The Best Episodes Written By John Swartzwelder

Every TV Episode Written by John Swartzwelder Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 11 Episode 1 - Madonna/Simple Minds
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Madonna/Simple Minds

    S11:E1

    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

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  2. undefined Season 8 Episode 2 - You Only Move Twice
    8.5/10(42 votes)

    #2 - You Only Move Twice

    S8:E2

    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

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  3. undefined Season 8 Episode 18 - Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment
    8.5/10(36 votes)

    #3 - Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment

    S8:E18

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

    Director:N/A

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  4. undefined Season 6 Episode 12 - Homer the Great
    8.4/10(42 votes)

    #4 - Homer the Great

    S6:E12

    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

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  5. undefined Season 8 Episode 23 - Homer's Enemy
    8.3/10(42 votes)

    #5 - Homer's Enemy

    S8:E23

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

    Director:N/A

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  6. undefined Season 7 Episode 17 - Homer the Smithers
    8.2/10(35 votes)

    #6 - Homer the Smithers

    S7:E17

    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

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  7. undefined Season 8 Episode 12 - Mountain of Madness
    8.2/10(32 votes)

    #7 - Mountain of Madness

    S8:E12

    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

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  8. undefined Season 5 Episode 4 - Rosebud
    8.1/10(44 votes)

    #8 - Rosebud

    S5:E4

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

    Director:N/A

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  9. undefined Season 6 Episode 4 - Itchy & Scratchy Land
    8.1/10(36 votes)

    #9 - Itchy & Scratchy Land

    S6:E4

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

    Director:N/A

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  10. undefined Season 3 Episode 4 - Bart the Murderer
    8.0/10(46 votes)

    #10 - Bart the Murderer

    S3:E4

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

    Director:N/A

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  11. undefined Season 4 Episode 6 - Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie
    8.0/10(43 votes)

    #11 - Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie

    S4:E6

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

    Director:N/A

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  12. undefined Season 6 Episode 14 - Bart's Comet
    8.0/10(36 votes)

    #12 - Bart's Comet

    S6:E14

    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

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  13. undefined Season 11 Episode 2 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

    S11:E2

    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

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  14. undefined Season 11 Episode 3 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
    8.0/10(1 votes)

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

    S11:E3

    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.""

    Director:N/A

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  15. undefined Season 7 Episode 6 - Treehouse of Horror VI
    7.9/10(36 votes)

    #15 - Treehouse of Horror VI

    S7:E6

    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

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  16. undefined Season 9 Episode 23 - King of the Hill
    7.9/10(27 votes)

    #16 - King of the Hill

    S9:E23

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

    Director:N/A

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  17. undefined Season 6 Episode 15 - Homie the Clown
    7.8/10(34 votes)

    #17 - Homie the Clown

    S6:E15

    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

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  18. undefined Season 10 Episode 2 - The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace
    7.8/10(32 votes)

    #18 - The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace

    S10:E2

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

    Director:N/A

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  19. undefined Season 2 Episode 10 - Bart Gets Hit by a Car
    7.7/10(50 votes)

    #19 - Bart Gets Hit by a Car

    S2:E10

    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

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  20. undefined Season 2 Episode 3 - Treehouse of Horror
    7.7/10(65 votes)

    #20 - Treehouse of Horror

    S2:E3

    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

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  21. undefined Season 4 Episode 20 - Whacking Day
    7.7/10(37 votes)

    #21 - Whacking Day

    S4:E20

    Lisa takes a stand against Springfield's annual snake-bashing festival.

    Director:N/A

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  22. undefined Season 5 Episode 11 - Homer the Vigilante
    7.7/10(35 votes)

    #22 - Homer the Vigilante

    S5:E11

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

    Director:N/A

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  23. undefined Season 7 Episode 2 - Radioactive Man
    7.7/10(35 votes)

    #23 - Radioactive Man

    S7:E2

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

    Director:N/A

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  24. undefined Season 12 Episode 6 - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
    7.7/10(24 votes)

    #24 - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes

    S12:E6

    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

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  25. undefined Season 2 Episode 9 - Itchy & Scratchy & Marge
    7.6/10(53 votes)

    #25 - Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

    S2:E9

    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

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John Swartzwelder Ratings Summary

"Madonna/Simple Minds" is the best rated episode written by John Swartzwelder. It scored 9/10 based on 1 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 11/9/1985 and is rated 0.5 points higher than their second-best episode, "You Only Move Twice".