The Simpsons: 10 Exceptional Episodes From The Last 10 Years

By Adam Woolhouse /

1. "24 Minutes" - Season 18

Plot: In a parody of the Fox Television hit 24, Lisa must rely on her brother's help in stopping the school bullies from detonating a stink bomb during a school bake sale. Marge's entry into the bake sale is doomed from the beginning, as she only has the ticking-clock of the episode to complete it. And Homer gets thrown into a dumpster with Milhouse; the two of them "drive" the dumpster to Springfield Elementary. For all the parodies The Simpsons have done, none have been as straight-forward as their 24 parody, incorporating many of 24's tropes- the ticking clock, the split screens, extended opening credits over the episode- as well as cameos by 24 stars Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub in character. Almost forgotten character Martin Prince plays a large part in the episode, eventually being outed as a mole on behalf of the bullies; his guilt for turning on his school causes him to "hang" himself (by his underwear in a self-delivered wedgie.) Once again, the three subplots- Bart and Lisa policing the bullies, Marge attempting to bake a cake in limited time, and Homer and Milhouse's dumpster adventure- converge at the same time, bringing the episode to a satisfying climax. Funniest Moment: Jack Bauer barges into the school, threatening to arrest Bart for an earlier prank phone call: over his shoulder, a nuclear blast goes off, scaring the residents in the school. "It's OK: that was Shelbyville." And everyone sighs in relief.