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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!

Binge this in 8h 2m•Peaking at 8.6/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 1 - Treehouse of Horror XI
    7.6/10(2726 votes)

    #1 - Treehouse of Horror XI

    S12:E1

    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
    Writers:Carolyn Omine, Don Payne, John Frink, Rob LaZebnik

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  2. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 2 - A Tale of Two Springfields
    7.4/10(2420 votes)

    #2 - A Tale of Two Springfields

    S12:E2

    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

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  3. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 3 - Insane Clown Poppy
    6.9/10(2239 votes)

    #3 - Insane Clown Poppy

    S12:E3

    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
    Writers:Don Payne, John Frink

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  4. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 4 - Lisa the Tree Hugger
    7.1/10(2246 votes)

    #4 - Lisa the Tree Hugger

    S12:E4

    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

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  5. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 5 - Homer vs. Dignity
    6.9/10(2328 votes)

    #5 - Homer vs. Dignity

    S12:E5

    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

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  6. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 6 - The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
    7.7/10(2441 votes)

    #6 - 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:Mark Kirkland
    Writer:John Swartzwelder

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  7. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 7 - The Great Money Caper
    7.2/10(2240 votes)

    #7 - The Great Money Caper

    S12:E7

    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

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  8. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 8 - Skinner's Sense of Snow
    7.9/10(3023 votes)

    #8 - Skinner's Sense of Snow

    S12:E8

    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

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  9. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 9 - HOMЯ
    8.1/10(2752 votes)

    #9 - HOMЯ

    S12:E9

    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

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  10. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 10 - Pokey Mom
    7.1/10(2547 votes)

    #10 - Pokey Mom

    S12:E10

    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

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  11. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 11 - Worst Episode Ever
    7.4/10(2278 votes)

    #11 - Worst Episode Ever

    S12:E11

    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

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  12. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 12 - Tennis the Menace
    6.8/10(2237 votes)

    #12 - Tennis the Menace

    S12:E12

    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

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  13. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 13 - Day of the Jackanapes
    7.1/10(2086 votes)

    #13 - Day of the Jackanapes

    S12:E13

    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

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  14. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 14 - New Kids on the Blecch
    7.2/10(2410 votes)

    #14 - New Kids on the Blecch

    S12:E14

    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

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  15. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 15 - Hungry Hungry Homer
    7.5/10(2251 votes)

    #15 - Hungry Hungry Homer

    S12:E15

    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

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  16. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 16 - Bye Bye Nerdy
    6.6/10(2170 votes)

    #16 - Bye Bye Nerdy

    S12:E16

    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
    Writers:Don Payne, John Frink

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  17. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 17 - Simpson Safari
    6.8/10(2219 votes)

    #17 - Simpson Safari

    S12:E17

    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

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  18. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 18 - Trilogy of Error
    8.6/10(3329 votes)

    #18 - Trilogy of Error

    S12:E18

    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

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  19. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 19 - I'm Goin' to Praiseland
    7.1/10(2445 votes)

    #19 - I'm Goin' to Praiseland

    S12:E19

    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

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  20. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 20 - Children of a Lesser Clod
    7.2/10(2029 votes)

    #20 - Children of a Lesser Clod

    S12:E20

    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

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  21. The Simpsons Season 12 Episode 21 - Simpsons Tall Tales
    6.9/10(2117 votes)

    #21 - Simpsons Tall Tales

    S12:E21

    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
    Writers:Don Payne, John Frink, Bob Bendetson, Matt Selman

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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 2726 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".