The Simpsons: 10 Best Episodes From The Past 15 Years

2. I Am Furious (Yellow)

Season 13, Episode 287, April 2002 This is the episode most often chosen as one of the top picks from the dark years of The Simpsons, and while I don't think it's as good as some of the later episodes (including my number one choice, and a couple of others on this list), I do recognize it as a bright spot in an otherwise very dull season (Weekend at Burnsie's is one of the only other really good episodes I can think of from this season, and perhaps Homer the Moe). The plot is simple: Springfield Elementary gets a visit from the creator of the comic Danger Dog, and suddenly, all the kids want comics of their own. Bart eventually comes up with Angry Dad - clearly based on Homer. Along the way, Stan Lee visits the Android's Dungeon, where Bart is selling his new funnybook, and a dotcom start-up picks up Angry Dad as a web series. There are some great lines in the episode, such as guest star Stan Lee's insistence that he turned into the Hulk ("I really did it once"), or the head of the dotcom start-up introducing himself to Bart with "I'm from the internet." There are a number of physical gags at the end that are fantastic as well, and topical humour that, having been through the first dotcom burst, most of us can appreciate (the internet start-up failing overnight, stock being printed out on toilet paper, etc.). Sadly, episodes in the next couple of seasons were less like I Am Furious (Yellow) and more like New Kids on the Blecch from the previous year - heavy on cameos no one card about, light on actual funny material and plot. Stan Lee cameos: always welcome. Star of the moment pop sensations? Not so much (we're looking at you, Lady GaGa).