The NHC Top 100 Episodes

[Safety Inspector]

10. Treehouse of Horror V
9. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment
8. 22 Short Films About Springfield
3. Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part 1)
2. Cape Feare
1. Last Exit to Springfield
Excellent choice! This episode in my Top20.

7. Bart Sells His Soul
5. Marge vs the Monorail
4. Homer Badman
In my Top70. Excellent, but not brilliant.

6. Lisa's Substitute
Hmmm, I think, that's a bit overrated episode. I never was fan of this.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Safety Inspector - Since you were the man that said there should have been 10-15 post Season 9 episodes in the list, can you tell me, for example, 5 episodes post Season 9 that you rate higer than Lisa's Substitute?

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

Okay; so let's see how the list compares with my list.

Bart Gets an F: #47 on my list but #70 on the Top 100 episode list; appropriate.
I Married Marge: #45 on my list but #98 on the Top 100 list; could of been lower...
Lisa's Substitute: #42 on my list but #6 on the Top 100 list; a bit too low but I can understand why people like it.
Radio Bart: #39 on my list but #35 on the Top 100 list; just right.
Bart Sells His Soul: #38 on my list but #7 on the Top 100 list; it's position is somewhat unjustified, still a great episode though.
Lisa's Sax: #36 on my list but #58 on the Top 100 list; it's where it has to be.
Treehouse of Horror VI: #35 on my list but #87 on the Top 100 list; could be way lower.
A Fish Called Selma: #33 on my list but #64 on the Top 100 list; could be somewhat lower on the list, otherwise I'm happy.
Duffless: #32 on my list but #20 on the Top 100 list; it's position is somewhat overrated.
Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie: #31 on my list but #90 on the Top 100 list; could be way, way lower.
Mother Simpson: #30 on my list but #30 on the Top 100 list; hew, we have a match!
The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show: #28 on my list but #51 on the Top 100 list; could be way, way lower.
Itchy & Scratchy Land: #27 on my list but #44 on the Top 100 list; I like this episode but somewhat overrated, still; nice position.
Bart the Daredevil: #25 on my list but #89 on the Top 100 list; fair enough...
Flaming Moe's: #21 on my list but #17 on the Top 100 list; for good reason, it's a good episode.
Marge Be Not Proud: #19 on my list but #29 on the Top 100 list; this episode should be higher.
The Way We Was: #18 on my list but #47 on the Top 100 list; should of been lower.
Lisa the Greek: #24 on my list but #86 on the Top 100 list; it's ironic that my lower listings are ending up high, they could be lower though.
Bart's Friend Falls in Love: #22 on my list but #75 on the Top 100 list; thought that'd rank higher.
The Way We Was: #18 on my list but #47 on the Top 100 list; it should be lower, that's a classic episode.
Summer of 4 Ft. 2: #17 on my list but #25 on the Top 100 list; it's position is appropriate, it's a good episode.
Moaning Lisa: #15 on my list but #94 on the Top 100 list; should of been higher.
Treehouse of Horror V: #13 on my list but #10 on the Top 100 list; perfect!
Homer's Triple Bypass: #12 on my list but #31 on the Top 100 list; it's a good episode, should of been lower.
Lisa's First Word: #11 on my list but #27 on the Top 100 list; same as above.
Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassssss Song: #8 on my list but #60 on the Top 100 list; it really could of been higher.
Lisa the Vegetarian: #7 on my list but #69 on the Top 100 list: why are most of the good episodes being rated highly?
A Milhouse Divided: #6 on my list but #36 on the Top 100 list: maybe it's in the right place.
22 Short Films About Springfield: #5 on my list but #8 on the Top 100 list: finally, my choice is being represented properly.
Cape Feare: #4 on my list but #2 on the Top 100 list: two times the charm, who knew?
Lisa on Ice: #3 on my list but #63 on the Top 100 list; it's a good episode, why is it rated so highly?
And Maggie Makes Three: #2 on my list but #13 on the Top 100 list; can't complain.
You Only Move Twice: #1 on my list but #12 on the Top 100 list; still can't complain.

My list wasn't everything it was cracked up to be but hey, I'm satisfied nonetheless seeing as how most of my choices got on that list.

[Old painty-can Ned]

Thanks for doing this Jims!

[Mr Black]

no surprises here, maybe that WSMB was third above Monorail but I don't have a problem with that. I think some people were discussing earlier how valuable it is to have an episode with an emotional feel as well as humour but I don't think Cape Feare or Badman are particularly emotional.
Looking at the overall list I can't get over how low "I love Lisa", "Mother Simpson", "Duffless" and "Bart of Darkness" are, but there we go. It was very interesting

[Old painty-can Ned]

2009 place in the brackets. It's back to back wins for LETS

100. Lisa's Rival (+1)
99. When Flanders Failed (-29)
98. I Married Marge (+3)
97. Bart the Murderer (-59)
96. Saturdays of Thunder (+5)
95. Bart Gets Hit By a Car (+6)
94. Moaning Lisa (+7)
93. Two Bad Neighbors (+8)
92. Brother From the Same Planet (+8)
91. Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind (+2)
90. Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie (+11)
89. Bart the Daredevil (-9)
88. Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy (-4)
87. Treehouse of Horror VI (+14)
86. Lisa the Greek (+15)
85. Homer vs Lisa and the 8th Commandment (-36)
84. Mountain of Madness (+17)
83. Black Widower (+18)
82. Brother From Another Series (-2)
81. A Star is Burns (+5)
80. Marge on the Lam (-21)
79. $pringfield (-45)
78. Kamp Krusty (-33)
77. Bart vs. Australia (-4)
76. Separate Vocations (+25)
75. Bart's Friend Falls in Love (-27)
74. Itchy and Scratchy and Marge (-14)
73. Homer Goes to College (-20)
72. Homer's Phobia (+29)
71. Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish (-31)
70. Bart Gets an F (+31)
69. Lisa the Vegetarian (-11)
68. Bart's Girlfriend (+32)
67. Three Men and a Comic Book (-30)
66. A Streetcar Named Marge (-48)
65. Homer's Barbershop Quartet (=)
64. A Fish Called Selma (+19)
63. Lisa on Ice (-39)
62. Selma's Choice (+26)
61. Bart the Lover (-6)
60. Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassssss Song (+41)
59. Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk (-30)
58. Lisa's Sax (+42)
57. The Boy Who Knew Too Much (-26)
56. Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part 2) (+15)
55. Boy Scoutz N the Hood (+9)
54. Trilogy of Error (+47)
53. I Love Lisa (-9)
52. Homer the Smithers (+36)
51. The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show (+10)
50. Homer the Vigilante (+25)
49. Treehouse of Horror IV (+30)
48. The PTA Disbands (+24)
47. The Way We Was (+3)
46. Homie the Clown (-4)
45. The City of New York vs Homer Simpson (+18)
44. Itchy & Scratchy Land (-14)
43. Bart's Comet (+11)
42. Colonel Homer (+49)
41. One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish (+15)
40. Lisa the Iconoclast (-1)
39. El Viaje Misterioso de Nustro Jomer (-2)
38. Lisa's Wedding (-15)
37. Deep Space Homer (-2)
36. A Milhouse Divided (+65)
35. Radio Bart (+8)
34. Bart of Darkness (+2)
33. King-Size Homer (-8)
32. Secrets of a Successful Marriage (+67)
31. Homer's Triple Bypass (-36)
30. Mother Simpson(-15)
29. Marge Be Not Proud(+22)
28. The Last Temptation of Homer(-2)
27. Lisa's First Word(-1)
26. Mr. Plow(-7)
25. Summer of 4 Ft. 2(+2)
24. Bart on the Road(+23)
23. Sideshow Bob Roberts(+29)
22. Homer the Great(-5)
21. Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily(+25)
20. Duffless(-14)
19. Lemon of Troy(-6)
18. Homer's Enemy(-7)
17. Flaming Moe's(-5)
16. The Springfield Files(+17)
15. Homer the Heretic(-11)
14. Homer at the Bat (-6)
13. And Maggie Makes Three (+7)
12. You Only Move Twice (-3)
11. Rosebud (+3)
10. Treehouse of Horror V (+11)
9. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment (+23)
8. 22 Short Films About Springfield (+8)
7. Bart Sells His Soul (-5)
6. Lisa's Substitute (+1)
5. Marge vs the Monorail (-2)
4. Homer Badman (+4)
3. Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part 1) (+19)
2. Cape Feare (+3)
1. Last Exit to Springfield (=)

[jonnymack]

Congratulations to all 100 winners. All of them provided me with at least SOME entertainment.

[hammster]

Although I disagree with alot of this list, I think I'm gunna watch them all in order during my summer holiday...

[cloneasaurus]

I really like how Who Shot Mr. Burns Part One is in the top 3, that's a pleasant surprise. As for LETS, well, I'm not gunna rant on about it, I just wanted something else to win. It would be nice for another great classic episode to take the podium, but we're continuously stuck with LETS. Though that's probably just me covering up how I really don't think it's that great/deserving...

[Jesse Pinkman]

thanks for doing all this, jims.

i didn't make a list but it is interesting to see what episodes are on it, regardless.

[MagicalManFromHappyLand]

My list compared with the top 100

50. Blood Feud N/A
49. The City of New York vs Homer Simpson 45
48. Boy Scoutz N The Hood 55
47. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? N/A
46. Trilogy of Error 54
45. The Boy Who Knew Too Much 57
44. Round Springfield N/A
43. Homer at the Bat 14
42. Sideshow Bob Roberts 23
41. The Cartridge Family N/A
40. 22 Short Films About Springfield 8
39. Lisa vs Malibu Stacey 88
38.Treehouse of Horror V 10
37. Secrets of a Successful Marriage 32
36. Bart the Murderer 97
35. The Way We Was 47
34. One Fish Two Fish Blowfish Blue Fish 41
33. The PTA Disbands 48
32. Homer's Phobia 72
31. Kamp Krusty 78
30. Marge vs The Monorail 5
29. A Fish Called Selma 64
28. Two Cars in Every Garrage and Three Eyes on Every Fish 71
27. Homer's Enemy 18
26. King Size Homer 33
25. Home Sweet Home Diddly-Dum-Doodily 21
24. Lemon of Troy 19
23. Black Widower 83
22. Homer the Great 22
21. Bart's Comet 43
20. Selma's Choice 62
19. You Only Move Twice 12
18. Flaming Moe's 17
17. Homer the Heretic 15
16. Who Shot Mr Burns? Part 1 3
15. Homer's Triple Bypass 31
14. Last Exit to Springfield 1
13. Homer: Badman 4
12. Lisa's Wedding 38
11. Bart the Lover 61
10. Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk 59
9. I Love Lisa 53
8. Mother Simpson 30
7. The Last Temptation of Homer 28
6. Cape Feare 2
5. Bart Sells His Soul 7
4. Homer vs The 18th Ammendment 9
3. Lisa's Substitute 6
2. Duffless 20
1. Colonel Homer 42

After rewatching a lot of episodes recently, I'd probably have made my top 50 very differently.

And thanks Jims for putting this on

[hammster]

Oh yea, cheers Jims. This was cool.

[Lionel Hutz]

After seeing the full results with points, I have some disagreements:
The bottom 20 of this list isn't very good and would be better with some of the episodes that didn't make it.
101.Simpson And Delilah
106.Simpson Tide
107.Homer And Apu
108.Lisa's Pony
115.Grade School Confidential
131.Lisa The Simpson
132.Springfield Connection
136.Hurricane Neddy
169.Brush With Greatness

Shouldn't have made it
80.Marge On The Lam
84.Mountain Of Madness
86.Brother From Another Series
87.Treehouse Of Horror VI
91.Eternal Moonshine Of The Simpsons Mind
93.Two Bad Neighbours
99.When Flanders Failed

Besides clip shows and a couple of season 1 clunkers only War Of The Simpsons and Principal Charming, from the classic era got no votes.
Principal Charming= 0 votes= What! I wish I had given it an honourary #50 position. Such an underrated episode.

[MagicalManFromHappyLand]

It really is a great episode, can't believe it didn't get a single vote, I'd put it as one of the best of season 2.

[Jims]

If we've now reached our congratulatory phase, I want to say thanks to everyone who submitted a Top 50 list. These things really take some time to put together and can be surprisingly agonizing putting them in order. Based on some of your comments and later edits, I can tell that you put some real thought into your picks!

These kinds of lists are always fun to read about and they kinda get the brain juices going in thinking about The Simpsons.

If anyone has any additional ideas that would be fun to do, let us know! Maybe not more Top 50s or whatever since we've done a bunch of them, but if there's something else that might be interesting to argue about I'd be all for it. One idea I thought of is something like an Episode Deathmatch where we argue between two similarly themed episodes (something like Lisa vs Malibu Stacy vs Lisa the Beauty Queen, or something like Life on the Fast Lane vs The Last Temptation of Homer).

[ANdre1001]

Simpson and Delilah is 101 just one rank away of being top 100
and LETS has good moments, but lisa getting braces is not Top 1 material, sadly most people here think differently

[MagicalManFromHappyLand]

Simpson and Delilah is 101 just one rank away of being top 100
and LETS has good moments, but lisa getting braces is not Top 1 material, sadly most people here think differently

To finish at number 1, an episode only needed to average 23rd on every list, LETS is at least that good.

[The Spruce Moose]

there was an idea of a Best Post-Classic Episodes thread during the run-up to doing this because of possible lack of representation. Anyone think that idea could go places?

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

Homer badman ??? Shoot me please

[horatio huffnagel]

That was great guys! It was fun watching a ll of the lists come, comparing them and then seeing what the final results were. I have a lot of differing opinions and loved analyzing them against everyone elses. Thank you jims! Oh and Spruce Moose, I am absolutely down for a "post-classic" top 100. It would be very interesting to see what everyone thinks of these episodes. You don't hear much unless they've just aired or are the bane of this site's existence. Please let me know if and when that starts. I'll also keep checking. I tried so hard to make my own list and I just could not pick a favorite! Or even a top 2. So many different layers to so many different episodes. "Post-classic" will be easier for me, I think, so I am in!!

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

Thank you very much to did this top 100 of the fan this by the way

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

there was an idea of a Best Post-Classic Episodes thread during the run-up to doing this because of possible lack of representation. Anyone think that idea could go places?

I'd be up for it if it was only a top 5 or top 10

In all seriousness, yes we absolutely should do that but I think another top 50 - as we did for bottom 50 Simpsons episodes - where we pick our top 25 Season 11-23 episodes should be interesting. (Possibly start it on April Fools Day as a suggestion)

[Blobulle]

LETS is an eternal winner.

[Bartesque]

there was an idea of a Best Post-Classic Episodes thread during the run-up to doing this because of possible lack of representation. Anyone think that idea could go places?

No, because Season 11-23 don't deserve the recognition.

[The Spruce Moose]

No, because Season 11-23 don't deserve the recognition.

I agree, even the almight EMOTSM seemed overrated to me. It just seemed to be a popular idea when it was discussed previously.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

I agree, even the almight EMOTSM seemed overrated to me. It just seemed to be a popular idea when it was discussed previously.

So you agreeing that the idea that you first brought up is bad, how does that work?

Anyway I believe as bad as Seasons 11-23 are, it would be interesting to do our own top 25 for an overall top 50 because...well we can see what Zombie Simpsons episodes we regard as actually decent.

p.s Blobulle, LETS is a million times than Stealing First Base will EVER be, just saying homie.

[jonnymack]

there was an idea of a Best Post-Classic Episodes thread during the run-up to doing this because of possible lack of representation. Anyone think that idea could go places?

It probably wouldn't have a HUGE response, but I'd probably take the time to put together a list.

[horatio huffnagel]

Let's do it! I love seasons 11-23. I would have a blast doing it. Some of these episodes would have made my top fifty list quite easily. EMOTSM is not overrated at all. It stacks up against any classic era episode and deserves its place on this list. Anyway, I'll get of the ranting now, I think it would be fun to see what all of us thought were the best twenty-five of the last 13 seasons. Especially since a lot of you guys seem to hate these seasons. I would like to see what episodes these people think are actually good. Let's do it!

[The Spruce Moose]

So you agreeing that the idea that you first brought up is bad, how does that work?

Anyway I believe as bad as Seasons 11-23 are, it would be interesting to do our own top 25 for an overall top 50 because...well we can see what Zombie Simpsons episodes we regard as actually decent.

p.s Blobulle, LETS is a million times than Stealing First Base will EVER be, just saying homie.

not my idea, I just seem to be the only one who remembers it being discussed before.

Also i've changed my mind, I now like the idea that ZS needs its own list to look important because of its significant insignificance compared to the first 8 seasons

[Bert Stanton]

Interesting Principal Charming received no votes. It's a very very good episode and certainly not one of the worst of the classic era