35 FACTS ABOUT THE SIMPSONS YOU DIDN'T KNOW FROM EAR DETAIL TO TOUCHING TRIBUTE

The Simpsons, one of the longest-running animated series, just dropped its 36th season in the UK last month.

This beloved show, centred around Homer Simpson and his family - wife Marge, son Bart, and daughters Lisa and Maggie, has been a source of countless chuckles over the years. But even after all this time on air, there are still loads of fun facts about the show that fans might not know.

For instance, did you know that in the opening credits, when Marge scans Maggie at the checkout, the till shows $847.63? That was actually the average cost of raising a kid back when the show first aired in 1989, reports Surrey Live.

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And here's another nugget: Harry Shearer, the voice behind Mr Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders and many more, is also part of the fictional rock band Spinal Tap.

So, as we approach The Simpsons' 35th anniversary, here are 35 little-known facts about the show:

1. If you look closely at Homer’s ear and his one hair, you can see they spell out the initials MG - Matt Groening

2. The actors behind the voices of Homer and Marge in the French version of the show, Phillipe Peythieu and Veronique Augereau, actually got married in real life.

3. Bart’s arch-enemy is Sideshow Bob Terwilliger - an homage to the 1953 film The 5,000 Fingers Of Dr. T, which also features a 10-year-old protagonist named Bart with an archrival called Terwilliger.

4. There have been over 780 episodes of The Simpsons broadcast to date

5. During the opening credits, we see Marge accidentally scan Maggie at the supermarket checkout along with her groceries. The original price given for Maggie is $847.63 - the average monthly cost of raising a child in 1989 when the show first aired

6. In 1990, Bart Simpson was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine

7. There was a life-size replica of the Simpsons’ family home in the suburbs of Las Vegas

8. Maggie’s famous first word, “Daddy”, was spoken by Elizabeth Taylor.

9. In one Treehouse of Horror episode, the voice of Maggie was provided by James Earl Jones

10. Homer’s mum Mona was voiced by Emmy-winning actress Glenn Close

11. Homer’s image has been on an actual space shuttle mission patch

12. Former airline Western Pacific operated a Simpsons-liveried plane for three years

13. The Simpsons Executive Producer James L Brooks’ first feature film directing credit was Terms of Endearment

14. Homer’s middle name is Jay

15. Principal Skinner’s real name is Armin Tamzarian

16. In Season 7, the Homerpalooza, episode opening theme song was played by Sonic Youth

17. The mayor of Springfield’s seal includes the ‘Latin’ slogan Corruptus in Extremis

18. The Springfield town football team is called The Atoms, whilst their minor league baseball team is called The Isotopes

19. Krusty the Clown and Bette Midler co-own a racehorse named Krudler

20. Marge has webbed toes

21. Homer grew up on a farm

22. Harry Shearer, who voices Mr Burns, Smithers, Ned Flanders and many more, is also a member of fictional rock group Spinal Tap

23. Bart’s middle name is Jo-jo

24. Prior to The Simpsons, Matt Groening was known for creating the comic strip Life in Hell

25. Krusty The Clown has a third nipple

26. The Simpsons have been used in real-life ads for a number of brands including Butterfinger and Intel

27. Neil Patrick Harris guest starred in 1991 episode Bart The Murderer, playing none other than Bart Simpson!

28. Bart’s first words, fittingly, were ‘Ay Carumba!’

29. On January 26, 1993, San Francisco celebrated their Bart Simpson Day

30. Homer is named after creator Matt Groening’s own father

31. Season 7 episode The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular featured 12 different opening couch gags

32. Washed-up actor Troy McClure might have married Selma in the episode A Fish Called Selma, but he also proposed to Miss Piggy of The Muppets fame in that very same episode!

33. Homer’s first after-school job was in a one-man band

34.The Simpsons has predicted a number of real-world events, including the approximate mass of the Higgs-Boson particle, the FIFA corruption scandal, the invention of smart watches and more

35. The Itchy & Scratchy Show has an episode titled Spay Anything - a parody of producer James L Brooks’ 1989 film Say Anything

The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney+ now

2025-04-11T13:26:44Z