It’s been on the air for more than 30 years, but for most longtime fans of The Simpsons, the show was at its brilliant best during the first 10 years. In the time sometimes known as the golden age of The Simpsons, many great characters showed up for a one-off joke. Though they were only on screen for a matter of seconds, the memory of those one-and-done characters has lived on for years.
From Homer’s exact double, to the talk show hosted by a bear, this collection looks at the best one-off characters from the best period of The Simpsons‘ long run as voted on by Ranker’s voters.
13. Worker and Parasite
Episode: S4 E22 “Krusty Gets Kancelled”
Eastern Europe’s favorite cat-and-mouse team is a parody of the time when Tom and Jerry was outsourced to animators in Czechoslovakia in the early ’60s. The low-quality animation and violence were panned by fans and critics alike.
12. Cayman Islands Banker
Episode: S7 E15 “Bart the Fink”
In one of those jokes that has aged a little too well, Krusty’s long history of tax evasion is rumbled when his offshore bank manager inadvertently gives the game away. While he shouldn’t have said Krusty had a secret, illegal account, it was an awfully hot day.
11. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
Episode: S5 E9 “The Last Temptation of Homer”
Poor Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo just wanted a quiet drink, not Moe insulting his unique name.
10. Ice Expedition Team
Episode: S5 E4 “Rosebud”
They lost four men on the last expedition, but there’s no better way to get ice that sells for $1 a bag.
9. Mr. Snrub
Episode: S4 E12 “Marge vs. the Monorail”
Mr. Snrub turns up to a town meeting on how to spend the $3 million fine paid by Mr. Burns. Snrub’s origins are mysterious; we learn only that he’s from “some place far away” and seems to know Smithers. His suggestion to reinvest the money in the nuclear plant doesn’t go well, and he and Smithers quickly exit via the ceiling.
8. Mr. McGreg
Episode: S4 E11 “Homer’s Triple Bypass”
Dr. Nick’s old friend with a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg is apparently not too happy with the results of his surgery.
7. Sugar Thief
Episode: S6 E2 “Lisa’s Rival”
In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women. That’s if you don’t let your guard down for even a split second, because there’s always an old-timey English gentleman waiting to swoop in and nick it.
6. Handsome Pete
Episode: S7 E15 “Bart the Fink”
Handsome Pete might not live up to his moniker, but you can’t argue with his work ethic. Whether it’s dancing or moving furniture (according to a bounced check on the wall), Pete does it all for a fraction of the cost.
5. Gentle Ben
Episode: S6 E9 “Homer Badman”
Gentle Ben is a nod to the series of children’s novels and 1960s television show of the same name. As a talk show host, Ben is attentive to his audience until the buffet table catches his eye and he’s brought down by the Ben Control team.
4. Fuzzy Bunny
Episode: S3 S23 “Bart’s Friend Falls in Love”
Fuzzy Bunny is the titular character from a sex education film in which he and Fluffy Bunny don’t ruin their fun by giving in to their throbbing biological urges. Mrs. Krabappel’s verdict on their wedding night, “she’s faking it,” suggests that maybe they should have.
3. Guy Incognito
Episode: S6 E11 “Fear of Flying”
A snappy dresser with a peculiar accent, Guy Incognito is mistaken for Homer and gets tossed out of Moe’s, getting knocked unconscious in the process. Homer’s discovery of his exact double occupies his attention for all of two seconds until he’s distracted by a puffy-tailed dog.
2. Mr. Sparkle
Episode: S8 E22 “In Marge We Trust”
The Japanese detergent icon is disrespectful to dirt. Can’t you see that he is serious? Join him or die.
1. Hugh Jass
Episode: S3 E10 “Flaming Moe’s”
Bart’s attempted prank call to Moe’s backfires when there really is a Hugh Jass in the men’s room. Hugh’s genial demeanor suggests he’s probably been through this before.