10 Times The Simpsons Got Political

4. Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington

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Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington (obviously a take on Mr. Smith Goes To Washington) is the earliest political outing for The Simpsons on this list, airing originally in 1991, the 37th episode of the series overall. As such, it's not quite the refined, polished product of later Simpsons seasons, but the groundwork is there.

With Lisa winning an essay contest about the greatness of America, the Simpson family gets to travel to Washington, D.C. - where Lisa uncovers a political bribe scandal that shakes her faith in the nation. Like so many early Simpsons episodes that tended to end on upbeat notes, her faith is restored after a favorable outcome that involves her sticking to her principles and exposing the truth. That doesn't make it a bad episode, mind you - just a little predictable.

Occasionally mentioned in early Top Ten episode lists, Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington is most notable for cementing the fact that when it put its mind to it, the show could produce some incredible political satire.

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Contributor

Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.