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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...
Genres:FamilyAnimationComedy
Network:FOX

Season 12 Ratings Summary

"Treehouse of Horror XI" is the best rated episode of "The Simpsons" season 12. It scored 7.6/10 based on 2530 votes. Directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Carolyn Omine, Don Payne, John Frink, Rob LaZebnik, it aired on 11/1/2000. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "A Tale of Two Springfields".

  • Treehouse of Horror XI
    7.6/102,530 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

  • A Tale of Two Springfields
    7.4/102,257 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

  • Insane Clown Poppy
    6.9/102,095 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

  • Lisa the Tree Hugger
    7.1/102,098 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

  • Homer vs. Dignity
    6.9/102,175 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

  • The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
    7.7/102,280 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

  • The Great Money Caper
    7.2/102,084 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

  • Skinner's Sense of Snow
    7.9/102,835 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

  • HOMЯ
    8.1/102,553 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

  • Pokey Mom
    7.1/102,401 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

  • Worst Episode Ever
    7.4/102,132 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

  • Tennis the Menace
    6.8/102,089 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

  • Day of the Jackanapes
    7.1/101,942 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

  • New Kids on the Blecch
    7.2/102,253 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

  • Hungry Hungry Homer
    7.5/102,088 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

  • Bye Bye Nerdy
    6.6/102,014 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

  • Simpson Safari
    6.8/102,062 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

  • Trilogy of Error
    8.6/103,096 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

  • I'm Goin' to Praiseland
    7.2/102,301 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

  • Children of a Lesser Clod
    7.2/101,885 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

  • Simpsons Tall Tales
    6.9/101,962 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