CHEFRICH: Ladies and Gents, I feel at this point in the game we should just skip the foreplay and get right to the nitty gritty. We’re in the top 10, people! Today, Gonzo Green and I will be revealing episodes 10 through 6 on the Simpsons25. If you’re showing up extremely late, here are the cliff notes: Gonzo and I scoured each and every episode of The Simpsons up until this point to create a definitive top 25 list. 25-21 can be seen HERE, 20-16 HERE, and 15-11 HERE, so get caught up because we’re coming into the home stretch, and these episodes are the penultimate examples of what The Simpsons has to offer. Mr. Green, any words before we begin?

GONZO GREEN: Yes. If any of the readers are upset with our episode selection and are thinking of sending us hate mail, I urge you: please use grammatically correct sentences. Otherwise, it’s just plain insulting.

10 – El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (Season 8, Episode 9)

CHEFRICH: Insider peek into the life of ChefRich: This episode had a slight impact on my first career choice of being a chef! After seeing Homer eat the Insanity Pepper, I too became obsessed with peppers. From there, my culinary express just took off! And 15 years later I’m still just as obsessed with cooking as I am with The Simpsons. Ever had an episode impact you like that, Mr. Green?

GONZO GREEN: Yessir, this very same episode. I saw it and thought: “Hey, maybe I should go on a hallucinogenic trip and befriend a talking coyote with the voice of Johnny Cash.” Oh, hey Richie, bit of trivia for you: this episode and “The Springfield Files” appear back-to-back on our list, and were also released back-to-back in Season 8. Weird, right?

After all of the hallucinogens, I’m surprised you caught that. But I can see how this episode would be drastically more entertaining whilst tripping my face off. The colors are far more vibrant and exaggerated than in any other Simpsons episode. And although the coyote was voiced by the legend, Johnny Cash, I’m sure some of the animators took part in a little of the Willie Nelson to prepare for this episode, if you’re picking up what I’m putting down.

Whatever it is, don’t put it down; pass it over here. Seriously though, you’re totally right about the animation. In fact, Simpsons animator David Silverman actually animated almost all of the hallucination sequence himself, rather then send it to Korea, as they usually do. He wanted it to appear just as he imagined it. By the way, another little observation: don’t you find it odd that the person who helped Homer defeat Wiggum’s Guatemalan Insanity Peppers was Wiggum’s own son, Ralph, after he inadvertently put the idea of drinking wax in Homer’s head?

Side Note: Drinking wax is not recommended. Especially when it’s flavored. Tastes terrible.

Where were you in ‘97 when I first saw this episode? Little late now. Regardless, this episode really has it all. It hooks you from the beginning as you wonder what could be so bad that Marge has to hide it from Homer. And the lines in this one are some of the most frequently-quoted. I often work, “It’s a lazy, dog-dangling afternoon” and “He thinks he’s the pope of Chili Town” into everyday conversation. The latter can be used whenever someone has any type of inflated ego. There’s also one of those great “what the hell?” moments, where a joke is funny simply because it is so random. I don’t know why, but when the scene cuts to Bart talking to Lisa and he’s saying, “So then I says to Mable, I says…” it just cracks me up. Although I still think the best line occurs when Homer stands in front of the lighthouse light and Bart asks if it’s Homer, to which Lisa replies, “Either that, or Batman really let himself go.”

I distinctly remember the lighthouse light gag and the first time I saw it. My sister and I were finally both old enough to watch the Simpsons, so we gathered as a family and watched. Once Lisa dropped that line, my mom turned to my dad (who is three steps past portly) and said, “Hello Batman.” My sister and I LOST IT! We still call my dad Batman or Bruce to this day because of it. True story!

In the end, the episode even has a great underlying theme about true happiness coming from finding your soul mate. Even if you sometimes fight with that person, it doesn’t change a thing. IN YOUR FACE, SPACE COYOTE!

9. Homer’s Barbershop Quartet (Season 5, Episode 1)

CHEFRICH: I’m just gonna lay it all out on the line right now; If you don’t know this episode, you don’t know the Simpsons. This episode has two very distinct features that I will always remember: the “Baby On Board” song, and when Wiggum says at the end, “Get the tear gas.” I use that line every time we want to clear a room or private function in the restaurant. Sadly, I’ve never been able to fully execute this, but there’s always hope. “Baby On Board,” on the other hand, is an often overlooked gem when it comes to Simpsons based music, wouldn’t you say?

GONZO GREEN: You took the words right out of my mouth. (Must’ve been while you were kissing me.) “Baby on Board” isn’t a typical Simpsons song, because, although humorous, it could be an actual hit radio song. It has a sweet innocence to it, a lovey tone, and a catchy melody. In addition to the things you mentioned above, this episode also sums up what The Simpsons do best: spoofing both the time period that the episode was released in, as well as the decades that preceded it. And it has a Beatle in it! (Homer, when meeting George Harrison: “OH MY GOD! Where did you get that brownie?!”) How many other episodes can make that claim? You know, besides “Brush With Greatness” (Ringo Starr) and “Lisa the Vegetarian” (Paul McCartney).

I’m sure if the Simpsons had been around before 1980 they would have been able to nail down Lennon as well. It’s truly awe-inspiring the amount of star power The Simpsons can bring in. And most of them will literally just do it for a song.

Can I be a smart ass fan boy for a second?

You haven’t been one this entire time? If you drop a Tracy Ullman reference I’m gonna box your ears…

Fair enough. Still, I’m about to nitpick a cartoon like a no-life geek. In this episode, after Wiggum is ousted and Barney is added to the barbershop quartet lineup, the gang decided on the name “The Be Sharps.” However, earlier in the episode when the group was playing at the church, the sign already advertised their name as The Be Sharps. Remember? It was right underneath the line, “What a f_iend we have in God.” The episode makes up for it ten-fold though, with great lines like “Far out man, I haven’t seen a bong in years,” and one of the funniest scenes in history. I am of course talking about when Marge builds a fake Homer for the kids, to replace the real one while he’s on tour, and it starts speaking extremely fast, catches on fire, and explodes – with the hand blowing off and smacking Bart square in the face. I almost pee every time I see that. Okay, I do pee. And I just let a little bit go right now whilst thinking about it. I’ll meet you at the next episode.

8. 22 Short Films About Springfield (Season 7, Episode 21)

CHEFRICH: “Professor Frink! Professor Frink! He’ll make ya laugh, he’ll make ya think…” Everyone always wants to talk about how this episode so beautifully and masterfully ties together main and ancillary characters. All I want to do is talk about how hilarious Frink’s delivery of his only line of the show is.

GONZOGREEN: I’ll see your Professor Frink, and raise you a Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel. I often recite his entire scene just for my own amusement. Or I’ll drop a Dr. Nick line (“Holy smokes, you need booze!”) or a Hans Moleman (“You took four minutes of my life and I want them back…”) And we’ll both end up brutally sodomized if we don’t mention the brilliant and abundant Pulp Fiction references in this episode. Well done, writers. Well done. The word “writers” is plural, of course, because a total of ELEVEN of them contributed to this episode. That’s how you go all out.

I love the fact that they replace the classic “Quarter Pounder” line with a Krusty Burger reference, which I’m sure you have on the tip of your tongue…

Or Krusty Brand Partially-Gelatinated Non-Dairy Gum-Based Beverages.

Exactly. I really appreciate that the Simpsons took the time to really expose the ancillary characters, because frankly, some of their stories are far more interesting than main character back stories. Interesting is what keeps my attention, and interesting is all I will accept.

As a kid I really enjoyed the “steamed hams” segment with Skinner & Chalmers too. Especially since I grew up in Albany, New York, where the phrase allegedly originates. Though try as I might, I couldn’t get it to actually catch on up there. In the end, every segment is a winner. Some even cross over into multiple scenes. No doubt, this one is a flat-out masterpiece.

7. Bart Sells His Soul (Season 7, Episode 4)

GONZO GREEN: I’m pretty sure the opening scene (“In the Garden of Eden” by I. Ron Butterfly) is the best of any episode, and plays a huge part in landing this episode in the #7 slot. Agreed?

CHEFRICH: I wholeheartedly agree. The song was magnificent, and a perfect and airy lead into an otherwise dark episode. We see a side of Milhouse here that I don’t think anyone could have ever seen coming. And how about Lisa taking on the guardian angel role at the end? Perfect example of sisterly love.

I’ve actually have heard numerous people say that sneezing is your soul trying to escape – and saying “God bless you” crams it back in – without even knowing that this came from The Simpsons. I think this illustrates the enormous influence and reach of both this episode, and the series as a whole. And although many people DO remember the soul episode, a lot forget that this one also has a great second storyline about Moe turning his “dank” bar into a family restaurant called Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag (which pales in comparison to other restaurant names in the episode, like The Texas Cheesecake Depository, or Professor P.J. Cornucopia’s Fantastic Foodmagorium and Great American Steakery.) Although, as we alluded to earlier in the “Flaming Moe’s” segment, this wasn’t the first episode where Moe changes his bar’s theme for temporary popularity. However, it might be the best. (And I especially love when Todd Flanders says, “Ow, my freakin’ ears,” after hearing Moe use the word. A much younger version of myself used to get yelled at for repeating this line.)

The deep fryer and the fry basket on the head stick out the most to me from the Uncle Moe’s story line. The Fry Basket Hat (or Million Dollar Birthday Fries) so much so, that you may just see it on an episode of “Spoonin’ With ChefRich!” (Shameless Plug!)

Although this episode has both hilarious lines and dark undertones (one scene with both was the one with a cat-like Bart, and Wiggum’s line about the homeless man: “Son, you wait here while Daddy tries to talk some sense into this raving derelict.”) an entire philosophy course could be taught on its commentary on life, theology, and the powerful role of organized religion in today’s world. Lisa offers some incredibly insightful ideas about souls and philosophy, while still coexisting with the episode’s frequent humor. The ability of the writer’s to achieve this balance is alone worth its weight in Alf pogs.

That might just be the smartest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.

What? Sorry, I totally blacked out for a minute there. Are we on episode 6 now?

6. Bart Gets An Elephant (Season 5, Episode 17)

CHEFRICH: If you don’t know who Stampy is, seriously go jump off a bridge! My sister begged my parents for an elephant for a solid year after seeing this episode. Y’know, I’ve noticed that a lot of these episodes in the top ten have – in some way or another – brought my family closer together.

GONZOGREEN: How can it not, with great family-oriented quotes, like Homer’s advice to Bart when Marge is in his way: “Push her down, son.” It does have some quality life lessons though (“It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how drunk you get.”), as well as references (likes Stampy’s eye in the window a la Jurassic Park), and sight gags (like when the freshly-cleaned house is messed up again in the swing of a door.) I also love Homer screaming the line, “That wasn’t part of our deal, Blackheart! That wasn’t part!” Really, almost every line and picture is hilarious, and makes this one of the funniest episodes of all-time. Plus, this episode featured the debut of one of my favorite characters, the aforementioned Cletus.

Man, you really make it difficult for me to pick up the spare here, what with all the knowledge dropping and whatnot. Nevertheless, I love you for that delicious brain of yours!

This episode is actually kind of unique in that way, because although it’s easy to remember the episode where Bart gets an elephant, many of the best jokes aren’t actually elephant-related. They occur in between the major plot points, or at least don’t directly involve the elephant. I personally love how Santa’s Little Helper and Snowball II vie for attention from the family in light of the new pet’s arrival, as they play piano, walk on two legs, and even speak. Aw, they think they’re people. Plus, like many Simpsons episodes, this one flirted with the possibility of acting immorally, or making bad or selfish decisions, only to inevitably have the character make the right call in the end. Homer almost sells Stampy to an ivory dealer for the money, but elects not to after Stampy saves his life. “Plus,” he adds, “the boy appears to have some sort of relationship with him.” As always, good parenting from The Simpsons. No wonder you turned out how you did, ChefRich.

I’ll be the first to admit that I was raised by the TV. Now if you’ll excuse me, GTA 5 just re-taught me that it’s ok to drive on the sidewalk and kill hookers. ::Tips hat::

What a ridiculous thing to say; you should have known that way before Grand Theft Auto. Anyway, be sure to join us Friday, as we mow down the last five episodes like sidewalk hookers.

(@chefrichBB) can be seen nightly through his bedroom window. You’ll need a ladder.

(@Gonzo_Green) no function beer well without.

 

CHECK OUT #5-#1 of the 25 BEST EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS