As The Simpsons nears its milestone 500th episode, we're compiling a list of the Guardian's 10 favourite episodes – and we need your suggestions

In February, The Simpsons makes history as it reaches its 500th episode. The landmark is being commemorated by the US network Fox with an attempt to set a new world record for the longest continuous television viewing. At a cinema in Los Angeles, every episode will be screened back-to-back and one superfan (I'm imagining a Comic Book Guy look-a-like, obviously) will be rewarded with $10,500 for their endurance.

Our task is less arduous. We'd like you to help us compile a list of the best episodes in The Simpsons' history – 10 shows that we can happily watch in a single marathon viewing. Share your favourite episodes – the title, plus season number or year – in the comments below and we'll use your responses to put together a definitive Guardian top 10 for the anniversary.

The 500th episode, titled At Long Last Leave, sees the people of Springfield hold a secret meeting and vote to have The Simpsons booted out of town. It's an event that many lapsed fans might sympathise with – particularly those who believe the phrase "jumped the shark" should be replaced with "raped by a panda" in reference to a scene in the 12th season which many claim was a low in the show's history.

But let's leave those debates about modern-day Simpsons vs its 1990s golden age for another day and celebrate a show that's for many is still among the funniest and best-written on the small screen.

To get the ball rolling (it's a hard life), here are my favourite five Simpsons episodes from the past 23 years. I look forward to reading yours below

24 Minutes (2007, Season 18)

One reason why The Simpsons has remained so watchable is that its parodies are getting sharper – The Departed in Debarted, The Da Vinci Code in Gone Maggie Gone. None though can top this excellent riff which begins with Kiefer Sutherland announcing "Previously on 24… I mean The Simpsons," and dispenses with its normal format completely for an entire episode of split-screen thrills, torture and cake baking.

Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk (1991, Season 3)

Three words: Land of Chocolate. It's not the plot about a trio of Germans taking over Springfield Power Plant that makes this episode such a classic, it's the 60 seconds after one of them mentions that they come from the Land of Chocolate. Homer disappears into a daydream fairytale fantasy world of wonder where everything is made from chocolate, including a passing dog which Land of Chocolate Homer, skipping along a candy covered lane, dreamily bites a chunk off before being distracted by a store offering chocolate at 50% off. "Mmm ... chocolate! Half price!"

A Fish Called Selma (1996, Season 7)

Key to The Simpsons longevity is the minor characters who only crop up every season or so. And none more so than Troy McClure, a washed-up actor you may know from such informercials as Lead Paint: Delicious But Deadly. In this episode, he marries Marge's chain-smoking husky-voiced sister Selma and becomes a star again – appearing on Broadway in Planet of The Apes: The Musical (complete with fantastic score including the line "I hate every ape I see, from chimpan A to chimpanzee") and successfully debunks rumours of his shady fish fetish. Brilliant.

Stark Raving Dad (1991, Season 3)

Another factor that has kept The Simpsons alive is its guest stars. For me none top Michael Jackson's cameo as Homer's large, white asylum cellmate Leon Kopowsky.

Behind The Laughter (2000, Season 11)

The Simpsons is just as good at self-parody. This behind the scenes glimpse at the real-life Simpsons features the family bathing in caviar, moving into MC Hammer's mansion and rechristening it Homertime and reliving the dark times when Marge was almost driven to fortified wine.

What are your favourites? Let us know below – the most popular suggestions will make it into our top 10.