In my opinion, this is the funniest Simpsons episode ever. From when Homer tries to get injured, to his plan, his execution of the plan to the final scene, it is all hilarious. The episode begins with Homer trying to avoid exercising at work. He finds out that a co-worker isn't there because he is on disability. Seeing a way to get out of exercising, Homer tries to get injured, but to no avail. He then finds out that if he weighs 300 lbs or more, he can claim disability.

Homer then tells Bart of his plan and they get to work fattening up Homer. Within a week, he is almost there and at the same time, Marge finds out about the plan. Marge is upset, but doesn't see anything she can do about it. Homer gets a workstation at home and is early to work for the first time ever. Marge goes out to run errands, so Homer gets bored typing yes into the computer, so he gets a bobbing bird to hit the key and goes to see a movie.

He is not allowed into the theater because of his size, so Homer decides to show the world that fat people are not lazy. When he gets home, he finds the bird knocked over and the plant about to explode. He hijacks an ice cream truck to get to the plant and falls into the tank to prevent the gas from escaping. For saving the plant, Mr. Burns agrees to make Homer skinny again, through surgery.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer using the computer
• Requesting a dialing wand
• Homer going shopping for clothes
• Lisa surprising Homer
• Homer avoiding getting injured while another man does get hurt

Bart - "I wash myself with a rag on a stick."

There was some struggle on which episode would get #1, so I had to go with the one which made me laugh harder and more consistantly. The 22 Short Films is a great episode and was written amazingly well. The segways between each story are great. I am really surprised that there hasn't been a similar episode made since then. The episode tells stories about many different characters in Springfield and how they live their lives.

Favorite Quote:

Rev. Lovejoy - "Come on, boy. This is the spot--right here. That's a good boy. Good boy. Do your dirty sinful business."

This may not have the tightest plot, but it is really funny nonetheless. It starts off with Homer and Marge going to a candy expo where Homer steals the gummy Venus de Milo. When he drives the babysiter home, the gummy Venus is on her butt, so Homer grabs it off. The babysitter thinks he is grabbing her butt and files a sexual harassment suit. The media then takes the story and runs without getting any of the truth. Homer decides to go on the air himself to tell the true story, but no one watches, besides Groundskeeper Willie. Willie then shows Homer a tape he made that proves Homer is right. When the babysitter sees this, she drops her case.

Memorable Moments:

• Rowdy Rowdy Peeper
• Homer on "Rock Bottom"
• Homer escaping the candy expo

Favorite Quote:

Kent Brockman - "This is hour 57 of our live, 'round-the-clock coverage outside the Simpson estate. Remember, by the way, to tune in at 8:00 for highlights of today's vigil, including when the garbage man came and when Marge Simpson put the cat out. Possibly because it was harassed, we don't know."

Here we get to see what happens when Homer is confronted with another woman who seems better matched to him than Marge. Mindy is hired at the plant. When homer and Mindy meet, they find out they have the same habits. When Homer gets knocked out, an angel shows him what life would be with Mindy and it is shown to be perfect. Homer then decides that if he just avoids her, then he won't have any problems. But then they are forced to go to a convention together where they win a romantic dinner together. After that, they go to their room, but at the last moment, Homer backs out and calls Marge to be with her.

Memorable Moments:

• The shirt Marge got made with her face on it
• Homer's song about Mindy
• Bart's nerd outfit

Favorite Quote:

Fortune Cookie - "You will find happiness with a new love"

After an inspection, it is found out that Homer needs to pass a class in nuclear physics to keep his job. Mr. Burns uses his sway to get him into Springfield U. When there, Homer gets tutored by 3 nerds. Homer decides to show them what college life is like, but ends up getting them expelled. Homer then admits to the prank and gets the nerds readmitted. After failing the final exam, the nerds change Homer's grade to an A+, but when Marge finds out, she makes Homer take the class again

Memorable Moments:

• The drunk pig
• Homer causing a meltdown in a training station
• Homer vs. the Dean

Favorite Quote:

The President of the US - "Lighten up Bitterman...that youngster will make a perfect addition to my cabinet: Secretary of Partying Down."

I love this episode because it shows off how absurd Homer's life actually is. This episode starts with the story of Frank Grimes and his difficult life. He is brought in to become the new assistant vice president, but is then beaten out by a heroic dog. Grimes, or Grimey, is put in the office next to Homer and instantly dislikes Homer because of his laziness. The friction between Homer and Grimey goes, even as Homer tries to improve the situation. However, Grimey finally snaps and ends up killing himself.

Memorable Moments:

• Grimey's funeral
• The beaker of acid
• Grimey visiting Homer at home

Favorite Quote:

Frank Grimes - "I'm peeing on the seat. Give me a raise?! Now I'm returning to work without washing my hands. But it doesn't matter, I'm Homer Simpson! I don't need to do my work 'cause someone else will do it for me. D'oh! D'oh! D'oh!"

This is one of the early season classics with all of the cameos of real baseball players. It is my guess that Darryl Strawberry's baseball career went down the tubes because of Bart's heckling. This episode starts out with Homer winning the first game of the Nuclear Power Plant softball season with a grand slam. The team goes undefeated and plays Shelbyville in the championship. Mr. Burns bets the owner of the Shelbyville plant one million dollars on the game. To make sure he doesn't lose, Mr. Burns brings in Major League Baseball players for the game. However, each one has something go wrong except for Homer's position. However, the last play of the game, Mr. Burns takes out Darryl Strawberry for Homer, who then gets hit by the pitch to win the game.

Memorable Moments:

• All of the problems the players have, especially Ken Griffey Jr.
• Homer carried off the field unconscious
• Wonder Bat

Favorite Quote:

Carl - "And I have an enchanted jock strap."

I was afraid after 9/11 this would not be shown again, and that is what had been rumored. However, I did see it on TV within the last year, so we can still see this great episode. This starts off with Barney "borrowing" Homer's car and losing it in New York City. Homer does not want to go there because of a previous band trip there, but he is talked into it. When the family goes, Homer finds his car at the base of the World Trade Center. The family has a wonderful time while Homer has everything go wrong. Homer finally gets the car and escapes New York City with the family.

Memorable Moments:

• The boot
• Crab juice vs. Mountain Dew
• The bathrooms in the World Trade Center

Favorite Quote:

Marge - "Of course it will seem bad if you only remember the pimps and chuds."

The episode starts out with NASA needing to bring it's ratings up, so they decided to send a normal guy into space. NASA finds Homer and Barney and they compete to see who goes up. Barney wins hands down, but then gets drunk off of non-alcoholic champange, so Homer gets to go instead. When they are in space, Homer's blunders cause damage to the ship and the crew barely makes it home safe.

Memorable Moments:

• The carbon rod
• Ants sorting tiny screws
• Homer making prank calls

Favorite Quote:

Kent Brockman - "Well, this reporter was...possibily a little hasty earlier and wod like to...reaffirm his allegiance to this country and its human president. It may not be perfect, but it's the best government we have. For now."

Apparantly being misunderstanding homosexuals can cause people to be afraid and confused, at least that is what happens to Homer in this episode. It starts off with Marge going to sell an old heirloom. Marge finds out it is worthless, but the family meets John. After some conversation, Homer invites him over. They have a blast hanging out, but when Homer finds out that John is a homosexual the next day, he decides not to hang out with him anymore. Homer then becomes increasingly worried that Bart is turning gay and plans a hunting trip to make him more of a man. However, this backfires and John has to rescue Homer and Bart. Homer then respects John the best that he can.

Memorable Moments:

• The Steelworkers of America
• Robot Santa
• Bart dancing with a wig on

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "There's only two kinds guys who wear those shirts--gay guys and big fat party animals. And Bart doesn't look like a big fat party animal to me."

I enjoy this episode because of the different bowling teams as well as the interaction between the team and Mr. Burns. On a slow evening, Moe and Homer decide to go bowling, but can't get a lane due to league. They decide to make their own team with Apu and Otto. Homer was able to fund the team by getting the money from Mr. Burns when he is an ether induced stupor. Soon the team moves up through the rankings and Mr. Burns realizes what has happened. Instead of taking the money back, Mr. Burns decides to join the team instead. Burns plays awful, but manages to stay on the team and knock over 2 pins, enough to win the championship, of which he takes complete credit.

Memorable Moments:

• Here comes the friend ship
• Lobsty
• Down with Homework

Favorite Quote:

Moe - "Call this an unfair generalization if you must, but old people are no good at everything."

Another early season show that remains a classic. Homer is forced to create his own drink one evening and on a slow night a Moe's, shows Moe how to make it. Moe starts to sell the drink in his bar and it soon becomes a huge hit. Moe takes all of the responsibility for the drink, leaving Homer with nothing. Right as Moe is going to sell the recipe for one million dollars and then share the money with Homer, Homer gives away the secret ingrediant.

Memorable Moments:

• The Flaming Moe's Theme
• Homer "making people happy"
• Moe lighting a string of Flaming Moes

Favorite Quote:

Moe - "Whoa! Homer, it's like there's a party in your mouth and everyone's invited."

I think that anyone who has seen this episode can sing the Mr. Plow jingle with ease. This is a classic episode which cannot be missed. When Homer ruins both cars in a snow storm, he decides to buy a snow plow. He quickly starts to make money plowing. Impressed with how much money he is making, Barney decides to go into competition with him. Barney quickly takes all of Homer's business. In the next major snow storm, Homer sends Barney on a false job, but ends up risking Barney's life. Feeling bad, Homer saves Barney and they decide to work together. As that happens, all of the snow melts.

Memorable Moments:

• Adam West
• Linda Ronstadt working with Barney
• Homer advertising at church

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "I thought there was chocolate inside...Well, why was it wrapped in foil?"

With Patrick Stewart making a cameo, and the fact that it is a parody of the Masons, I couldn't leave this episode out. When Homer notices Lenny and Carl being busy every Wednesday, he decides to follow them to see where they are going. He finds out about a secret organization called the Stonecutters. With his father being a member, Homer is able to join, but soon disgraces one of the famous scrolls and is forced to make the Walk of Shame. When he does this, it is noticed that he has a brithmark, making him the leader of the Stonecutters. When Homer decides to make the Stonecutters do things for the community, the rest of the members decide to leave Homer and start their new organization without him.

Memorable Moments:

• The Stonecutter's Song
• The No-Homers Club, both versions
• How Ralph gets the lead in the play

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "Why don't those stupid idiots let me in their crappy club for jerks?"

We have Bart getting drunk, Homer brewing alcohol and a catapult, what else can you ask for? On St. Patrick's Day, there is an overabundance of drunk people at the parade, and when Bart accidentally gets an impromptu beer bong, the town decides to outlaw alcohol. At first, Moe's becomes a speakeasy, but when Rex Bannon is brought in, all alcohol is kept from the town. Seeing an opportunity, Homer decides to make his own beer and makes a healthy profit. When the business becomes too dangerous, Homer decides to help Chief Wiggum get his old position back by surrendering to him. Homer then narrowly avoids being catapulted as a punishment and life goes back to normal.

Memorable Moments:

• The exploding distilery
• Poor Wiggum
• Homer and Bart going to Moe's

Favorite Quote:

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

This episode has so many great moments in it, but my favorite has to be when Homer is scolding the children for leaving and then realizing the lemon tree has been stolen, exclaiming "Lemon tree!!!!" The episode starts with Marge telling the kids to be proud of Springfield and it's heritage. Bart then confronts some kids from Shelbyville, which leads to the Shelbyville kids stealing the famous lemon tree from Springfield. Bart organizes some kids to go into Shelbyville to get the tree back. Once their parents get wind of this, they go into Shelbyville to rescue the kids and the tree. After using the Trojan Horse trick, Springfield returns home with the lemon tree, only slightly damaged.

Memorable Moments:

• The Birth of Springfield
• Homer enjoying Flander's RV
• Bart infiltrating the Shelbyville gang

Favorite Quote:

Tow-Truck Guy - "Bust in here and take it? You must be stupider than you look."
Homer - "Stupider like a fox!"

I have a deep affection for Sideshow Bob, so I had to include at least one of his episodes on the list. I really like this episode because of the tie in with Frasier, which I watched the first couple of seasons of. This episode starts with Sideoshow Bob being released into a work program under the supervision of his brother. Put in charge of the workers, Bob is forced to deal with Bart constantly watching him. When Bart and Lisa finally think they have caught Bob this time, they find out Cecil, Bob's brother, is actually behind it. Bob and Bart work together to save Springfield, but in the end Bob goes back to jail with his brother after a mix up with the police.

Memorable Moments:

• Cousin Merle and Cletus playing fetch with Geech, their ol' smellhound
• Sideshow Cecil vs. Sideshow Bob
• Coveralls that don't quite cover all

Favorite Quote:

Sideshow Bob - "Oh yeah, shake it Madam. Capitol knockers!"

I really like this episode. The loose James Bond parody works well with us getting the view from the bad guy's perspective. I wouldn't mind working for an evil overlord if I got treated like Homer. Homer gets offered a job to work for the Globex Corporation. After initially refusing to move, the family decides to go. They are greeted with a huge new house and Homer's boss (although he doesn't like that word), Hank Scorpio. Homer does a great job for the first time in his life, but the rest of the family is miserable, so in the middle of the siege on Scorpio's lair, Homer quits and they move back to Springfield.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer tackling a loafer at work
• The Simpsons leaving Springfield
• James Bond

Favorite Quote:

Hank - "When you get home tonight, there's gonna be another story on your house."

Since the first "sub-character" show was less than spectacular, revolving around Otto having to get his bus drivers license, the creators of the Simpsons took a little risk in making another one, this time based on Ralph. However, there is no doubt that this episode was a complete success. Ralph is saddened because he didn't receive one valentine, so Lisa shows pity on him and gives him one. Ralph misunderstands the sentiment and thinks that Lisa truly likes him. Trying not to encourage him, Lisa avoids Ralph, but she cannot ignore the temptation to see Krusty's anniversary show. At the show, Ralph is interviewed by Krusty and proclaims that he loves Lisa. This causes Lisa to burst out and tell Ralph she doesn't like him. Ralph then turns his heartbreak into a memorable performance in the school play. Afterwards, Lisa gives Ralph a card to be friends.

Memorable Moments:

• Skinner at the play
• Ralph "hitting on" Lisa
• How Ralph gets the lead in the play

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "Let me handle this Marge, I've heard them all. I like you as a friend, I think we should see other people, I no speak English, I'm married to the sea, I don't want to kill you, but I will."

This episode show how gullible the town of Springfield, and how Homer seems to have control of dumb luck. Because of dumping toxic waste in a park, Mr. Burns is forced to pay 3 million dollars to the town. Just as they are about to use the money to renovate Main Street, Lyle Lanley woos the town into building a monorail. Embezzling much of the 3 million dollars, Lanley skimps on training and construction equipment and assigns Homer as the driver of the monorail. However, it is soon clear that the monorail is not up to par and cannot stop. Homer finally makes a crude anchor and stops the monorail, saving all of the riders.

Memorable Moments:

• Bitey
• "The Monorail Song"
• Homer's Opening Song

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "Do you want to change your name to Homer Jr.? The kids could call you Ho-Ju."

This is a great episode with Jay Sherman from the Critic and a couple great shorts in the episode. It starts with a town meeting to propose ways to increase the appeal of Springfield. Marge's proposal of a film festival gets approved and Jay Sherman is brought in to judge. Apu, Moe, Hans Moleman, Barney and Mr. Burns all make movies. Mr. Burns buys off two of the judges and with Marge and Jay voting for Barney's film, Homer must decide whether to change his vote from Hans Moleman's "Man Getting Hit by Football" or not.

Memorable Moments:

• The Oscar Mayer wiener song
• Pukahontas
• McBain: "Let's Get Silly"

Favorite Quote:

Mr. Burns- "Were you saying boo or boo-urns?"

The last 1/3 of the episode is pretty much worthless, the first 2/3 are great. We see a character in a TV show named Homer Simpson. The real Homer is shocked, but then takes advantage of his new found popularity. However, when the character is changed into a buffoon, Homer decides to change his name to Max Power. His dynamic new name gains him new friends in the high society of Springfield. The episode goes downhill from there with Homer and Marge getting caught up in an environmental thing to save some trees, but as a whole, the episode has some really funny moments.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer's other possible names, and then his names for Marge
• Homer's monogram
• Betty Pinson

Favorite Quote:

Homer - "Uh oh, spaghettos."

Although this is kinda a clip episode, there is so much new stuff in it, I did not hold that against it. This is one of the few late season episodes that is actually worth watching. Parodying the Behind the Music series on VH-1, this episode talked about the Simpsons' life outside the show, including how the show got started, to the problems associated with success and then the incident at the Iowa State Fair which broke the family up. This episode worked because it made fun of itself as well as the people they were parodying. Even if you don't like the plot, the transitions between the segments make the episode.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer pounding "Homertime" on the front gate of their estate.
• Jimmy Carter break dancing at the Iowa State Fair.
• The goldfish rolling in the money.

Favorite Quote:

Lisa- "It was amazing how fast Dad betrayed his vision of a realistic show."

I had to include this episode in the list simply because of the scene with Homer accidentally attempting to jump Springfield Gorge and the sequence of him falling down the gorge twice. The episode starts with the family going to see Truckasaurus at the Springfield Speedway. In their rush to get there, the car gets mauled by Truckasaurus. Later that evening, the family sees Captain Lance Murdock attempt to jump over a shark and lion infested pool on his motorcycle. Although he doesn't make it, he receives the acclaim of the crowd. This inspires Bart to take up daredevil tricks, which leads to Bart going to attempt jumping Springfield Gorge. Homer finally talks him out of doing it at the last moment, but accidentally sends himself down the ramp, and eventually down the gorge as well.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer falling down the gorge, only to be airlifted up, then having the ambulance run into a tree, causing Homer to roll out and fall back down the gorge.
• Captain Lance Murdock making the jump, but then falling into the pool anyway, where he is mauled by both the shark and lion.
• Homer grabbing Lisa from her chair the instant she finishes the last note.

Favorite Quote:

Captain Lance Murdock - "It's always good to see young people taking an interest in danger."

I chose this episode because it pretty much sums up Homer. He decides to stay home one Sunday instead of going to church with the family. When the rest of the family is gone, Homer indulges himself by making his "patented, space-age, out-of-this-world Moon Waffles" and dancing in his underwear. The next Saturday, Homer dreams that God tells him that he does not need to go to church. Homer stays home the next Sunday as well, however, when falling asleep with a cigar lit, the house catches fire. Flanders breaks into the house and saves Homer who realizes that God isn't against him. Homer goes to church the next Sunday, and proceeds to fall asleep.

Memorable Moments:

• Homer creates his own religious holiday, The Feast of Maximum Occupancy"
• Homer conversing with God
• Homer making breakfast

Favorite Quote:

Apu - "Please do not give my god a peanut."