poll was done lends itself strongly to not only keeping Scully-and-later episodes out of the equation but also keeping all of the Homer-centric episodes towards the top of the favorites heap.

Only Lisa's Substitute and Bart Sells His Soul stand out as notable exceptions to the rule. The rest of the Top 25 is a Homerfest... or Cape Feare.

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

This part look better than the first one

[Company Picnic]

Only Lisa's Substitute and Bart Sells His Soul stand out as notable exceptions to the rule. The rest of the Top 25 is a Homerfest... or Cape Feare.

That's just because a lot of people like Homer

I would say Three Men And a Comicbook, Bart the Lover, and $pringfield are all probably too low. Comicbook seems to be underappreciated but the storyline and humour is incredibly consistent in that episode. I'm pretty surprised it didn't make the top 100 in 2004.

[jonnymack]

Heh, Saddlesore Galactica would've needed quite a surge to make the Top 100. It finished with only 42 points, while an episode needed 191 pts (Lisa's Rival) to make the list.

I coulda swore there was this guy that ranked Saddlesore Galactica at #1, giving it at least 50 points. Oh well. That's still a long ways from 192, so... meh.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

AND WHY ONLY 1 POST-CLASSICAL EPISODE IN THIS LIST???
I think, that although 15-20 episodes must be in Top100

Because Zombie Simpsons sucks ass, comrade.