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Top 10 Most Iconic Simpsons Scenes

Top 10 Most Iconic Simpsons Scenes
VOICE OVER: Ryan Wild WRITTEN BY: Jason McLean
D'oh! We're diving into the most unforgettable moments from Springfield's favorite family. From heartwarming scenes to hilarious hijinks, join us as we count down the most iconic scenes that have defined "The Simpsons" over the decades! Our countdown includes epic moments like Homer jumping Springfield Gorge, Maggie shooting Mr. Burns, Frank Grimes losing it, the legendary Monorail Song, and many more unforgettable scenes that have made the show a pop culture phenomenon! Which Simpsons scene do you think is the most iconic? Share in the comments.

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down scenes from “The Simpsons”' TV run that have stood the test of time for better or worse. But no running gags.

#10: Hank Scorpio’s Multitasking

“You Only Move Twice”

One person’s supervillain is another person’s fair, understanding, and really cool employer. Hank Scorpio personifies this duality in a series of interconnected scenes, that are really one big scene, near the end of the only episode the character appears in. We see him taking care of James Bont, with a “t”, threatening the UN, and then torching government forces with a flamethrower. They did, after all, invade his lair, which is also his office. But he isn’t too busy with his plans for world domination to take the time to praise Homer for his quick thinking, give him advice on hammocks, and respect his decision to quit for his family’s well-being. That’s some hilarious, and truly memorable, multitasking.


#9: Happy Birthday, Lisa

“Stark Raving Dad”

Most of the hype for “The Simpsons”’ third season premier revolved around the rumor that Michael Jackson was going to be voicing a character. The singer did provide the voice for Leon Kompowsky, a psychiatric patient who Homer brings home and who thinks he’s really MJ. Jackson was credited as John Jay Smith due to contract reasons, which didn’t prevent him from writing “Happy Birthday, Lisa.” In the show, Leon writes the song for Bart to give to Lisa as a birthday present. This brought the B-plot, Lisa’s birthday, to the forefront. And due to the sweet and heartfelt way the scene came across, it’s what many remember most from this episode decades after it first aired.

#8: Ned Flanders Finally Snaps

“Hurricane Neddy”

For over seven seasons, Ned Flanders was one of the most consistently written and performed characters on the show. Sure, there was development, and new traits added over the years, but he didn’t waver from his overall supportive-to-a-fault nature. So when he finally snapped, the scene was unforgettable. A hurricane passed through Springfield, only destroying the Flanders home. The neighborhood pitched in and built him a new house, very poorly. When the whole thing crashed, so did Ned’s self-control. We get some of his trademark sounds like “diddly,” which we later find out are his coping mechanism to suppress his anger, and then he launched into an epic tirade against everyone there, before driving himself to a mental institution.

#7: Maude Flanders' Death

"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily"

Maude Flanders died either because a barrage of t-shirts knocked her off the bleachers of the local speedway, or because her voice actress Maggie Roswell was not able to satisfactorily negotiate her contract with Fox. Regardless, the way the writers handled her death was shocking, to say the least. It happened near the beginning of the episode, shortly after the opening credits stopped rolling. The story then shifted focus to Homer and Bart helping widower Ned deal with dating. While other recurring Simpsons characters had died before, this was the first time it happened on screen.

#6: Homer’s Mom Leaves

“Mother Simpson”

Homer’s mother Mona Simpson, voiced by Glenn Close, would come in and out of her son’s life during the series, and eventually die. While these encounters were always emotional, it’s the first time we see them say goodbye that stands out. Homer didn’t know his mother was alive, but when she shows up, their reunion is brief. Because of her past activism, she is forced to go back on the run with the underground. After they part, Homer just looks off in the distance, and then up at the stars. This moment is truly powerful and melancholic, done with no dialogue. Producers even asked the network not to run commercials over the end credits so they didn’t diminish the emotional weight of the scene.

#5: Do It For Her

"And Maggie Makes Three"

We’ve seen Homer as a grossly unqualified oaf at his job and as a caring family man at home. Those worlds collide in a notably touching way when Bart and Lisa ask why there are no baby pictures of Maggie in the family photo album. We learn that at one point Homer had quit his job at the nuclear power plant and replaced it with his dream job at the bowling alley - until Marge’s unexpected third pregnancy forced him back to the plant. Mr. Burns exacted revenge by posting a de-motivational sign reading “Don’t forget, you’re here forever” in Homer’s work space. But by covering it with Maggie’s baby pictures, it now reads “Do it for her,” ending the episode on a beautiful emotional note.

#4: The Monorail Song

"Marge vs. the Monorail"

Funny musical production numbers have been baked into this show’s DNA since the program’s golden years. Who can forget Mr. Burns revealing that he is going to turn Bart and Lisa’s puppies into a vest, “Beauty and the Beast”-style? Or Troy McClure proving that “The Planet of the Apes” really can work as a Broadway musical? But it’s the late great Phil Hartmn’s earlier singing performance as travelling salesman Lyle Lanley that is still the most memorable. While not a direct parody, it clearly draws inspiration from Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man.” But episode writer Conan O’Brien, along with Hartman and the good people of Springfield, make this number uniquely Simpsons. O’Brien would even perform the song at the Hollywood Bowl in 2013.

#3: Frank Grimes Loses It

"Homer's Enemy"

When “The Simpsons” goes dark, it goes really dark. While Homer Simpson is portrayed as an everyman, Frank Grimes was an everyman without the luck, or plot armor, to succeed when failure is the logical outcome. Most of the episode focuses on Homer trying to deal with someone who doesn’t like him, for reasons that would be understandable in the real world. When Grimes finally snaps, he starts doing things that he thinks Homer gets away with, until he touches some high voltage power cables and dies. At his funeral, Homer’s sleep talking causes Lenny to say “That’s our Homer!” The focus comes back to Homer, and the episode ends with everyone laughing. This was dark comedy and meta commentary before it was a thing.

#2: Maggie Shoots Mr. Burns

“Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part Two"

Between its sixth and seventh seasons, “The Simpsons” managed to create the mystery of the summer: Who Shot Mr. Burns? Almost everyone was a suspect and had a motive, but the culprit turned out to be someone no one was expecting: Maggie Simpson. And her motive was that he was trying to steal her lollipop, effectively taking candy from a baby. Was it an accident? That wasn’t clear. But what is clear is that Mr. Burns’ description of the events is one that will stand the test of time as one of the most memorable moments in the series’ history.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.


Weightless Snacking, “Deep Space Homer”

Operatic 2001-Style Chip Eating in Space


Stepping on Rakes, “Cape Feare”

Repeating a Gag Until It Becomes Iconic


Ned Saves Homer from a Fire, “Homer the Heretic”

It Encapsulates Just Who Ned Is - and Who Homer Is Too


I Am So S-M-R-T, “Homer Goes to College”

An Unintentional Spelling Blooper Made This Scene Even More Memorable


Stupid Sexy Flanders, “Little Big Mom”

Homer Is Dismissive of & Impressed with Flanders in the Same Thought



#1: Jumping Springfield Gorge

"Bart the Daredevil"

This episode helps set the tone for Homer’s comedic pratfalls for seasons to come. Homer tells Bart not to jump Springfield Gorge on a skateboard, but when his son sneaks out to do it anyways, Homer decides to jump the gorge himself. Bart tells his dad it’s okay, he has learned his lesson, but Homer is already rolling down the hill. His brief euphoric moment of thinking he is going to make it is followed by a fall down the gorge, punctuated with a chorus of “doh”’s as Homer hits his head on the rocks. Then we are treated to a second chorus, as Homer is rescued but then falls out of the ambulance and back down the gorge.


Do you agree with our list? Are there any iconic Simpsons scenes we missed? Surely there are, this show had so many memorable moments. Let us know in the comments.

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