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(#1) Lisa Goes Gaga
- May 20 2012
"Lisa Goes Gaga" finds Lady Gaga cheering up both Lisa and the entire town of Springfield. While Gaga helps Lisa and others to realize the importance of being yourself, Moe is determined to be beyond help. Gaga and Lisa perform a duet and Homer sings "Poker Face" during the closing credits.
Why it falls short: From fans to critics to casual views, just about everyone dislikes this episode. While Gaga's performance is largely praised, the forced plot and rehashed jokes are hard to watch. Many critics also note how the episode feels more like a commercial for Lady Gaga than an installment of The Simpsons, a recurring theme in some of the newer seasons.
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(#2) The Musk Who Fell to Earth
- Jan 11 2015
In "The Musk Who Fell to Earth," Elon Musk spends some time in Springfield and finds inspiration in Homer's seemingly endless vault of ideas. Musk ends up making enemies with Mr. Burns who soon attempts to assassinate the Tesla CEO. Burns's bullet misses and veers towards Homer until Musk steps in to save the day. Musk leaves in his rocket, but returns after he finds Lisa as a stowaway.
Why it falls short: Elon Musk may be brilliant, but he isn't exactly known for his sense of humor. Much like "Lisa Goes Gaga" and other star-studded episodes, "The Musk Who Fell to Earth" plays more like a celebrity commercial than a proper episode.
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(#3) Every Man's Dream
In "Every Man's Dream," Homer and Marge explore a trial separation. In what is proven to be a dream within a dream within a dream, Homer and Marge go out on dates with other people who are related in their own way.
Why it falls short: Along with being redundant and pointless, the dream within a dream method is confusing and dull. Besides, who wants to see Homer and Marge break-up after they've been through and overcome so much together?
Original Airing: September 27, 2015
Season: The Simpsons - Season 27
Episode Number: 1 -
(#4) A Midsummer's Nice Dream
"A Midsummer's Nice Dream" finds Homer replacing Chong after the latter walks off stage during a Cheech and Chong show. After Homer perfectly recites the duo's "Dave's not here, man" bit, Cheech invites him to join the tour. Chong find another partner as well in Principal Skinner. Elsewhere, Marge becomes a hoarder.
Why it falls short: Whether you are a fan of Cheech and Chong or not, it's hard to get behind this episode. If you are a fan, you are probably offended by the watered-down nature of the jokes. If you aren't a fan, the underlying stoner themes won't win you over. It's a lose, lose.
Original Airing: March 13, 2011
Season: The Simpsons - Season 22
Episode Number: 16 -
(#5) What to Expect When Bart's Expecting
- Apr 27 2014
"What to Expect When Bart's Expecting" finds Bart with the power to help couples get pregnant thanks to a voodoo doll gone wrong. After helping several couples with fertility issues, Bart is kidnaped by Fat Tony who wants him to use his magic on a pair of horses to conceive a champion racehorse, but things don't go as planned.
Why it falls short: While it's a completely original plot, "What to Expect When Bart's Expecting" is definitely one of the weirder episodes, not to mention a little creepy, as a 10-year-old is tasked with aiding the town's fertility issues.
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(#6) The Principal and the Pauper
- Sep 28 1997
"The Principal and the Pauper" reveals that Principal Skinner's real name is Armin Tamzarian. The "real" Seymour Skinner was a POW and Principal Skinner assumed his identity. This sudden realization destroys the principal's reputation until the real Seymour Skinner, who has taken over at Springfield Elementary, can't live up to his namesake, thereby proving the value of Tamzarian. Like most episodes, this one ends where it begins, with Tamzarian reassuming the role and identity of Principal Skinner.
Why it falls short: This episode is not a favorite among fans or critics as it is seen as the beginning of the end of the show's glory days. The plot is forced, Principal Skinner is boring, and the deus ex machina ending is largely despised among die-hard fans.
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(#7) I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh
"I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh" finds Marge directing a play written by Lisa, which is a parody of Hamilton. Entitled Bloody, Bloody Jebediah, the show first features Sideshow Mel in the leading role before Professor Frink takes over. The production is nominated for several awards.
Why it falls short: The episode falls flat and isn't very funny. The Hamilton-inspired show had a lot of potential but it plays out like a first draft. "A Streetcar Named Marge", which centered on marge as the lead actress in a theater version of A Streetcar Named Desire, was a much better episode
Original Airing: April 7, 2019
Season: The Simpsons - Season 30
Episode Number: 20 -
(#8) Homer vs. Dignity
- Nov 26 2000
"Homer vs. Dignity," follows Homer as he works as a prank monkey for Mr. Burns to earn some extra dough, or should we say, "d'oh." Homer proceeds to cruelly taunt his fellow Springfieldians at Mr. Burns' request until Lisa convinces her father to reclaim his dignity. Homer vows to give the money her earned away to a good cause while Mr. Burns continues in his evil ways.
Why it falls short: The scene with Homer and the Panda is in the running for one of the worst in the series' history while elsewhere the episode stole directly from previous seasons of The Simpsons. All around, it's a bad episode.
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(#9) Four Great Women and a Manicure
- May 10 2009
"Four Great Women and a Manicure" features beloved Simpsons' characters portraying the tales of famous historic women including Selma as Queen Elizabeth I, Lisa as Snow White, Marge as Lady Macbeth and Maggie as Howard Roark from The Fountainhead. Each segment unfolds as Marge and Lisa bond over manicures.
Why it falls short: Anthology series are often The Simpsons' strong point, but this episode falls a bit flat. Not only is it the only episode in The Simpsons' history to not show or mention Bart at all, only one of the segments was memorable. The rest were simply throwaway moments strewn together and a haphazard sort of cohesiveness.
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(#10) No Good Read Goes Unpunished
In "No Good Read Goes Unpunished," Bart learns a thing or two from The Art of War while Marge realizes that The Princess in the Garden, her childhood favorite book, is now culturally insensitive. Marge attempt to rewrite the problematic passages, but she and Lisa find that the edits lessen the story.
Why it falls short: The episode attempts to respond to Hari Kondabolu's documentary, The Problem with Apu, which examines the racial stereotypes found in Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Many found the plot with Marge and Lisa to be tone-deaf and a bit of a cop-out, especially when Lisa – the show's moral compass – says, "Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do."
Original Airing: April 8, 2018
Season: The Simpsons - Season 29
Episode Number: 15 -
(#11) The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed
- Mar 28 2010
"The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed" follows the Simpsons to Jerusalem where they vacation with Ned Flanders. When Homer fails to grasp the importance of a series of Holy landmarks, Ned loses his temper and storms off. Homer fears that Ned got lost in the desert and ends up lost himself. Homer has a spiritual awakening and he and Ned resolve their differences.
Why it falls short: You know the show is running out of ideas when they come up with a reason to send characters to far-off destinations. The accuracy of Jerusalem's depiction is questionable and it seems a bit out of character for Ned to get so worked up by Homer at this point, especially after 21 seasons of living next door to each other.
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(#12) The Strong Arms of the Ma
- Feb 02 2003
"The Strong Arms of the Ma," finds Marge becoming agoraphobic after a mugging. To combat her fears, Marge starts lifting weights and soon her physique rivals that of a professional body builder. Unfortunately, she starts taking steroids which negatively affects her health and personality to the point that she gets lost in a blind rage. Marge later sees the errors of her ways.
Why it falls short: This is another lackluster Marge-driven episode. Rather than focus on the insecurities of her true character, like the Season seven gem "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield," "The Strong Arms of the Ma" introduces a series of outlandish premises without injecting the proper dose of humor.
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(#13) A Star Is Torn
- May 08 2005
"A Star Is Torn" follows the events of Krusy's "Li'l Starmaker" competition, which Lisa enters and Homer signs on as her manager. Another contestant, Cameron, sings Lisa's chosen song to perfection and soon enough the two face off in the finals. Lisa and Homer get in a fight, provoking Homer to become Cameron's manager. Homer later sabotages Cameron's chances while Lisa uses her final song to express her appreciation for her dad.
Why it falls short: Fans either love or hate this episode mostly due to its focus on Homer and Lisa's relationship. If you are a fan of somewhat sappy moments, it's a good episode while if you prefer hilarity over heart, it's a skipper.
Original Airing: May 8, 2005
Season: The Simpsons - Season 16
Episode Number: 18 -
(#14) My Big Fat Geek Wedding
- Apr 18 2004
Marriage problems abound in "My Big Fat Geek Wedding," with Edna Krabappel leaving Seymour Skinner at the alter after learning of his cold feet. Marge and Homer also have disagreements. Edna had a brief fling with the Comic Book Guy before deciding she is best off alone.
Why it falls short: Does anyone really care about Skinner and Krabappel's relationship? "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" proves the answer is "No", though there are a few laughs compliments of the deliciously sarcastic Comic Book Guy who prevents this from being the "worst episode ever."
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(#15) Marge Gamer
- Apr 22 2007
"Marge Gamer" finds Marge getting hooked on Earthland Realms, an online multi-player role-playing game. Many of Springfield's finest are also found in the game and Bart torments them all as the Shadow Knight. Bart takes things too far when he destroys Marge in the game, causing tension in their real-life relationship. Elsewhere, Homer and Lisa feud over soccer.
Why it falls short: Soccer star Ronaldo's guest spot was awkward at best and gamers have criticized the inaccurate depiction of role-playing games, leading this Season 11 episode to end up on the short-list of least memorable moments.
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About This Tool
When it comes to the best episodes of The Simpsons, there is no shortage of options to choose from, and almost all loyal fans can quickly tell. The show is still very interesting, but since its golden age, some of the storylines have made fans dissatisfied with who even think its golden age ended in the late 1990s.
Even if the show is no longer what it used to be, it can still provide interesting episodes from time to time. With this in mind, here the random tool lists 15 of the worst episodes of The Simpsons you may want to skip.
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