“The Simpsons” is considered one of America’s most interesting establishments — and these days, considered one of its most dependable. Even after 36 seasons, the longest-running primetime tv sequence continues to supply timeless half-hour episodes (and the occasional hour-long particular) that present why it deserves to nonetheless be round after so lengthy.
In fact, there’s at all times the “this present was once higher within the ’90s” crowd that may’t dare to think about newer episodes being something however rubbish. Nonetheless, they’ve some extent. 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 record of one of the best “Simpsons” episodes ever is generally comprised of episodes from seasons 4 to six.
Among the many greatest episodes, one frequent factor that pops up loads in that record (a minimum of within the episode credit) is the title Conan O’Brien, America’s different most dependable establishment. The comic, host, actor, and author hosted some of the 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 Night time Stay” to his current journey present “Conan O’Brien Should Go.”
Few issues have had as massive an affect on popular culture as “The Simpsons,” so Conan’s work on the present ranks fairly 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 need to revisit a few of his greatest 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 could 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 may be a lot to like about this episode. The segments are nice, with “Homer vs The Satan” being one of the best one in every of 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 Night time on NBC,” O’Brien solely wrote the wraparound segments during 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 folks in regards to the grotesque and gory nature of the tales they’re about to observe. The visuals of the spooky work give the episode a novel look of limitless creativeness, and Bart as a severe Rod Serling-style host is sort of enjoyable to observe. Nonetheless, one of the best components of the episode do not actually contain O’Brien, so this goes on the backside of the record. Onto higher issues…
3. New Child on the Block (Season 4, Episode 8)
Most of early “The Simpsons” handled Bart as a prankster, an typically annoying child that however stole America’s coronary heart along with his extra of angle and one-liners. Later seasons started to cut back Bart to a spawn of Devil. Nonetheless, among the greatest episodes of the present deal with Bart as a flawed, weak, eternally 10-year-old boy (a minimum of till the eventual sequence 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 likewise 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 lady subsequent door, Laura.
Bart fully modifications his angle and conduct (briefly and never very genuinely, after all) and exhibits some nice emotional vulnerability when interacting with Laura. There’s even a fantastic dance sequence the place Bart and Laura flip into Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Then, O’Brien pulls the rug from beneath the viewers and rips out Bart’s little coronary heart when Laura reveals she’s really courting native bully Jimbo Jones. It is a fantastic episode that reminds audiences that Bart remains 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 fully hilarious.
2. Homer Goes to School (Season 5, Episode 3)
Like Bart, Homer has principally been lowered 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 School” all of the extra particular, as a result of they perceive the superb steadiness between making Homer dumb however relatable fairly than making him a very ineffective idiot.
When it turns into clear Homer will not be certified to do his nuclear security inspecting job, he’s pressured to go to school to check nuclear physics. The episode sees Homer at his most infantile and immature, as he spends many of the episode appearing 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 in regards to the nerds which can be tutoring him, in addition to the significance of schooling. Watching Homer go from believing his lived-in expertise makes him higher than youthful lecturers 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. Exterior 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 knowledgeable, to his altering “I’m so sensible” because the wall behind him burns down, there’s a whole lot of all-time hilarious “Simpsons” moments right here.
1. Marge vs. the Monorail (Season 4, Episode 12)
That is it. That is the only greatest episode of “The Simpsons” ever, the episode Conan O’Brien himself has mentioned would be the factor folks keep in mind him for probably the most — and with good motive. Originating from O’Brien’s love of “The Music Man,” the episode is an element 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 all the pieces goes so long as its humorous. A fantasy sequence the place Skinner is reduce in half by big mechanical ants? You bought it. Escalator to nowhere? Why not. Leonard Nimoy delivering a trippy speech? Certain.
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 folks of Springfield into investing a fortune into an pointless monorail descends into chaos, first within the type of an outstanding tune, 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 happy 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. Below all of the jokes, the surreal moments, the more and more cartoonish actuality, there is a present a couple of household simply attempting their greatest.
