12. "Who Shot Mr. Burns?," The Simpsons

Season: 6
Air Date: 5/21/95

The Simpsons' parody of the classic Dallas "Who Shot J.R.?" (attempted) murder mystery is the series' only two-parter. As fans awaited the conclusion during the summer of '95, the shooting moved past parody to genuine mystery as the identity of the culprit became a hot topic in its own right. And while there were laughs, of course, "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" is actually pretty dark, all things considered. Without a doubt, it marks one of The Simpsons' highest peaks of cultural relevance.