The Ultimate Simpson-ology: Mind-Blowing Facts Even Die-Hard Fans Will Be Shocked to Discover!

Summary

Krusty the Clown was intended to be Homer's alter ego, but the decision to let Krusty be his own character was the best choice.

Nancy Cartwright was initially scheduled to audition for the character of Lisa, but she chose to audition for Bart instead, ultimately securing the role.

Despite having a somewhat subdued voice for the character, Elizabeth Taylor made a memorable impact by providing Maggie's first word.

Despite its many years on air, there are still obscure facts that only devoted fans of The Simpsons are aware of. Created by Matt Groening, this beloved animated series has captivated audiences for decades and is now approaching its 35th season. The characters of Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie Simpson have become iconic figures in popular culture. Interestingly, Groening initially developed the show on the spot, constructing an entirely different concept before naming the characters after his own family members. Additionally, he decided to make them yellow to grab the attention of viewers who were idly flipping through channels.

The influence of The Simpsons extends far beyond its own legacy, having inspired shows like Family Guy and Bob's Burgers, among many others. With its distinctive and eccentric take on the American sitcom, the series has amassed a dedicated fanbase who possess an impressive knowledge of its intricate details. From knowing Moe's bar phone number to recognizing that only God and Jesus are drawn with five fingers, these enthusiasts are well-versed in The Simpsons' extensive lore. With the vast number of episodes and the many behind-the-scenes stories of this long-running animated series, even the most devoted fans may not be aware of every single trivia.

10 Krusty The Clown Was Supposed To Be Homer's Alter Ego

The original twist in The Simpsons involved Krusty the Clown being intended as Homer Simpson's alter-ego, but he ultimately became his own character. Matt Groening believed it would be a recurring joke for Bart to idolize Krusty but mock Homer, unaware of his true identity. Ultimately, separating Krusty from Homer allowed for more flexibility in storylines by not having to constantly account for Homer's presence. This decision resulted in one of The Simpsons' finest episodes, "Homie the Clown."

9 Nancy Cartwright Was Supposed To Audition For Lisa, Not Bart

8 Elizabeth Taylor Voiced Maggie's First Word

Nancy Cartwright, widely known for her portrayal of Bart, recently revealed on Instagram that she had initially been set to audition for the role of Lisa Simpson during the early animated shorts of The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show. However, Cartwright, intrigued by the character of Bart, approached creator Matt Groening and requested to audition for Bart instead. Impressed by her talent, Groening immediately hired her. Cartwright played the iconic role of Bart for three seasons before transitioning to The Simpsons in 1989.

Variety reported that Elizabeth Taylor was responsible for Maggie's first word. It appears that Taylor's inclusion was primarily for promotional purposes, as any female could have voiced the line. Nevertheless, her choice of calling Homer "daddy" off-screen had a greater impact. However, Taylor's lively personality was somewhat restrained by the character, and upon rewatching, it becomes difficult to discern her own voice. Fortunately, she later appears in the series as herself.

7 Steve Jobs Is Homer Simpson's Uncle

As it turns out, Homer Simpson is related to none other than tech icon Steve Jobs.

6 Homer Simpson Is Incredibly Rich

Jobs had a sister by the name of Mona Simpson who was a published author in the '80s and married producer Ricard Appel, who happened to work on The Simpsons, and used her name for Homer's biological mother in the episode "Mother Simpson." That means that Jobs is the biological brother of the real-life inspiration for Homer's mom, which ultimately makes him the inspiration for his uncle rather than just Steve Mobbs.

Despite America's dwindling middle class, Homer Simpson's possession of a car and a four-bedroom house with a rumpus room, while supporting his family on a single income, creates an illusion of wealth. However, considering his remarkable achievements which include being a member of a Barbershop quartet more popular than the Beatles, selling millions of copies of his song about Flanders, thriving as an opera singer, contributing to the invention of Grunge music, and technically owning the Denver Broncos, Homer should be considerably wealthier. Yet, his financial ineptitude is evident in his rejection of a substantial $500k settlement from Mr. Burns for injuring Bart with his car.

5 Embiggen Is A Real Word After All

4 Matt Groening Makes Maggie’s Sucking Sound

In the show "The Simpsons," the creators challenged the writers to invent new words that sounded authentic but were not actual words. One such word they came up with was "embiggen." The motto of the town of Springfield declares that "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man," and various characters use this word throughout the series. In a recent Ms. Marvel comic, the protagonist uses "embiggen" to activate her ability to change size, transforming an originally humorous term into a genuine word.

While Maggie may not be the most talkative, her means of communication are far from limited. The distinctive sucking noises emitted from her pacifier have become an integral part of her persona, so much so that even the most devoted Simpsons fans may be unaware that it is actually Matt Groening himself who produces those sounds. In instances when Maggie isn't preoccupied with her pacifier, her vocals have been supplied by notable actors such as Jodie Foster and James Earl Jones.

3 Bart's Middle Name Is JoJo

2 Comic Book Guy's Name Is Jeff Albertson

: Bart's middle initial, "J", in The Simpsons was originally chosen as a tribute to Bullwinkle J. Moose and Rocket J. Squirrel from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. However, die-hard Simpsons fans who own Bart Simpson's Guide to Life are in on the secret that his middle initial actually stands for Jojo. Despite never being mentioned in the series, this little tidbit of information raises curiosity and leaves us longing for an explanation or backstory from Homer and Marge about the inspiration behind such an unusual middle name.

After being known as Comic Book Guy for 16 seasons, his true name was finally revealed in the episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" of season 16. In a casual conversation with Ned Flanders, Comic Book Guy revealed that his name is Jeffery Albertson. Although the show frequently featured The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, the owner's personal life was not explored as much as other side characters. It is worth mentioning that the character was inspired by creator Matt Groening.

1 The Couch Opener Changes Depending On Simpsons Episode Length

The couch opener in The Simpsons is a well-known feature, showcasing the family's inventive ways of sitting on the couch at the start of each episode. This scene varies depending on the episode's duration, with adjustments made for episodes that are slightly longer or shorter than the standard length. As a result, episodes with shorter storylines often feature longer and more imaginative couch opener scenes.