Even The Most Diehard Simpsons Fans Don't Remember These Secondary Characters
- by Candace Winters
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Everybody knows the Simpsons – they’re Springfield’s first and most popular family. We’ve tuned in ever week for the past three decades just to catch a glimpse of the misadventures in which Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie find themselves.
It’s certainly been a fun ride, but this quiz, couldn’t be farther from the Simpsons. This quiz is focused entirely on secondary Springfield citizens, those town residents whom we all know, but their names reside just on the tip of the tongue. The ones we recall being vaguely connected to one of Homer’s antic, but have some trouble placing them in the bigger Springfield picture.
Put simply, this is not an easy Simpsons quiz. It’s difficulty lies in the fact that most of it’s questions don’t have a direct link to the Simpsons themselves. In order to pass this one, takers must have an encyclopedia-like knowledge of Springfield, the town and the citizens contained within.
Anyone who thinks they know Springfield well enough to pass needs to step up and prove it. Score high on this quiz and win eternal bragging rights, a cartoon dog named Poochie and a ticket to the National Grammar Rodeo in Canada. And don’t forget to share your scores with anyone you know who could use some Simpsons’ nostalgia today
Which Springfield resident is the owner of the world's largest Malibu Stacy collection?
When a new talking Malibu Stacy doll comes on the scene, Lisa Simpson finds herself absolutely disappointed with what the ditzy fashion doll has to say. (“Don’t ask me, I’m just a girl!”) Lisa decides to go on a mission to make her voice of protest heard. However, when her protestations fall on deaf ears at the company that manufactures the doll, she decides to go on the hunt for the doll’s creator, the reclusive Stacy Lovell. Along the way she meets up with the owner of the world's largest Malibu Stacy collection for help tracking down the elusive creator.
What is this guy's name?
Despite a long and storied career as a criminal mastermind, he will always be known as his stage name. He could frame Krusty the Clown for robbery, and he would still be a clown. He could scam the voter rolls and ascend to Springfield’s highest office, and he would still be the guy with the big shoes. He could try to do in Bart Simpson – repeatedly – and he would still be ______ _____. He could threaten the entire town of Springfield, and he would still be Krusty's sidekick.
What pen name does Bart use when he begins writing love letters to Mrs. Krabappel?
Bart Simpson’s relationship with his teacher is interesting, to say the least. For one, he is way more involved in her love life than any normal fifth grade student should. When his teacher and Principal Skinner start seeing each other, the pair uses Bart as a messenger to send love notes during the school day. And in an earlier episode, Bart begins writing love letters to her. His prank quickly gets out of hand and Bart enlists the entire Simpsons clan to help him let her down gently.
Who owns Homer's favorite hangout spot?
Nobody ever accused this guy of being Springfield’s smoothest operator, although he has been accused of much worse things, no doubt. He never had it easy when it came to love. He harbored a doomed crush on his buddy’s wife, Marge (and yet, he refers to her as Midge) and even professed his love to her in an attempt to get her to leave Homer. Despite his creeper tendencies, he's still one of Homer's oldest and closest friends in Springfield.
Which actor does Marge's sister marry?
Hi, I’m ____ ______. You may remember me from such films as “Calling All Quackers,” “Hydro, the Man with the Hydraulic Arms,” and “Give My Remains to Broadway.” Or perhaps from such self-help videos as, “Get Confident, Stupid,” and “Dig Your Own Grave and Save.” You may also remember me from my sham marriage to a very lucky Springfield lady after my career saw a boost when I was photographed with an actual human woman. She’ll always remember me, but not from my films.
Who is this guy?
Despite being a down-on-his-luck guy, this dude often shows signs of intelligence and competence under several layers of drink. Who could forget his amazing turnaround when he had to give up drinking alcohol in order to begin training to become an astronaut. It was like a brand-new ______… who didn’t stick around for very long as the celebratory non-alcoholic champagne sent him on a crazy bender. His potential runs deep. He was Harvard-bound in high school until one fateful night.
What is this hillbilly's name?
As the song says: “Some folk’ll never lose a toe, but then again some folk’ll, like ____ the Slack Jawed Yokel.” Springfield’s resident redneck, this guy is well-known for his affinity for moonshine and enormous family. When Marge opens a pretzel franchise, he nearly puts her out of business when he presents her with 300 coupons for free pretzels. He doesn’t have 300 children, of course, but his progeny of 44 is still pretty impressive. Who remembers what this guy is called?
How many children did Apu's wife, Manjulla give birth to?
Apu might have been apprehensive about entering into an arranged marriage, but his anxieties calm once he started getting to know his future wife, Manjulla. After two years of dating, the pair finally tied the knot. The pitter patter of little feet was shortly behind, and the Nahasapeemapapetilion family grew quite large in short order. After Manjulla received a much higher than normal dose of fertility drugs, she gives birth to an unusually large number of babies. Who remembers how many?
What are the names of Chief Wiggum's backup officers?
Nobody would ever mistake Springfield Police Chief Clancy Wiggum for a competent office of the law. Aside from his general corruption – he is well-known for taking bribes from mob boss Fat Tony – Chief Wiggum seems to lack the basic knowledge required for his job as head of the Springfield police force. Let’s not even get into his complete lack of knowledge of firearm safety – he has been seen eating donuts off the barrel of his gun. Thank goodness he has backup.
What are the names of the drooling aliens that frequently visit Springfield?
Springfield is ground-zero for several close encounters of the third kind with a pair of brother-sister aliens bent on taking over the world. To that end, the pair are quite successful and manage to ascend to the highest political office in the United States. But not before making a cameo appearance on the Jerry Springer show where it is revealed that the male of the species is actually Maggie’s biological father. We all remember their earthy visits, but who remembers their names?
Who is this no-so-great lawyer?
Do not let his general incompetence and, well, foolishness, fool you. Sure, his law practice may be located in a shopping mall and called “I Can’t Believe It’s A Law Practice,” and he very well may have been caught attempting to forge client wills, but as the Simpson family lawyer, this guy actually managed to win several high-profile cases in Springfield. Who remembers the name of this lawyer who once babysat for the Simpsons in return for a popsicle and birdcage?
What is the name of the unbeatable champion boxer Homer faces off against in the Boxing Homer episode?
When Moe discovers Homer’s almost superhuman ability to take a punch without falling down (Dr. Hibbard helpfully explains that Homer’s brain is cushioned by an unusually thick layer of fluid), he reveals his past life as a boxer and offers to coach Homer. Their strategy involves having Homer take a beating until his opponents got so exhausted that he could knock them over easily. It works until Homer finds himself in the ring with an opponent as ruthless as he is inexhaustible.
Which of the following is not a worker at the Springfield nuclear power plant?
Homer Simpson may very well be the least-qualified worker at the Springfield Power Plant, so it makes perfect sense that he would have such an important title as “Safety Inspector.” But it’s okay, whatever Homer lacks in intelligence, experience and competence, there are several other nuclear plant workers available to pick up the slack and, at the very least, keep the entire operation from melting down completely. Which of the following is not a worker at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant?
Who was Homer's mortal enemy at the nuclear power plant?
Homer Simpson may have found friends for life in co-workers Lenny and Carl, but when Mr. Burns hires a new employee after watching an episode of “Kent’s People” about a recent college graduate with a hard knock life story, Homer finds himself with a mortal enemy for life. To say this guy hates Homer would be a giant understatement. He is instantly repelled by Homer’s obnoxious (and dangerous) behavior and becomes so grated by Homer’s seemingly easy passage through life that he ultimately finds his cut tragically short after emulating Homer’s reckless behavior.
Who was bart's girlfriend?
For all of her protestations that someone should “please think of the children,” Helen Lovejoy does not seem to put all that much effort into thinking about her own child. Her daughter drops into Springfield for a whirlwind tour of troublemaking and takes Bart Simpson along for the ride, content to let him take the blame for her misdeeds, including stealing money from the collection plate. When the truth finally comes out, it is revealed that the Lovejoys have been in denial of her attention-seeking bad behavior for years.
Which puppet nearly sunk Krusty's show?
Krusty the Clown’s children’s variety show is so well-known in Springfield that it’s hard to imagine it ever going off the airwaves, but it did. When a new children’s television show featuring a ventriloquist’s dummy begins airing opposite the Krusty the Clown show, Krusty’s ratings plummet and the dummy's show becomes the town’s latest sensation, leading to Krusty’s cancellation. The dummy's fame was instant but short-lived – he was caught on camera badmouthing his show’s fan base. Who remembers its name?
What is Seymour Skinner's real name?
Seymour Skinner, if that is his real name (it’s not) is best known as the hard-nosed principal of Springfield Elementary School, but he has a dark backstory that was revealed in the season nine episode, The Principal and the Pauper. A troubled orphan from Capital City, he would find himself in the Army. There, he met the real Seymour Skinner, who became his mentor. When the real Skinner goes missing, the impostor Skinner returns to Springfield and assumes his identity.
What instrument belonging to his daughter did Krusty lose in a poker game to Fat Tony?
If Homer Simpson isn’t going to win any Father of the Year awards anytime soon, then neither is Krusty the Clown. Krusty fathered several illegitimate children in his day, and we got to meet one of them in the season 12 episode, Insane Clown Poppy. Sophie Krustofsky might have inherited her father’s green hair, but they couldn’t be more different. For one, Sophie is an accomplished classical musician. Too bad her dad ends up losing her prized musical instrument in a poker game with mobster Fat Tony.
Which of the following is not the name of a bully at Springfield Elementary?
Every school has its fair share of bullies and Springfield Elementary is no exception. Having been held back several times, the town’s resident bullies are by far the oldest sixth graders at Springfield Elementary. While most kids in school – nerdy Martin Prince and Milhouse Van Houten, in particular – live in terror of these guys, Bart often finds himself on their good side. They do share a common interest in mischief-making, after all. Everyone knows Nelson Muntz, but who remembers the other bullies in his gang?
What did Lisa's Valentine's Day card for Ralph Wiggum say?
Sweet, simple Ralph Wiggum is the source of many of the best one-liners on the show. (“Me fail English? Unpossible!”) Ralph’s most iconic episode, of course, was the Valentine’s Day episode when he falls in love with Lisa Simpson. After she sees Ralph crying at his desk because nobody in class has given him a Valentine’s Day card, Lisa quickly makes him a very pun-y card. Ralph pursues Lisa relentlessly (much to her chagrin) and even scores tickets to the Krusty the Clown anniversary special where he professes his love for her to the cameras leading her to very publicly denounce him, breaking his heart.
Which of the following is not a regular resident at the Springfield Retirement Castle?
The Springfield Retirement Castle is home to Abraham Simpson and his posse of elderly and opinionated cronies. While they may not get nearly enough visits from their families, and the staff could care less about the wellbeing of the residents, the guys do get to watch their fair share of Matlock, which seems to help. Plus, there’s always fun to be had at the staring window, which overlooks a barren tree. We all know that Grandpa Simpson spends his time at the Retirement Castle, but who knows any of the other regulars at the old folks home?
Who was Lisa Simpson's jazz musician idol?
If there’s one thing Lisa Simpson loves, it’s her prized saxophone. Who could forget the jazzy solo she breaks out into in the show’s opening credits? Lisa has a number of aspirations in life, and one of the is to be a great jazz saxophonist. And while her school’s music teacher might not appreciate her jazz riffs, one person who did was the Springfield-famous jazz saxophonist who took Lisa under his wing and taught her how to play the blues.
What store does Ned run?
Ned Flanders is well-known for his extremely devout beliefs, his trademark nonsensical way of speaking, and the way he fills out a snowsuit. Ned is also known for being the proprietor of a specialty shop dedicated to serving the needs of Springfield’s south paws. The store may not have been a rousing retail success – in fact, it was a pretty big failure – but hey, at least Ned tried. We all remember it, but who remembers what it was called?
What is the name of Homer's long-lost brother?
When Homer discovers that he has a long-lost brother, he finds an ambitious, charismatic business man with a trim figure and a head full of hair. The result of an affair Abe Simpson had while he was courting Homer’s mother, this newfound long-lost brother enthusiastically welcomes his new family into his home and even gives Homer a central role in his automotive business. Unfortunately, the car Homer designs is a total flop and the company goes bankrupt. Still, Homer’s brother finds success again when he builds and markets a machine able to interpret baby talk (thanks, Maggie) into common English
What is the name of the school superintendent?
It is not easy being a school bureaucrat, especially when Bart “El Barto” Simpson is running around the schoolyard. In spite of it all, Principal Skinner tries his best to manage the school’s crumbling infrastructure, frequently dissatisfied faculty and unmotivated student body – all while being scrutinized by his boss, the school superintendent. Skinner’s relationship with his boss is frequently strained, especially when the superintendent begins a short-lived romance with his mother, Agnes Skinner. We can all probably hear him yelling, “Skinner!” in our heads, but who remembers his name?
What was the name of Milhouse's first girlfriend?
Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten is not exactly known for being a smooth operator with the ladies. In fact, his hopeless crush on Bart’s little sister, Lisa, stalls mostly because of Milhouse’s general awkwardness and lack of social awareness. Still, Milhouse managed to make a girlfriend out of a new girl in town, much to best pal Bart’s chagrin. Feeling left out as the third wheel, Bart reveals their relationship to her father, who finds the pair stealing kisses in the treehouse. Then it was off to a Catholic girls school in Quebec for her, and the end of Milhouse’s first relationship.
Which of the following is not one of Fat Tony's henchmen?
Springfield’s resident mob boss, Fat Tony runs the town with an iron fist. His past rackets include illegal gambling, cigarette smuggling, bootlegging and selling fake ID’s. Fat Tony has been spotted bribing high-profile Springfield citizens like Mayor Quimby and Police Chief Wiggum. A criminal enterprise doesn’t get that big without some muscle behind it, and Fat Tony definitely has his fair share of reliable henchmen to do his bidding. Which of the following is not one of Fat Tony’s henchmen?
Which of the following Springfield Residents was not on Comic Book Guy's banned list?
Comic Book Guy has yet to meet a fandom he doesn’t love and treats his customers with the kind of disdain one might expect from the fanatical proprietor of Springfield’s only comic book store. It takes a special kind of comic book and collectible enthusiast to be willing to put up with Comic Book Guy’s berating (not to mention his unscrupulous dealings with naïve clients for rare collectibles) and stay long enough to make a purchase. It takes an even more special customer to avoid ending up on Comic Book Guy’s banned list.
Which of the following was not a member of the Be Sharps?
For a brief period of time, Homer Simpson was a member of a popular barbershop quartet called the Be Sharps. The band played at impressive venues like the Statue of Liberty and even won a Grammy Award for their work. Nothing great ever lasts, and the Be Sharps’ popularity was no exception. Their two albums – one self-titled, the other titled “Bigger Than Jesus.” – can now be found at flea markets across Springfield. Who remembers the entire Be Sharps lineup (excluding Police Chief Wiggum, who gave off too much of a Village People vibe)?
What is the name of Mr. Burns's long-lost son?
Springfield’s resident bad guy billionaire, Charles Montgomery Burns is well-known for being the most powerful (and stingiest) citizen in town. In addition to owning the nuclear powerplant, Mr. Burns also owns Isotope Stadium, the Montgomery Burns State Prison, the Mr. Burns Casino, the Springfield Elementary School and Prison, and the Little Lisa Recycling plant, among many, many other properties. His cunning is well-documented, but who remembers Mr. Burns’s long-lost son who resulted from an affair at Yale University in the 1940s?
What was the name of Luann Van Houten's television gladiator boyfriend?
Nobody ever accused Milhouse’s eerily similar-looking parents, Kirk and Luann Van Houten, of having a perfect marriage. In fact, they have a pretty terrible marriage. Things get so rocky for the Van Houtens that they end up divorcing after a game of Pictionary goes terribly awry at Marge Simpson’s dinner party. Luann fares better as a divorcee than sad sack Kirk, and even starts dating a television gladiator soon after the divorce papers are signed. The pair eventually reconcile and even get remarried, but who remembers Luann’s rebound boyfriend?
What is Comic Book Guy's real name?
Worst Simpsons quiz ever. As his nickname would imply, Comic Book Guy is the proprietor of Springfield’s comic book store and is obsessed with all things geek. His car bears a bumper sticker that says, “My Other Car Is The Millennium Falcon” (a Harrison Ford lookalike gave it to him) and its license plate number is NCC-1701, the registry number of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise. We all remember his trademark sarcastic quips, but who remembers Comic Book Guy’s real name?
Which of the following women was married to Ned Flanders for a short period of time?
Ned Flanders doesn’t exactly seem like the type of guy to have been married three times, but it’s true. Of course, everyone remembers Maude Flanders, his super devout first wife who passed tragically in a t-shirt cannon accident. And viewers keeping up with the more contemporary seasons will recall Ned’s marriage to Springfield Elementary teacher, Edna Krabappel. Their marriage would end up being short-lived when Marcia Wallace, the voice actor behind Edna Krabappel passed away and the show respectfully retired her character. Who remembers Ned’s third, even shorter-lived wife?
Why is Mona Simpson a wanted criminal in Springfield?
Everyone knows Homer Simpson’s eccentric old kook of a father, Abe Simpson, but who remembers Homer’s mother? We don’t see much of Mona Simpson around Springfield, and for good reason – she is a wanted criminal and hippie rabble-rouser who went on the lam when Homer was just a little kid. Eventually Mona Simpson wound up on the Groovy Grove Natural Farm where she painted murals of her long-lost son. Who remembers why Mona Simpson was a wanted criminal in Springfield?
What was the name of the orphan that Bart tries to adopt?
It’s not easy being the only boy in the family. No wonder Bart yearns for a little brother to bond with. After failing to convince his parents to conceive another child, Bart decides to take matters into his own hands and adopt a little brother. The authorities at the orphanage figure out his rouse pretty quickly, but the little boy that Bart tries to adopt sneaks out and follows Bart home. What was the name of the orphan that Bart tries to adopt?