Dr. Marvin Monroe is a local psychiatrist who was for a long time considered to have passed away.
History
Homer sold the family TV after seeing an ad for Dr. Monroe's Family Therapy Center during a boxing match at Moe's. The ad claimed "family bliss or double your money back". The Simpson family was asked to complete a series of tests, including drawing your worst fear of which everyone but Homer drew Homer. Homer drew a random doodle. Unable to reach the Simpson Family, Monroe turned to the shock therapy method: the Simpsons were strapped in chairs with electrodes attached to them, and controls which they could use to shock other family members. However, it got out of hand and the whole town lost power.
Having had all his other patients leave, Monroe threw out the Simpson Family, paid them the money, and told them to never tell anyone they were there. With their money doubled, they purchased a new TV.[1]
Monroe is one of the doctors who studies Homer to figure out if he is the missing link after Homer was captured by Bigfoot hunters.[2]
Monroe hosts his own morning radio show on KBBL where he takes calls from listeners and tries to help them with their problems.[3]
Monroe was a panel guest on Smartline discussing TV violence.[4]
Supposed death
Monroe's Tombstone shown in "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily"
Although it was never specifically shown Dr. Monroe was considered to have died. He stopped appearing on TV and his business closed down. Many people in Springfield also believed him to be dead because several things had been named after him; Marvin Monroe Memorial Hospital,[5] and a school gym.[6] His grave is also shown,[7] and Troy McClure reported his death "over the past year".[8] However several years later he spontaneously appeared in at Marge's book signing, buying a copy of her book The Harpooned Heart. Marge, shocked to see him, exclaimed that she hadn't seen him in years. Dr. Monroe explained that he had "been very sick".[9]
Behind the Laughter
Monroe was (initially) retired in Season 7 because voicing the character strained Harry Shearer's throat and, eventually, the voice became too annoying for Matt Groening.[10][11]
Appearances
Episode – "There's No Disgrace Like Home" 
Episode – "The Call of the Simpsons" - Episode – "The Telltale Head"
- Episode – "Some Enchanted Evening"
- Episode – "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge"
- Episode – "Old Money"
- Episode – "Stark Raving Dad"
- Episode – "When Flanders Failed"
- THOH – "Treehouse of Horror II"
- Episode – "Radio Bart"
- Episode – "Bart's Friend Falls in Love" (voice only)
- Episode – "Marge vs. the Monorail"
- Episode – "All Singing, All Dancing" Archive Footage
- Episode – "Bart's Inner Child"
- Episode – "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" Tombstone
- Episode – "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife"
- Episode – "Donnie Fatso" (picture seen at the couch gag)
- Comic book – The Amazing Colossal Homer
Citations
- ↑ "There's No Disgrace Like Home"
- ↑ "The Call of the Simpsons"
- ↑ "Some Enchanted Evening"
- ↑ "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge"
- ↑ "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)"
- ↑ "Bye Bye Nerdie"
- ↑ "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily"
- ↑ "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular"
- ↑ "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife"
- ↑ Jean, Al 2001 Commentary for "Some Enchanted Evening," in The Simpsons: The Complete First Season.
- ↑ Groening, Matt 2003 Commentary for "Treehouse of Horror II," in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season.