Top 10 Treehouse of Horror segments

10. It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse - Treehouse of Horror  XIX

Many people agree that the Simpsons quality started going downhill around its 10th season. And at this point it is pretty clear that nowadays Simpsons seasons are consisted with more bad than good episodes. However every once in a while an episode comes that is truly great, or in this case a segment in Halloween episode. Treehouse of Horror episodes are the only ones that I'm really looking forward and anticipating every year, and one of the best segment from newer seasons is - It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse. This episode parodies Peanuts Halloween special. Millhouse basically play Linus who believes that the Grand Pupmkin exists and that it comes alive on Halloween. Of course the Grand Pumpkin gets pissed when he finds out that humans are carving up pumpkins. Paying a great homage to Charlie Brown's Halloween special this episode manages to bring some truly great laughs. Last couple of minutes of this episode get really crazy. Watching giant pumpkin fighting giant turkey seems like the type of craziness that the Simpsons was known back in the day.

Favorite quote/conversation
Nelson - "Touch me and I'll cut your friend."
The Grand Pumpkin - "What do I care? That's a yellow pumpkin."
Nelson - "You are Racist."
The Grand Pumpkin - "All pumpkins are racist. The difference is that I admit it.

9."The HΩmega Man," Treehouse of Horror VIII

Homer is easily the best character on The Simpsons, so a whole Halloween segment following Homer can't be anything but great (I guess this was only true for first 10 seasons). In this episode The French launch a nuclear bomb towards Springfield, and only one dude is left alive - Homer Simpson. Homer takes advantage if being last man on Earth, however soon we find out that he is not actually last men alive since story goes in zombie territory and Homer gets chased by mutated residents of Springfield. This episode is a parody of movie The Omega Man (based on Richard Matheson's book I am Legend).

Favorite quote/conversation
Herman - "Now, this baby is called 'The Withstandinator.' It can take a six megaton blast. No more, no less."

Comic Book Guy - "But Aquaman, you cannot marry a woman without gills! You're from two different worlds!'' (He sees the nuclear missile headed straight for him.) ''Ohhh, I've wasted my life." 

8. Clown Without Pity - Treehouse of Horror III

Clown Without Pity is a parody of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes titled Living Doll. So in this episode the role Krusty the clown doll is equivalent of Talky Tina doll from that Twilight Zone episode. This segment pretty much plays the same way as Living Doll plays out. Krusty doll is constantly trying to kill Homer when no one is in Homer's presence, so naturally no one believes Homer that doll is trying to kill him. This is not the only Twilight Zone spoof that the Simpsons, and among those parodies it is the funniest. What I really like about this episode is the very conclusion which is so stupid that its brilliant (doll was set on evil).

Favorite quote/conversation

Grandpa Simpsons - “That doll is EVIL, I tells ya. EVIL. EEEEEEVVVVIILLLLL.”
Bart - “Grandpa, you said that about all the presents.”
Grandpa Simpsons - “I just want attention…”

7. The Devil and Homer Simpson - Treehouse of Horror IV

In this episode Homer states that he would sell his soul for a donut. The Devil (who is revealed to be Ned Flanders) offers Homer a contact to seal the deal. Homer figures out that if he doesn't eat the entire donut The Devil won't be able to take his soul. Unfortunately while half-asleep Homer eats the final piece of doughnut that he put in the refrigerator. Marge and Lisa plead with Ned not to take Homer's soul getting him to agree to give Homer a trial.
It is a classic Halloween segment that hits all the right notes from Ned Flanders unexpectedly playing the Devil to the trial being held by Jury of the Damned (consisted of Lizzie Borden, Benedict Arnold and the starting line of the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers). Conclusion is very heartwarming since the Devil can't have Homer's soul, because he's already pledged it to Marge. Overall a well rounded Treehouse of Horror segment.

Favorite quote/conversation

Marge - "Homer, stop picking at it."
Homer - "But I'm so sweet and tasty!"

6. Bart Simpson's Dracula - Treehouse of Horror IV

After Bart gets bit by Mr. Burns he turns into vampire. very soon a bunch of Springfield residents turn into vampires. Lisa then figures out that everyone will turn back if she kill the Head Vampire. Aside from being very funny this segment is also very creepy. When I was growing up for some reason this segment really scared me, particularly the scene when Bart was hovering outside of Lisa's bedroom window. And the twist revolving around who is the Head Vampire probably stands as one of my favorite surprises form any Halloween segment. Also Mr. Burns makes an excellent (pun intended) Dracula. 

Favorite quote/conversation

Kent Brockman: "Another local peasant has been found dead, drained of his blood with two teeth marks on his throat. This black cape was found on the scene.'' (The cape reads "Dracula.") "Police are baffled."
Chief Wiggum: "We think we're dealing with a supernatural being, most likely a mummy. As a precaution I've ordered the Egyptian wing of the Springfield museum destroyed."

Lisa - "The only way to get Bart back is to kill the head vampire: Mr. Burns!"
Homer - "Kill my boss? Do I dare to live out the American dream?"

5. Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace - Treehouse of Horror VI

Doing a parody of a movie series that has become a parody of itself seems like a hard work. However Simpsons manage to do a great parodz of Nightmare on Elm Street. After Groundskeeper Willie dies in an accident at a PTA meeting he vows to get revenge on everyone by killing their children. He then takes the role of Freddy and starts hunting children in their dreams. In this Haloween segment is where The Simpsons really got a chance to be really creative. Some of the dream sequences involve some of the most inventive bits of animation that Ive ever seen on The Simpsons. 

Favorite quote/conversation

Marge - "It all started on the 13th hour of the 13th day of the 13th month. We were there to discuss the misprinted calendars the school had purchased."
Homer - "Lousy Smarch weather."

4. Dial Z for Zombies - Treehouse of Horror III

The Simpsons did several zombie parodies over the years, but the best one is easily Dial "Z" for Zombies. This episode starts out as a parody of two classic horror movies Night of the Living Dead and Pet Cemetery, before eventually getting into Simpsons own type of craziness. Doing a riff on zombie movie genre offers a lot of possibilities and this segment didn't disappoint. Some of the funny bits in this segment include all of the different incantations used to revive and destroy the zombies.

Favorite quote/conversation
Homer (while killing zombies) - "Take that, Washington! Eat lead, Einstein! Show's over, Shakespeare!" Zombie Shakespeare - "Is this the end of Zombie Shakespeare?!"

Bart - "Dad, you killed the zombie Flanders!"
Homer - "He was a zombie?"

3. Citizen Kang - Treehouse of Horror VII

Since my major is in political science I really appreciated all of the small in-jokes in this episode regarding election system in the US. Kang and Kodos take over bodies of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole (presidential candidate) in order get elected as president and rule the Earth. This episode parodies in a great way Presidential elections and politics in general. The Simpsons don't really go that often for topical political humor, so it was quite refreshing to see a Treehouse of Horror segment that deals with politics. This episode has plenty of clever moments and funny lines.

Favorite quote/conversation
Kodos (as Clinton) - "My fellow Americans: As a young boy, I dreamed of being a baseball. But tonight I say, we must move forward, not backward, upward, not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom."

Homer Simpson: "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos."

2. Time and Punishment - Treehouse of Horror V

Homer accidentally creates a time machine wile trying to fix a toaster. He then finds out the implications of even smallest changes in the past to a future situation. What Homer does in the past leads to an exploration of some incredible what if scenarios in The Simpsons world. Some of the more memorable present day changes include a giant sized Simpsons family, the sky raining donuts... It is truly an incredible and funny episode that I consider for the longest time as my favorite, but over the time it was bumped to a second place by another segment. 

Favorite quote/conversation

Maggie, speaking in James Earl Jones' voice  -  ''This is indeed a disturbing universe.''

Homer - “OK, don’t panic. Remember the advice your father gave you on your wedding day."
Abe Simpson in Homer's taught bubble - “If you ever travel back in time, don't step on anything, because even the tiniest change can alter the future in ways you can't imagine."

1. The Shinning - Treehouse of Horror V

This segment was the part of what I consider to be the best Treehouse of Horror episode. Often described as best Haloween segment, it is also my favorite Treehouse of Horror segment. This one was the most memorable for me and I have some really fond memories of this particular segment. As title pretty much says it this episode parodies Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, and being that Kubrick's movie is one of my favorite horror movies I really appreciated all of references to that classic. Moe as a ghost, Willie playing a weird version of Dick Hallorann. The Simpsons often do parodies of famous movies but none is better than this one. It is easily one of the most quotable Simpsons Halloween segments.

Favorite quote/conversation

Groundskeeper Willy - "Boy... you read my thoughts! You've got the Shinning."
Bart Simpson - "You mean "Shining."
Groundskeeper Willy "Shh! You want to get sued?"

Homer Simpson - "Well, what do you think, Marge? All I need is a title. I was thinking along the lines of... No TV and no beer make Homer something, something."
Marge - "Go crazy?"
Homer Simpson - "Don't mind if I do!"