Ask any fan of the 'The Simpsons' for their all-time favorite episodes and chances are, most of those will be from their annual Halloween episode, 'Treehouse of Horror.'

So how to narrow down 21 years and 60 segments to a mere 10? Just contemplating it can drive you mad!

This year's episode airs Sun., Nov. 7, (that's right after Halloween), but we couldn't wait to revisit the 'Simpsons' best horror send-ups. We've got vampires, zombies, killer clowns. But hey, note to Matt Groening: Where are the mummies?

Here's out list. We regrettably had to leave off several fantastic segments like 'King Homer,' 'Attack of the 50 Foot Eyesores' and 'Starship Poopers.' In fact, we didn't even have room for Treehouse regulars Kang and Kodos! (We'll send them a muffin basket.)

11. It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse (2008)
Recent 'Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror eps haven't really lived up to the incredibly high standard set in the '90s, but we love this riff on 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,' in which Milhouse's Linus-like belief in the Grand Pumpkin conjures up the Halloween creature. Too bad he's bent on getting revenge for his slaughtered brethren! Only not the yellow pumpkins, as he explains in this clip, "All pumpkins are racist. The difference is, I admit it."


10. Fly vs. Fly (1997)
It all starts with a yard sale at Professor Frink's, when Homer buys a matter transporter. Bart foolishly uses it to transform himself into a half-boy, half-fly creature... but where's his head? The funniest part is how quickly the rest of the family adapts to a fly-headed Bart. "They're like this every rainy Sunday," Marge sighs as The Fly tries to kill Lisa.


9. The Island of Dr. Hibbert (2002)
Another recent segment I love to rewatch (along with 'Send in the Clones' from the same year). The Simpsons vacation on Dr. Hibbert's island, where they're soon transformed into "manimals" and "invertebroads" along with the rest of Springfield. Homer tries to foil his evil scheme, but then realizes life as a manimal is pretty sweet: "All you can do is eat and sleep and mate and... where do I sign up?"

8. The Homega Man (1997)
When the French nuke Springfield (it's all Mayor Quimby's fault), Homer is the last man alive! Of course, as in 'Shaun of the Dead,' it takes him forever to catch on that something's amiss and that the town is now overrun with flesh-eating mutants. Dr. Hibbert tells him, with his trademark inappropriate chuckle, "Not all of us died in the blast. Some of us were just horribly mutated." Here's the entire segment on Vimeo.


7. Clown Without Pity (1992)
"My name is Krusty the Clown and I don't like you." Those classic words usher in one of the best Simpsons 'Twilight Zone' send-ups (we also love 'The Terror of Tiny Toon,' of course) when a Krusty doll continually tries to kill Homer. Probably best not to shop at the House of Evil for birthday gifts, Homer! Especially when the owner warns you, "Beware, it carries a terrible curse!" (Cue the "That's bad." "That's good." exchange about the free Frogurt, which is also cursed.)


4. Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace (1995)
Confession: I'd never seen the original 'Nightmare on Elm Street,' but since I love this episode so much, I made a point to finally watch. Groundskeeper Willie makes an excellent Freddy Krueger-esque killer: "Pleased to rake your acquaintance," he tells Bart, before scarring him with said implement. Best part: Martin's dramatic death in class, the final showdown with Willie or the unlikely hero who saves them all?

3. Dial Z for Zombies (1992)
Long before the current zombie craze, The Simpsons raised the dead for this classic Halloween installment: We love the zombies rejecting Homer's inadequate brains, Homer gunning down a zombie George Washington and Albert Einstein, ("Eat lead, Einstein!") and undead bullies Kearney, Jimbo and Dolph using Principal Skinner's still-talking head as a soccer ball. And of course, the Zombie Flanders asking Homer, "I'm feeling a bit peckish, mind if I chew your ear?"



2. The Shinning (1994)
"That's funny, usually the blood gets off on the second floor," observes Mr. Burns, the owner of the haunted hotel where The Simpsons become the winter caretakers. With no beer and no TV, Homer goes spectacularly crazy (we love this clip), egged on by various ghouls (hey, there's a mummy!) and ghostly bartender Moe. When he's reunited with life-saving TV, all is well. Until the Tony Awards start and they can't change the channel. Urge to kill... rising!

1. The Devil and Homer Simpson/ Terror at 5½ Feet / Bart Simpson's Dracula (1993)

How to choose between these three perfect Halloween segments? Especially since the entire episode, framed with portraits of terror, a la 'Night Gallery,' we simply had to select this whole thing for our number one position. Ned Flanders as the devil? Genius. Bart Simpson taking on a Gemlin on the side of a bus, William Shatner-style? Hilarious. And Mr. Burns as a Coppola-esque vampire who invites the Simpsons over to dinner to his home in (insert thunder, lighting and eerie music)... Pennsylvania? Perfect!




What's your favorite 'Treehouse of Horror' segment?