The Simpsons: 10 Best Mr Burns Moments

By David Opie /

8. Fighting Maggie - Rosebud

"So, good sand today, hmm?" Voted the second best Simpsons episode of all time by Entertainment Weekly, 'Rosebud' provides a rare insight into Mr Burns's past, delving into his lifelong obsession with a toy from his childhood. Bobo the bear is discovered by the Simpson family, but while most of them think it's just a dirty old toy, Maggie instantly adopts it as her own. Homer soon realizes that Bobo belongs to Mr Burns and negotiates a deal, agreeing to give the toy back in exchange for a million dollars and three Hawaiian islands, but he stops when he sees how much Maggie loves the bear. Burns then starts a ridiculous campaign to retrieve Bobo, cutting off Springfield's TV and beer supply to coerce the town into forcing Homer to return the toy. There are a lot of great moments to choose from in this classic episode, but Burns's final confrontation with Maggie is clearly the best. Initially, Burns plays it cool, accepting Maggie's pacifier as a peace offering, but when the moment presents itself, he lunges for the bear. Despite the fact that Maggie is only a small infant, the youngest Simpson holds her own against Burns and ultimately wins in a battle of strength. There are plenty more examples of how physically weak Burns actually is, but few are as humiliating, especially as the paparazzi sneak in a quick picture. "What a scoop!"