The Simpsons’ Funniest Episode Is Still Marge vs. the Monorail

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For many, The Simpsons is considered one of the best sitcoms ever made. Over its incredible 37-season run, the show has experienced both fantastic moments and less successful ones. What began as a heartwarming story about a family has become a cultural phenomenon, filled with jokes, surprisingly accurate predictions about the future, and appearances from famous people. Despite its long history – including a movie – some episodes truly stand out as exceptional.

As a huge Simpsons fan, I always think of seasons 3 and 4 as the show’s absolute peak, so it makes sense that the best episode comes from that time. “Marge Vs. The Monorail,” written by the incredibly funny Conan O’Brien way back in 1993, really showed his potential, even before he became a household name. It’s a bit different than your typical Simpsons episode, but it’s still one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on TV.

The Simpsons Peaked With “Marge Vs. The Monorail”

The episode “Marge Vs. The Monorail” brilliantly mixed the bizarre with everyday life. It all started with Conan O’Brien spotting a peculiar billboard with just the word “Monorail” on it, sparking the idea for the story. The episode kicks off with Mr. Burns illegally dumping dangerous waste, and after being caught and fined $3 million, the town suddenly has a lot of money. Everyone gathers to figure out the best way to spend it.

Marge’s suggestion to repair the potholes on Main Street seemed likely to be chosen, but then Lyle Lanley, a con artist, arrived with a tempting offer: a futuristic monorail system. He presented it as the transportation of the future, winning over everyone – even skeptical Lisa – with his captivating song, dance, and persuasive personality.

“Marge Vs. The Monorail” quickly grabs your attention with its energetic speed and surprisingly intricate details, which is unusual for a comedy. The episode is packed with jokes, even some that don’t directly connect to the story, but they all work together in a funny way, perhaps because they’re so unexpected. For example, the bit with a squirrel shooting lasers from its eyes due to Burns’ pollution feels over-the-top, but it’s a hilarious moment that fans love. Likewise, the gag of a popcorn truck falling into a hole and exploding into kernels perfectly illustrates Marge’s concerns about the town and is another example of the episode’s consistently funny writing, no matter how random.

A highlight of the episode is definitely “The Monorail Song,” which has become a classic moment. Lyle Lanley performs a funny, Broadway-style song to persuade the people of Springfield to buy into his monorail plan, similar to how he convinced other towns. Even when the song gets a bit silly – like when Krusty sings about losing a ring in a soda can – it remains incredibly catchy. Ultimately, the town is swayed by Lanley’s persuasive sales pitch, but Marge suspects something isn’t right.

Her search took her to Lyle’s office, where she discovered a book clearly showing his plan to steal money from the project, provide defective trains, and escape Springfield as quickly as possible. Determined to save her town, she traveled to other cities where Lanley had built monorails, only to find they were all disasters. Though everyone was reluctant to talk, a French man named Sebastian Cobb eventually explained what happened and joined her in rushing back to Springfield before it was too late.

This episode follows Marge’s frantic rush to Springfield to stop the monorail’s launch, with Homer unexpectedly at the controls. It’s packed with jokes, but never feels exhausting. True to classic The Simpsons, Marge arrives just too late, and we learn Cobb’s stop for a haircut delayed her, putting the town in danger. From memorable lines like “I call the big one Bitey,” to the general mayhem at the event, things quickly fall apart when Homer starts the train and immediately causes it to malfunction. Leonard Nimoy’s surprise appearance is wonderfully absurd and stands out as one of the show’s best celebrity cameos – he even vanishes into thin air after fulfilling his role!

In the end, Homer manages to save the day by using an anchor to snag a massive donut. This experience reminds him how much he loves donuts and inspires him to famously ask, “Donuts, is there anything they can’t do?”

This Episode of The Simpsons Was Ahead of Its Time

The 1993 Simpsons episode, “Marge Vs. The Monorail,” remains funny and surprisingly relevant today. It seems to have predicted many things we’re seeing now, even more so than when it first aired. The character Lyle Lanley perfectly embodies the modern billionaire who promotes grand, unrealistic schemes as a way to make money. His willingness to prioritize profit over people – even at the cost of lives and towns – sadly mirrors how things often work in a capitalist system, where making money is the ultimate goal and ordinary people often suffer. The episode also cleverly highlighted how easily good ideas can be overlooked if a louder voice takes credit, as seen when Marge’s suggestions were attributed to another character.

What made this episode so great was how tightly packed with entertainment it was – every one of its 23 minutes felt perfectly used. It delivered memorable moments, funny jokes, and exciting action, all at a brisk but comfortable pace. The jokes came quickly and consistently, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish. Even the chaotic monorail scene, with Homer struggling to control it, was hilarious. The monorail’s erratic starts and stops, combined with a sudden solar eclipse, created a wonderfully absurd and funny sequence in Springfield.

While ‘Marge Vs. The Monorail’ seems like a collection of random jokes and silly moments when you think about it, it actually works incredibly well as an episode and is considered one of the best ever on television.

At its heart, The Simpsons excels because it perfectly captures what makes the show great: sharp satire of politics and business, consistently funny moments, and a willingness to embrace complete mayhem. This isn’t random, though – the writing is incredibly deliberate, showcasing the skill of the writers, especially Conan O’Brien, who seamlessly blends humor, parody, and thoughtful observations. The show’s lasting appeal comes from its ability to reflect human nature – things like greed, naiveté, hopefulness, and declining morals – in a way that’s both smart and genuinely enjoyable.

“Marge Vs. The Monorail” is a truly exceptional episode, and while many others are great, this one is packed with so many jokes and details that you’ll still find new things to enjoy on repeat viewings. The ending is particularly brilliant: Marge reflects on Springfield learning its lesson from the monorail disaster, believing it was the town’s last foolish decision… until a series of increasingly absurd projects like a popsicle stick skyscraper, a giant magnifying glass, and a pointless escalator prove otherwise, with residents comically flying off the latter.

Even though ‘Marge Vs. The Monorail’ was packed with silly humor, the episode’s sharp satire of the townspeople’s naiveté was the perfect finishing touch to its chaotic energy.

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2025-11-13 05:08