The Simpsons: 15 Modern Episodes You Need To Watch
11. The Book Job (Season 23, Episode 6)
"I got the idea from every movie ever made" - Lisa Simpson
When Lisa discovers that her favourite young adult fiction author's backstory is all a marketing ploy and the books were actually written by pill popping English students, Homer assembles a team of people to cash in on the phenomenon. Lisa, Bart, Homer, Patty, Moe, Skinner, Frink and guest star Neil Gaiman come together to collectively write the next big fantasy hit.
The satire of cynical marketing strategies is pushed to the next level though as the episode quickly turns into a heist spoof, borrowing heavily from The Italian Job, from the formation of the team to the title cards introducing each scene. The jokes come thick and fast too; I think every writer can sympathise with Lisa's procrastination as she claims she's waiting for inspiration. Another game of online Boggle anyone?