Ralph Wiggum: Difference between revisions
Punch up Tags: Reverted Visual edit Newcomer task Newcomer task: copyedit |
|||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Infobox character |
{{Infobox character |
||
| name |
| name = Ralph Wiggum |
||
| series |
| series = [[The Simpsons]] |
||
| image |
| image = Ralph Wiggum.png |
||
| caption |
| caption = |
||
| first_major = "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]" |
| first_major = "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]" |
||
| first_date = December 17, 1989 |
| first_date = December 17, 1989 |
||
| creator |
| creator = [[Matt Groening]] |
||
| designer |
| designer = Matt Groening |
||
| voice |
| voice = [[Nancy Cartwright]] |
||
| gender |
| gender = Male |
||
| occupation |
| occupation = Student at Springfield Elementary School. |
||
Future Police Chief of Springfield. |
|||
2008 US Presidential candidate with bi-partisan endorsement |
|||
| family |
| family = [[Chief Wiggum]] (father)<br>[[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Sarah Wiggum|Sarah Wiggum]] (mother)<br>Iggy Wiggum (grandfather) |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Ralph Wiggum''' is a recurring character in the [[List of animated television series|animated series]] ''[[The Simpsons]].'' He is voiced by [[Nancy Cartwright]].<ref>{{IMDb name|4813|Nancy Cartwright}}</ref> Ralph, the son of [[Chief Wiggum|Police Chief Wiggum]], is a classmate of [[Lisa Simpson]] and is characterized by his frequent [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequiturs]] |
'''Ralph Wiggum''' is a recurring character in the [[List of animated television series|animated series]] ''[[The Simpsons]].'' He is voiced by [[Nancy Cartwright]].<ref>{{IMDb name|4813|Nancy Cartwright}}</ref> Ralph, the son of [[Chief Wiggum|Police Chief Wiggum]], is a classmate of [[Lisa Simpson]] and is characterized by his frequent [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequiturs]] which range from nonsensical and bizarre to profound. His [[Stupidity|dim-witted]] behavior lends him an air of blissful ignorance. |
||
The creator of the show, [[Matt Groening]], has cited Ralph as his favorite character.<ref>{{cite news | first = Eric | last = Moro | title = SDCC 07: The Simpsons Panel | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = 2007-07-28 | url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/808/808965p1.html | access-date=2007-07-29}}</ref> He generally remains one of the more popular and often quoted secondary characters in the show. In 2006, ''IGN'' ranked Ralph No. 3 on their list of the "Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters," behind [[Sideshow Bob]] and [[Troy McClure]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Simpsons: Top 25 Peripheral Characters |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/02/16/the-simpsons-top-25-peripheral-characters |website=IGN|date=16 February 2012 }}</ref> |
The creator of the show, [[Matt Groening]], has cited Ralph as his favorite character.<ref>{{cite news | first = Eric | last = Moro | title = SDCC 07: The Simpsons Panel | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = 2007-07-28 | url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/808/808965p1.html | access-date=2007-07-29}}</ref> He generally remains one of the more popular and often quoted secondary characters in the show. In 2006, ''IGN'' ranked Ralph No. 3 on their list of the "Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters," behind [[Sideshow Bob]] and [[Troy McClure]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Simpsons: Top 25 Peripheral Characters |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/02/16/the-simpsons-top-25-peripheral-characters |website=IGN|date=16 February 2012 }}</ref> |
||
==Role in ''The Simpsons''== |
==Role in ''The Simpsons''== |
||
Ralph is |
Ralph is characterized as a [[Intellectual disability|mentally challenged]] and good-natured 8-year-old boy in [[Lisa Simpson]]'s second-grade class, taught by [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Elizabeth Hoover|Ms. Hoover]]. Initially, he was mostly used as a silent background character without consistent characterization. However, in later seasons his role expanded, being a featured character in several episodes. |
||
These episodes include: "[[I Love Lisa]]" |
These episodes include: "[[I Love Lisa]]", an episode which set him apart from other tertiary characters and largely defined much of his character,<ref name=ilovelisa>{{cite episode |title=I Love Lisa|episode-link=I Love Lisa|series=The Simpsons |credits=[[Frank Mula|Mula, Frank]]; [[Wes Archer|Archer, Wes]]|network=Fox |airdate=1993-02-11|season=04|number=15}}</ref> "[[This Little Wiggy]]" and "[[E Pluribus Wiggum]]"; as well as appearances both minor and prominent in many other episodes. Ralph also appears in various other media, such as the [[Simpsons Comics|Simpsons comic book series by Bongo]], and has even received his own entry in [[List of The Simpsons books|The Simpsons Library of Wisdom]] series. |
||
===Personality=== |
===Personality=== |
||
[[File:Casa de l'antiga pelleteria de Genís i Riu de Vic 9.jpg|thumb|Ralph Wiggum in a graffiti in Vic, Catalonia]] |
[[File:Casa de l'antiga pelleteria de Genís i Riu de Vic 9.jpg|thumb|Ralph Wiggum in a graffiti in Vic, Catalonia]] |
||
Ralph's primary role in the show is to deliver clueless asides and odd ''[[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequiturs]].'' Ralph is presented as quite stupid, verbally challenged, and slow. In his most famous quotes, Ralph responds to the news that he is failing English class with the retort: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!",<ref name=lisaonice>{{cite episode |title=Lisa on Ice|episode-link=Lisa on Ice|series=The Simpsons |credits=[[Mike Scully|Scully, Mike]]; [[Bob Anderson (director)|Anderson, Bob]]|network=Fox |airdate=1994-11-13|season=06|number=8}}</ref> |
|||
Ralph's primary role in the show is to deliver tangent and ''[[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequitur]]'' material, usually with cluelessness and odd behavior, often used to perplex, or give the audience a quick laugh. He has a very carefree temperament, as he is often [[Imagination|off in his own world]]. This role has had many variations over the years, and as such, Ralph often displays inconsistent behavior. In some episodes, he is shown as quite stupid, verbally challenged, and slow, such as proclaiming, "I won, I won!" when being told he was failing English, then questioning it and saying, "Me fail English? That's unpossible!",<ref name=lisaonice>{{cite episode |title=Lisa on Ice|episode-link=Lisa on Ice|series=The Simpsons |credits=[[Mike Scully|Scully, Mike]]; [[Bob Anderson (director)|Anderson, Bob]]|network=Fox |airdate=1994-11-13|season=06|number=8}}</ref> or running on all fours on a hamster wheel.<ref name=24minutes>{{cite episode |title=24 Minutes|episode-link=24 Minutes|series=The Simpsons |credits=[[Ian Maxtone-Graham|Maxtone-Graham, Ian]], [[Billy Kimball|Kimball, Billy]]; [[Raymond S. Persi|S. Persi, Raymond]]|network=Fox |airdate=2007-05-20|season=18|number=21}}</ref> Although it has never been explicitly stated in any Simpsons-related media that Ralph is intellectually disabled and/or [[brain damage]]d, it has been hinted in scenes such as a flashback (during the episode "Moms I'd Like to Forget") where [[Chief Wiggum]] is holding a baby Ralph, who is drinking out of a bottle. Wiggum suddenly drops the baby Ralph, who lands flat on his head. When Wiggum picks Ralph up again, Ralph suddenly has difficulty drinking out of his bottle.<ref>''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Moms I'd Like to Forget]]."</ref> In other episodes, he speaks in a perfectly normal tone, such as in "[[I Love Lisa]]" when he gives an uncharacteristically powerful performance as [[George Washington]] in a school play. He even occasionally displays a penchant for certain talents. The inconclusive nature of his character seems to be one of his only consistencies, and has even been used as a joke in itself a few times, such as Ralph being poached by the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.<ref name=Fraudcast>{{cite episode |title=Fraudcast News|episode-link=Fraudcast News|series=The Simpsons|credits=[[Don Payne (writer)|Payne, Don]]; [[Bob Anderson (director)|Anderson, Bob]]|network=Fox |airdate=2004-05-23 |season=15|number=22}}</ref> Occasionally, Ralph has even been used to break the [[fourth wall]] straightforwardly.<ref>Spoiler-centric events near the end of the game involving Ralph.{{cite video game|title=The Simpsons Game|developer=EA Redwood Shores, Rebellion, Amaze Entertainment |publisher=Electronic Arts|date=October 30, 2007<!-- (USA) -->|platform=Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable}}</ref><ref name=debarted>{{cite episode |title=The Debarted|episode-link=The Debarted|series=The Simpsons|credits=[[Joel H. Cohen|H. Cohen, Joel]]; [[Matthew Nastuk|Nastuk, Matthew]]|network=Fox |airdate=2008-03-02 |season=19|number=13}}</ref> |
|||
However, in other instances, Ralph speaks with relative ease, notably in "[[I Love Lisa]]" when he gives an uncharacteristically powerful performance as [[George Washington]] in a school play. Occasionally, Ralph has even been used to break the [[fourth wall]] straightforwardly.<ref>Spoiler-centric events near the end of the game involving Ralph.{{cite video game|title=The Simpsons Game|developer=EA Redwood Shores, Rebellion, Amaze Entertainment |publisher=Electronic Arts|date=October 30, 2007<!-- (USA) -->|platform=Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable}}</ref> |
|||
Although it has never been explicitly stated in any Simpsons-related media that Ralph is intellectually disabled and/or [[brain damage]]d, in a flashback [[Chief Wiggum]] drops baby Ralph, who lands flat on his head. When Wiggum picks Ralph up again, Ralph suddenly has difficulty drinking out of his bottle.<ref>''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Moms I'd Like to Forget]]."</ref> |
|||
==Creation and design== |
==Creation and design== |
||
Ralph's first credited appearance in the show was in the episode "[[Moaning Lisa (The Simpsons)|Moaning Lisa]]", where he was considerably different in |
Ralph was named after comedian [[Jackie Gleason]]'s character on ''[[The Honeymooners]]'' Ralph Kramden.<ref>{{cite news |author=Larry Carroll |date=2007-07-26 |title='Simpsons' Trivia, From Swearing Lisa To 'Burns-Sexual' Smithers |publisher=[[MTV]] |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml |access-date=2007-07-29}}</ref><ref name="sprcon" /> Ralph's first credited appearance in the show was in the episode "[[Moaning Lisa (The Simpsons)|Moaning Lisa]]", where he was considerably different in appearance and behavior. Ralph's modern design first appeared in the second-season episode "[[Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment]]". Early Ralph spoke with a voice similar to that of [[Nelson Muntz]]'s until Cartwright settled into his higher-pitched whine. Originally intended to be a "Mini-Homer," Ralph eventually took on a life of his own.<ref name=Jean>{{cite video|people=Jean, Al|year=2001|title=The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode 'Moaning Lisa'|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref><ref name="sprcon">{{cite book |last1=Reiss |first1=Mike |last2=Klickstein |first2=Mathew |title=Springfield confidential: jokes, secrets, and outright lies from a lifetime writing for the Simpsons |date=2018 |publisher=Dey Street Books |isbn=978-0062748034 |page=105|location=New York City}}</ref> The staff later retconed Ralph into the son of [[Chief Wiggum]], a fact initially hinted at in "[[Kamp Krusty]]" and later made canon in "[[I Love Lisa]]".<ref name=tvguide>{{cite news|title=Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves|date=2000-10-21|work=[[TV Guide]]|author=Joe Rhodes}}</ref> Groening considers Ralph "really hard to write."<ref name=tvguide/> |
||
Ralph's normal attire usually consists of a blue long-sleeve shirt with a collar, a belt with a red buckle, and brown pants. However, almost all ''Simpsons-''related media and merchandise, |
Ralph's normal attire usually consists of a blue long-sleeve shirt with a collar, a belt with a red buckle, and brown pants. However, almost all ''Simpsons-''related media and merchandise, portray Ralph with white or light gray colored pants. Ralph's hair is meant to evoke a [[Bowl cut|bowl-cut]] style.<ref name=thesimpsonshandbook>{{Cite book| last1 =Grau | first1 =Doris | last2=Mitzman Gaven | first2= Marcia | title =The Simpsons Handbook: Secret Tips from the Pros | publisher =[[HarperPaperbacks]]| year =2007 | isbn =978-0-06-123129-2| title-link =List of The Simpsons books#2000s }}</ref> In one particular issue of the comic book, Ralph is drawn in a realistic style, depicted with blonde hair.<ref name=thoh1>{{cite comic | writer=[[Mark Hamill|Hamill, Mark]] | artist=[[Bill Morrison (comics)|Morrison, Bill]] | title=Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror, "Catastrophe in Substitute Springfields" | issue=7 | date=September 2001 | publisher=[[Bongo Comics]]}}</ref> Adult Ralph in "[[Bart to the Future]]" has light brown hair. |
||
==Reception== |
==Reception== |
Revision as of 22:33, 14 December 2023
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Ralph Wiggum | |
---|---|
The Simpsons character | |
First appearance |
|
Created by | Matt Groening |
Designed by | Matt Groening |
Voiced by | Nancy Cartwright |
In-universe information | |
Gender | Male |
Occupation | Student at Springfield Elementary School.
Future Police Chief of Springfield. 2008 US Presidential candidate with bi-partisan endorsement |
Family | Chief Wiggum (father) Sarah Wiggum (mother) Iggy Wiggum (grandfather) |
Ralph Wiggum is a recurring character in the animated series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright.[1] Ralph, the son of Police Chief Wiggum, is a classmate of Lisa Simpson and is characterized by his frequent non-sequiturs which range from nonsensical and bizarre to profound. His dim-witted behavior lends him an air of blissful ignorance.
The creator of the show, Matt Groening, has cited Ralph as his favorite character.[2] He generally remains one of the more popular and often quoted secondary characters in the show. In 2006, IGN ranked Ralph No. 3 on their list of the "Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters," behind Sideshow Bob and Troy McClure.[3]
Role in The Simpsons
Ralph is characterized as a mentally challenged and good-natured 8-year-old boy in Lisa Simpson's second-grade class, taught by Ms. Hoover. Initially, he was mostly used as a silent background character without consistent characterization. However, in later seasons his role expanded, being a featured character in several episodes.
These episodes include: "I Love Lisa", an episode which set him apart from other tertiary characters and largely defined much of his character,[4] "This Little Wiggy" and "E Pluribus Wiggum"; as well as appearances both minor and prominent in many other episodes. Ralph also appears in various other media, such as the Simpsons comic book series by Bongo, and has even received his own entry in The Simpsons Library of Wisdom series.
Personality
Ralph's primary role in the show is to deliver clueless asides and odd non-sequiturs. Ralph is presented as quite stupid, verbally challenged, and slow. In his most famous quotes, Ralph responds to the news that he is failing English class with the retort: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!",[5]
However, in other instances, Ralph speaks with relative ease, notably in "I Love Lisa" when he gives an uncharacteristically powerful performance as George Washington in a school play. Occasionally, Ralph has even been used to break the fourth wall straightforwardly.[6]
Although it has never been explicitly stated in any Simpsons-related media that Ralph is intellectually disabled and/or brain damaged, in a flashback Chief Wiggum drops baby Ralph, who lands flat on his head. When Wiggum picks Ralph up again, Ralph suddenly has difficulty drinking out of his bottle.[7]
Creation and design
Ralph was named after comedian Jackie Gleason's character on The Honeymooners Ralph Kramden.[8][9] Ralph's first credited appearance in the show was in the episode "Moaning Lisa", where he was considerably different in appearance and behavior. Ralph's modern design first appeared in the second-season episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment". Early Ralph spoke with a voice similar to that of Nelson Muntz's until Cartwright settled into his higher-pitched whine. Originally intended to be a "Mini-Homer," Ralph eventually took on a life of his own.[10][9] The staff later retconed Ralph into the son of Chief Wiggum, a fact initially hinted at in "Kamp Krusty" and later made canon in "I Love Lisa".[11] Groening considers Ralph "really hard to write."[11]
Ralph's normal attire usually consists of a blue long-sleeve shirt with a collar, a belt with a red buckle, and brown pants. However, almost all Simpsons-related media and merchandise, portray Ralph with white or light gray colored pants. Ralph's hair is meant to evoke a bowl-cut style.[12] In one particular issue of the comic book, Ralph is drawn in a realistic style, depicted with blonde hair.[13] Adult Ralph in "Bart to the Future" has light brown hair.
Reception
Ralph has become one of the show's most popular characters. He is commonly featured on media and merchandise related to the show, including the season 13 home media box set. Kidrobot released Ralph as a separate figure from the rest of their Simpsons line of figurines in 2009. The figure is twice as large as the other ones. The comedy band The Bloodhound Gang made a song titled "Ralph Wiggum" on the album Hefty Fine, dedicated to the character and composed solely of some of his most famous quotes for lyrics. Show creator Matt Groening has stated that writers will most likely take credit for Ralph when someone asks who writes specific characters, which is a common misconception about the writing process.[14]
References
- ^ Nancy Cartwright at IMDb
- ^ Moro, Eric (2007-07-28). "SDCC 07: The Simpsons Panel". IGN. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
- ^ "The Simpsons: Top 25 Peripheral Characters". IGN. 16 February 2012.
- ^ Mula, Frank; Archer, Wes (1993-02-11). "I Love Lisa". The Simpsons. Season 04. Episode 15. Fox.
- ^ Scully, Mike; Anderson, Bob (1994-11-13). "Lisa on Ice". The Simpsons. Season 06. Episode 8. Fox.
- ^ Spoiler-centric events near the end of the game involving Ralph.EA Redwood Shores, Rebellion, Amaze Entertainment (October 30, 2007). The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable). Electronic Arts.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ The Simpsons episode "Moms I'd Like to Forget."
- ^ Larry Carroll (2007-07-26). "'Simpsons' Trivia, From Swearing Lisa To 'Burns-Sexual' Smithers". MTV. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
- ^ a b Reiss, Mike; Klickstein, Mathew (2018). Springfield confidential: jokes, secrets, and outright lies from a lifetime writing for the Simpsons. New York City: Dey Street Books. p. 105. ISBN 978-0062748034.
- ^ Jean, Al (2001). The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode 'Moaning Lisa' (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Joe Rhodes (2000-10-21). "Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves". TV Guide.
- ^ Grau, Doris; Mitzman Gaven, Marcia (2007). The Simpsons Handbook: Secret Tips from the Pros. HarperPaperbacks. ISBN 978-0-06-123129-2.
- ^ Hamill, Mark (w), Morrison, Bill (a). Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror, "Catastrophe in Substitute Springfields", no. 7 (September 2001). Bongo Comics.
- ^ "Matt Groening | The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2007-06-23. Retrieved 2006-04-26.
- The Simpsons characters
- Television characters introduced in 1989
- Child characters in television
- Child characters in animated films
- Fictional elementary school students
- Male characters in animated television series
- Characters created by Matt Groening
- Crossover characters in television
- Animated characters introduced in 1989