The Simpsons: Bart's 25 Greatest Moments

18. Burns' Heir

From: Burn's Heir (Season 5, Episode 18) We've established that Bart is a force for evil, or at least mischievousness, in Springfield so it surely only makes sense that if another Springfieldian was to take Bart under their wing it would be the town's most wicked resident; Power plant owner/billionaire/all-round villain Charles Montgomery Burns. Which is exactly what happens in one episode. After Mr Burns decides that he needs to find an heir for his vast fortune, he starts holding auditions for local children. Feeling that Bart has the same streak of malevolence that he sees in himself, Mr Burns takes the Simpson son as his ward. Burnsie's evil ways have an effect on Bart who becomes increasingly spoilt and shuns his comparatively poor family for the billionaire. However, despite much trickery to keep the boy by his side, Bart returns to his family when he refuses to fire his real father, Homer. A hilarious conceit (particular fun is to be had when Bart is made to wear a tight suit that bends his posture to match Mr Burns'), this episode also shows how, beneath all the pranks and misbehaviour towards his family, Bart really is proud to be a Simpson.

17. Behind The Laughter

From: Behind the Laughter (Season 11, Episode 22) The Simpsons often plays with the metafictional and the post-modern to poke fun at its own status as a TV show but rarely, if ever, has the series broken the fourth wall so resolutely as it does in this episode, made in the style of a no-holds-barred behind the scenes exposé about the series, starring the Simpsons and friends as actors playing themselves. It turns out that Bart got rather addicted to the fame he received from appearing in the show and went down a slippery slope, resulting in his going to rehab. Fortunately, while he was there, his good friend, Richie Rich, filled his role in The Simpsons. Apparently, these episodes were not popular with fans. A terrific episode that demonstrates the show's great sense of humour in its mocking of itself, it brilliantly casts Bart as a wayward child star, which is surely what he would be if he were real. P.S. Inside scoop: Bart never said 'Cowabunga, Dude' before it was written for him in the series. Whadda ya know?

16. Bart The Monster

From: Treehouse of Horror II (Season 3, Episode 7) In a parody of The Twilight Zone episode 'It's a Good Life', this Halloween segment sees Springfield as a town in the thrall of a monster with the power to make anything they wish come true - who is this monster? Bart Simpson, of course. Bet you didn't see that coming. The town - and his parents - are terrified of him and have to be constantly happy so that he won't get mad and punish them. Not accepting a world according to Bart any longer, Homer tries to do something about it, only to be turned into a jack-in-the-box by his son. At the encouragement of Dr Marvin Monroe (boy, remember him?), Homer and Bart spend some quality time together, so that Bart will not keep terrorising the world - something Monroe thinks is just a cry for attention. The father and son grow to love each other and.... Bart wakes up from his nightmare. Having a good relationship with Homer - what a horrible dream!