Ralph Wiggum

“My cat's name is Mittens.”

―Ralph^[src]

“I bent my Wookie!”

―Ralph^[src]

“My cat's breath smells like cat food.”

―Ralph^[src]

“My daddy shoots people!”

―Ralph^[src]

“I drank blue juice from under the sink!”

―Ralph^[src]

“My Imaginary friend thinks you are stupid.”

―Ralph^[src]

“I'm a pop sensation!”

―Ralph^[src]

“Can you open my milk, mommy?”

―Asking Ms. Hoover to open his milk

“Me fail English? That's unpossible!”

―Ralph after receiving an academic alert in Lisa on Ice

“Hi Lisa! Hi Super Nintendo Chalmers!”

―Ralph in Lisa Gets an "A"

Raphael "Ralph" Wiggum (born February 10, 1982) is an oddball student at Springfield Elementary School. He is best known as the Springfield's resident oddball, and has been acknowledged for his non sequiturs and erratic behavior. His lines range from purely nonsensical, or bizarre interpretations of a current event, to surprisingly profound statements that go over people's heads. In Lisa's Pony, he is strangely depicted as intelligent and poetic. It was revealed in Moms I'd Like to Forget that this was because his dad dropped him on his head when he was a baby. For this, Ralph is somewhat of an outcast among his peers, although he seems to be on good terms with a fair number of the other kids at school, such as Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse.

The son of Police Chief Clancy and Sarah Wiggum, Ralph is a good-hearted and generally well-meaning boy who suffers from either severe learning and social disabilities, and/or some other form of childhood psychiatric disorder. The nature of his mentality is kept rather ambiguous, much like many of the signature traits of much of the show's cast. Like almost every other character in Springfield, he may not be quite as simple as he first seems, as evidenced by his hinted immense potential as a performer.

Biography

Personality

Ralph is quite an enigma of a child. Upon first glance, one might mistake him for a child with dementia, or, perhaps, they might even look at him as mentally challenged. What is definite, however, is that he can't help it, as evidenced by his apparently slow grasp of things in the world around him, his difficulty in studying, and his sporadic speech impediments. It is shown in Moms I'd Like to Forget that he was a normal, well functioning baby, until he was dropped on his head by his father. His unique manner of speech is often the source of the character's trademark random quotes, where Ralph may make a comment such as "What's a battle?", "It tastes like... burning!", or "Mr. Flanders, you're blindeded!," as well as his tendency to call his teacher "School Mommy" and on one occasion calling Superintendent Chalmers "Super Nintendo Chalmers." He appears to have several talents. He is an incredible tap dancer and played the role of George Washington in the school play. As Washington, he not only recited his lines perfectly but also managed to play the role so well that he brought the audience to tears.^[1] In Season 2 (or Season 3), he seems not to be having speech impediments, and learning disabilities. Ralph is in his first year of second grade and also shown to be able to drive his father's police cruiser.

Ralph is often seen in very awkward situations such as eating paste, crayons, worms, clay, knobs, lamps, and the Easter bunny, and other such erratic forms of behavior that have since become a staple of the character. Ralph has a rather immense imagination, and is seemingly oblivious to the world around him. As such, he is generally a cheerful boy. However, Ralph also has a hint of tragedy and dark satire to him, like almost every other character on the show. Throughout the show's history, Ralph is eternally the odd one out among his peers at school. He has connections because his father is Chief of Police. Ralph seems to generally get along with many people, as well as occasionally irritate and baffle them. After Lisa gave him a Valentine out of pity, Ralph developed a crush on her. Lisa publicly breaks up with him and Ralph is left devastated. The pair eventually become friends and Lisa has generally been nice toward him since.^[2] Bart is rather long suffering of Ralph. On one occasion, Bart is forced by his mother Marge to play with Ralph. He is at first bored with Ralph but ends up having fun after they steal Clancy Wiggum's master key to the city, and Bart eventually admits that Ralph is a friend.^[3] He is also Bart's "last resource" friend for when nobody else would spend time with him.^[4] Ralph's relationship with his parents seems to be loving and affectionate. Clancy, in particular, rather adores his son as the two do much together, such as various road trips or Ralph's first trip to a major league baseball game.^[5] Ralph can be quite a handful, however, and there are times where Clancy can be neglectful of his son as well. His favorite food is school supplies. Ralph has a multitude of imaginary friends such as Wiggle Puppy and a pyromaniacal leprechaun being particularly well known among viewers. Ralph's teacher, Miss Hoover, is indifferent to his personality and his imagination. Though she will often correct him in a dull, condescending manner, ("The children are right to laugh at you, Ralph," she tells him at one point) she has yet to outright scold him. This could be because, as he told his father, she is "tired of trying,"^[6] as he usually misses the point.

Ralph once signed up for the Auntie Ovenfresh Bakeoff, but his Grilled Crayon Sandwich with thumbtacks was rejected by the contest.

Ralph was also part of a rather infamous hoax where Homer, Skinner, Apu, Lenny, Carl, Chief Wiggum and others had become so fed-up with the whole issue of voting early for the election that they decided to cast all of their votes to someone who was not only unbelievably small, but also so young and unbelievably unintelligent it would be impossible for him to be considered a candidate (and they ultimately chose Ralph). Ironically, Lisa discovers that Ralph is not only aware of what being nominated means, but is also taking the idea of being elected very seriously. Using his childish behavior, he intentionally manipulated the Republican and Democratic parties to join forces in their support of him.^[7] Ralph Wiggum is best at sleeping and acting.

Typical Behavior

During class, Ralph's teacher Miss Hoover will stop lecturing the class for a moment to question Ralph's actions such as eating something he shouldn't, or saying something bizarre or oblivious. Another common 'Ralph' moment is him being at a major event, and saying something to either perplex everyone present with its insight, or point out something so glaringly obvious it's funny. Ralph has quite a knack for getting himself into sticky situations as well. Examples of Ralph moments include him gorging himself with chocolate,^[8] being profiled by a scary dentist,^[9] pretending to be a firetruck, saying that he is afraid of chicken legs,^[10] pretending he is an imaginary puppy (see This Little Wiggy). When Bart was skateboarding naked, saying "I like men now",^[11] and proclaiming that he will attend "Bovine University".^[12] He has been shown wetting himself in public.^[13] Similarly, in the future, he can be seen talking to a classmate by the punch bowl, saying "I can use the potty now."^[14] At one point, during a contest for children regarding making a future Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, after Mr. Burns bluntly told him "Thank you, get out!" when Ralph's "project" (which was a Malibu dream house with the word "nuclear power plant" replacing dream house), he stood at the stage blankly staring at the present audience, and only moved to get off the stage with his project after his father yelled from the crowd "Uh, Ralphie? Get off the stage, sweetheart!" Also, in a moment when Skinner was looking at the building sadly and remembering touching moments with kids saying things like "I know how to read" and "thank you, Principal Skinner," Ralph's distinctive voice saying "Principal Skinner, I got carsick in your office", is heard.^[15] His usual traits were also referenced in the cover of an article for TV-Guide, where Ralph Wiggum was the only one to remain focused on smiling for a group photograph with most of Springfield's cast, when the others, even his father, ended up distracted by Bart Simpson streaking past the group. His abnormal behavior was prevalent and apparent enough that Bart, when attempting to report to the Counter Truancy Unit about his progress in investigating Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney's whereabouts, referred to Ralph as "a very special boy."^[16] In addition, he also spoke unintelligibly when suggesting to Bart how to get a baby brother.^[17][18] This seems to have subsided a little recently, although appearances by Ralph himself have been lighter. Ralph has also demonstrated signs at being borderline psychotic, as he has stated that there is a rock in his yard, where he saw a leprechaun, who told him to burn things. When he later helps save the Mayor of Springfield with Bart and Lisa, the leprechaun appears and tells him, "You've done grand laddie. Now you know what you have to do? Burn the house down! Burn them all!" with Ralph smiling vacantly and nodding in agreement.^[19]If you call Chief Wiggum, a recorded message of "If something is stuck IN Ralph, press 1. If RALPH is stuck IN something, press 2. If this IS Ralph,Daddy is not in the phone, so don't open the phone looking for me" will be heard.

Friends

Ralph has been shown with different children all the time. One time Bart stood up for him to the bullies and befriended him,^[20] but most of the time he isn't bullied, perhaps because he is so completely harmless, or alternatively because he is the son of the Chief of Police. He is more commonly shown with the rest of the second grade class: rolling down hills and climbing trees.

Lisa is also one of Ralph's friends, and was once his so-called girlfriend, but that ended when Lisa said that she didn't really love him. Ralph asks Lisa for test answers now.

Romances

Ralph has had many romances throughout the series. In "I Love Lisa" Ralph dates Lisa Simpson; later Lisa publicly breaks up with him and in the end they are just friends. In "See Homer Run" he is seen with Terri, playing with her and Lewis in a swimming suit with a water cannon in mid June. His future wife is possibly Lisa, although she would have had a romance with Milhouse. Ralph also "came out" during the Simpsons Movie, however this was not followed up.

Run For President

Ralph became a candidate for President after a complicated series of events. After Homer leaves work, and when he is reminded that his diet is starting on the first day of the month (which is that day), he decides to have one last binge at Springfield's Fast-Food Boulevard. After filling up, he decides to throw away his wrappers and the contents of his car in a trash can outside of a Krusty Burger, tossing away a leaky battery and a lit match. The acid from the leaky battery eats a hole in a gas main, with the lit match igniting the gas and starting a fire which soon causes nearby gas pipes to explode, completely destroying Fast-Food Boulevard.

At a town hall meeting, the enraged residents of Springfield demand that Fast-Food Boulevard be rebuilt immediately. To fund the reconstruction, a bond measure is proposed. As the next election isn't until June the next year, Mayor Quimby moves it to the upcoming Tuesday, making Springfield's presidential primary the first in the nation. Candidates and reporters head to Springfield when they hear the news.

The candidates flock to the Simpsons, who are undecided. Their home is filled with people and their yard is covered with reporters; helicopters and news vans surround the lot. When voting day arrives, an angry Homer and other citizens hold a meeting in Moe's Tavern. Homer suggests the people vote for the most ridiculous candidate, whom they choose after Chief Wiggum suggests himself. The same night, Kent Brockman announces an unexpected turn of events; Springfield has rejected all the leading candidates and voted for 8-year-old Ralph Wiggum. He wins the primary, much to the shock of Lisa Simpson.

Ralph is immediately embraced as the leading candidate, and Homer and Bart become his fans. Lisa, however, is miserable, as she knows how slow Ralph is. The news report, Headbutt, shows Ralph has no idea of which party's nomination he is seeking. Both the Democratic and Republican parties contend to secure Ralph as their candidate. The leaders of both parties break into Ralph's home, wanting to fight for him. Lisa confronts Ralph amongst the media frenzy, attempting to convince him not to run. Ralph tells Lisa he wants to run so he can bring peace between warring parties and his earnest kind heartedness wins her support. He is proven to be a formidable candidate, and both the Republicans and the Democrats support Ralph for president. They made a political commercial for Ralph, sponsored by both parties.^[21] Ralph, however, lost the election.

Non Canon Appearances

The contents of this article or section are considered to be non-canon and therefore may not have actually happened/existed.

Future

In Lisa's Wedding, he becomes one of Krusty's sideshows but is arrested.^[22]

In Holidays of Future Passed, there are many clones of him, including two chiefs, a truck driver and burning clone of him. The first clone told Bart that he died and he was turned into a clone.

In Days of Future Future, a future version of Ralph appears to be a police officer like his father. Similar to Holidays of Future Passed.

In Mr. Lisa's Opus, a future version of Ralph is still in the second grade.

In "Flanders' Ladder", Ralph dies at the age of 120 after he is poisoned by his son who would become the new king after his death.

Rumored Death

It is shown during the end credits in Simpsorama, Ralph's grave said 2006-2017, meaning a rumor of Ralph getting killed off in 2017 is out. It was however, confirmed that this was not the case.

The Simpsons Road Rage

Ralph Wiggum appears as both a driver and a potential passenger.

The Simpsons Hit and Run

Ralph Wiggum is a character in the game. He plays a slightly major role in Level 2, where he acted as the third person Bart can buy illegal fireworks from. Based on his comment to Bart just before giving him the fireworks ("My daddy's going to put you in jail, bye!") and Chief Wiggum proceeding to give chase to Bart with the threat of having Bart serve five life sentences of Community Service for the purchase of illegal fireworks, he may have been used by his father in a sting operation against any potential sales of Illegal Fireworks. Aside from this, Ralph also appears in every level but the final one as a Springfield DMV referee for street races, always acting as the third one (he is absent from the final level alongside the other two judges because of zombies taking over their positions). Unlike the other judges (Milhouse and Nelson), it was never made clear why he was hired by Selma and Patty Bouvier to act as a judge, although his exchange with Lisa in the third level implies that his father arranged for the two to hire him as punishment for presumably acting out at the hardware store. In the fifth level, both Apu and Ralph implied that they had been involved in an incident where Ralph nearly managed to somehow drown himself in nacho cheese, and that the event was highly prestigous to cause newspaper headlines.

The Simpsons Game

In the PS3 and 360 versions, Ralph is an enemy in Mob Rules. Ralph later appears along with Rod and Todd Flanders as Hobbit-like children who help Homer and Marge defeat the two-headed dragon in order to get the keycard.^[23] He also appears as a holder of one of the three Sparklemon that Homer and Lisa must defeat.^[24] At the end of the game, he is seen watching the closing moments of the Simpsons family talking with God, then he sees the player and says "Daddy... someone's looking at me."

Quotes

Behind the Laughter

Creation

In Ralph's first credited appearance in the show was the episode "Moaning Lisa", he was considerably different in both appearance and behavior from his later appearance, although he also briefly appeared in the first episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire. Ralph's signature use as a character in the show is to deliver either an odd bit of behavior, or dialogue which either perplexes others or merely gives the audience a quick laugh. Originally intended to be a "Mini-Homer", Ralph eventually took on a life of his own. The staff figured that he'd also fit perfectly as the son of Chief Wiggum, a fact made canon in "I Love Lisa", (although he is referred to by his last name of Wiggum in "Kamp Krusty" before). Ralph was named after comedian Jackie Gleason's character on The Honeymooners Ralph Kramden. Matt Groening considers any lines for Ralph "really hard to write."

Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Ralph, raises her eyebrows whenever she performs Ralph's voice.

Popular Culture

With a combination of his popular commentary and his endearingly innocent character, Ralph eventually became one of the show's most popular characters. Ralph's popularity as a character has even spread so far that the rock band The Bloodhound Gang made a song called "Ralph Wiggum," dedicated to the character and comprised solely of some of his most famous quotes for lyrics. The song can be found on their album Hefty Fine. Another band, Trillium Circle has a member named Ralph Wiggum, presumably a pseudonym. Ralph also became a prominent pop-culture figure in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election after the episode E. Pluribus Wiggum aired on January 6, 2008. Show creator Matt Groening has stated that Ralph is one of his personal favorite characters on The Simpsons, and whenever someone asks who writes specific characters (a common misconception about the writing process), writers will most likely take credit for writing for Ralph.

The character from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rowley Jefferson bears similarities to Ralph in terms of appearance and personality.

Merchandising

Ralph has his own book in the series The Simpsons Library of Wisdom. He also had presidential posters and merchandise for the 2008 election, a'la "E. Pluribus Wiggum". He is the featured character on the Season 13 DVD/Blu-ray box set.

Gallery

Episode appearances

External links

Citations