• For executive producer Al Jean, "Homer at the Bat" (Feb. 20, 1992), in which Mr. Burns hires Roger Clemens, Ken Griffey Jr. and other ringers for the nuclear plant's softball team, was the most fun to work on: "It was an amazing thing to see all those people come into our universe." His sentimental favorite: "Lisa's Substitute" (April 25, 1991), in which Lisa develops a crush on a fill-in teacher (Dustin Hoffman as Sam Etic). A "Behind the Laughter" (May 21, 2000) sendup of VH1's Behind the Music was "perfect for its time," and "Flaming Moe's" (Nov. 21, 1991), in which Moe's goes from dive to trendy, is simply "great."
• Ian Maxtone-Graham says: "Lisa shows are among the best." Among them: "Lisa's Date With Density" (Dec. 15, 1996), when Lisa falls for bad-boy Nelson; "Lisa the Vegetarian" (Oct. 15, 1995), in which a cute lamb inspires Lisa to eschew meat, with guests Paul and Linda McCartney; "Lisa's Wedding" (March 19, 1995), set in 2010, when she worries her family will embarrass her in front of her aristocratic fiancée.
• Carolyn Omine, the lone woman on the regular writing staff, loves the character of Homer. Favorite episode "King-Size Homer" (Nov. 5, 1995) has the lazy dreamer gorge himself until he tips the scales at 300, making him eligible for a work-at-home disability. "It's kind of emotional," she says. "Marge says she doesn't find him sexy."

• Kevin Curran and Tim Long talked about favorite Springfield denizens. "I love Groundskeeper Willie and Dr. Hibbert. (Hibbert) has become crazier and crazier," Curran says. Long, who enjoys "aggressively one-dimensional characters," likes the Sea Captain and actor Rainier Wolfcastle. In addition, "There's a real weird cult of Ralph Wiggum out there."
• Dan Greaney cites inspirational dialogue. From "Bart the Daredevil" (Dec. 6, 1990), he notes Evel Knievel-like Capt. Lance Murdoch's sage advice: "Bones heal. Chicks dig scars. And the United States of America has the best doctor-to-daredevil ratio in the world."

Greaney also cites dialogue from legendary Simpsons scribe John Swartzwelder's "The Cartridge Family" (Nov. 2, 1997), in which Homer faces a waiting period on gun purchases.

Homer: "Five days? But I'm mad now." (The clerk takes the gun from Homer.) "I'd kill you if I had my gun."

Clerk: "Yeah, well, you don't."