The Best Krusty Episodes of 'The Simpsons'

Ranker TV
Updated March 8, 2024 30 items
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459 votes
73 voters

Krusty the Clown is one of the most beloved supporting characters on The Simpsons. He's a hero to Bart but a general menace to society at large. He embodies the worst aspects of Hollywood and always seems to find himself in trouble with the wrong crowd. And then, of course, there's his show. When it's not on the brink of cancellation, something always seems to be going wrong that causes Krusty to lose his cool. There's no other clown like him, and that's why this list is counting down the best Krusty episodes of The Simpsons of all time, as voted on by Simpsons lovers like you. 

Throughout the over 30 seasons the show has been on the air, there have been all kinds of Krusty episodes. There have been episodes where Krusty has mingled with actual celebrities like Bette Midler and Johnny Carson. And then there are episodes that show Krusty struggling with his faith. He often fails his conservatively Jewish father who looks down on his profession.

Whether you're laughing with him or at him, you can't help but love Krusty. It is up to you to vote for the best Simpsons episodes about Krusty so that people just getting into the show know where to start. 

  • After Bart wanders onto Krusty's set, he ends up stealing the show. He becomes the most popular kid in town, mostly thanks to his catchphrase, "I didn't do it."

    32 votes
  • Homie the Clown
    Photo: FOX

    Homer decides to go to clown school. Everyone thinks Homer is actually Krusty, including the mob...

    32 votes
  • Krusty Gets Kancelled
    Photo: FOX

    Krusty's show gets cancelled. With the help of Bart, Krusty enlists the talents of some of his Hollywood pals to bring the show back. 

    36 votes
  • 4
    36 VOTES
    Kamp Krusty
    Photo: FOX

    Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse go to Kamp Krusty only to discover the conditions are deplorable. Bart leads a rebellion after meeting a fake Krusty. 

    36 votes
  • The Simpsons learn that Krusty is Jewish and has a strained relationship with his father. Bart and Lisa strive to reunite the family.

    24 votes
  • Marge leads a protest against the violence shown in The Itchy & Scratchy Show. She later has to confront her biases when the Michelangelo's David is set to appear in Springfield. 

    15 votes
  • The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show
    Photo: IMDb

    The Itchy & Scratchy Show adds a new character: Poochie, as voiced by Homer. The new addition turns out to be a fail, and he's written out of the show. 

    24 votes
  • 8
    18 VOTES

    Bart inadvertently gets Krusty in trouble with the IRS. This leads to Krusty losing all his assets and falling into the lifestyle of a longshore worker. 

    18 votes
  • Krusty gets framed for robbing the Kwik-E-Mart. Bart and Lisa, believing Krusty to be innocent, set out to solve the crime and determine who the true criminal is. 

    23 votes
  • Krusty becomes an edgy stand-up comedian. However, the lure of money proves to be too tempting. 

    22 votes
  • 11
    14 VOTES
    The Italian Bob
    Photo: YouTube

    The Simpsons go to Italy where they run into Sideshow Bob. They seek the help of Krusty after discovering he's doing a show in town at the same time. 

    14 votes
  • Krusty discovers he has a long-lost daughter. He tries to bond with her but ends up betting (and losing) her prized violin. 

    12 votes
  • Bart cuts the head off the statue of Jebediah Springfield to impress the bullies. This earns him the hatred of everyone in town. 

    10 votes
  • 14
    11 VOTES

    Bart plays a prank on Springfield by pretending a little boy is trapped down a well. Once the prank is over, Bart ends up actually down a well, but no one helps him. 

    11 votes
  • Homer stops going to church. It's up to Ned, Krusty, and Apu to teach him to have faith once again.

    15 votes
  • Sideshow Bob hypnotizes Bart to get revenge on Krusty. However, after Krusty apologizes to Bob, he has a change of heart. 

    12 votes
  • 17
    13 VOTES

    Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy

    Krusty announces an all-female reboot of The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Bart's initially against it, but then he gets in with a girl gang at his school and stands up for feminism. 

    13 votes
  • Krusty brings Princess Penelope onto his show to appeal to the female demographic. They don't get along at first, but a budding romance begins to form. 

    10 votes
  • 19
    7 VOTES

    The Nightmare After Krustmas

    Krusty tries to bond with his daughter during the holidays but discovers she was raised Christian. This causes him to convert to Christianity. 

    7 votes
  • 20
    11 VOTES

    Today, I Am a Clown

    Today, I Am a Clown
    Photo: IMDb

    Bart and Lisa give Krusty one of their new puppies. Once taking it for a walk, he discovers he doesn't have a star on the Jewish Walk of Fame. 

    11 votes
  • 21
    13 VOTES

    Springfield Elementary makes a push to increase students' test scores. While Lisa takes some yokels for a tour of the cultural side of Springfield, Krusty spots them singing and decides to put them in his show.

    13 votes
  • 22
    10 VOTES

    Clown in the Dumps

    Clown in the Dumps
    Photo: IMDb

    Krusty is offended at a roast in his honor. He starts to wonder if he's even funny, but before his dad can tell him whether he thinks he's funny, Rabbi Krustofski dies.

    10 votes
  • Krusty loses his agent. He mounts a comeback by marketing a new show toward an adult audience.

    11 votes
  • 24
    12 VOTES
    Large Marge
    Photo: FOX/FX

    Marge accidentally gets breast implants. Meanwhile, Bart and Milhouse attempt a stunt they saw Krusty do on the old Batman TV series, which lands Krusty in trouble. 

    12 votes
  • Krusty gets elected to Congress. However, it turns out to be not everything he expected. 

    8 votes
  • 26
    5 VOTES

    Pranks and Greens

    Bart discovers he's not the greatest prankster of all time at Springfield Elementary. Bart finds this other prankster and after finding his life is in the dumps, gets him a job as Krusty's assistant. 

    5 votes
  • All About Lisa
    Photo: IMDb

    Lisa gets a taste of fame and fortune when she gains popularity on Krusty's show. Eventually, Lisa ends up replacing Krusty entirely, and she soon realizes she needs to get out of show business as soon as possible. 

    5 votes
  • 28
    6 VOTES

    Fears of a Clown

    Bart pulls a prank that makes everyone in Springfield afraid of clowns. This forces Krusty to lose his clown persona. 

    6 votes
  • Krusty announced a Li'l Starmaker competition, which he will host. Lisa competes, but Homer alienates everyone else associated with the competition. 

    6 votes
  • Yellow Subterfuge
    Photo: FOX

    Bart's on his best behavior so that he can go on the school field trip. Meanwhile, Lisa convinces Krusty to sell the foreign rights to his show. 

    4 votes