"The Simpsons" Characters and their Best Episodes
The Simpsons characters have become almost as familiar to fans as their own family members. According to an Entertainment Weekly survey, Homer Simpson was named the greatest TV character in the last twenty years. (However, I beg to differ.) But what about the rest of the Simpson family and Springfield's residents? Here's a list of favorite cartoon characters on The Simpsons.
Homer Simpson is my favorite character on The Simpsons. His greed is often foiled by his stupidity. His schemes are often saved by the big heart he has for his family. And his perception of himself and the world is just hysterical. I miss the innocent Homer of seasons past, though. I hope his "prank monkey" antics are short-lived.
Best episode:Â "King-Size Homer" reveals the essential Homer we know and love. He just wants to sit around at home, eat and get paid for it.
See also:
Bart is the id in all of us. He's a prankster, a smart-mouth and a vandal. Yet, he can show great compassion and tenderness for his family. I love his schemes, like when he sang "In the Garden of Evil" in church. Above all, he's just a kid.
Best episode:Â While I considered choosing "Cape Feare" and "Kamp Krusty," I think "Krusty Gets Kancelled" remains the best Bart Simpson episode. We see his loyalty to Krusty, as well as what Bart can accomplish when he puts his mind to it.
See also:
Lisa Simpson's sharp wit and sly observations of her own family crack me up every time. I also relate to her cursed over-achiever-ness and desire to fit in. Because she's so straight-laced, when we discover quirks, like her love of Corey, it's even funnier.
Best episode:Â "Lisa the Vegetarian" marks and important milestone in Lisa's character development. After visiting a petting zoo, she becomes a vegetarian, going against her family's strong taste for meat. "You don't win friends with salad!"
See also:
Marge Simpson is easy to recognize in her green, strapless dress and piled-high blue hair. She's more than a mom, opening her own businesses or standing up for her beliefs. Although she's left Homer a few times (or kicked him out), she remains loyal to her husband.
Best episode:Â "A Streetcar Named Marge" takes Marge through an entire arc of emotions, from feeling bored as a housewife, to angry at Homer's neglect, to relief and love when Homer makes it clear he watched the play, and it made him understand her needs more.
See also:
Maggie Simpson is more than just an accessory in the Simpson family. The mystery around her first words were solved when Elizabeth Taylor famously voice her saying, "Daddy" in "Lisa's First Word.
Best episode:Â In "Homer Alone," Maggie escapes the house while Homer does a poor job of babysitting. She goes on an adventure, searching for Marge, who is at Rancho Relaxo. Best scene? When Homer calls the "missing baby departement," gets put on hold and listens to "Baby Come Back."
See also:
Grampa Simpson is the perfect stereotypical old person. He can't remember what he did yesterday, but he'll tell you his war stories over and over, frequently falling asleep in the middle. He's proud and pathetic at the same time. His teeth can be used in many ways. Best of all, he's there when his family needs him for babysitting or lending money to buy a home.
Best Episode:Â "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" shows up that Grampa had quite a life before he became a geezer. During World War II, he was known as "Raging Abe," the leader of his platoon (think Howling Commandos). Turns how he and his comrades hid some priceless paintings, and one when of them dies, it's time for either Abe or Mr. Burns to cash in.
See also:
Mr. Burns is best when he's doing something evil. His complete ignorance of Homer Simpson ("Who is that young go-getter, Smithers?") is a characteristic of his narcissism, because he has partnered with Homer for many ventures and adventures.
Best episode: In "Rosebud," we find out that as a child Mr. Burns had a favorite teddy bear named Bobo. Mr. Burns employs desperate measures to get it back from Maggie Simpson, even taking over every TV channel in Springfield.
See also:
In reality, no children's television clown with Krusty's personality would be on the air. (Paul Reubens, anyone?) But in the world of Springfield, we can love the irony that a smoking, boozing, womanizing clown with mob ties hosts a children's TV show.
See also:Â 10 Best Krusty the Clown Episodes
Apu seems to always have a quip ready at the counter of his Kwik E Mart. He cleverly gauges Springfield citizens with his prices. His patient explanations of Hinduism to Homer tickle me silly. He's got a killer singing voice, as proven in "A Streetcar Named Marge."
Best episode:Â In "The Two Nahasapeemapetilons," Apu tries to get out of an arranged marriage by pretending to be married to Marge. He winds up falling for his betrothed, Manjula.
See also:
Sideshow Bob is a shady clown who's tried several times to kill Bart, as revenge for Bart fingering him in a Kwik-E-Mart theft. He's been his own worst enemy, foiling his own schemes.
Best episode: "Cape Feare" is a terrific episode that parodies the Martin Scorsese movie Cape Fear. Sideshow Bob sports a t-shirt that says, "Die Bart Die," only to claim it's German for "The Bart, The." He gets caught trying to kill Bart, again, when he wastes time singing the entire score of H.M.S. Pinafore.
See also:
Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson is my favorite character on The Simpsons. His greed is often foiled by his stupidity. His schemes are often saved by the big heart he has for his family. And his perception of himself and the world is just hysterical. I miss the innocent Homer of seasons past, though. I hope his "prank monkey" antics are short-lived.
Best episode:Â "King-Size Homer" reveals the essential Homer we know and love. He just wants to sit around at home, eat and get paid for it.
See also:
Bart Simpson
Bart is the id in all of us. He's a prankster, a smart-mouth and a vandal. Yet, he can show great compassion and tenderness for his family. I love his schemes, like when he sang "In the Garden of Evil" in church. Above all, he's just a kid.
Best episode:Â While I considered choosing "Cape Feare" and "Kamp Krusty," I think "Krusty Gets Kancelled" remains the best Bart Simpson episode. We see his loyalty to Krusty, as well as what Bart can accomplish when he puts his mind to it.
See also:
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson's sharp wit and sly observations of her own family crack me up every time. I also relate to her cursed over-achiever-ness and desire to fit in. Because she's so straight-laced, when we discover quirks, like her love of Corey, it's even funnier.
Best episode:Â "Lisa the Vegetarian" marks and important milestone in Lisa's character development. After visiting a petting zoo, she becomes a vegetarian, going against her family's strong taste for meat. "You don't win friends with salad!"
See also:
Marge Simpson
Marge Simpson is easy to recognize in her green, strapless dress and piled-high blue hair. She's more than a mom, opening her own businesses or standing up for her beliefs. Although she's left Homer a few times (or kicked him out), she remains loyal to her husband.
Best episode:Â "A Streetcar Named Marge" takes Marge through an entire arc of emotions, from feeling bored as a housewife, to angry at Homer's neglect, to relief and love when Homer makes it clear he watched the play, and it made him understand her needs more.
See also:
Maggie Simpson
Maggie Simpson is more than just an accessory in the Simpson family. The mystery around her first words were solved when Elizabeth Taylor famously voice her saying, "Daddy" in "Lisa's First Word.
Best episode:Â In "Homer Alone," Maggie escapes the house while Homer does a poor job of babysitting. She goes on an adventure, searching for Marge, who is at Rancho Relaxo. Best scene? When Homer calls the "missing baby departement," gets put on hold and listens to "Baby Come Back."
See also:
Grampa Abe Simpson
Grampa Simpson is the perfect stereotypical old person. He can't remember what he did yesterday, but he'll tell you his war stories over and over, frequently falling asleep in the middle. He's proud and pathetic at the same time. His teeth can be used in many ways. Best of all, he's there when his family needs him for babysitting or lending money to buy a home.
Best Episode:Â "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" shows up that Grampa had quite a life before he became a geezer. During World War II, he was known as "Raging Abe," the leader of his platoon (think Howling Commandos). Turns how he and his comrades hid some priceless paintings, and one when of them dies, it's time for either Abe or Mr. Burns to cash in.
See also:
Mr. Burns
Mr. Burns is best when he's doing something evil. His complete ignorance of Homer Simpson ("Who is that young go-getter, Smithers?") is a characteristic of his narcissism, because he has partnered with Homer for many ventures and adventures.
Best episode: In "Rosebud," we find out that as a child Mr. Burns had a favorite teddy bear named Bobo. Mr. Burns employs desperate measures to get it back from Maggie Simpson, even taking over every TV channel in Springfield.
See also:
Krusty the Clown
In reality, no children's television clown with Krusty's personality would be on the air. (Paul Reubens, anyone?) But in the world of Springfield, we can love the irony that a smoking, boozing, womanizing clown with mob ties hosts a children's TV show.
See also:Â 10 Best Krusty the Clown Episodes
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Apu seems to always have a quip ready at the counter of his Kwik E Mart. He cleverly gauges Springfield citizens with his prices. His patient explanations of Hinduism to Homer tickle me silly. He's got a killer singing voice, as proven in "A Streetcar Named Marge."
Best episode:Â In "The Two Nahasapeemapetilons," Apu tries to get out of an arranged marriage by pretending to be married to Marge. He winds up falling for his betrothed, Manjula.
See also:
Sideshow Bob
Sideshow Bob is a shady clown who's tried several times to kill Bart, as revenge for Bart fingering him in a Kwik-E-Mart theft. He's been his own worst enemy, foiling his own schemes.
Best episode: "Cape Feare" is a terrific episode that parodies the Martin Scorsese movie Cape Fear. Sideshow Bob sports a t-shirt that says, "Die Bart Die," only to claim it's German for "The Bart, The." He gets caught trying to kill Bart, again, when he wastes time singing the entire score of H.M.S. Pinafore.
See also: