First Appearances by 5 Recurring Simpsons Characters
The Simpsons has some of the best recurring characters out there. Here’s how five fan favourites began their time in Springfield.
Lionel Hutz
“Bart Gets Hit by a Car” S2E10
“Hutz is the name, Mr. Simpson. Lionel Hutz, attorney at law. Here’s my card. It turns into a sponge when you put it in water.”
Of course Springfield’s sleaziest lawyer made his debut in the episode where Bart is struck by a careless Mr. Burns, causing Homer to see an easy payday in suing his boss. Shockingly, the lawsuit isn’t screwed up by Hutz but by Marge following her conscience and being truthful on the stand. Hutz goes on to lose many cases, notably running away in one instance when he saw that Mr. Burns had ten high-priced lawyers to defend him in Marge’s suit. But Hutz had a couple of winners too, such as when he sued Krusty on behalf of Bart when Bart swallowed a jagged metal Krusty-O.
Superintendent Chalmers
“Whacking Day” S4E20
“And why is a cafeteria worker posing as a nurse?”
Superintendent Chalmers joins the world of the Simpsons with a bang when he launches a surprise inspection of Springfield Elementary. Even though Principal Skinner tries to sweep the school troublemakers under the rug by promising them free mountain bikes and then locking them in a supply closet, Bart escapes and drives Willie’s tractor into Chalmers, causing Bart to be expelled.
Disco Stu
“Two Bad Neighbours” S7E13
“Disco Stu doesn’t advertise!”
Disco Stu began life as a throwaway character. Marge prods Homer to sell a dungaree jacket he’s added rhinestones to, reading “Disco Stu”—he tells Marge he wanted to write disco stud but ran out of room. Spotting it at a rummage sale, someone tells a guy named Stu, who is dressed in a disco getup, that he should buy it. Since then he’s been back whenever the Simpsons needs a disco joke, which happens surprisingly often.
Hans Moleman
“Principal Charming” S2E14
“L. No, I’m sorry, that’s a C, isn’t it?” – Hans Moleman
“If that was a car, you’d be dead by now.” – Selma
Springfield’s most raisin-like resident began life as an old guy misreading the eye chart at the Springfield DMV and then losing his license, even though he told Selma that driving was his livelihood. That was pretty benign, given that Moleman has been killed around thirty times since. Some of his more entertaining ends have included being sucked down by quicksand, eaten by alligators, and crushed under a giant Lard Lad doughnut. Inexplicably, he keeps coming back.
Duffman
“The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson” S9E01
“Yeah, that’s swell. Duff wholeheartedly supports the designated driver system. Now, who wants to party?!”
Barney Gumble has the misfortune of being the designated driver for the evening when Duffman and a bevy of Duff Girls show up at Moe’s because Barney won a contest. As they offer him a frosty cold bottomless Duff, Barney must decline. Everyone else gets to party, causing Barney to have a mental breakdown after dropping everyone at home. He goes on a two-month bender, leaving Homer’s car in New York City. Duffman would go on to appear whenever the Simpsons needed a big dumb corporate mascot. As Duffman says, “Duffman can never die—only the actors who play him!”
