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| Ralph Wiggum | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons character | |
 | |
| First appearance | "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (1989) |
| Created by | Matt Groening |
| Designed by | Matt Groening |
| Voiced by | Nancy Cartwright |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
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| Family |
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Ralph Wiggum[1] is a recurring character in theanimated seriesThe Simpsons. He is voiced byNancy Cartwright.[2] Ralph is characterized largely by his frequentnon-sequiturs which range from nonsensical and bizarre to profound. Hisdim-witted behavior lends him an air of blissful ignorance.
The creator of the show,Matt Groening, has cited Ralph as his favorite character.[3] 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," behindSideshow Bob andTroy McClure.[4]
Ralph is characterized as a slow-witted and good-natured 8-year-old boy inLisa Simpson's second-grade class,[5] taught byMs. 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,[6] "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 theSimpsons comic book series by Bongo, and has even received his own entry inThe Simpsons Library of Wisdom series.
Ralph's primary role in the show is to deliver clueless asides and oddnon-sequiturs. Ralph is presented as quite stupid, verbally challenged, and slow. In one of his most famous quotes, Ralph responds to the news that he is failing English class with the retort: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"[7]
In other instances, Ralph has been shown to speak with relative ease, notably in "I Love Lisa" when he gives an uncharacteristically powerful performance asGeorge Washington in a school play. Occasionally, Ralph has been used to break thefourth wall straightforwardly.[8]
Although it has never been explicitly stated in anySimpsons-related media that Ralph is intellectually disabled and/orbrain damaged,Chief Wiggum drops baby Ralph in a flashback sequence, with the latter landing flat on his head. When Wiggum picks Ralph up again, Ralph suddenly has difficulty drinking out of his bottle.[9]
Ralph was named after Ralph Kramden, the character onThe Honeymooners portrayed by comedianJackie Gleason.[10][11] 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 ofNelson 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.[12][11] The staff later retconned Ralph into the son ofChief Wiggum, a fact initially hinted at in "Kamp Krusty" and later made canon in "I Love Lisa".[13] Groening considers Ralph "really hard to write."[13]
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 allSimpsons-related media and merchandise portray Ralph with white or light gray colored pants. Ralph's hair is meant to evoke abowl-cut style.[14] In one particular issue of the comic book, Ralph is drawn in a realistic style, depicted with blonde hair.[15] Adult Ralph in "Bart to the Future" has light brown hair.
Ralph has become one of the show's most popular characters. He is commonly featured on media and merchandise related to the show, including theseason 13 home media box set.Kidrobot released Ralph as a separate figure from the rest of theirSimpsons line of figurines in 2009. The figure is twice as large as the others. The comedy bandThe Bloodhound Gang made a song titled "Ralph Wiggum" on the albumHefty Fine, dedicated to the character and composed solely of some of his most famous quotes for lyrics. Show creatorMatt 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.[16]
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