The Best Episodes of The Simpsons Season 12
Every episode of The Simpsons Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Simpsons Season 12!
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
Season 12 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Simpsons" season 12 is "Treehouse of Horror XI", rated 7.6/10 from 2465 user votes. It was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Carolyn Omine, Don Payne, John Frink, Rob LaZebnik. "Treehouse of Horror XI" aired on 11/1/2000 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "A Tale of Two Springfields".
7.6/10 2,465 votes#1 - Treehouse of Horror XI
Season 12 Episode 1 - Aired 11/1/2000
This year's Halloween story sees The Simpsons as "The Munsters" (with everyone except Lisa getting killed), Homer as a wandering spirit on the hunt for a good deed in "G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad," Bart and Lisa as peasants in a fairy tale forest in "Scary Tales Can Come True," and Lisa inadvertently dooming mankind by rescuing a dolphin in "Night of the Dolphin."
Director: Matthew Nastuk
Writer: Carolyn Omine, Don Payne, John Frink, Rob LaZebnik
7.4/10 2,207 votes#2 - A Tale of Two Springfields
Season 12 Episode 2 - Aired 11/5/2000
While calling Animal Control over a badger taking residence in Santa's Little Helper's doghouse, Homer discovers that Springfield has two different area codes–and ends up leading a revolt that splits the town in two.
Director: Shaun Cashman
Writer: John Swartzwelder
6.9/10 2,053 votes#3 - Insane Clown Poppy
Season 12 Episode 3 - Aired 11/12/2000
Krusty takes parenting lessons from Homer when, during an outdoor book fair, a girl tells Krusty that she is his long-lost daughter from a one-night stand with a female soldier who fought during the first Gulf War.
Director: Bob Anderson
Writer: Don Payne, John Frink
7.1/10 2,055 votes#4 - Lisa the Tree Hugger
Season 12 Episode 4 - Aired 11/19/2000
Lisa falls for the teenaged leader of a militant environmentalist group and tries to impress him by living in Springfield's oldest tree in order to keep it from being cut down.
Director: Steven Dean Moore
Writer: Matt Selman
6.9/10 2,132 votes#5 - Homer vs. Dignity
Season 12 Episode 5 - Aired 11/26/2000
When the Simpsons once again have financial problems, Mr. Burns pays Homer to play pranks on others and humiliate himself in public. Meanwhile, Smithers creates a Malibu Stacy-themed musical.
Director: Neil Affleck
Writer: Rob LaZebnik
7.7/10 2,231 votes#6 - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
Season 12 Episode 6 - Aired 12/3/2000
Homer decides to buy a computer after turning up to the Plant to find it closed by e-mail. He then creates his own website and it eventually gains attention when he posts gossip. Homer dubs himself as "Mr. X" to conceal his identity. When he reveals that he is Mr. X, he becomes drugged into a mysterious island where people who know too much are imprisoned after Homer starts writing conspiracy theories such as flu shots.
Director: Mark Kirkland
Writer: John Swartzwelder
7.2/10 2,037 votes#7 - The Great Money Caper
Season 12 Episode 7 - Aired 12/10/2000
Homer and Bart become father–son con artists (after Bart is given money out of pity when Homer decided to not take him home), but soon find that they are the ones being had.
Director: Michael Polcino
Writer: Carolyn Omine
7.9/10 2,781 votes#8 - Skinner's Sense of Snow
Season 12 Episode 8 - Aired 12/17/2000
A snowstorm traps the students of Springfield Elementary inside, with them overthrowing Principal Skinner when he uses his Army skills to control them. Meanwhile, Homer tries to rescue the children–using Flanders' car.
Director: Lance Kramer
Writer: Tim Long
8.1/10 2,502 votes#9 - HOMЯ
Season 12 Episode 9 - Aired 1/7/2001
While working as a human guinea pig (to pay off the family's lost savings after making a bad investment), Homer discovers the root cause of his subnormal intelligence: a crayon that was lodged in his brain ever since he was a boy. He decides to have it removed to increase his IQ, but discovers that being smart does not necessarily equal being happy.
Director: Mike B. Anderson
Writer: Al Jean
7.1/10 2,357 votes#10 - Pokey Mom
Season 12 Episode 10 - Aired 1/14/2001
Marge tries to rehabilitate a convict with remarkable artistic talent. Meanwhile, Homer uses a trash can to fix people's spines.
Director: Bob Anderson
Writer: Tom Martin
7.4/10 2,092 votes#11 - Worst Episode Ever
Season 12 Episode 11 - Aired 2/4/2001
Bart and Milhouse are banned from The Android Dungeon after stopping Comic Book Guy from buying a box of priceless Star Wars memorabilia for $5, but are hired as his replacements when Comic Book Guy has a heart attack and is advised to leave his job in order to make friends.
Director: Matthew Nastuk
Writer: Larry Doyle
6.8/10 2,048 votes#12 - Tennis the Menace
Season 12 Episode 12 - Aired 2/11/2001
While making funeral arrangements for Grampa's future, the funeral planner pitches the idea of a mausoleum that uses the same amount of cement as a full-sized tennis court. This prompts Homer to instead build a tennis court in his backyard, initially mistaking the sport for "Foxy Boxing". The tennis court makes Marge and Homer popular in town, but it turns out that this is only because Homer's inferior tennis ability makes them an easy target. Bart on the other hand, shines as a natural.
Director: Jen Kamerman
Writer: Ian Maxtone-Graham
7.1/10 1,902 votes#13 - Day of the Jackanapes
Season 12 Episode 13 - Aired 2/18/2001
Krusty announces his retirement due to interference from network executives and the growing popularity of the big-money game show "Me Wantee", but when Krusty reveals to Sideshow Bob that all of the episodes featuring him have been erased, Sideshow Bob uses Krusty's biggest fan (Bart) to murder him during Krusty's farewell show.
Director: Michael Marcantel
Writer: Al Jean
7.2/10 2,216 votes#14 - New Kids on the Blecch
Season 12 Episode 14 - Aired 2/25/2001
A music producer selects Bart, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph to be members of the next hit boy band, who record subliminal songs about joining the Navy.
Director: Steven Dean Moore
Writer: Tim Long
7.5/10 2,052 votes#15 - Hungry Hungry Homer
Season 12 Episode 15 - Aired 3/4/2001
Homer becomes a Good Samaritan after discovering the simple joys of helping people in need–which is put to the test when he goes on a hunger strike after the owner of the Springfield Isotopes attempts to discredit him when Homer stumbles on his plot to discreetly move the team to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Director: Nancy Kruse
Writer: John Swartzwelder
6.6/10 1,979 votes#16 - Bye Bye Nerdy
Season 12 Episode 16 - Aired 3/11/2001
When Lisa becomes the target of a female bully, Lisa discovers a scientific reason as to why bullies pick on nerds. Meanwhile, Homer goes into the baby-proofing business, which is threatening the businesses of pediatricians and greeting card salesmen.
Director: Lauren MacMullan
Writer: Don Payne, John Frink
6.8/10 2,023 votes#17 - Simpson Safari
Season 12 Episode 17 - Aired 4/1/2001
When the Simpsons run out of food thanks to a bag boy strike (caused by Homer), the family finds an old box of animal crackers with a sweepstakes that sends The Simpsons to Africa.
Director: Mark Kirkland
Writer: John Swartzwelder
8.6/10 3,042 votes#18 - Trilogy of Error
Season 12 Episode 18 - Aired 4/29/2001
Homer's rush to the hospital to reattach his thumb, Lisa's rush to school to win the science fair, and Bart's run-in with an illegal fireworks scheme are interconnected in a parody of Go and Run Lola Run.
Director: Mike B. Anderson
Writer: Matt Selman
7.2/10 2,267 votes#19 - I'm Goin' to Praiseland
Season 12 Episode 19 - Aired 5/6/2001
After finding a sketchbook belonging to his late wife Maude, Ned Flanders opens a Bible-themed amusement park to honor her memory.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Julie Thacker
7.2/10 1,849 votes#20 - Children of a Lesser Clod
Season 12 Episode 20 - Aired 5/13/2001
After spraining his knee during a basketball game, Homer begins taking care of the neighborhood kids to cure his boredom, prompting jealousy from Bart and Lisa, who feel that Homer is giving the kids the attention they never had.
Director: Michael Polcino
Writer: Al Jean
6.9/10 1,924 votes#21 - Simpsons Tall Tales
Season 12 Episode 21 - Aired 5/20/2001
When Homer refuses to pay a five dollar airport tax to fly to Delaware, the family is forced to ride in a livestock car of a train instead. There they meet a singing hobo who tells three tall tales: Homer as Paul Bunyan. Lisa as Connie Appleseed, a parody of Johnny Appleseed. Bart as Tom Sawyer with Nelson as Huckleberry Finn.
Director: Bob Anderson
Writer: Bob Bendetson, Don Payne, John Frink, Matt Selman