While there are many great episode of The Simpsons featuring Krusty, here’s why Krusty Gets Kancelled is one of the very best.

Plot: In the season 4 finale of The Simpsons, Krusty loses his viewers to a rival act and his show winds up being cancelled. In response, Bart and Lisa help him stage a comeback by inviting his famous friends to appear with him in a primetime TV special.

Why is it a great episode? Krusty Gets Kancelled is both hilarious and heartfelt because it perfectly blends satire, wit, and genuine sentiment. Krusty is often cynical about his chosen profession, but deep down he really does love it and this episode shows that beyond all doubt. Although there are plenty of things about the business he can’t stand, that doesn’t change the fact that at his core Krusty is a performer.

From his heartfelt moment with Sideshow Mel to his quest to get back on the air, seeing how much the show really means to him is great to see. If Kristy truly hated performing that much he would welcome the opportunity to go off the air. But no, Krusty refuses to go down without a fight. The story of Krusty not wanting to go off the air, struggling when things get tough, and his joy at being back is funny, but also extremely poignant.

Krusty Gets Kancelled also reveals how Bart, who is notoriously unmotivated and unfocused, can really help someone when he wants to. In fact, it’s fair to say that Bart looks up to Krusty more than any other person and it shows.

Additionally, this episode was the ultimate sign that the show had become an irreplaceable part of pop culture. This was reflected in the episode’s guest stars, which is one of the best arrays of talent the show has ever assembled.

In addition to the show’s regular superb talent, this episode adds the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Luke Perry (who can now be found on Riverdale), Bette Midler, who would appear later that year in Hocus Pocus, Elizabeth Taylor (who was Hollywood glamour personified), Hugh Hefner, and Johnny Carson. At that time, Johnny Carson was the King of Television and him appearing on a sitcom when this episode aired was like being an amateur filmmaker and getting Steven Spielberg to help edit your latest project.

Because of this, Krusty Gets Kancelled isn’t just a great episode, it is without question one of the all time best episodes of The Simpsons.