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Celebrate ‘The Simpsons’ 600th episode with the 5 best Treehouse of Horror stories
When Halloween is around the corner, it means a few things. It’s time to get a new costume, maybe pop in the DVD of your favorite scary movie. Of course, Halloween also means a new installment of Treehouse of Horror — the annual “The Simpsons” Halloween special.
“The Simpsons” is celebrating its 600th episode in style, with the latest Treehouse of Horror. Will it be one of the best installments yet, though? With this being the 27th Halloween special for the show, there’s a lot of history to live up to.
In celebration of a new Treehouse of Horror, let’s take a look back at the five best spooky stories “The Simpsons” has ever told.
5. ‘Citizen Kang,’ Season 8
When Kang and Kodos overthrow the presidential election — inhabiting the bodies of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole — it seemed like an unreasonably scary possibility of what America could become during the election cycle. Of course, in 2016 the idea of two tentacle-waving aliens running for president almost seems quaint. Bring it on, Kang.
4. ‘Nightmare Cafeteria,’ Season 6
Sloppy Jimbos are made from people! People! Leave it to “The Simpsons” to make cannibalism funny by whipping school children up into hamburger meat, much to the delight of Principal Skinner. Of course, this is also the best moment for little German kid Uter in the entire series.
3. ‘The Shinning,’ Season 6
Another entry from Season 6, showing just how incredible that particular Treehouse of Horror was. “The Shinning” was about as perfect an ode to Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” as it can get, yet still somehow managed to be hilarious. It also gave birth to the line, “No TV and no beer make Homer something something,” which will now be stuck in your head for weeks.
2. ‘Night of the Dolphin,’ Season 12
Perhaps Lisa’s love of animals is ill-advised. After freeing a dolphin from captivity — not unlike the plot of “Free Willy” — Lisa watches her new dolphin friend lead an army from the sea to overthrow humanity. It’s like “Planet of the Apes” but with dolphins fighting Homer Simpson. What’s not to love?
1. “The Devil & Homer Simpson,” Season 5
Undoubtedly the greatest “Treehouse of Horror” segment of all time. Homer learns that not only is the devil a Ned Flanders doppelganger, but he sells his soul for a doughnut. If you ever wondered what court in hell was like — complete with an all-star jury — this is the story for you.
“The Simpsons” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.