The Best Episodes Written By John Swartzwelder

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #1 - Madonna/Simple Minds

   S11:E111/9/1985

   Sketches include: ""SNL Drug Tests,"" ""A Message From The Almighty,"" ""National Inquirer Theatre,"" ""Pinklisting,"" ""Cabrini Green,"" and ""Nancy Reagan Meets Charles and Di."" Simple Minds performed ""Alive and Kicking.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder
2. 

   8.5/10(43 votes)

   #2 - You Only Move Twice

   S8:E211/3/1996

   In an idyllic planned community, Homer works for a new boss who has trouble with the government. Meanwhile, the rest of the family has difficulty dealing with the bucolic burg.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder
3. 

   8.5/10(37 votes)

   #3 - Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment

   S8:E183/16/1997

   When Prohibition is revived in Springfield, Homer and Bart supply the town with alcohol.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
4. 

   8.4/10(44 votes)

   #4 - Homer the Great

   S6:E121/8/1995

   Homer joins the secret society of the Stonecutters and is suddenly exalted when the brethren discover his birthmark. The ancient order is shaken to the core by the ineptitude of its new Chosen One.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
5. 

   8.4/10(44 votes)

   #5 - Homer's Enemy

   S8:E235/4/1997

   A hardworking new employee at the power plant is consumed with resentment at Homer's undeserved success.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
6. 

   8.2/10(35 votes)

   #6 - Homer the Smithers

   S7:E172/25/1996

   Forced to take a vacation, Smithers needs to find a temporary replacement who won't outshine him. Homer seems the perfect choice until a sudden outburst forces Mr. Burns to assert his independence.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
7. 

   8.2/10(33 votes)

   #7 - Mountain of Madness

   S8:E122/2/1997

   To promote teamwork amongst the power plant's employees, Mr. Burns makes them go on a corporate retreat up in the mountains.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
8. 

   8.1/10(44 votes)

   #8 - Rosebud

   S5:E410/21/1993

   Burns longs for a childhood toy that winds up in the grip of Maggie.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
9. 

   8.1/10(36 votes)

   #9 - Itchy & Scratchy Land

   S6:E410/2/1994

   The family's trip to Itchy & Scratchy Land takes an unexpected turn when high-tech robots malfunction and become violent.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:John Swartzwelder

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   Writer:John Swartzwelder
10. 

    8.0/10(48 votes)

    #10 - Bart the Murderer

    S3:E410/10/1991

    While working for Fat Tony, Bart gains enough influence with his boss to solve his problems with Principal Skinner--perhaps permanently.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
11. 

    8.0/10(37 votes)

    #11 - Bart's Comet

    S6:E142/5/1995

    When Bart is forced to assist Principal Skinner in early-morning astronomy observations, he discovers a giant comet heading towards Springfield. Facing impending doom, the entire town shows up at the Flanders family bomb shelter.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
12. 

    8.0/10(38 votes)

    #12 - Treehouse of Horror VI

    S7:E610/29/1995

    In "Attack of the 50 Foot Eyesores," strange atmospheric conditions bring giant advertising statues to life. In "Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace," Groundskeeper Willie is killed in a freak accident and seeks revenge in the childrens' dreams. In the final segment, Homer steps through a secret portal and becomes three-dimensional.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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13. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

    S11:E211/16/1985

    Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre.""

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
14. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

    S11:E311/23/1985

    Sketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method.""

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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15. 

    7.9/10(45 votes)

    #15 - Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie

    S4:E611/3/1992

    Bart is punished by being barred from the Itchy and Scratchy movie.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
16. 

    7.9/10(35 votes)

    #16 - Homie the Clown

    S6:E152/12/1995

    Krusty the Clown's reckless spending forces him to open a clown college to keep afloat. New graduate Homer discovers the perks and perils of being Krusty.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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17. 

    7.9/10(28 votes)

    #17 - King of the Hill

    S9:E235/3/1998

    After Rainier Wolfcastle helps Homer get in shape, Homer accepts a challenge to climb the Murderhorn, the tallest mountain in Springfield.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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18. 

    7.9/10(33 votes)

    #18 - The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace

    S10:E29/20/1998

    A midlife crisis prompts Homer to quit his job and become an inventor.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
19. 

    7.8/10(36 votes)

    #19 - Homer the Vigilante

    S5:E111/6/1994

    Homer leads a vigilante group to catch the Springfield Cat Burglar, who then robs the museum.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
20. 

    7.8/10(36 votes)

    #20 - Radioactive Man

    S7:E29/24/1995

    Bart auditions for the part of Fallout Boy in the movie "Radioactive Man," being filmed in Springfield.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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21. 

    7.8/10(25 votes)

    #21 - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes

    S12:E612/3/2000

    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:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
22. 

    7.7/10(52 votes)

    #22 - Bart Gets Hit by a Car

    S2:E101/10/1991

    After Mr. Burns hits Bart with his car, ambulance-chasing attorney Lionel Hutz persuades Homer and Marge to sue for a million dollars.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
23. 

    7.7/10(68 votes)

    #23 - Treehouse of Horror

    S2:E310/25/1990

    The Simpson kids hide in the family treehouse and tell each other spooky stories. The first regards haunted houses, the second introduces Kang and Kodos for the first time in an alien abduction, and the third is a Simpson-adapted retelling of The Raven.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder
24. 

    7.7/10(55 votes)

    #24 - Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

    S2:E912/20/1990

    Maggie attacks Homer with a mallet after seeing it on Itchy & Scratchy. Marge begins a protest outside the production offices, demanding the show be retooled to prevent further violence.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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25. 

    7.7/10(43 votes)

    #25 - Krusty Gets Kancelled

    S4:E225/13/1993

    Krusty's Hollywood pals help when his show is canceled after a new star causes his ratings to plummet.

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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    Writer:John Swartzwelder