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With "The Simpsons: The
Complete Ninth Season" out now on DVD, fans of the long-running animated
favorite can enjoy some of the show's most classic episodes whenever they
want -- episodes such as "Trash of the Titans," in which Homer becomes the
new sanitation commissioner; "Bart Carney," which has the family grifted
out of their home; and, of course, the always funny (and always annual)
"Treehouse of Horror" episode. But although the adventures of "The Simpsons" wouldn't be the same without the Simpson
family -- you know, Maggie, Marge, Grampa, et al -- it wouldn't be the
same without all the colorful characters whose last names aren't Simpson,
either. In honor of the show's ninth season, here are our picks for the
nine best "Simpsons" characters who don't have Simpson DNA.
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Who: Milhouse Mussolini Van
Houten
Voiced By: Pamela
Hayden
Introduced: "Simpsons Roasting on
an Open Fire" (episode 7G08, Dec. 17, 1989), which was the first
"Simpsons" episode after a string of shorts on "The Tracy Ullman
Show"
Best Episode: "Radioactive Man"
(episode 2F17, Sept. 24, 1995) in which Milhouse gets cast as
Fallout Boy in the "Radioactive Man" movie
Fun
Fact: Takes his first name from President Richard Milhous
Nixon and his last either from Van Houten Avenue in Portland, Ore.
(the hometown of "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening) or from Charles
Manson follower Leslie Van Houten.
Why We Love
Him: Because he reminds us of ourselves when we were that
age. Plus, we hope he'll one day have a brother and that they form a
cool rock band they name after
themselves.
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Who: Edna Krabappel
Voiced
By: Marcia
Wallace
Introduced: "Bart the Genius"
(episode 7G02, Jan. 14, 1990), in which Bart's theft of another
kid's test lands him in a more progressive
school
Best Episode: "Grade School
Confidential" (episode 4F09, April 6, 1997) in which Krabappel and
Principal Skinner began their forbidden love
affair
Fun Fact: In 1992, Wallace won the
"Outstanding Voice-Over Performance" Emmy for her portrayal of Edna
Krabappel in the episode "Bart the Lover" (8F16, Feb. 13,
1992).
Why We Love Her: Because she reminds
us of our fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Alpert. Mrs. Alpert was a lot
more bitter ... and sounded like the receptionist from "The Bob Newhart
Show." | |
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Who: Comic Book Guy (aka Jeff
Albertson)
Voiced By: Hank
Azaria
Introduced: "Three Men and a
Comic Book" (episode 7F21, May 9, 1991), in which Bart, Milhouse and
Martin fight over an issue of "Radioactive Man"
Best
Episode: The "Desperately Seeking Xena" segment of
"Treehouse of Horror X" (BABF01, Oct. 31, 1999), in which Stretch
Dude and Clobber Girl -- aka Bart and Lisa after an X-ray machine
explosion gave them superpowers -- battle Comic Book Guy's alter
ego, The Collector
Fun Fact: Azaria has said
that Comic Book Guy is, at least in part, based on his neighbor at
Tufts University during his freshman year. However, there's a rumor
that the neighbor may be actor, and Azaria's "Huff" co-star, Oliver Platt.
Why We Love Him: Because he reminds us of
ourselves when we were that age. Which was last
year. | |
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Who: C. Montgomery Burns
Voiced
By: Harry
Shearer
Introduced: "Simpsons Roasting
on an Open Fire" (episode 7G08, Dec. 17, 1989), in which the family
learns the joy of the season by going to the dog
track
Best Episode: "Rosebud" (1F01, Oct.
21, 1993) in which Burns pines for his beloved stuffed bear,
Bobo
Fun Fact: Is a member of exclusive, and
sometimes secretive, organizations such as Skull & Bones, The
Excluders Club, The Stonecutters and the Ancient Mystic Order of
No-Homers.
Why We Love Him: Because although
corrupt evil businessmen may be cliché, Burns takes it all -- the
corruption, the evil and the funny -- to a whole new
level.
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