The Best Episodes Written By Al Jean

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.0/10(51 votes)

   #1 - Stark Raving Dad

   S3:E19/19/1991

   A deviation from his norm lands Homer in a mental institution, where he shares a room with a man who thinks he's Michael Jackson.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
2. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #2 - Cousin Elliott

   S1:E511/7/1984

   Cousin Elliot shows up at the Pembroke house. His ideas on how to deal with children do not coincide with Charles' opinions.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
3. 

   7.8/10(50 votes)

   #3 - The Way We Was

   S2:E121/31/1991

   When the TV breaks, Marge and Homer entertain the kids with the story of how they first met.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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4. 

   7.6/10(49 votes)

   #4 - Treehouse of Horror II

   S3:E710/31/1991

   Maggie uses one of three wishes; a mind-reading Bart rules Springfield; Homer donates his brain to Mr. Burns' science project.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
5. 

   7.6/10(28 votes)

   #5 - HOMЯ

   S12:E91/7/2001

   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:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
6. 

   7.4/10(74 votes)

   #6 - Moaning Lisa

   S1:E62/11/1990

   The meaning of life and second grade have Lisa playing the blues solo, until she jams with a kindred spirit; Homer seeks tutelage to beat Bart at video boxing.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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7. 

   7.4/10(80 votes)

   #7 - There's No Disgrace Like Home

   S1:E41/28/1990

   After seeing families being nice to each other at a company picnic, Homer orders the Simpsons to a family therapist.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
8. 

   7.4/10(34 votes)

   #8 - Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala (Annoyed Grunt) cious

   S8:E132/7/1997

   Marge is stressed by the demands of motherhood and the Simpsons get a magical British nanny, who floats down from the sky holding an umbrella.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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   Writer:Al Jean
9. 

   7.4/10(30 votes)

   #9 - Mom and Pop Art

   S10:E194/11/1999

   Homer's failed do-it-yourself project gets mistaken for "outsider art." Suddenly in the limelight, Homer must come up with new "works" to impress the art world.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Jean

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10. 

    7.3/10(45 votes)

    #10 - Treehouse of Horror III

    S4:E510/29/1992

    A Halloween trilogy includes a murderous Krusty doll; a "King Kong" parody; an invasion of zombies unleashed by Bart's incantation.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
11. 

    7.3/10(31 votes)

    #11 - Lisa's Sax

    S9:E310/19/1997

    After Lisa’s saxophone is destroyed, the Simpsons reminisce about how she originally got the instrument. On the hottest day of the year, Homer must decide whether to buy an air conditioner or replace Lisa’s sax.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
12. 

    7.3/10(11 votes)

    #12 - The Many Saints of Springfield

    S34:E132/19/2023

    When Ned Flanders falls on hard times, Fat Tony makes him an offer he can't refuse.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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13. 

    7.2/10(46 votes)

    #13 - Lisa's Pony

    S3:E811/7/1991

    After disappointing Lisa, Homer buys her a pony, solving one problem, but creating others, requiring a second job--at Apu's Kwik-E-Mart.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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14. 

    7.2/10(12 votes)

    #14 - The Tell-Tale Pants

    S35:E165/5/2024

    Marge comes upon a surprising windfall and, angry with Homer, spends it secretly on herself.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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15. 

    7.1/10(70 votes)

    #15 - The Telltale Head

    S1:E82/25/1990

    Bart pulls a stunt that shocks the entire town, including the new friends he was trying to impress.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
16. 

    7.0/10(25 votes)

    #16 - Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?

    S11:E310/24/1999

    With Lisa's help, Homer uses his vast knowledge of food to become the town's leading restaurant critic. But when he gets petty and vindictive in his criticisms, all the other chefs in town try to kill him.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
17. 

    6.9/10(31 votes)

    #17 - The Man Who Came to Be Dinner

    S26:E101/4/2015

    During a trip to "Dizzneeland" the Simpsons board the wrong ride, Rocket To Your Doom, and are transported through the galaxy to Kang and Kodos' home planet, where they are held captive at the local zoo and the inhabitants decide to eat Homer.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
18. 

    6.9/10(8 votes)

    #18 - The Man Who Flew Too Much

    S36:E1012/22/2024

    The new and improved Pin Pals travel to Capital City for their first ever state bowling championship.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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19. 

    6.7/10(22 votes)

    #19 - Children of a Lesser Clod

    S12:E205/13/2001

    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:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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20. 

    6.6/10(24 votes)

    #20 - Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder

    S11:E611/14/1999

    Homer bowls a perfect 300 game, then concludes that the greatest accomplishment of his life is behind him. He reconnects with the world by bonding with baby Maggie.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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21. 

    6.6/10(25 votes)

    #21 - Day of the Jackanapes

    S12:E132/18/2001

    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:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
22. 

    6.5/10(28 votes)

    #22 - I Won't Be Home for Christmas

    S26:E912/7/2014

    After Moe convinces Homer to stay out drinking on Christmas Eve, Marge tells Homer not to come home. This leads to Homer's sad trek through lonely Springfield, where he learns that the only place where one should truly get drunk on Christmas is home.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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23. 

    6.4/10(28 votes)

    #23 - Mr. Lisa's Opus

    S29:E812/3/2017

    As future Lisa writes her college application essay for Harvard, she recalls past disappointing birthdays that helped shape her.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
24. 

    6.4/10(7 votes)

    #24 - The Boy Next Door

    S2:E131/4/1988

    ALF befriends the Ochmoneks' belligerent nephew, Jake.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean
25. 

    6.4/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Suspicious Minds

    S3:E151/23/1989

    ALF is convinced that a reclusive neighbor is actually Elvis Presley.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Jean

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    Writer:Al Jean