The Simpsons: 11 Best Episodes From Season 11

This is undoubtedly one of the best episodes in the history of the series, and one you should shove into your smug friend’s face who insists the show went downhill during season 9 or 10 or whenever their arbitrary point is. Fact is: they’re wrong, and “Behind The Laughter” is proof of that.

The episode takes place outside of the show’s canon (whatever that means at this point), and presents a fictionalized version of the show’s creation in the style of VH1’s Behind the Music (kids, ask your parents). Once again, it’s an absurd premise with hilarious jokes, but there’s more to it. The episode serves as a love letter to longtime fans, making note of the increasingly negative reaction to the show and its overuse of guest stars and bizarre plots (with special mention for the infamous “Principal and the Pauper” episode). It portrays the supposed creative downturn as a source of family tension, and like any Behind the Music episode, the “band” (i.e. the family) breaks up, before eventually getting back together again.

For any new viewers of The Simpsons, “Behind the Laughter” is a great way of showing off who the main characters are without context, and for longtime viewers, it’s a reminder of why we love The Simpsons even after all these years. Also, closeted Huckleberry Hound is golden.