← Season 21
THE SIMPSONS · SEASON 21 · EPISODE 17

The Simpsons S21E17 American History X-cellent

★ 7.2 · GREAT Apr 11, 2010 30 MIN FOX
Still from The Simpsons S21E17: American History X-cellent

The episode in brief

When the police are called to diffuse a rowdy crowd at Mr. Burns' estate, one of the officers recognizes priceless stolen paintings on the walls, and the maniacal billionaire is taken downtown for questioning. With Mr. Burns gone, Smithers takes charge of the power plant. But when employees take advantage of his good nature, he exacts revenge by forcing the employees to work night and day. These unfair working conditions prompt Homer and his crew to devise a plan to bust out Mr. Burns. Blackboard 'Hot dogs are not bookmarks'.

FAN DESK VERDICT A top-shelf entry. Not quite canon, but you’ll be quoting it all week — the fan desk says don’t skip.

Who’s in it

SERIES REGULARS

Where it sits in the season

TAP A BAR TO JUMP

Where to watch S21E17

US · NOVEMBER 2026
AVAILABILITY IS FOR THE SHOW; NOT EVERY SERVICE CARRIES EVERY EPISODE · LINKS MAY EARN US POPCORN MONEY
7.2
THE FAN VERDICT
Keeper. Goes straight in the rewatch rotation.

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S21E17 FAQ

When did The Simpsons S21E17 air?

The Simpsons S21E17 (“American History X-cellent”) first aired on April 11, 2010.

Where can I watch The Simpsons S21E17?

In the US, The Simpsons season 21 — including this episode — is available on FX, Hulu, Disney+, fuboTV, DirecTV On Demand, Spectrum On Demand, YouTube TV, FOX One Amazon Channel, Hulu on Disney+, Amazon, Fandango at Home, and AppleTV.

Is The Simpsons S21E17 a good episode?

Fans rate The Simpsons S21E17 (“American History X-cellent”) 7.2/10, which puts it in the great tier for The Simpsons.