The Top 10 episodes of 'The Simpsons' - Part Three

1) Lisa the Vegetarian

Being a long-time vegetarian myself I am slightly biased, but still, no one can deny the brilliance of this episode. Quite simply every single scene is funny, and it even features Paul McCartney and his late wife Linda.

This episode comes from season eight, when the Simpsons had firmly established itself as a different class of sitcom. By this time the writers were far more confident and brazen in parodying social and cultural issues, and they’re at their finest here. The contrast between ignorant, Neolithic Homer (“All normal people like meat Lisa…you don’t win friends with salad”) and stubborn, idealistic Lisa (“I was standing up for a just cause, and you were wrong, wrong, wrong!”) is brilliant.

What also sets this episode apart is the fact that the classic family feud is interspersed with brief, but hilarious cameos from the fringe characters. There’s Ned Flanders and his family BBQ, featuring Jose Flanders, from Spain. “Buenos-ding-dong-didily-dias”; Principal Skinner, “A certain agitator, for privacy sake lets call her Lisa S. No wait, that’s too obvious… L. Simpson”; Chief Wiggum, “Hey Simpson, wing me another one of those burgers… can’t seem to stand up under my own power any more”; Burns and Smithers. “You know Smithers, I think I’ll donate a million dollars to the children’s orphanage…when pigs fly! Muhahaha (Homer’s pig flies past. Mr Burns gasps).” “Will you be donating that million dollars now, sir?” “No, I’d still prefer not.”; and, best of all, Troy McClure, in a meat-industry sponsored educational film. “When the cows are just right they get to “graduate” from Bovine University. Come on, Billy. Lets take a look at the killing floor. Don’t let the name throw you, Billy. It’s not really a floor. It’s more of a steal gradient that allows material to sluice through so it can be collected and exported.”

This quote comes from arguably the greatest of the many short films of Troy McClure that have appeared in the Simpsons throughout the years. After the absurdly biased film has ended, Lisa says, “they can’t seriously expect us to swallow that tripe!”, to which Principal Skinner replies, “Now as a free treat, courtesy of our friends at the meat council, please help yourself to this tripe.”

The best cameos, the best script, balanced and hilarious parody and classic scenes, this episode has it all.

Best bit:
(The family are eating breakfast the morning after Lisa ruined Homer's BBQ. The atmosphere is tense)
Homer: Marge, since I’m not talking to Lisa, would you kindly ask her to pass me the syrup?
Marge: (sighs) Lisa would you please pass your father the syrup?
Lisa: Bart, tell dad I’ll only pass him the syrup if it won’t be used on any meat products.
Bart: You dunking your sausage in that syrup Home boy?
Homer: Marge, tell Bart I just want a tall glass of syrup like I do every morning.
Marge: Tell him yourself; you’re ignoring Lisa.
Homer: Bart, thank your mother for pointing that out.
Marge: Homer first of all you’re not not talking to me, and secondly I heard what you said.
Homer: Lisa, tell your mother to get off my case.
Bart: Er, dad, Lisa’s the one you’re ignoring.
Homer: Bart, go to your room.
Lisa: Why don’t you just eat him?!
Homer: I don’t need serving suggestions from you! You barbecue-wrecking-know-nothing-know-it-all!
Lisa: That’s it! I can’t live in a house with this pre-historic carnivore! I am outta here! (She storms out the front door and slams it shut)
Homer: That’s it, go to your room!