David Cooper

0025 - Ralph Wiggum

Added 2021-09-30 08:01:01 +0000 UTC

Unlike the classic character 'girl playing "German Santa"', I'm taking a stand here: This is Ralph Wiggum. The Simpsons wiki says it's him, and I'm agreeing. Here he is as he appears in the episode, playing Hotei-osho:

This is certainly one of those times where the team did not know what Ralph was yet, or what a significant character he would become. In his first appearance he is coherent and educational. As far as I can tell, his facts about Hotei-osho are all accurate.

Ralph's one of those characters that probably wouldn't exist if the show were made today. The way he is often used to make fun of - in the worst cases - children with special needs is not as sensitive as a modern perspective might be. He varies from "slightly dim" to "wow, this kid needs help" throughout, although one of my favourite Ralph moments comes from him being particularly out of character in season three's "Lisa's Pony":

It's such a weird line for Ralph, I love it.

I think he is beloved because he is usually quite cute and innocent, despite the leprechaun that tells him to burn things. I'll be interested to track how he changes through the years, how the show chooses to course correct him through the meaner teen seasons. I have a feeling I'll be redrawing him in some stranger costumes as time goes on...can anyone say Idaho?

This post is part of my "Every Simpsons Character Ever" series. For a list of my rules in this project, click here.