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15) They'll Never Stop the Simpsons
There are few things more infuriating to a die-hard TV fan than finding out the long-awaited newest episode of his favorite program is none other than a thinly-veiled clip show because the writers couldn't come up with anything new for that week. 2002's "Gump Roast" seemed to be just that, but the abrupt ending anchored by "They'll Never Stop The Simpsons" - a musical apology for the clip show that preceded it to the tune of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" accompanied by several self-deprecating faux story ideas ("Marge becomes a robot") - was both the perfect path to redemption and an ironic anthem combating those rooting for the show's cancellation after its perceived decline. Okay, The Simpsons. All is forgiven. Proceed with awesome.
14) The Garbageman
A parody of "The Candy Man" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, "The Garbageman" celebrates the ridiculous promises of sanitary nirvana Homer made while running for office with wit and showmanship that The Simpsons of the '90s managed with scary regularity.
13) You're Checkin' In
An excellent satire of the seemingly unlimited number of get-out of-jail-free cards some Hollywood celebs seem to possess, "You're Checkin' In" is part of the broadway musical the Simpson family attend titled Kickin' It: A Musical Journey Through the Betty Ford Center in the episode "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson." The song even won an Emmy award and would surely snag a Topless Robot nomination for Catchiest Fake Broadway Tune from an Animated Program if such an award existed.
12) Drop Da Bomb (Yvan eht nioJ)
After Bart, Milhouse, Ralph, and Nelson are rounded up to form a fake boy band (The Party Posse) as part of a massive recruitment scheme to influence citizens subliminally (and at times, superliminally) to enlist in the Navy, they release a string of pop hits in order to coerce those within earshot to enlist. The most memorable and blatant of these chart-toppers was "Drop Da Bomb," including lyrics like "Your love is more deadly than Saddam" and the immortal chorus "Yvan eht nioJ," the song melds together boy band romanticizations and the needs of the U.S. sea power in effortless harmony.
11) Luke Be A Jedi Tonight
We wouldn't be able to sleep at night if we left out this nerdtacular gem from the Season 10 episode "Mayored to the Mob." The context of the number - Mark Hamill is thrust into a terrible Springfield dinner theater production of Guys and Dolls complete with botched lyrics and incorrect costuming (he's forced to wear his Luke Skywalker threads) - is funny in its own right, but his last-ditch improvised lyrics ("and...uh...do it for Chewie and the ewoks. And all the other puppets?") take the cake.
10) Cut Every Corner
An examination of the American work ethic, "Cut Every Corner" celebrates getting through life the easier way whenever possible. Of course, it's also a parody of "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins, as performed by the episode's main guest character, the appropriately named Shary Bobbins. The lyrics are stealthily brilliant ("If nobody sees it, then nobody gets mad") and the song is juxtaposed hilariously against Shary's stereotypical goody-two shoes nanny persona as she implores the Simpson kids and various Springfield residents to "just do a half-assed job."
9) Scorpio (Theme Song)
From the episode "You Only Move Twice" the James Bond song parody celebrates the generous work benefits offered by Globex Corp President, dream boss and super villain Hank Scorpio. The lyrics speak for themselves ("His twisted twin obsessions are his plot to rule the world and his employees' health") and its bond-theme centered melodics work beautifully considering the context, celebrating a boss any blue collar slob would envy, even if he's prone to world-takeover plots and attacking government agents with a flamethrower.
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