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SirCrocodilep wrote:

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Have you mention the scene about Homer eating a really dangerous Chili?

No. This scene is in the episode where Johnny Cash is guest starring, right ? Then I have to say this episode is not ranked.

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, the most controversial entry in this ranking :





25 - The Principal and the Pauper



This entry will be different from the other ones because I feel like I have to defend this episode much more than the others. So the summary will be quick : As everyone know, during a celebration of Skinner's twentieth anniversary as a principal, a man arrives and claims he's the real Seymour Skinner. Skinner admits his true identity is Armin Tanzarian. Armin leaves Springfield but he's convinced to return at the end of the episode.

I have never been able to understand all the backlash against this episode. To me it's a great and funny episode with a weird plot I guess, but it's still a very good plot. There always had a lot of continuity errors in The Simpsons so I don't like when people point at this episode for ruining a continuity. I also don't really know how Skinner's character was "destroyed" in any ways. True, he's not the real Seymour Skinner and blah blah blah... but I find the destruction of Homer and Marge's story in the recent episodes much more offensive (I'm not saying that I hate what they did to Homer and Marge's past, but if I had to complain, I would take this fact as a target).
I discovered in the episode's commentary that Matt Groening considers this episode as the worst.one.ever. So I hate him. First, he didn't even take part in the commentary and second, he REALLY thinks this episode is worse than "Another Simpsons Clip Show", "Fear of Flying", "The Old Men and the C students" or anything made after season 11 ? Yay, right. He just doesn't want to defend the episode because of the fans.
On the contrary, I really like the fact that Ken Keeler, who wrote the episode, still says after so many years that it's a good episode. I found a transcript of what he said on the commentary (thanks wikipedia) :

This [episode] is about a community of people who like things just the way they are. Skinner's not really close to these people—you know, he's a minor character—but they get upset when someone comes in and says, "This is not really the way things are," and they run the messenger out of town on the rail. When the episode aired, lo and behold, a community of people who like things just the way they are got mad. It never seems to have occurred to anyone that this episode is about the people who hate it.

Keeler 1 - Angry fans 0

I don't really have anything more to add, so here is my favorite gag in the episode :



Homer : Okay, once more. Where are we going ?
Edna : To Capital City.
Homer : And why are you and the old lady in the car ?
Agnes : We're gonna talk Armin Tanzarian into coming back.
Homer : And why is Marge here ?



Marge : I came up with the idea.
Homer : And why am I here ?
Marge : Because the streets of Capital City are no place for three unescorted ladies.
Homer : Why are the kids here ?



Marge : Because we couldn't find Grandpa to sit for them.
Homer : Why is Grandpa here ?



Grandpa : Because Jasper didn't want to come by himself !
Homer : Huh, fair enough.

I'm not going to do a "reviewer's stupid remark" because they are so much contenders for the title I can't really choose one.

Good Quotes :

Bart: Our class is making refreshments for Skinner's party. These are in honor of his army days.
Marge: That explains the flags, but what about the dog food?
Bart: My theory is: Skinner likes dog food!

Homer's brain : Keep looking shocked, and move slowly towards the cake.

Armin : They gave me a choice. Jail, the army, or apologizing to the judge and the old lady. Of course, if I had known there was a war going on, I probably would've apologized.

Armin: *narrating* As strange as it sounds, deep down I think she knew I wasn't her son, but a lie made us both happier than the truth ever could have.
Agnes: You can have some lima beans as soon as you've cleaned your room. Go!* whispering* Upstairs. Third door on the left. *shouting* Don't walk on the rugs!

Armin: So, uh, um, should I sign my original name?
Apu: Just put an "X", then call yourself whatever the hell you want.

 Lisa: I admit Sergeant Skinner seems okay, but Mr. Tanzarian pulled himself up from the streets and earned our respect and admiration.
Bart: What about his name?
Lisa: His name doesn't matter. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Bart: Not if you called them stench blossoms.
Homer: Or crap weeds.
Marge: I'd sure hate to get a dozen crap weeds for Valentine's Day. I'd rather have candy.
Homer: Not if they were called scum drops!

Armin : Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Capital City's nakedest ladies. They're not even wearing a smile. Nod suggestively. Yes, six, count 'em, six gorgeous ladies just dying...for your leers and cat calls. Yowsa, yowsa.

Marge: Good morning, Agnes. Mmm...how's your new son working out?
Agnes: That child is the most disobedient, smart-alecky middle-aged man in creation!
Edna: Hello, ladies. Is this the line for people who want to bad-mouth Sergeant Skinner?
Marge: And have ten items or less.
Edna: *discarding items* Twelve, eleven, ten, the man's a weenie!




Clue for the next entry : Ralph's fifteen minutes of fame

Backlash against my ranking in 10, 9, 8, 7...

Tom2433 wrote:

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 I can see why it's such a controversial episode though, but at least everything went "back to normal" afterwards

I think there was a reference to The Principal and the Pauper in another episode, but I don't remember which one.


24 - This Little Wiggy



During a visit to the Science Museum, Marge observes that Ralph is different from the other kids and she realizes he has no friends. She arranges for Ralph to spend time with Bart.



At first, Bart is obviously unhappy with the arrangement but he learns to like Ralph. One day, Bart discovers Chief Wiggum has a police master key which can open any door in Springfield. Bart steals the key to have fun, that is to say entering several stores at night. During the night, Bart and Ralph meet Nelson and his gang who make fun of Bart. He decides to appear cool in front of them so he shows them the key.



The boys go to an unused penitentiary. Nelson tosses the key into the penitentiary. Ralph and Bart go in after. They finally find the key and active an old electric chair to melt a doll.

The day after, Bart learn the penitentiary will be used by the town. Mayor Quimby straps himself into the electric chair in a publicity attempt (he's of course unaware that the power is active. Bart tries to find a solution and Ralph point out that Lisa is intelligent enough to figure out a way to warn the Mayor. Lisa launches a small model rocket with a message attached and aims it toward the penitentiary. The rocket crashes through Mr Burns' window. So Burns realizes that the penitentiary has been receiving free power for over thirty years; he shuts off the penitentiary's power. When the power goes out, the mayor is in the middle of being electrocuted, but survives. The Simpsons congratulate Ralph. Lisa is pissed off but she is reminded by Bart that it is rare for Ralph to be useful and praised.

I really like this episode despite several stupid things (the key or the not-funny visit to the Science Museum). I think this is the only episode focusing on Ralph, right ? I don't remember if there's another episode or not. Ralph isn't one of my favorite character but I like him. I like that the episode brings a new dimension to his character, like when he conquers his fear of the penitentiary to search for the key.
This episode plays with one of my all-time phantasm when I was a kid : to be able to go to stores at night to do everything I wanted to. That's probably why I love the episode so much. The episode also features the most random gag I've ever seen in the show, this one :



It comes out of nowhere during the episode Otherwise there's not a lot of good quotes, but the episode is still really fun and enjoyable. The plot is not very strong but it's ok.
The end of the episode is also funny but kind of scary with the little leprechaun telling Ralph to set the house on fire.



And Milhouser is on full mode at the beginning of the episode. This may or may not be my next avatar :


The Reviewer's stupid remark:

From Haynes Lee, the worst idea ever :

Could have used a subplot though.
 

Good Quotes :

Krabappel: Now, whose calculator can tell me what seven times eight is?
*kids rush to the sum. Milhouse Van Houten has an answer*
Milhouse: Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Low battery?

Marge: Is that normal?
Wiggum: No, he's just playing 'wiggle Puppy'! That's a dog he made up who flies by wagging his tail. Heh, I tell you, that dog has had some amazing adventures.

Bart : Wow! Dad's been in jail six times! Aw, Mom's only been in twice...

Bart : Wow, look at all these toilets! They're just inches your bed! Talk about luxury..

So yay, there wasn't a lot of one-liner in this episode.


Clue for the next entry : "I don't know... Jesus ?"

Thanks for the comments you all !

You know what I mean by Homer eating a very dangerous Chili? It was made by Chief Wiggum. Do you remember what I am speaking of?

Yes, I remember. It's in fact the episode where Johnny Cash is guest-starring.

And KittyPride found the episode despite the fact that the quote wasn't totally exact (I discovered Bart doesn't say "I don't know"). So congratulations!


23 - Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily



While Homer and Marge are at the sauna, Bart and Lisa are sent home with head lices and no shoes respectively.



Marge and Homer are accused of being negligent parents and the the two Child Protective Services' agents take the three kids to a foster home. It's revealed the foster home is right next door, at Ned's house. Bart and Lisa hate the Flanders house, but Maggie enjoys being there as she gets more attention from Flanders than she did with Homer.



Meanwhile, Homer and Marge have to attend a class for bad parents so that they can get their children back. During a Bible Board Game, Flanders finds out that Bart and Lisa were not baptized. He decides to give them an emergency baptism.



Homer and Marge are declared decent parents after several lessons, and they quickly head for the Springfield River to stop Flanders. Just as Flanders is about to pour holy water on Bart, Homer shoves Bart over to prevent the water from hitting him. Lisa and Bart are happy to see their father but Maggie faces a difficult choice : The Flanders or her family.



She finally chooses her family when she sees Marge.


The plot of this episode is quite simple but it still took seven years for the writers to think about it. Despite the simplicity of the plot, the episode is hilarious, especially thanks to the contrast between the Simpsons' house and the Flanders' way of life. It's also great that the episode depicts the Simpsons's house as better than the Flanders' one (since, well, the Flanders' obsession about religion is kind of creepy)
Lisa/Bart and Homer/Marge missing each other is also very touching IMO. Finally, the end of the episode with Maggie having to decide between both families is great because she chooses the Flanders at first but then goes to Marge when she sees her.
The subplot with Marge and Homer attending special class is not as good as the main plot but it leads to one of the funniest moment in the episode, when Marge is tested positive with drugs



Goodman: I'm very proud of you people. You've learned how to care for your children, you've learned how to maintain your homes, and you've all passed a drug test. Except for Marge -- Marge, you tested positive for Crack and PCP.
Marge: Oh my!



The Reviewer's stupid remark :

Dennis Miller's remark isn't stupid, it's just that it's annoying :

This evening's episode had its moments, but I found it hard to laugh about child abuse and neglect. There are parents like Marge's classmates. There are examples of case workers run amok.

What a killjoy! I hate when someone says we can't make fun of everything. It's true, you can't make fun of everything with everyone but this episode is fine I think. And the writers made a satire of child welfare agencies more than bad parents.


Good Quotes :

Maude: I don't judge Homer and Marge. That's for a vengeful God to do.

Marge: I can't believe I put my own pleasure ahead of my home and family. That is so like me.
Homer: Oh, Marge, don't blame yourself. I'm the terrible parent. The boy bugs the hell out of me, I can't help Lisa with her homework...the only thing I'm fit to take care of is a houseplant.
*the plant is dead*

Homer: Well, wait a minute! OK, I'm not going to win "Father of the Year". In fact, I'm probably the last guy in the world who should have kids. I... *the judge looks at him sternly*
Homer: Er, well, er, wait...can I start again? Fathering children is the best part of my day. I'd do anything for Bart and Lisa!
Judge: And, er, Margaret?
Homer: Who? Lady, you got the wrong file.
Marge: *whispering* It's Maggie!
Homer: Oh, Maggie. Er, I got nothing against Maggie.

Bart: I never heard Maggie laugh like that before.
Lisa: Well, when was the last time Dad gave her that kind of attention?
Bart: When she swallowed that quarter, he spent all day with her.

Lisa: I thought I could ride this thing out, but everything's just too weird here.
Bart: I know. They put honey on pancakes instead of maple syrup.
Lisa: They read "Newsweek" instead of nothing.

Marge: I miss the way Bart would say something, and then say "dude".
Homer: I wish I knew something about the baby I could miss now.
Marge: You mean Maggie?

Todd: I know!
Ned: No, son, we've got to let Bart and Lisa get one. Come on, this one's easy.
Lisa: We give up.
Ned: Well, guess! Book of Revelations, fire-breathing lion's head, tail made out of snakes...who else is it going to be?
Bart: *unsure* Jesus?


Marge: The only thing I'm high on is love...love for my son and daughters. Yes, a little LSD is all I need.

Lovejoy: Ned...have you thought about one of the other major religions? They're all pretty much the same.

Homer: OK, OK, don't panic. To find Flanders, I just have to think like Flanders! *thinking* I'm a big four-eyed lame-o, and I wear the same stupid sweater every day and...*aloud* The Springfield River!

Marge : Can you see them ?
Homer : I can see Lisa... but it might be a starfish





Clue for the next entry : Charlie's angels