Claymation's Corner

Best Simpsons Ever!....No. 8

2008-03-26T23:31:00.006-05:00

#8: Deep Space Homer
Written by: David Mirkin
Directed by: Carlos Baeza

Here we are at number 8 and it is a good one. Deep Space Homer originally aired in 1994 during season 5 of the show. This is the only episode credited to David Mirkin, who was also the executive producer at the time. The idea for it had been around for a while, but Matt Groening was worried that sending Homer into space would trap the writers into a corner they couldn't get out of. Luckily though, the writing came along and we get one of best episodes. Being from season 5 there are definitely some animation issues and a few quirks that may make you think it isn't such a great one, but don't be fooled by that. This episode features some of the most memorable lines ever, not to mention some groundbreaking digital animation shots. Let us not forget also the amazing special guest appearances by both astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and music icon James Taylor. And let me just say that if you don't normally listen to the commentaries, this one is worth checking out.
Now down to business....
The main point of this episode, not the real premise, is about Homer getting respect. We begin with a nice little joke about Homer's intelligence with an x-ray machine showing him as an ape....good for a laugh certainly. This leads to the worker of the week award! What a wonderful gag with Lennie and Carl here:
Carl: "I hate these worker of the week ceremonies."
Lennie: "Who even cares anymore, every one that works here has already got one."
Carl: "Except foooooooorrrrrrrrr........"
As he holds it we hear Homer running up (not wearing an award). Just great! And as always when Mr. Burns gets ready to announce the award he's lost in his own world with no idea what's going on around him. I absolutely love the shot of Homer as he's waiting to hear his name called, looking so hopeful and twittling his fingers on the union rules.....Nice job guys! Then we find out that the award actually goes to the Inanimate Carbon Rod. I wonder how Homer got left out again?? "Inanimate huh, I'll show him inanimate," says Homer as he then freezes....and the day goes on. What a great shot! Back home Homer is complaining and Bart draws on the back of his head...showing a lack of respect (hint, hint)...and we get the great Homer spinning in circles like a dog chasing his tail. Quality stuff. Finally we get to the premise of the show: NASA has found out that the public doesn't care for their boring space launches and so needs to send an "average" citizen into space. The Simpsons take a lot of shots at NASA here, and do a pretty good job of it. Don't worry though, they love the episode. So much so that there's actually a copy of this episode on the real international space station that they watch! How incredible is that?! Homer calls NASA complaining about the boring space launches, and looking for some Tang which is hilarious. "And another thing, how come I can't get no Tang 'round here?!?!" This is followed up by another great phone call, "Hello, is this President Clinton? Good! I figured if anyone knows where to get some Tang it'd be you...Shut up!" I'm still laughing just thinking about it! NASA doesn't know who made the call (since Homer initially denies it) but decides to take both him and Barney (who are both at Moe's). Homer tells them it was him after they say it'll get him respect (hint, hint....again).
Now's the point in the show where we apparently need a few more spoofs. I guess they hadn't met the quota yet, so we get a Beverly Hillbillies reference, followed shortly by a reenactment of the end of Planet of the Apes by Homer. The next few scenes are of Homer and Barney going through training and competing with each other during which Barney has to give up drinking and becomes a superb candidate. There's some funny stuff in here, so don't glance over it to quick. Also the scene of Homer's face turning into Popeye is one of the things that Matt Groening couldn't stand. I have to say, I kind of agree with him on this one. That's just plain odd. We also get to meet Buzz Aldrin here, voiced by himself. He was a great sport for it! Oh, and if you missed it there's a reference to an old Star Trek episode in there as well....one more for the tally. Finally we find out that "in a way you're both winners, but in another more accurate way Barney is the winner." Homer doesn't make it again, but then Barney turns back into a drunk after having some non-alcoholic champagne (not a typo), and Homer is the winner by default. "The two greatest words in the English language: De Fault, De Fault..."
Then we get treated to an Itchy and Scratchy episode about what? You guessed it! Space flight! This is complete with more references from Star Trek and Alien. If you haven't realized it yet, a lot of this episode plays off of 2001: A Space Odyssey. You'll find references everywhere and a notable one takes place just after when Homer and the other astronauts are walking to the space shuttle, with a Simpsons spin on it of course. There's a great joke about Homer's intelligence with phones here too, along with more talk about earning respect (getting the idea yet?). The shuttle launches and we see Homer's face turn into Nixon this time, ugghhh....Matt was definitely right....We also find out that all the equipment in Houston's mission control is actually used to measure tv ratings...what a great joke!
As wonderful as this episode has been, here is where the real magic begins. The shot of the space shuttle flying over the earth was one of the early digital shots, and the following scene of Homer eating the chips also has some great animation. David says that he couldn't really explain the scene too well so since everyone was busy doing their own thing already, he just did this part himself. The shot of Homer spinning to eat a chip from the chip's perspective was done digitally, one of the first times ever. This is some really quality stuff here. Definitely groundbreaking. We also getting an amazing treat where folk singer James Taylor starts singing to the astronauts over the radio from Houston. They even managed to get him to change one of his lines just for the show. Way to be a great sport James.
Back to the storyline...Homer smuggled the chips on board which float about in the zero gravity and to clean up the mess he starts eating them. This causes him to crash into the ant farm releasing all the ants to fly around in the ship. The ants talking to each other is really funny as well. What comes next has become a classic tv moment capitalized on by many many shows to follow. In a report of the spacecraft on tv, anchorman Kent Brockman is planning to talk with them when one of the ants flies in front of the camera. Kent thinks that giant ants have taken over the ship and are coming back to Earth to conquer us. This is comical in itself, but he says a line here that becomes famous. "And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords." This became known as the Overlord meme and is found being used with substitution for the word insect in many other media...Just amazing....He later reaffirms his allegiance to this country and it's leader when he realizes he was wrong.
With the ants causing the circuitry in the shuttle to fail, James Taylor suggests using a vacuum to blow them out of it, which they do simply by opening the door. Unfortunately Homer hadn't strapped himself in (safety first boys and girls), so he almost gets thrown out himself and breaks the door latch holding on. They pull him back in, but can't keep the door shut for reentry. James Taylor then runs away, hehe. Homer starts fighting with the third astronaut (whatever his name was...) and grabs an inanimate carbon rod which he accidentally gets stuck in the door handle locking it shut. They then make it back safely landing in a TV reporters convention. Why a TV reporter's convention you ask? Simple....they needed to get the shots of them landing on tv quickly, and the show was running long on time.....
So despite being praised for saving the day, Homer gets ignored again as the rod is pictured on the cover of Time Magazine. As with all of the great episodes though, he does receive praise from those who matter, his family. After Lisa and Marge both commend him on how lucky he was and how they respect him now, even Bart shows his feelings by drawing on the back of Homer's head again "HERO". Doesn't that bring a tear to the eye....
And finally they end the show with a direct and famous reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey by turning the marker thrown into the air into a Fox satellite...and then hitting an embryo of Homer in space with it. True it has nothing to do with the show...but it's still classic Simpsons!

Best Simpsons Ever!....Honorable Mention

2008-03-19T09:25:00.008-05:00

Honorable Mention: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment

Written by: John Swartzwelder
Directed by: Bob Anderson

In honor of St. Patrick's Day (a few days late) I thought I would post this episode as an honorable mention. Though not in the top ten list it is certainly one of my favorites and one I watch every year on St. Patrick's Day. It has been listed in the top ten lists of others, and though I don't really think it belongs there personally it is a great episode with some memorable lines and great writing. After all, what else do we expect from the great Swatzwelder?

The episode starts out on St. Patrick's Day with several scenes making fun of stereotypes of alcoholics and the Irish.....or maybe that's just the Irish (haha...) We also get to see the consequences of forgetting to wear green on this wonderful day. "No one's pinching his legs!" Of course Homer takes the day of celebration in his own fashion...."It's been St. Patrick's Day for hours and I'm still not drunk yet.....It's never gonna be 9 o'clock!" And let's not forget Marge because she really knows how to enjoy this day. "Parades just bring out so many emotions in me! Joy...excitement.....looking..." Now I know that is really awesome, but just imagine it with her in green hair, and then you can really see the beauty of it.

In the midst of all the enjoyment, Bart purchases a large plastic megaphone thing that he uses to yell at everyone with. When the Duff parade float comes by shooting beer out into the crowd, it just so happens that it hits the megaphone opening and flows down into Bart's mouth getting him immediately drunk before he knows what's going on....Now comes the actual story of the episode. It's all about prohibition, which the town calls for after seeing Bart get drunk. Of course not everyone is in favor of it. "Prohibition...They tried that in the movies...I predict this is the last we'll be hearing about prohibition." After badgering the mayor it's discovered that prohibition was enacted in Springfield over 200 years ago, but has never been enforced. It's here that the style of the show shifts into a parody of many 1920's style mobster movies, most notably The Untouchables. Even the narrated voice overs are done in the style to imitate Walter Winchell. Here's how the narration starts:

 Dateline:  Springfield.  With prohibition back in force,
sobriety's peaceful slogan was shattered by its noisy
neighbor, the Speakeasy.

The Springfield Mafia....led by Fat Tony, immediately begins bootlegging to keep the town supplied with alcohol, and naturally Chief Wiggum doesn't (or can't) do anything about it. The town again cries out for someone to enforce the ban, and the mayor calls on Rex Banner. This character is based on Eliot Ness from The Untouchables. Once he comes in he stops Fat Tony and fires Chief Wiggum. "At first I thought prohibition was a good thing. People were drinking more and having a lot more fun, but without beer, prohibition doesn't work." - Homer. Homer then decides that he won't give up his beer and tries to get Bart to think of a solution. Then it occurs to him that all the leftover Duff was buried and he can go dig it up. With Bart's help they steal the booze and after avoiding Rex Banner, "Dad! Knocking over gravestones is bad luck." "Really? I heard good.", they get it stashed in the basement and put signs on the door to keep Marge out. The elaborate plan follows that they pour the beer into bowling balls and bowl gutter balls in the Bowlarama which takes the balls through some pipes and stuff down into Moe's Bar. Then the balls go through the ball return back to Homer full of the money.

The press starts referring to Homer as The Beer Baron, and Rex Banner can't seem to find him (even when he's right under his nose). There's some great lines from Banner and Homer throughout the episode, and lots of good humor about alcohol in general. Moe even disguises his bar as a pet shop for when Banner comes in for a raid on it. "Those gears down there really hurt!" - Barney. All the while Chief Wiggum has nothing to do and is completely broke. The story continues after they run out of beer from the Duff stash, Moe gives Homer the idea to make his own. Marge has found out by now, and surprisingly is impressed with Homer's cleverness and newfound money. Only Lisa has a problem with the bootlegging, etc. at this point. Homer then buys a fedora hat in this episode as well.....

 "Dateline:  Springfield.  The elusive beer baron continues to thumb
his nose at the authorities.  Swaggering about in a garish new hat, he
seemed to say, 'Look at me, Rex Banner!  I have a new hat!'"

For some unknown reason, the stills Homer is using to make his alcohol start exploding in the basement and he decided to give up his operation. It's here that Homer runs into Wiggum and decides to help him out by letting the ex-Chief turn him in so he can get his job back and get rid of Banner.

Then we find out that the punishment for bootlegging is being shot by a catapult....I guess that kinda makes sense for a 200 year old law....kinda....
So they get ready to catapult Homer, but Marge gives a rousing speech about how prohibition has taken their freedom. In typical fashion of the Simpsons Rex Banner takes his chance to convince the crowd as well, but when he steps on the catapult and Chief Wiggum sends him flying. Then we find out that the precious parchment has more lines saying that prohibition was repealed a year after it was enacted in Springfield. (throat clear) This was the writers' quick way out of getting things back to normal at the end of the show. They seem to be good at that.....

This is one of my favorite episodes because of the 1920's style of it with the narrator and the dialog of Rex Banner just being really comical. I think it was a really creative way to look at that era, and of course is surprising that it took them 8 seasons to have a show about prohibition. So remember to celebrate the St. Patrick every year, and if you don't know how I recommend watching this episode! Probably the greatest line from the show is at the very end, which John Weinstein claims as "one of the best, most truthful Simpsons statements ever made."

Homer: "To alcohol! The cause of...and solution to...all of life's problems"

Happy Belated St. Patty's Day!

Best Simpsons Ever!.....No. 9

2008-02-26T10:01:00.008-06:00

#9: Cape Feare
Written by: Jon Vitti
Directed by: Rich Moore

I've already mentioned this episode when I talked a little more generally about the Sideshow Bob episodes. Despite the fact that it's in that kind of a subcategory, it still made the top then list because it is that good. This episode typically is seen in most top ten Simpsons lists that you find, and for good reason. Not only does it have one of the most hysterical recurring characters, but it also easily ranks up as one of the most memorable episodes for the family as well. There are so many physical comedy jokes here (if you count comedy as physical when it happens to a cartoon...) that little dialog is required to elicit a laugh. If you're a Simpsons fan, you will no doubt remember some of the wonderful moments from this show......

As I had mentioned before Kelsey Grammer does the voice of Sideshow Bob, and none could do it better. This particular episode is based on the movie Cape Fear (both the 1962 and 1991 versions). As such this is the first Sideshow Bob episode that wasn't treated as a mystery where you don't know what Bob is going to do or how. This freed up the writers to use the whole episode as a parody. The problem with this is that they didn't have enough story to fill the entire episode. You'll notice some of the things that they added in to fill time, some of which made for really funny moments. This is also an interesting episode because it's the last one written by the original group of writers on the show. After they wrote this all but one of two left to pursue other interests, and new writers were brought on board. This is one of the reasons why some of the things in the episode may be a little farther out than a normal episode was, but they were still handled very well. One writer who was an exception to this was Conan O'Brien. He was brought in with the original team and stayed on a little when the new team arrived (leaving when he got his own late night talk show). The commentary explains a lot of the details of this transition and how it affected the show, as well as the additional footage added to bring it up to full length. I will be describing a lot of those scenes though.

The episode begins with the long version of the couch gag....to add time to the show of course. Then they start off with a "tv show" that's a spoof of a late night show with the movie star McBain. The commentary says this is a jab at Arsenio Hall's short lived late night show. This also leads to the poke at Fox that the Simpsons love to throw in. After that the plot finally begins as Bart receives a death threat in the mail. (Lisa also receives a letter from her pen pal, which is another funny sequence.) We see someone writing these messages in blood while a new music cue plays. This music is based off of Cape Fear, and becomes the theme music for Sideshow Bob from here on out. We then see various other messages and get a great line from Homer. "It's probably the person you least suspect." This in itself isn't all that funny, but the animation is just great.
After that comes some sequences added in to lengthen the show that are misleads as to who is after Bart (as if we didn't know). What's great about them is the directing here with the low viewing angle making everyone look menacing for the mislead. This leads to one of the greatest side gags of the episode, especially if you love Moe. Lisa suspects Moe is after Bart for all the prank calls he makes, so she calls him up and says they're onto him. We're supposed to think that he won't know what's going on, but instead he just says, "No, no, no....I'll take care of it." Then he runs into the back of the bar and chases out a bunch of pandas from crates with Chinese writing on them. Just hilarious! It's after all this we finally get to see Sideshow Bob in prison writing the notes to Bart. We also get Snake's wonderful line "Use a pen Sideshow Bob."
On to the parole hearing with the explanation of the Die, Bart, Die tattoo, and the response "No one who speaks German can be an evil man." (cough, cough) So Bob gets paroled and we move on to the theater scene. This is taken directly from Cape Fear and really has no bearing at all on the story, other than to let the family know that it is Bob who's threatening Bart (I guess they missed the memo). The dialog is funny though, and it leads to the family going into the Witness Relocation Program (WRP) after Bob states who will not be killed by him (not to include Bart). It also shows the first Sideshow Bob murmur of the episode (the first of many that is).
The scene of the WRP guys trying to get Homer to understand his new name is just amazing! Here are the highlights:

WRP 1: "From now on you'll be uh...Homer Thompson at....Terror Lake. Let's just practice a bit, hmm? When I say 'Hello Mr. Thompson,' you'll say 'hi.'"
Homer: "Check."
WRP 1: "Hello Mr. Thompson"
(Homer stares in silence)
WRP 1: "Remember now, your name is Homer Thompson"
Homer: "I gotcha"
WRP 1: "Hello Mr. Thompson"
(Homer stares in silence, then fade out and back in showing considerable time has passed)
WRP 1: "Uggh....now when I say 'Hello Mr. Thompson,' and press down on your foot, you smile and nod"
Homer: "No problem"
WRP 1: "Hello Mr. Thompson (stomping on his foot repeatedly)"
(Homer stares blankly)
Homer: (whispered to WRP 2) "I think he's talking to you"

The move comes next, with a new car and a scene alluding to an old I Love Lucy show. Complete with Fedora hats I might add. Sideshow Bob hiding under the car is taken from Cape Fear (the 1991 version).
Then comes the show opening again, redone with the name The Thompsons. And next is the memorable rake scene. I've already mentioned this before, but take my word that it's worth watching. Basically they had a few of these rake hits in the show, and due to the show being too short they added a few more. Then they decided that just a few more was no longer funny, so they added a few more on top of that and it was funny again. It's also great that you get to hear Sideshow Bob's murmur several times in a row....even when they cut to Homer and Marge in the houseboat.
When Bart finally sees Sideshow Bob (in a great scene where Bob gets walked on by elephants), he runs back home to tell Homer and Marge. "Homer, this is serious!" "Oh, it is not....." Of course it wouldn't be a complete episode without a reference to another classic film, and you get it here. Bob is staying in the Bates Motel (as from the movie Psycho). And after a few more miscues of danger with Homer freaking Bart out, we finally get to Bob putting his plan into action. The commentators laugh at themselves for Bob's brilliant plan of just going after Bart with a big knife.
Finally we get the big showdown. The grand pitting of Sideshow Bob's scheming with Bart's knack of ruining schemes. Knowing he has Bart in his hands Bob grants him one last request....which is for Bob to sing the entire score of the H.M.S. Pinafore in order to stall him. As the singing goes on more and more props for the "show" start showing up (including a flag hanging from nothing). Matt Groening says he thought this was just insane when he first saw it. It's probably true considering the state of the writers at the time, but he eventually learned to see the humor in it. In the end the boat crashes against the shore on the edge of Springfield just as Bob is about to kill Bart. Lo and behold the police force is there (ahem...) and they arrest Bob. Bart then explains his strategy just like all the other Sideshow Bob episodes before they haul Bob away.

Bart: (To the police) "Take him away boys."
Chief Wiggum: "Hey I'm the chief here! Bake him away toys."
Lou: "What'd you say chief?"
Chief Wiggum: "Do what the kid says...."

The family returns home (to find Grandpa, which is a whole side story), and life returns to normal.....for them.....
Thanks to Kelsey Grammer for really making all of that work....just like with Avery Brooks and Scorpio, every Bob line is funny and well read. And there you have #9 Finally!

Best Simpsons Ever!.....No. 10

2008-02-20T20:40:00.006-06:00

Here it is at last....the Top Ten List!
I'm going to start with #10 and work my way down the list with each new post. Enjoy!

#10: You Only Move Twice
Written by: John Swartzwelder
Directed by: Mike Anderson

This episode fought hard to make the list. Arguably the best episode of Season 8, it introduced the world to Hank Scorpio, head of the Globex Corporation. Avery Brooks makes his fourth appearance as a guest to provide the perfect voice for Mr. Scorpio. The writers make a risky move to take the Simpsons out of their normal Springfield home and try to start things fresh. Homer is offered a job at Globex and before consulting the family (naturally), he accepts the job and then convinces them to move to Cypress Creek. There he begins working for Scorpio and excels quite well at his job, while the family begins to pine for Springfield again. Will he stick with something he's good at, or show his family that they are more important to him than his dreams.
If you don't recognize the title of the episode, it is a spoof of the James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice". The episode's main story is based around the Bond series. There's even a scene with Bond in it where Scorpio is trying to kill him. He makes a dating escape, but then Homer tackles him before he can get away and the guards shoot him repeatedly....just like in the real movies.....wait....

The episode is full of amazingly funny jokes, quotes, and gags. From the moment we are introduced to Scorpio laughter abounds. Here's a few of my favorite moments:

Scorpio: "You like those moccasins? Look in your closet, there's a pair for you...Don't like 'em? Then neither do I! Get the hell out of here! Ever see a guy say goodbye to a shoe?"
Homer: "Yes, once. (chuckle)"

Scorpio: "Hammocks...my goodness, what an idea! Why didn't I think of that? Hammocks! Homer, there's four places: there's The Hammock Hut, that's on Third; there's Hammocks 'R Us, that's on Third too; you got Put Your Butt There, that's on Third; Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Matter of fact they're all in the same complex. It's the Hammock Complex down on Third."
Homer: "Oooo, the Hammock District."
Scorpio: "That's right."........"You know who invented the hammock Homer?"
Homer: "No."
Scorpio: "That's something for you to do...find that out."

Along with the amazing Globex storyline, we've got plenty going on with the rest of the family. Marge has nothing to do since the house takes care of itself almost completely. This causes her to take up drinking wine. "I've found myself drinking a glass of wine every day! I know doctors say you should drink a glass and a half, but I just can't drink that much." Then we have Bart, who gets put in the remedial class at school. And Lisa finally gets in touch with nature, only to find out she has terrible allergies. This is what causes them all to want to return back to Springfield.
The real gold of this story though is the Globex company and its president. The whole idea of a Bond story going on is quite prevalent, and the best part is how Homer is oblivious to Scorpio trying to take over the world. The things that Homer does in the background while Scorpio is doing "business" is hilarious. While some of the side story isn't as funny, it does bring the story along. Luckily there is no doubt that every scene and line with Scorpio will have you lauging, and that is most of the episode. Something else to watch out for.....during the credits there's a song about Scorpio based off of the Bond theme songs that you won't want to miss.

A major point for the whole story is that Homer has always dreamed of owning the Dallas Cowboys. He believes that taking the job at Globex will help him get closer to that, and Scorpio tells him not to give up on it while he's there. He even buys an amazing fedora owned by Tom Landry (who was an amazing football player and coached for the Cowboys) to inspire his workers. Sadly enough Homer does decide to take his family back to Springfield. To bring the whole story back to the major point though, the writers created an amazing ending. Homer gets a letter from Scorpio saying thanks for everything and that even though he couldn't get him the Dallas Cowboys, he gives him something to get him closer to his dream: the Denver Broncos.

Homer: "Awww....The Denver Broncos!" (moans)
Marge: "I think owning the Denver Broncos is pretty good"
Homer: "Yeah, yeah..."
Marge: "Well explain to me why it isn't."
Homer: "Uggh...You just don't understand football Marge."

Absolute quality....and this is just #10....

Best Simpsons Ever!......Intro

2008-02-13T10:54:00.010-06:00

Playing off of the inspiring post by KT I've decided to run down a list of some of my favorite episodes of that classical comedy The Simpsons. Check out KT's Corner "50 Years Too Late" to see her original post....

So before we count down what the top 10 Simpsons Episodes are I thought I would make mention of a few other favorites that didn't make the list...(it was hard fought after all)

Treehouse of Horror (I-XVIII)
Say what you will about Halloween shows and poor horror movies, the Simpsons do it in their own style. With parody's of every good and bad scary movie you can think of they've kept things entertaining by piling 3 stories into 1 episode each year. So after 18 of these I think that no matter who you are you're going to find some you like and some you don't.

I'll always remember the very first that included a Simpsonized version of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". Then there's the "Attack of the 50 ft. Eyesores", utilized in the recent Simpsons game...as well as "The Genesis Tub", "Life's a Glitch and Then You Die", "Citizen Kang" (reminding us of our wonderful political system), and who can forget the ground-breaking "Homer ³". Always a fan favorite, even if you're not a die hard fan, these are definitely great to watch (especially in a marathon on Halloween)

Sideshow Bob Episodes
A huge amount of thanks goes out to Kelsey Grammer for providing the real substance to this character. A genius gone bad, Sideshow Bob initially frames Krusty for his years of abuse as his sideshow and is caught (by Bart) and sent to jail in season 1 ("Krusty Gets Busted"). He returns in seasons 3,5,6,7,8,11,14,17, and 19...so far.

Of course the greatest thing about these episodes are that they are mysteries...You know that he's up to know good, trying to kill everyone ("especially Lisa......but espeeeeciallly Bart") and you know that Bart and Lisa are probably going to figure it out and stop him. The writer's do a great job of giving clues throughout the episode that you can't really piece together yourself (except when they're painfully obvious), but make perfect sense once you've seen it. This combined with some amazing gags and jokes (who can forget the super long scene of Bob stepping on rakes repeatedly) really give the episodes a lot of charm even in seasons that seem to lack it.

I think that one of my favorites has to be the episode where Bob's brother Cecil first appears, "Brother From Another Series". How clever to use David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane, brother of Frasier Crane from the show "Frasier", who Kelsey Grammer plays) to boost what was already a great run of episodes. Even though Bob seems to be a hero in this one, it still makes for great humor. And the scene with Hans Moleman below the dam is hillarious (deleted scene, so check it out on the DVD).

The best of these however, might just have to be "Cape Feare"...An amazing episode in which Sideshow Bob gets out of prison despite his Die, Bart, Die tattoo. He then follows Bart around, and the family enters the witness relocation program changing their name to The Thompsons and giving us a redone show opener with their new name and home at Terror Lake. Full of amazingly humorous moments, such as when the WRP guys are trying to get Homer to understand his new last name is Thompson, the afore mentioned rake scene, and the wonderful rendention of the H.M.S. Pinafore by Sideshow Bob that Bart uses as a stall to save his own life. Quality all over.

Note:
So after much consideration and debate, the list for the Top 10 started out with 45 episodes....gradually getting whittled down to a Top 20, and then to a Top 13...
So with the help of my friend Andy (bigger Simpsons nerd than even me) we have decided that we must watch all of the 13 in order to really get rid of any more or even think about ranking them. As he's always said...there are 5 #1 Episodes, and 20 Top Ten Episodes. So I am sorry to delay the final list, but rest assured that it will be quality. I hope to have it posted next week, with a good description of how each one made the final cut, and probably will run down 11-20 for you, so you can see what was so close to getting there.
We also decided to place some good episodes on a 2nd Generation Top 10 list, because after season 9 or 10, they are a little different. So we refer to them as 2nd Gen. episodes, and I'll be posting that list for you later down the line....