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As The Simpsons celebrate their 20th anniversary, here's a look at some of the most memorable episodes that have been drawn to life over the years.
MARGE VS THE MONORAIL (1993)
When Mr Burns is fined for dumping toxic waste, the town has to decide how to spend the money - and gets talked (or rather sung) into buying an unnecessary monorail of questionable safety.
A tribute to The Music Man, this episode features a cameo from almost every Simpsons character, and a dizzying array of pop culture references. In the first 60 seconds alone, the show lampoons The Flintstones, Beverley Hills Cop and Silence Of The Lambs.
Memorable moment: Con-man Lyle Lanley tells the town meeting his plan is "more of a Shelbyville idea".
Mayor Quimby bristles, "We're twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville. Just tell us your idea, and we'll vote for it!"
CAPE FEAR (1993)
Bart's nemesis Sideshow Bob is released on parole, forcing the Simpsons into a witness protection programme.
Bob eventually tracks the family down to a houseboat on "Lake Terror" (the entire plot was a riff on Martin Scorsese's recent remake of Cape Fear).
Offered one final request, Bart asks Bob to sing the entire score to HMS Pinafore.
Homer Simpson
Succumbing to his own vanity, the criminal purrs, "very well, Bart, I shall send you to heaven before I send you to hell" - and finishes his rendition just as the police arrive.
Memorable moment: After a script read-through, it became clear the episode was too short, so executive producer Al Jean stretched out one throwaway sight gag for nearly thirty seconds.
The resulting sequence, where Sideshow Bob steps on, and is smacked in the face by, a rake nine times is one of the series' best moments of slapstick.
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