“The Simpsons” is one in every of America’s most interesting establishments — and these days, one in every of its most dependable. Even after 36 seasons, the longest-running primetime tv collection continues to provide timeless half-hour episodes (and the occasional hour-long particular) that present why it deserves to nonetheless be round after so lengthy.
After all, there may be all the time the “this present was higher within the ’90s” crowd that may’t dare to think about newer episodes being something however rubbish. Nonetheless, they’ve a degree. The sooner seasons of “The Simpsons” weren’t simply meticulously written and impeccably timed, however they’ve nice animation and phenomenal character writing. It is why, regardless of there nonetheless being one trendy episode, our checklist of one of the best “Simpsons” episodes ever is usually comprised of episodes from seasons 4 to six.
Among the many finest episodes, one frequent aspect that pops up loads in that checklist (at the least within the episode credit) is the identify Conan O’Brien, America’s different most dependable establishment. The comic, host, actor, and author hosted probably the most enjoyable Oscar ceremonies in current reminiscence, and all through many many years he has been part of some extremely well-made comedic initiatives, from his days writing for “Saturday Evening Stay” to his current journey present “Conan O’Brien Should Go.”
Few issues have had as huge an affect on popular culture as “The Simpsons,” so Conan’s work on the present ranks reasonably excessive when it comes to his legacy. Apart from, these are all fairly good episodes (and some all-time greats). Whether or not you are on the stage in your “Simpsons” journey that you simply’re beginning to particularly rewatch episodes based mostly on writing or directing credit, otherwise you’re on a Conan-high post-Oscars and wish to revisit a few of his finest work, we’re rating every episode of “The Simpsons” written by Conan O’Brien. Sadly, there’s one episode he’ll by no means get to make: a sequel to “Stark Raving Dad” that Conan did rewrites for and supposedly can be centered round Prince. However let’s dig into the episodes that we had been lucky sufficient to get from the comic.
4. Treehouse of Horror IV (Season 5, Episode 5)
There’s loads to like about this episode. The segments are nice, with “Homer vs The Satan” being one of the best one among of “Treehouse of Horror,” and the references are hilarious and artistic. Nonetheless, this episode ranks lowest just because Conan O’Brien wasn’t that concerned this time round. With the comic already engaged on “Late Evening on NBC,” O’Brien solely wrote the wraparound segments by which Bart walks round a gallery of spooky work and introduces every new section.
The wraparounds are humorous, particularly the primary one the place Marge scolds Bart for not warning individuals concerning the grotesque and gory nature of the tales they’re about to look at. The visuals of the spooky work give the episode a novel look of limitless creativeness, and Bart as a critical Rod Serling-style host is sort of enjoyable to look at. Nonetheless, one of the best components of the episode do not actually contain O’Brien, so this goes on the backside of the checklist. Onto higher issues…
3. New Child on the Block (Season 4, Episode 8)
Most of early “The Simpsons” handled Bart as a prankster, an usually annoying child that nonetheless stole America’s coronary heart together with his extra of angle and one-liners. Later seasons started to scale back Bart to a spawn of Devil. Nonetheless, among the finest episodes of the present deal with Bart as a flawed, susceptible, eternally 10-year-old boy (at the least till the eventual collection finale) nonetheless studying about himself and the world. One such episode is “New Child on the Block,” an episode that showcases each the rascal side of Bart and in addition his emotional aspect as author Conan O’Brien performs with the viewers’s coronary heart in a narrative about Bart having a crush on his new humorous dangerous woman subsequent door, Laura.
Bart utterly modifications his angle and conduct (quickly and never very genuinely, in fact) and reveals some nice emotional vulnerability when interacting with Laura. There’s even a terrific dance sequence the place Bart and Laura flip into Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Then, O’Brien pulls the rug from underneath the viewers and rips out Bart’s little coronary heart when Laura reveals she’s really relationship native bully Jimbo Jones. It is a terrific episode that reminds audiences that Bart continues to be only a child with a giant coronary heart.
In the meantime, the funniest a part of the episode entails Homer in traditional “Simpsons” shenanigans that you may apply and quote in on a regular basis conditions. This time, Homer goes to an all-you-can-eat seafood joint and sues the restaurant for being kicked out whereas nonetheless hungry (after he devoured each single merchandise within the restaurant). It’s absurd, ridiculous, and utterly hilarious.
2. Homer Goes to Faculty (Season 5, Episode 3)
Like Bart, Homer has largely been diminished to a single trait through the years. The person who was as soon as a relatable middle-class father of three with flaws however a well-meaning coronary heart finally turned simply the dumbest man round with little when it comes to redeeming qualities. This makes episodes like “Homer Goes to Faculty” all of the extra particular, as a result of they perceive the superb steadiness between making Homer dumb however relatable reasonably than making him a totally ineffective idiot.
When it turns into clear Homer will not be certified to do his nuclear security inspecting job, he’s compelled to go to varsity to review nuclear physics. The episode sees Homer at his most infantile and immature, as he spends many of the episode performing like John Belushi’s character in “Animal Home,” shouting “Nerd!” on the first particular person he sees strolling to campus, making pranks and disrespecting everybody.
And but, even when Homer is sort of actually the butt of many jokes (together with being actually bit within the butt by a bee), he additionally has an emotional arc this episode as he genuinely involves care concerning the nerds which might be tutoring him, in addition to the significance of training. Watching Homer go from believing his lived-in expertise makes him higher than youthful teachers to having his soul crushed on the first lecture is deeply relatable and heartfelt.
That is the final full episode Conan wrote, and he went out on a giant excessive. Outdoors of the writing, this episode supplies some peak Homer poses and expressions. From his smug face as he tells the category he is a nuclear physics professional, to his altering “I’m so sensible” because the wall behind him burns down, there’s a number of all-time hilarious “Simpsons” moments right here.
1. Marge vs. the Monorail (Season 4, Episode 12)
That is it. That is the only finest episode of “The Simpsons” ever, the episode Conan O’Brien himself has mentioned would be the factor individuals keep in mind him for essentially the most — and with good purpose. Originating from O’Brien’s love of “The Music Man,” the episode is a component of a bigger shift in “The Simpsons” going from a comparatively grounded and easy satire of American life to a surreal world that takes full benefit of the medium of animation. Guidelines do not apply right here. and every thing goes so long as its humorous. A fantasy sequence the place Skinner is minimize in half by large mechanical ants? You bought it. Escalator to nowhere? Why not. Leonard Nimoy delivering a trippy speech? Positive.
This episode has all of it, packing too many jokes and gags in a brief runtime that is inconceivable to cowl all of them right here. What begins as a straight story of a con man (Phil Hartman delivering a pitch-perfect efficiency) who convinces the notoriously dumb individuals of Springfield into investing a fortune into an pointless monorail descends into chaos, first within the type of an exceptional music, then right into a “Velocity” state of affairs and a cascade of nice jokes. There’s the “Batman’s a scientist” bit, Homer turning into keen on a household of possums on the conductor’s automobile (“I name the large one Bitey”), and way more.
And but, as soon as once more, Conan is aware of the best way to steadiness jokes with coronary heart. Even when Homer is extraordinarily dumb on this episode, there’s something honest and heartfelt about how completely satisfied Homer is about Bart being pleased with his new job as a monorail conductor. That’s the coronary heart of “The Simpsons” and why it is lasted so lengthy. Beneath all of the jokes, the surreal moments, the more and more cartoonish actuality, there is a present a few household simply making an attempt their finest.
