TOP 5 SIMPSONS EPISODES

Whenever i think i'm running out of Top 5 topics, i think of the Simpsons, then i realize that i'm being a weenie in light of their longevity. Given that there's more than 330 episodes out there, i'm sure there will be future Simpsons lists, Top 5 Ralph Quotes, Top 5 Guest Stars, Top 5 Treehouses of Horror, etc. Here's my list of best all-around episodes, feel free to share your favorites.

"Das Bus" (the 'Lord of the Flies' episode) which is initiated by Bart and Nelson 'racing' an apple and orange down the aisle of the school bus. Ralph tosses a non-rolling banana down to join the race: "Go banana!!" Fast forward to Ralph's "I eated the purple berries!.....It tastes like burning" and you've got 2 of many reasons this episode rocks. Highlights include great contributions from Millhouse and Nelson, with James Earl Jones as the narrator, Homer's internet company, CompuGobalHyperMegaNet, plus it encourages people to read classic literature.

"El Viaje de Nuestro Jomer"--Homer does his version of the pee-dance: "Marge! We're gonna miss the Chili Cookoff! Less artsy more fartsy!" They go, he drinks too much and eats some of Wiggum's crazy chili, only to end up hallucinating in the desert with a talking coyote (the late Johnny Cash). Lost, he wanders to the lighthouse to find his soul mate, where Marge tracks him down after remembering his affection for blinking lights and proving their true soulmatehood. Aw!

"How I Spent My Strummer Vacation"--The family sends Homer to Rock n Roll Camp!! Fun guest stars abound: Tom Petty, Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, etc. Homer and the rest of Springfield's men learn about crotch stuffing, songwriting, and the like. At the final concert for the town, Homer can't face the shame of just being a roadie, so he steals the show with his improv'd song "Testin' My Love." Highlight: Homer swinging the guitar around by the cord yelling "Baby baby baby baby!"

"I Love Lisa"--(i'm a big Lisa fan, so i had to give her shout out. ) Lisa notices that Ralph didn't get any Valentines, so she gives him one reading "I choo-choo-choose you!" (and it has a picture of a train!) Ralph misunderstands the gesture and falls madly in love with her. He announces it publicly on Krusty's Show and Lisa erupts, confessing that she doesn't love Ralph at all. Ever-helpful Bart later plays the video to her in slo-mo: "You can actually pinpoint the second when his heart rips in half!" Feeling bad, Lisa gives Ralph another Valentine reading "Let's BEE friends!" (and it has a picture of a bee!) Highlights include Homer's tricking Ralph into putting a new coat of tar on the roof.

"Missionary: Impossible"--Homer pledges $10,000 to save his favorite British sitcom, "Do Shut Up." Betty White tracks him down for the $, w/the Teletubbies and Mr. Rogers as backup. Homer flees to the church where Rev. Lovejoy ships him off as a missionary to the South Pacific. Homer opens Lucky Savage casino, which leads to alcoholism and violence, so to atone he agrees to finish building a chapel. Upon completion, he and the girl he's named Lisa Junior ring the chapel bell too loud and start an earthquake and subsequent lava flood. Great jokes about the church and casinos, the fierce Betty White, and of course, "Save us Jebus!"