Simpsons Classic Era Episodes Ranked (from best to worst)
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- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen a group of Shelbyville kids steal Springfield's sacred lemon tree, Bart and his friends venture there to get the tree back.10/10
The only episode I'd rank a 10. Everything is absolutely brilliant in this episode - the story, the writing, the characterizations, the humour, the plot - this episode has everything. As well as some of my all time favourite quotes and scenes. Bart Simpson at his finest, no doubt. - DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Mr. Burns steals oil from Springfield Elementary and blocks out the sun, an unknown person shoots him.9.9/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter realizing how unpopular she is, a disillusioned Lisa sees the vacation to Ned Flanders' beach house as an opportunity to reinvent herself.9.8/10
- DirectorSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightSpecial Agents Mulder and Scully arrive in Springfield after Homer claims to have seen an alien.9.8/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart casually sells his soul to Milhouse for $5 but soon regrets it; Moe converts his dank bar into a family restaurant.9.8/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer becomes a member of a mysterious organization called the Stonecutters and is heralded as "the chosen one".9.7/10
- DirectorRich MooreAlan SmartStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMoe claims a drink that Homer invented is his own, with the drink making the bar a local hot spot, but threatens his friendship with Homer.9.7/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Bart receives a microphone which can transmit through radios, he decides to pull a series of pranks and eventually convinces the town that a boy has fallen down a well.9.7/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter joining the Junior Campers while on a sugar high, Bart reluctantly invites Homer to accompany him on the group's annual father-son rafting trip, which soon goes awry.9.6/10
- DirectorSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMarge's relationship with Bart is strained when he is caught shoplifting before Christmas.9.6/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightA series of vignettes showcasing a day in the life of various Springfield residents.9.6/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer's laziness begets the ire of his industrious but arrogant new co-worker Frank Grimes; Bart buys a run-down factory for a dollar.9.5/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer opens a successful snow-plowing business, only to inspire Barney to start a rival outfit that puts him out of work.9.5/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightThe family's job at Mr. Burns' country estate goes awry when Homer goes mad; Homer's attempt to repair a toaster results in inadvertent time travel; The school staff turn cannibalistic.9.5/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter being released from prison on parole, Sideshow Bob plots to murder Bart.9.5/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter faking his own death, Homer is reunited with his mother, who harbors a deep secret.9.5/10
- 1989– 30mTV-PG9.0 (5.1K)TV EpisodeDirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer must travel to New York to get his car back, which is illegally parked at World Trade Center Plaza.9.4/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightConfined to his room with a broken leg, Bart suspects Ned Flanders of murdering Maude; the family's new swimming pool earns Lisa popularity among the neighborhood kids.9.4/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart is outraged when Lisa becomes his babysitter.9.4/10
- DirectorBob AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart discovers a comet that is on a collision course with Springfield.9.4/10
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Marge befriends John, a gay store owner, Homer worries that his presence will have a negative effect on Bart's sexuality.9.3/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightLisa has a crush on her substitute teacher; Bart decides to run for class president.9.3/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer's marriage is in trouble when he develops an attraction to a new co-worker; Bart undergoes medical treatments that make him look like a nerd.9.3/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart and Lisa attend "Kamp Krusty" but it is nothing like they thought it would be; Homer's hair grows back and he loses weight while the kids are away.9.3/10
- DirectorBob AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter alcohol is banned in Springfield, Homer adopts the moniker of the "Beer Baron" to bootleg liquor, prompting an investigation from an uptight Treasury agent.9.3/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter his birthday party goes wrong, Mr. Burns begins to want his childhood toy, a teddy bear named Bobo; Homer finds that Maggie is in possession of the doll.9.3/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Homer "wins" a $2000 settlement from the plant due to radiation-induced sterilization, his half-brother Herb sees an opportunity to regain his fortune.9.3/10
- DirectorSusie DietterStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightLisa fears she is losing her intelligence when she learns about the fabled Simpson gene. Meanwhile, Jasper freezes himself in the Kwik-E-Mart freezer.9.3/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter receiving a considerable donation of money, Springfield builds a monorail system with Homer as the conductor, unaware they've just boarded a one-way train to Hell.9.3/10
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightThe Simpsons move to Cypress Creek, where Homer unwittingly works for a charismatic supervillain; the rest of the family struggles with the transfer.9.3/10
- DirectorMilton GrayStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer causes an international incident after he joins the Naval reserves.9.2/10
- DirectorSwinton O. Scott IIIStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart makes a fake driver's license and takes Milhouse, Martin, and Nelson on a huge road trip; Lisa spends time with Homer at the power plant.9.2/10
- DirectorJim ReardonKlay HallStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer and Marge's attempt to spice up their marriage leads to the couple being chased naked through Springfield.9.2/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightA family vacation to Itchy & Scratchy Land turns disastrous when the robots malfunction and turn on the tourists.9.2/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer sells his soul to the Devil for a donut, Bart contends with a gremlin on the side of the school bus which only he can see, and the family discovers that Mr. Burns is a vampire.9.2/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer is branded as a pervert after his kids' babysitter misconstrues his retrieval of a candy from the seat of her pants as a sexual advance.9.2/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter having a horrible day, Bart gets a job tending bar for a group of gangsters and becomes the prime suspect when Principal Skinner mysteriously disappears.9.2/10
- DirectorBob AndersonDavid MirkinStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightA lightning storm causes giant advertising mascots to come to life; The children are terrorized by Groundskeeper Willie in their dreams; Homer finds himself trapped in another dimension.9.2/10
- DirectorSwinton O. Scott IIIStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart manipulates Mrs. Krabappel into leading a teachers' strike against Principal Skinner, but is perturbed when Marge becomes his substitute.9.1/10
- DirectorSusie DietterStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart discovers Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel kissing, and it's not long before the whole town knows of their secret affair.9.1/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen Bart gets tired of Homer's horrible parenting skills, he enrolls in the "Bigger Brother" program where he's assigned a fantastic role model.9.1/10
- DirectorPete MichelsJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhile the kids become stranded on a desert island, Homer attempts to cash in on the Internet.9.1/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer and Marge tell the story of how they met and fell in love in high school.9.1/10
- DirectorPete MichelsJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightLisa gets lost after she tries to take a bus to a museum.9.1/10
- DirectorPete MichelsJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter a massive soccer riot, Homer purchases a gun to protect the family.9.1/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightA girls' night out turns into a high speed chase when Marge learns her friend is driving a stolen car.9.1/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter eating insanity peppers at a chili cook-off, Homer has a hallucination of a talking coyote urging him to find his soulmate.9.1/10
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhile researching for an essay, Lisa discovers that Springfield's founding father was actually a murderous thief.9.1/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer and his co-workers qualify for the plant softball team's league final, but Mr. Burns hires nine professional MLB players in order to win a $1 million bet.9.1/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter seeing a motorcycle daredevil at a monster truck show, Bart becomes a death-defying daredevil skateboarder.9.1/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightIn an effort to increase the dismal television ratings for their space launches, NASA decides to send an ordinary man into space, and Homer is chosen for the task.9.1/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightSelma starts to feel broody, but after taking Bart and Lisa to Duff Gardens, she changes her mind.9.1/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Homer loses his license for DUI, Marge pressures him to give up beer for a month; Lisa attempts to prove that Bart is less intelligent than a hamster.9.1/10
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Krusty is found guilty of robbing the Kwik-E-Mart following Homer's eyewitness testimony, Bart and Lisa set out to prove his innocence.9.1/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter aptitude tests seemingly indicate that they are best-suited to police work and homemaking respectively, Bart is made hall monitor while Lisa becomes a delinquent.9.1/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightA trip to a local petting zoo convinces Lisa to give up meat, despite excessive pressure to convince her not to do so.9.1/10
- DirectorJim ReardonSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAn evil cult called the Movementarians brainwashes the citizens of Springfield and it's up to Marge to get them back.9/10
- DirectorSusie DietterStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightThe citizens of Springfield host their own film festival, with popular movie critic Jay Sherman arriving from New York to judge.9/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer and Mr. Burns get trapped in a snowed-in cabin during a company retreat.9/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Flanders invites Homer to a football game, the pair become friends, but Homer's possessiveness and loutish behaviour slowly turns Ned against him.9/10
- DirectorSwinton O. Scott IIIStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer recounts the story of Maggie's birth when the kids ask why there are no photos of her in the family album.9/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Mrs. Krabappel gives Bart a month of detention, he gets his revenge by responding to her newspaper singles ad; Homer uses a swear jar to cut down on his cursing.8.9/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter attributing a relaxing Sunday to his skipping church, Homer vows to never attend service again, and forms his own religion to justify his behavior.8.9/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAs Marge goes to the doctor for a pregnancy test, Homer tells the children of the events leading up to his marriage, and Bart's birth.8.9/10
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart is sent to a military school to be disciplined; Lisa, seeking a challenge, enrolls with him, but faces discrimination as the school's only girl cadet.8.9/10
- DirectorSusie DietterStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightLisa develops a crush on Nelson, and tries to reform him; Homer gets an autodialer and decides to make easy money with a telemarketing scam.8.9/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter being beaten up by Nelson Muntz one too many times, Bart turns to Grampa for help, and soon leads a rebellion against the school bully.8.9/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer buys Lisa a pony that the family can ill afford.8.9/10
- DirectorSusie DietterStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMarge and Homer lose custody of the kids, who are sent to live at the Flanders' house.8.9/10
- DirectorJeffrey LynchStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart witnesses the alleged assault of a waiter by Mayor Quimby's nephew, but coming forward will mean admitting to skipping class and facing the consequences.8.9/10
- DirectorJim ReardonNeil AffleckStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightTownspeople believe that Lisa has unearthed the fossilized remains of an angel.8.9/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart, Milhouse and Martin each pitch in to buy an highly-collectible "Radioactive Man" comic book, which soon has a disastrous effect on their friendship.8.9/10
- DirectorJim ReardonSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter humiliating Bart at a church picnic, Homer resolves to get in shape. Soon, he is contacted by an energy bar company that wants him to climb a mountain as a promotion.8.9/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMarge becomes a crusader against cartoon violence after an episode of "Itchy and Scratchy" seemingly inspires Maggie to attack Homer.8.9/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart becomes jealous when Milhouse falls in love with a new student named Samantha; Homer accidentally receives a vocabulary-building tape instead of a weight-loss one.8.9/10
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart's Siamese twin swells in the attic; Lisa's science experiment creates a miniature universe of advanced civilization; aliens possess Clinton and Dole.8.9/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightYears of poor eating habits catch up with Homer when he suffers a massive heart attack, but the family can't afford the triple bypass operation he needs.8.9/10
- DirectorRich MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer lies on a medical insurance form in order to obtain a miracle hair restoring drug.8.9/10
- DirectorDominic PolcinoStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightSideshow Bob again escapes from prison and takes control of a TV screen at an air show, demanding all television stations immediately go off the air.8.9/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer becomes a Krusty the Clown stand-in, but is mistaken for the real Krusty by the Springfield mafia.8.9/10
- DirectorDominic PolcinoStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMarge leads a crusade against a local burlesque house after she discovers Bart working there.8.8/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen Sideshow Bob is released from prison and is elected Mayor of Springfield, Bart and Lisa suspect foul play and are determined to expose his corruption.8.8/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer intentionally gains more weight in order to qualify for disability and work from home, but soon realizes that being morbidly obese comes with its own problems.8.8/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightSideshow Bob gets out of jail and plots to take his revenge on Bart by marrying his Aunt Selma and killing her.8.8/10
- DirectorJim ReardonBob AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen Bart accidentally burns down the family's Christmas tree and gifts, he claims that a robber stole everything. As a result, the town gets them a new tree and pitches in to raise funds.8.8/10
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Homer fails a fathering test, he decides to help Bart build his Soap Box Derby racer.8.8/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhile trying to coax Maggie into saying her first word, Homer and Marge talk about how Lisa spoke hers.8.8/10
- DirectorBob AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter a hurricane destroys Ned Flanders' house, he suffers a nervous breakdown and is forced to confront repressed problems from his childhood.8.8/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen Mr. Burns revokes the plant's dental plan, forcing Lisa to be fitted with cheap, ugly braces, Homer leads its union into going on strike.8.8/10
- 1989– 30mTV-148.6 (3.7K)TV EpisodeDirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMr. Burns builds a casino when Springfield decides to legalize gambling, with Marge becoming addicted to the slot machines.8.7/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhile Mr. Burns is hospitalized, an investigation into his shooter begins; although Smithers initially suspects himself, a trace of Simpson DNA narrows down the list of possible culprits.8.7/10
- DirectorCarlos BaezaStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAn evil Krusty the Clown doll tries to kill Homer; Marge is captured by a giant ape who falls in love with her; Bart inadvertently raises the dead.8.7/10
- DirectorSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhile Bart is hospitalized, Lisa runs into her old mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is also a patient, and becomes devastated when he dies soon after.8.7/10
- DirectorWesley ArcherStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart and Lisa meet a vagabond who claims to be the creator of Itchy from "Itchy and Scratchy."8.7/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer starts a bowling team with Moe, Apu and Otto, but Mr. Burns insists on joining after learning that the team was funded with his money; Springfield Elementary introduces uniforms.8.7/10
- DirectorSteven Dean MooreStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer questions the state of his marriage after Luann Van Houten demands a divorce from Kirk.8.7/10
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightMrs. Krabappel, fed up with Bart's lackadaisical approach to his studies, gives him an ultimatum: shape up or repeat the fourth grade.8.7/10
- DirectorMark KirklandStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBurns decides to retire and sells the power plant to a German consortium for an exorbitant price. Homer's laziness and inefficiency are quickly exposed by his new bosses, and he is laid off.8.7/10
- DirectorDominic PolcinoStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightHomer recounts the story of Bart's first day of school, which corresponds with the story of how Lisa got her saxophone.8.7/10
- DirectorPete MichelsStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart suspects a paroled Sideshow Bob is up to his old tricks when he is hired by his brother Cecil to assist in the construction of a dam.8.7/10