50 Fun Facts About The Simpsons

What is Homer Simpson's catchphrase when something goes wrong?

"D'oh!" is Homer's signature exclamation of frustration, so iconic it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001.

What instrument does Lisa Simpson play?

Lisa plays the baritone saxophone. Her love of jazz and her saxophone are central to her character throughout the series.

What is the name of the bar where Homer frequently drinks?

Moe's Tavern, owned by Moe Szyslak, is Homer's favorite watering hole and a recurring location throughout the series.

What color is Marge Simpson's hair?

Marge's tall beehive hairdo is blue. Creator Matt Groening originally planned to reveal that her hair hid rabbit ears (a nod to his Life in Hell comic), but this idea was dropped.

What is the name of the convenience store in Springfield?

The Kwik-E-Mart is Springfield's convenience store, run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. It's a parody of real-life convenience store chains.

Who is Bart's best friend?

Milhouse Van Houten is Bart's loyal best friend. He's known for his blue hair, thick glasses, and unrequited crush on Lisa.

What is the name of the Simpsons' neighbor?

Ned Flanders is the Simpsons' next-door neighbor. The devout Christian and annoyingly cheerful Ned is famous for his "Hi-diddly-ho, neighborino!" greeting.

What is the name of the school Bart and Lisa attend?

Bart and Lisa attend Springfield Elementary School, where Principal Seymour Skinner tries to maintain order and teachers struggle with Springfield's chaotic student body.

What is Homer's favorite food?

Homer is famously obsessed with donuts, particularly the pink frosted variety. His love of donuts has been a running gag since the show's earliest episodes.

What is the name of the clown who hosts a TV show in Springfield?

Krusty the Clown (Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofsky) hosts The Krusty the Clown Show, Bart's favorite TV program.

What is the name of the Simpsons' baby?

Margaret "Maggie" Simpson is the youngest Simpson. Despite being a baby throughout the entire series, she has had many memorable moments, including shooting Mr. Burns.

Who created The Simpsons?

Matt Groening created The Simpsons. He named the characters after his own family members -- his parents Homer and Margaret (Marge), and sisters Lisa and Maggie. Bart is an anagram of 'brat.'

What year did The Simpsons first premiere as a series on Fox?

The Simpsons premiered on December 17, 1989 on Fox with the Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." The characters had previously appeared as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show starting in 1987.

Who shot Mr. Burns in the famous two-part episode?

In the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" two-parter (Season 6/7), baby Maggie Simpson accidentally shot Mr. Burns when he tried to take candy from her. The reveal was one of TV's biggest cliffhangers.

Which actor voices Homer Simpson?

Dan Castellaneta voices Homer Simpson, as well as many other characters including Krusty the Clown, Barney Gumble, Groundskeeper Willie, and Mayor Quimby.

What show did The Simpsons characters first appear on as animated shorts?

The Simpsons began as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, two years before becoming their own series.

Which Simpsons prediction famously came true about the US presidency?

In the 2000 episode "Bart to the Future," Lisa becomes president and references "President Trump's" budget mess. When Trump won in 2016, it was widely cited as a Simpsons prediction.

What is Groundskeeper Willie's nationality?

Groundskeeper Willie is Scottish, known for his thick Scottish accent, fiery temper, and surprising physical strength. He's the janitor and groundskeeper at Springfield Elementary.

What record does The Simpsons hold in American television history?

The Simpsons is the longest-running American animated program and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, surpassing Gunsmoke's record.

Which voice actress plays both Marge and her twin sisters Patty and Selma?

Julie Kavner voices Marge Simpson as well as her mother Jacqueline and twin sisters Patty and Selma Bouvier. She's notoriously private and rarely allows herself to be filmed recording.

Which actor voices multiple characters including Moe, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy?

Hank Azaria is known for voicing a huge range of characters including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Professor Frink, and many more. He stepped back from voicing Apu in 2020.

Which voice actor provides the voice for Bart Simpson?

Nancy Cartwright voices Bart Simpson. She also voices Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and many other characters on the show.

What is Chief Wiggum's first name?

Chief Clancy Wiggum is the incompetent police chief of Springfield. His son Ralph Wiggum is a classmate of Lisa's, known for his innocent non sequiturs.

What is Homer's middle name?

Homer Jay Simpson is his full name. The 'J' middle name is a tribute to cartoon characters like Bullwinkle J. Moose and Rocket J. Squirrel from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

What year was The Simpsons Movie released?

The Simpsons Movie was released on July 27, 2007. It grossed over $527 million worldwide and features a plot involving Homer polluting Lake Springfield, leading to the town being quarantined under a dome.

What is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon's country of origin?

Apu is from India. He holds a PhD in computer science and came to the US as a student. He runs the Kwik-E-Mart and eventually has octuplets with his wife Manjula.

What is the three-eyed fish found near the nuclear plant called?

Blinky is the three-eyed fish found in waters near the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. The fish became a symbol of the plant's environmental pollution and appeared in Mr. Burns' campaign for governor.

In which state is Springfield supposedly located?

The Simpsons' Springfield is intentionally never given a specific state. Matt Groening has said this was deliberate so that everyone could believe it was their Springfield. However, he later admitted the name was inspired by Springfield, Oregon.

Which famous physicist has guest-starred on The Simpsons multiple times?

Stephen Hawking appeared on The Simpsons multiple times, voicing himself. His first appearance was in 1999's "They Saved Lisa's Brain" where he meets Homer at a Mensa meeting.

What was the first full-length Simpsons episode called?

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (the Christmas special) aired December 17, 1989 as the first full episode, even though "Some Enchanted Evening" was produced first but delayed due to animation issues.

What is the name of the comic book store owner in Springfield?

The Comic Book Guy's real name is Jeff Albertson, though he was simply known as 'Comic Book Guy' for many seasons before his real name was revealed in Season 16.

How many spikes of hair does Bart Simpson have?

Bart Simpson has exactly 9 spikes of hair on his head. This detail was established by Matt Groening in the character's design.

Which character's real name was controversially revealed to be Armin Tamzarian?

In the controversial Season 9 episode "The Principal and the Pauper," it was revealed that Seymour Skinner was actually an impostor named Armin Tamzarian. The episode is widely considered one of the show's worst creative decisions.

What is the name of the gorge Homer falls down in a famous episode?

In "Bart the Daredevil" (Season 2), Homer falls down Springfield Gorge while attempting a skateboard jump. The scene of him repeatedly hitting the rocks on the way down is one of the show's most famous moments.

What is Lisa Simpson's saxophone idol's name?

Bleeding Gums Murphy is Lisa's jazz mentor who appears in several episodes. He teaches Lisa about jazz and passes away in the Season 6 episode "'Round Springfield."

What fictional TV show within The Simpsons is a parody of cop dramas?

"Police Cops" is a show-within-a-show that parodies buddy cop dramas. In "Homer to the Max" (Season 10), Homer is thrilled that the show features a character named Homer Simpson -- until the character becomes a bumbling idiot.

What is the name of the voice actor who plays Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders?

Harry Shearer voices Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Smithers, Principal Skinner, Kent Brockman, and many other characters. He briefly left the show in 2015 before signing a new contract.

What is the name of Krusty the Clown's sidekick monkey?

Mr. Teeny is Krusty's chain-smoking chimpanzee sidekick who appears on The Krusty the Clown Show. Despite being a chimp, he's often referred to as a monkey.

Which late comedian voiced Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure before his death in 1998?

Phil Hartman voiced both the sleazy lawyer Lionel Hutz and the washed-up actor Troy McClure. After Hartman's murder in 1998, both characters were retired rather than recast.

What is Marge Simpson's maiden name?

Marge's maiden name is Bouvier, a reference to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Her sisters Patty and Selma Bouvier kept the family name.

In The Simpsons Movie, what does Homer dump in Lake Springfield that causes an environmental disaster?

Homer dumps a silo full of pig feces (from his pet pig Spider Pig/Harry Plopper) into Lake Springfield, causing an environmental catastrophe that leads the EPA to enclose the town in a giant dome.

Which Beatle has guest-starred on The Simpsons?

Both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have appeared on The Simpsons. Paul and Linda McCartney appeared in "Lisa the Vegetarian" (1995) with the condition that Lisa remain vegetarian permanently. Ringo appeared in "Brush with Greatness" (1991).

Which superhero does Bart and Milhouse's favorite comic book feature?

Radioactive Man is the superhero from Bart and Milhouse's favorite comic book series. His sidekick is Fallout Boy, and a live-action movie was filmed in Springfield in one episode.

What is the name of the monorail salesman who cons Springfield in a famous musical episode?

Lyle Lanley is the con man from "Marge vs. the Monorail" (Season 4), written by Conan O'Brien. He sells Springfield a faulty monorail in a Music Man-style song that's considered one of the show's greatest moments.

Who wrote the famous "Marge vs. the Monorail" episode?

"Marge vs. the Monorail" was written by Conan O'Brien during his time as a Simpsons writer (1991-1993), before he became a late-night TV host. It's frequently cited as one of the greatest Simpsons episodes ever.

What is the name of Homer's half-brother who is a wealthy auto manufacturer?

Herbert "Herb" Powell, voiced by Danny DeVito, is Homer's half-brother and CEO of Powell Motors. Homer's poor design choices for a car bankrupted Herb's company, though Herb later rebuilt his fortune.

What is the name of Bart's prank call alter ego when he calls Moe's Tavern?

Bart uses different punny fake names each time he prank calls Moe's Tavern, such as "Al Coholic," "I.P. Freely," "Amanda Hugginkiss," and "Hugh Jass." Moe falls for it every time, shouting the name to the bar.

What is Hank Scorpio's claim to fame in the show?

Hank Scorpio is a charismatic Bond-villain-style supervillain who runs Globex Corporation and is paradoxically the best boss Homer ever had. He appears in "You Only Move Twice" (Season 8), consistently voted one of the best episodes.

What condition did Paul McCartney require for his guest appearance on The Simpsons?

Paul and Linda McCartney agreed to guest-star in "Lisa the Vegetarian" (Season 7) on the condition that Lisa would remain a vegetarian for the rest of the series. The producers have honored this commitment.

What is the name of the most prolific Simpsons writer, credited with more episodes than anyone else?

John Swartzwelder wrote 59 episodes of The Simpsons, more than any other writer. He's known for his reclusive nature and libertarian humor. Many of his episodes are fan favorites from the show's golden era.