LoC 82- Top 51 Simpsons Characters

[Compound]

Number 9: Ralph Wiggum


110 Points
(7 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #2 by Cole Stratton)

Biography:
Ralph Wiggum is a second grade student at Springfield Elementary. He is the son of  Clancy and Sarah Wiggum. He tends to be a quite cheerful, if often befuddled child. He briefly dated Lisa Simpson.

While Ralph seems to be a bit developmentally challenged, he has been shown to be a fantastic actor and a good tap dancer as well. Recently, Ralph manged to manipulate both the Democrat and Republican Parties into nominating him as their 2008 Presidential Candidate. He would have probably done a better job than either of the actual candidates.

Voiced By:
Nancy Cartwright

First Appearance:
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” - Season 1, Episode 1

Notes:
The Bloodhound Gang once wrote a song called “Ralph Wiggum” that used his lines as the lyrics for the song. I'm not linking to it because hey, it's the Bloodhound Gang. They had two decent songs. This wasn't one of them. 

According to the most recent episode, Simpsorama, Ralph lived from 2006-2017. The show's writers have proclaimed this to be just a joke.

This is a cake:


That's a “wow” on several levels.

Up Next:
I love the timbre of his voice...

[Compound]

Number 8: Lionel Hutz


117 Points
(7 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #1 by Pak-Man and Relaxing Dragon)

Biography:
Lionel Hutz, aka Miguel Sanchez aka Dr. Nguen Van Phuoc is one of Springfield's lawyers, although not a very good one. He allegedly graduated from the Princeton School of Law, despite Princeton closing their legal program in the 1800s. Outside of the legal profession, Lionel was an aspiring actor and tried to sell real estate. And he repairs shoes as well. He was also a recovering alcoholic.

While generally unsuccessful, he did win a number of cases. He successfully sued The Frying Dutchman over their “all you can eat” policy, the Krusty corporation over their “Free Jagged O in very box” promotion, and Itchy and Scratchy Studios over their plagarism of the Itchy character. He almost even manged to save Homer's soul from the Devil, only to have Marge introduce the saving piece of evidence.

He was also briefly married to Selma Bouvier.

Voiced By:
Phil Hartman

First Appearance:
“Bart Gets Hit by A Car” -Season 2, Episode 10

Notes:
Lionel Hutz was retired from the show after the death of Phil Hartman. However, Hutz does still appear in the background in non-speaking roles and makes the occasional appearance in the Simpsons Comics as well.

Up Next:
Well, of course that's an entry...

[Compound]

Number 7: Troy MacClure


124 Points
(7 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #3 by Cole Stratton)

Biography:
Hi. I'm Troy MacClure. You may remember me from such forum lists as “IGN's Top 25  Peripheral Simpsons Characters” and “Rifftrax's Top 50 Musicals.”  In 1991, the struggling network that was home to “Good Grief” and “Totally Hidden Video” reached out to its only successful show and asked them to create a character that would lift them out of the moral cesspool that they had sunk into. Unfortunately, Michael Bluth wouldn't arrive until 2003. Instead, I arrived. Me. Troy MacClure. A fabulous actor with decades of acting experience and the star of “The Contrabulous Fabtrapation of Professor Horatio Hufnagel.” I often appear on television and movie strips shown in Springfield, but briefly acted in the stage adaption of “Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off!”

I was briefly married to the fabulous Selma Bouvier. Oh, and I can assure you that any rumors involving me and fish are false.

Voiced By:
Phil Hartman

First Appearance:
“Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment” - Season 2, Episode 13

Notes:
Unlike Hutz, MacClure has not appeared on the Simpsons since Hartman's death, although he does have a plaque (along with Hank Scorpio and Spider-Pig) on the Springfield Wall of Fame. He did make a rumored cameo in “The Simpsons Guy” though.

Hartman used to use the Troy MacClure voice to entertain the studio audience at tapings of NewsRadio in between takes, citing Troy as his favorite character.

Prior to his death, Hartman tried to convince the Simpsons staff to do a live action Troy MacClure film, starring him as MacClure. It never got past the “talking about it” stage.

The character of Zapp Brannigan was originally supposed to be voiced by Hartman. After his death, Billy West used the vocal patterns of Hartman's MacClure character to voice him.

Up Next:
I'm pretty sure that the voice actor of the next entry is still alive...

[Johnny Unusual]

Number 10: Dr. William "Willie" MacDougal III


Notes:
Willie is the originator of the phrase”cheese eating surrender monkeys”  that is used to describe the French.

Later, Marvel created a villain named Surrender Monkey on the sort of fake villain team Euro Trash, made up of ethnically stereotypical mutants.  Surrender Monkey's power: to know the exact time to surrender.  Also, it turns out he's not a mutant, just a guy in a monkey costume.

[Compound]

Number 6: Morris Szyslak


127 Points
(8 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #2 by Psycho Goatee)

Biography:
Morris “Moe” Szyslak is the owner of Moe's Tavern, a local Springfield drinking establishment. He is of Polish decent but immigrated to Springfield from the Netherlands, while somehow developing an Italian accent.

In his youth, he played “Smelly” on “Our Gang”and later had an acting role on the popular soap opera “It Never Ends.”  In his youth, Moe was also a professional boxer and a professional animal smuggler. He was briefly a judge on American Idol as well. While Springfield was enclosed under a dome, he was also The Emperor of Springfield.

Romantically, despite his hideous appearance, Moe has been in a number of relationships. He was briefly engaged to Edna Krabappel. He has also dated Nelson Muntz' mother, his bartender Colette, a bar patron named Renee, Katy Perry, and little person Maya.

Moe is also a character of moral extremes. He has stalked both Marge and Maude Flanders. He ran a Russian Roulette ring in his back room. His back room was also used to smuggle stolen orcas as well. But, at the same time, Moe donates his time to help at the local soup kitchen as well as reading to sick children at the hospital. He once used a fan to engage in charity work across Africa and has saved the lives of Maggie, the owner of the  music shop next door, and somehow, all of the Springfield Elementary students who were shipwrecked on a desert island.

Voiced By:
Christopher Collins/ Hank Azaria

First Appearance:
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” - Season 1, Episode 1

Notes:
Moe was partially based on comedian Rich Hall, of SNL and Sniglets fame.

As a side note, every few years the writers seem to get on a roll with characters and in recent years, that character has been Moe.

Up Next:
Hello children.

[Compound]

Number 5: Dr. Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, PhD


140 Points
(9 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #3 by Compound and Pak-Man)

Biography:
Robert Terwilliger is a Yale graduate and champion of high culture who had a career as Krusty the Clown's sidekick. At least until he framed Krusty for armed robbery and was revealed as the true criminal by Bart Simpson. Since that time, Sideshow Bob, as Terwilliger is better known, has been devoted to both further criminal activities and gaining revenge on Bart and then later the entire Simpson family. He has also taken time off to become the mayor of Springfield.

Terwilliger's family has also been involved in his revenge schemes on the Simpson family. His younger brother, Cecil, tried to drown the town while Bob went straight. Bob's parents tried to fake Bob's death to kill Bart. Bob's Italian wife and son also swear vengeance on the Simpson family after they ruin Bob's idyllic life in Italy.

However, from time to time Sideshow Bob has assisted the Simpsons family. He helped Bart and Lisa defeat Cecil when he tried to flood the town and he helped then again when a mysterious assassin tried to kill Homer, acting in a Hannibal-esque consulting detective role to Lisa. He was last seen at the funeral of Krusty's father not committing any crimes.

Voiced By:
Kelsey Grammer

First Appearance:
“The Telltale Head” - Season 1, Episode 8

Notes:
Bob's early, non-speaking, appearances showed a simpler design for Bob. After Kelsey Grammer was hired to play Bob, Brad Bird modified the design of the character to make him more refined. The staff also tried to redraw Bob's earlier appearances but ran out of time before the episodes aired.

Up Next:
Someone quite familiar with Bob....

[Johnny Unusual]

Up Next:
Someone quite familiar with Bob....

Birch Barlow?

[Compound]

Number 4: Bartholomew JoJo Simpson


146 Points
(7 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #1 by George Harrison)

Biography:
Bart Simpson is the eldest Simpson child. He is in the 4th grade and is an underachiever and proud of it. He is fond of skateboarding, comic books and making prank phone calls. He has also been scientifically proven to be dumber than a hamster.

While most 10 year olds do not work much, Bart has worked a bartender at the Legitimate Businessman's Social Club, ran the comic book shop, been a pop sensation as the “I Didn't Do It” kid,  appeared in commercials, performing in a boy band, worked as the doorman for a burlesque club and briefly owned a factory.

Bart has had a number of romantic engagements over the years including (deep breath) Becky, Laura Powers, Jessica Lovejoy, Sarah, Sherri Mackelberry, Greta Wolfcastle, Clara Stetson, Gina Vendetti, “Summer Romance”, Jenny, Nikki McKenna, Melody Juniper, and Shauna. He was also engaged to both Darcy, whom he believed was the mother of his daughter, and Mary Spuckler.

Bart is also extremely adept at writing on a chalkboard.

Voiced By:
Nancy Cartwright

First Appearance:
“Good Night” - Tracy Ullman short

Notes:
Originally, Nancy Cartwright auditioned for the role of Lisa and Yeardley Smith auditioned for Bart.

Bart's phone calls to Moe mostly stopped in the fourth season as the writers had trouble coming up with new names for Bart to use.

Bart is the mascot of the Russian soccer club FC Zeint Saint Petersburg.


Er, yeah. In addition to that gig, Bart has been the spokeskid for Burger King, C.C. Lemon, Church's Chicken, Domino's Pizza, KFC, Ramada Inn, Ritz Crackers, Subway, Kellogg's and Butterfingers.

Up Next:
Yeah, you knew this character would be on the list,

[Compound]

Number 3: Edward Cullen


149 Points
(9 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #1 by Reverend Horsehead and 90sSitcomStar)

Biography:
Edward Mason is a vampire living in Forks, Washington. After Carilisle Cullen turned him into a vampire in 1918 to prevent Edward's death  from the Spanish Flu, he joined Cullen's adoptive family of “vegetarian” vampires. Years later, he moved to Forks where he met Bella Swan, the love of his life. Later still, he moved to Springfield where he met Lisa and fell in love.

Edward's vampiric powers include telepathy, super strength, speed and sparkling.

Voiced By:
Robert Pattinson

First Appearance:
“twilight”

Notes:
Edward has been described by the Simpsons staff as being the “Byronic ideal of a hero.”

Up Next:
Our number 2.

[Compound]

And I hope no one fell for that...

[Compound]

Number 3: Lisa Marie Simpson


149 Points
(9 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #1 by Anais & Johnny U)

Biography:
Lisa Simpson is the middle Simpsons child. She is in the second grade of Springfield Elementary.  She is a talented baritone saxomophone player and a jazz devotee. She is also highly intelligent for her age.

Lisa is devoted to a wide variety of causes including environmentalism, animal rights, Tibetian Independence, Cornish Independence (no, really. That happened in real life), feminism, and vegetarianism. She is an insectivore and a practicing Buddhist.

Lisa has been romantically linked to Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, teen heartthrob Corey, Langdon Alger, Irish boy Colin who is not related to Bono, and Luke Stetson. Milhouse van Houten has tried to begin a romance with Lisa many times, but Lisa has mostly rebuffed those advances. Except briefly when Milhouse spoke Italian.

Voiced By:
Yeardley Smith

First Appearance:
“Good Night”- Tracy Ullman Show

Notes:
Lisa was allegedly born during the LA Olympics in 1984, but that date has slipped since then.

Lisa is considered to be the most difficult Simpson family member to draw, due to her spiky hair.

While originally Lisa was closer to a female version of Bart, over the years she's developed into a different character.

While the writers consider the Lisa-centric episodes to be among the series' best, fans have also ranked those same episodes among the series' worst as they can get just a wee bit preachy.

Up Next:
Number 2.

[Compound]

Number 2: Charles Montgomery Burns


177 Points
(10 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #2 by Compound & ScottotD)

Biography:
Monty Burns is the billionaire owner of the Springfield Nuclear Plant.  He is a Yaley, having graduated in 1914. He served as a member of the “Flying Hellfish” squad in World War II. After the war, he stole a trillion dollar bill that the US government was sending to France.  Since then, he has run the Springfield Nuclear Plant, apart from a brief period when he ran a slurry manufacturing plant. He also worked for Moe for a short time. And, of course, like many other billionaires, he has fought crime as a masked vigilante in his off hours.

Burns has never married, but has been engaged three times- to a French woman Gertrude, to Jacqueline Bouvier and to Gloria, a Springfield Meter Maid. Lately he has been living with Assemblywoman Maxine Lombard . He has an illegitimate son named Larry.  Burns' mother is still living, but Burns doesn't like to speak to her due to her affair with William Howard Taft. He also owns his treasured childhood toy, a bear named Bobo.

Voiced By:
Christopher Collins/ Harry Shearer

First Appearance:
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” - Season 1, Episode 1

Notes:
According to Forbes, Mr. Burns' net worth in 2013 was 1.5 billion dollars, making him the tenth richest fictional character. At #9  is Tywin Lannister and at #11 is Walden Schmidt from Two and a Half Men.

In 2009, Burns received 27 votes for Mayor of New York. That's still 27 more than you got.

Burns has often placed fairly high up on various lists of “Most Evil Bosses” in recent years. Except for online polls, where he keeps losing to Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA. Who's also at number 1 in this list too.

Up Next:
Our number 1. I already said it was Andrew Wilson. No need to read the next post.

[Compound]

Number 1: Homer Jay Simpson


239 Points
(10 of 10 lists. Highest ranking #1 by Compound, Cjones, Psycho Goatee, Johnny Unusual,ScottotD)

Biography:
Homer Simpson is the patriarch of the Simpsons family. He is married to Marge Simpson and has three children- Bart, Lisa and Maggie. He has a living father, Abe, and two half siblings- Herb Powell and Abbie.  He works at the Springfield Nuclear Plant. However, Homer has had many other professions over the years. He's been a Grammy-award winning Barbershop quartet member, the lead singer of the grunge band Sadgasm, a freak for the Hullabalooza concert series, an astronaut, a ball monkey for the Bowlarama, a Krusty the Clown impersonator, the Springfield Sanitation Commisioner, a professional boxer, a member of the naval reserve,  a sugar salesman, a dealer in grease, a snow plow driver,  a blackjack dealer, a talk show host, a bounty hunter, a bootlegger,  a tow truck driver, a chiropractor, the Mascot for the Springfield Isotopes, a drug smuggler, a teacher, ran a phone pyramid scheme, an executive at the Globex corporation, a talk show host, a  farmer, a film producer, a food critic, a film critic, a sugar smuggler (again), an informant for the IRS, an inventor, a Mall Santa,  a spokesman for Powersauce, a minister, a safety inspector, a safety salamander, the CEO of Ziffcorp, a bodyguard, a monorail conductor, a soccer referee, a fantasy novel writer, a union organizer and the voice actor of Poochie. And about 40-50 other jobs.

Homer is quite fond of food, especially donuts,.

Voiced By:
Dan Castellaneta

First Appearance:
“Good Night” -Tracy Ullman Show

Notes:
Homer was ranked as the second greatest animated character of all time by EW, placing behind only Bugs Bunny.

Homer's annoyed grunt, written in the script as (annoyed grunt) and is defined as”expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned, or that one has just said or done something foolish “ This is commonly written as “D'oh” and is in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

Homer was named after Matt Groening's father and is an honorary citizen of Winnipeg, Canada, who mistakenly thought that Groening's father was born there. He was actually born in Saskatchewan.  Whoops.

Up Next:
It's over. O-V-R. Over.

[Johnny Unusual]

Lisa was #2 for me, not #1.  I find lately some writers aren't using her correctly, focusing on either her being smug or a killjoy.    But she really is a great character, often best used when mixing her mature beyond her years attitude with the fact that she is still just a kid.  (Also, stop trying to pair her with Milhouse.  It's an unhealthy relationship for both and if any Simpson deserves a happy ending, it's Lisa.)

[Johnny Unusual]

Great list, Compound!    Thanks so much for hosting!

Here's my list:
1.   Homer Simpson
2.   Lisa Simpson
3.   Bart Simpson
4.   Moe Szyslak
5.   Abraham Simpson
6.   Mr. Burns
7.   Milhouse Van Houten
8.   Ralph Wiggum
9.   Marge Simpson
10.   Lionel Hutz
11.   Hank Scorpio
12.   Sideshow Bob
13.   Edna Krabappel
14.   Troy McClure
15.   Ned Flanders
16.   Principal Seymour Skinner
17.   Superintendent Chalmers
18.   Waylon Smithers
19.   Groundskeeper Willie
20.   Hans Moleman
21.   Kang and Kodos
22.   Clancy Wiggum
23.   Disco Stu
24.   Krusty the Clown
25.   Sideshow Mel

Only one of mine didn't make it.  Interestingly he was part of a short lived running gag that I think was halted with the death of Phil Hartman.  It started one of Springfield's angry mobs and everyone was raising their voices.  At one point Ned Flanders wants to hear from Sideshow Mel, who says something.  In a later episode, Sideshow Mel demands to hear from Lionel Hutz during a town hall meeting.  Sadly, Lionel Hutz never survived to pass the baton.