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This show has so many characters that the secondary characters could get a list. Despite the challenge of narrowing it down to just ten, we’re going to pull it off and rank the ten best characters from The Simpsons. We recently undertook the task of picking the ten best episodes of the long-running series, which is another challenge given how many episodes are genuine masterpieces of sitcom episodes. But what’s even more challenging is picking the ten best characters who make those episodes so great, no matter how controversial they may be. Nevertheless, we will give these ten Simpsons characters the honor they deserve. Without further ado, here’s the list.
10. C. Montgomery Burns
Springfield’s oldest, wealthiest, and most evil resident, Mr. Burns, is the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, thus making him Homer’s boss and a prominent contributor to Springfield’s pollution issues. His crony capitalism, mistreatment of workers, and utter contempt for man-kind make Mr. Burns a loathsome human being. Mr. Burns’s evil deeds are countless. However, he’s also immensely entertaining for being out of touch with the modern world and so frail that a gust of wind could do him in. Simply put, Mr. Burns is a villain we love to hate.
9. Moe Szyslak
Can you imagine The Simpsons without Bart’s prank calls to Moe? Of course, not. But those are just some of this grumpy bartender’s best moments. Moe is one of the most vulgar and unpleasant characters on the show. He’s ugly, violent, money-hungry, and profits from people’s serious addictions without sorrow. And yet, we love him both in spite of and because of those issues. Moe’s outbursts are truly over the top, which is why they tickle our funny bones so much. But he’s also a sad and sympathetic character with a soft side. Moe may make us sick in real life, but we can’t help but root for him on this show.
8. Maggie Simpson
Few characters can be amazing and entertaining with no dialogue. But Maggie Simpson pulls it off. The youngest child of the Simpson family, baby Maggie has hardly ever spoken on this show, with her most common sound being the sucking of her trademark pacifier. Yet Maggie has been a source of excellent humor and hilarious storylines. Even in infancy, Maggie demonstrates that she’s a smart little prodigy. She manages to successfully initiate a daycare safe break-in to retrieve stolen pacifiers, she saves Homer from drowning without knowing how to swim, and she also is the Springfield resident who came closest to ending Mr. Burns once and for all. Maggie is such a star that Pixar allowed her a short film to accompany Onward. Maggie may be a baby, but she’s got much more going for her than naps and playing in a sandbox.
7. Krusty the Clown
Krusty the Clown may be the most painful look into what the actors on kid’s shows are like when the little ones aren’t looking. An entertaining, kid-friendly clown when the cameras are on, Krusty’s true nature comes out hard once the curtain drops. That nature is that of a surly, chain-smoking, gambling cynic who is only in showbusiness for the money rather than the fans. This is pretty clear in how often he forgets Bart Simpson’s name despite his number one fan saving him from threats such as Sideshow Bob and a dying career. Regardless, Krusty’s cynical attitude and contrasting personalities make him a very funny and entertaining character.
6. Ralph Wiggum
We may need to make another list of Ralph Wiggum’s best lines. Few other characters from The Simpsons can guarantee a laugh the way Ralph can.
Ralph is Lisa’s classmate in Ms. Hoover’s second-grade class, and he is also Police Chief Wiggum’s son. And just as his dad is incompetent as a cop, Ralph is incompetent at… okay, Ralph is flat out dumb. He’s barely grasped potty training, let alone is he getting the hang of school. And his habits, such as eating paste and crayons, make him the source of many eye rolls. He does have his moments of potential, such as when he delivers an epic performance as George Washington in a school play. However, none of those moments help Ralph rise above his dimwitted nature. However, do we really want a smart Ralph who doesn’t deliver the show’s funniest lines? To answer that question, here are a few friendly reminders:
- “Me fail English? That’s un-possible!”
- “Hi, Super Nintendo Chalmers. I’m learnding”
- “My cat’s breath smells like cat food.”
- “Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner were in the closet making babies, and I saw one of the babies, and the baby looked at me.”
5. Ned Flanders
“Hen’s love roosters. Geese love ganders. Everyone else loves Ned Flanders!” Everyone except Homer, that is.
Ned is the Simpson’s cheerful, friendly, Christian next-door neighbor, who Homer hates due to jealousy. This is in spite of the fact that Ned has lost both of his wives while Homer still has Marge, who has more than a few reasons to leave him. Ned is the nicest guy in Springfield, though he hardly gets any respect in return. That caused him to have a mental breakdown after a hurricane wrecked his home. While Ned’s beliefs can make him a little judgmental, it’s hard to deny that he is often the one who takes the moral high ground compared to everyone else in town. Ned is a kind-hearted guy, and he’s easily the best of The Simpsons secondary characters. Heck, Portland even named a bridge after him.
4. Marge Simpson
Homemakers have it harder than people realize. But few have to carry Marge’s burdens. Marge has to deal with an oafish husband, a bratty son, a daughter who doesn’t look up to her, and a baby who needs attention. And she’s made many sacrifices for all of them. Yet while Marge could be bitter, she endures it all from a place of unconditional love. While some brush Marge off as a stereotypical TV wife, she’s the most level-headed member of the family and the one who keeps the family together. And while most of her efforts go toward her home and family, Marge has successfully campaigned for causes she holds dear, such as lowering the town’s obesity, fighting cartoon violence, and even becoming mayor. While most of those causes often fail somehow, you still gotta admire Marge for how much she cares.
3. Lisa Simpson
Lisa is widely considered the smartest, most soulful, and most progressive member of the Simpson family. It’s worth mentioning Marge was once the same way before giving up much of her future for her family. However, it’s hard to deny that Lisa is the one more likely to be the leader of the free world. A straight-A student and passionate jazz musician, Lisa has dreams bigger than her family or the town of Springfield has to offer. And yet she still fights to better Springfield through fighting for animal rights, campaigning for the environment, and pushing for educational efforts. However, the middle child is often neglected due to Bart being a handful and Maggie needing constant care. Yet Lisa remains selfless and committed to doing the right thing. She’s made herself a feminist icon, which is impressive for an eight-year-old.
2. Bart Simpson
If you’re angry that Bart isn’t number one, don’t have a cow man! It was a close race.
Homer and Marge’s firstborn and the only boy, ten-year-old Bart is every parent’s dream. A bad dream, that is. This spikey-haired little monster is a trouble-making nightmare known for his stupidity, senseless pranks, and even a few felonies such as joy-riding and graffiti (we all know who El-Barto is). While Bart may be a menace to society, he’s the Simpsons character who stole the show in its earlier seasons. The character spawned the “Bartmania” craze of the early 1990s, appearing on t-shirts and lunch boxes, as a doll, in video games, and more. While that craze eventually died down, Bart remains a central part of the show with his hilarious wisecracks and entertainingly destructive nature.
It’s worth mentioning that while Bart may not be the brightest or most well-mannered Simpsons character, he has his moments. He’ll defend his sister Lisa when she’s in trouble, he will demonstrate a level of smartness when he has the right motivation, his insults to Homer have serious wit to them, and he’s managed to foil the villainous Sideshow Bob on numerous occasions. Neither a saint nor a scholar, Bart is still sweeter and smarter than he lets on.
1. Homer J. Simpson
No matter how much we love Bart, Homer is the only one worthy of topping the list of the best characters from The Simpsons. The bald and overweight patriarch of The Simpsons family, Homer is known for his idiocy, laziness, and short temper, which Bart has fallen victim to through a series of stranglings. But while he may not be the father of the year, Homer is still fiercely devoted to his family, and he’s often put his life at risk to show it (e.g., Springfield Gorge). In one episode, he says to Lisa, “Everyone special to me is under this roof.” While he may not always know how to show it, no one can deny that Homer means that when he says it.
But all the emotional stuff aside, Homer is an endlessly entertaining character. Whether he’s getting injured in slapstick fashion or delivering quotable lines such as, ” To alcohol, the cause and solution to all of life’s problems,” Homer is guaranteed to get us all laughing. And that alone makes him the best character from The Simpsons.
With over 100 characters, picking the ten best characters from The Simpsons is easier said than done. And there’s no doubt some will feel other characters were left out. Who do you think should have been included on this list? Share your thoughts on The Nerd Stash Facebook page and @TheNerdStash on Twitter.
