From: The Springfield Files (Season 8, Episode 10) Even The Simpsons occasionally falls prey to that television trope, the crossover. However, you can be sure that when it does, its tongue is firmly in its big, 2-D yellow cheek. After wandering the woods drunk one night, Homer stumbles across an alien. Soon, The X Files' Mulder and Scully are on the case... The episode is a fine parody of The X Files, as well as other sci-fi shows (it features a cameo from Leonard 'Mr Spock' Nimoy) but also serves up some great Homer-related humour. The best of which must be the moment when Homer is on a treadmill, for no reason other than that Scully thought he could do to lose some weight. The two agents end up simply watching him. 'His jiggling,' points out Mulder, 'it's almost hypnotic.' 'Like a lava lamp,' says Scully. Seeing Homer humiliated is always hilarious and is half of the reason why we tune in to The Simpsons at all, so any episode with a moment such as this deserves its place on this list. Although special mention must also be made for the following headline about Homer's extraterrestrial encounter: 'HUMAN BLIMP SEES FLYING SAUCER.' Classic.
17. Ho-Ho-Homer
From: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (Season 1, Episode 1) While lots of Homer's most recognisable traits developed over the years (for instance, Homer's trademark voice, which is deeper and more grizzled in early series), something about the character that always remains does appear in The Simpson's first ever episode - his dedication to his family, despite his occasional uselessness. Failing to get his Christmas bonus, Homer can't face telling his wife and kids that Christmas is cancelled and so goes to work as a shopping mall Santa Claus - a plan that works fine until his own son, Bart, sits on his knee to pull a prank, as well as Homer's fake beard. While Homer's money-making schemes go awry (and after 25 years, that certainly hasn't changed), Homer and Bart manage to get the family a dog - Santa's Little Helper - and the Simpsons have a good Christmas after all. Although a little more sentimental than the show would become, the scenes between Homer and Bart in this episode show the love between the pair that is not often shown, beyond all the strangling.
16. Homer's Phobia
From: Homer's Phobia (Season 8, Episode 15) One word you wouldn't use to describe Homer Simpson is tolerant. In Homer's Phobia, we see how far Homer's intolerance goes as he turns against new friend John after he discovers he's gay, fearing that he will be a 'bad' influence on Bart. Homer's indignance upon finding out makes for one of his best hysterical moments (oh my God, oh my God, I danced with a gay... You know me, Marge, I like my beer cold, my TV loud and my homosexuals flaaaming!') and his subsequent failed attempts to 'man' Bart up (taking him to a steel mill, populated by overly camp men) are hilarious. Of course, in the end, Homer sees the error of his ways and accepts John as well as saying he will love his son no matter how he turns out. Bless. Executed in typically tongue-in-cheek style and with a strong but not ham-fisted anti-homophobic message, this episode utilises its star well to critique something adherent in everyday life, while providing a lot of laughs along the way.
