Throughout its many years on the air, The Simpsons has featured thousands of different characters. Some are series regulars and need absolutely no introduction, but there are others who spend most of their time lurking in the shadows, just waiting for their chance to shine again.
While the majority of these tertiary characters are incredibly one-dimensional, there are a select few who are teeming with potential and deserve a lot more attention than they have so far been given. As time goes by, however, the chances of them returning to the limelight seem increasingly unlikely. This is made all the more frustrating by the show's writers continuing to use substandard characters who offer very little to the show in their stead.
10 Great: Jessica Lovejoy
Bart's first real girlfriend couldn't be more different from the rest of her family. She steals, she curses, and she could seemingly care less about god or religion. Jessica Lovejoy is so sinful, in fact, that she almost makes Bart look like a saint. Almost.
This wolf in sheep's clothing first lit up the show in the season six episode Bart's Girlfriend, but Jessica has since had to settle for a place firmly in the background. Bart may have moved on from her, but that doesn't mean that her wicked ways can't still have a positive impact on the show.
9 Overused: The Yes Guy
Best known for his unusual and elongated pronunciation of the word "yes," The Yes Guy was actually quite humerus when he first appeared in season 10. The problem is, however, that in the two decades since then the character has remained largely the same.
This would be problematic even in the case of a regular character, but given that his whole "bit" is his funny voice, it quickly begins to feel shallow and repetitive. Worse still, the character has appeared in 17 episodes in one form or another; serving as a near-annual reminder of how annoying he really is.
8 Great: Freddy Quimby
Spoiled, entitled, and incredibly rude; Freddy Quimby is the guy that people love to hate. He's one of Mayor Quimby's many relatives and, like the rest of his family, seems to have been inspired by the Kennedy political dynasty. An aficionado when it comes to culinary pronunciation, Freddy had the potential to become a solid supporting cast member. Emphasis on the word "had" there.
Freddy's obnoxious performance in the season five episode The Boy Who Knew Too Much was all but perfect, but since then his character has taken a turn for the worst. He has only appeared once or twice but is now portrayed as a law-abiding citizen who stands out about as much as a polar bear in snow. Why exactly the show's writers would choose to sanitize the character the way that they did we will likely never find out. Thankfully though, fans will always have chowder.
7 Overused: Artie Ziff
Artie's introduction to the show in season two was perfectly serviceable and his Half-Decent Proposal was arguably one of the highlights of an otherwise drab 13th season. Since then though, he has offered very little to the show other than the occasional nerd joke and reminders of how good the show used to be.
The idea of an old flame returning into a character's life is an interesting one in itself and provided the writers with an opportunity to delve into Marge's past while also testing the strength of her relationship with Homer. With both of those matters firmly laid to rest though, the same should have been done with the Artie Ziff character.
6 Great: Herbert Powell
Danny DeVito's busy schedule has likely played a big part in Herb's prolonged absence from the show, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. The relationship between Homer and his half brother still has plenty of mileage left in it when it comes to development and so many fans will be hoping that the show is able to further explore it at some point in the future.
Herb first showed up in the season two episode Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and returned the following season for another solid episode. The last fans heard from him though was about eight years ago when Homer briefly spoke with him about looking after the kids in the event that something happens to him and Marge.
5 Overused: Gerald Samson
The rivalry between Baby Gerald and Maggie is somewhat reminiscent of the long-running Peter v.s giant chicken gag in Family Guy. Both started out funny but quickly began to feel staler and staler with each subsequent outing. Unfortunately, their respective shows' writers just can't see the wood for the tress.
Baby Gerald has appeared as recently as the show's currently airing season (32, for those who've lost count) and, aside from a single episode where he was portrayed as an eight-year-old, hasn't really changed too much since first showing up in the show's 100th episode back in '94. It would almost be a case of 'too much of a good thing', but – in all honesty – the character was never that good to begin with.
4 Great: Ruth Powers
The Simpsons has its fair share of characters designed to empower women, but none of them have had quite the same impact as Ruth Powers. Having given birth when she was just 18 and survived a pretty messy divorce, this single mom is one of the strongest women in the show; both physically and mentally.
Although her first appearance came in the season four episode New Kid on the Block, Ruth's most notable contribution to the show came the following season when she and Marge find themselves on the run. The episode serves as a great homage to the 1991 classic Thelma & Louise and does a wonderful job of developing her character. Unfortunately, though, this was all for nothing as since then Ruth has largely been relegated to the occasional background appearance
3 Overused: Eleanor Abernathy (Crazy Cat Lady)
There was once a time when the Crazy Cat Lady really warranted her place in the show. Sure, she was incredibly one-dimensional, but for the most part, she was used sparingly and to great effect. Eleanor even provided Lisa with her current pet, albeit through her signature cat-throwing escapades.
Like many of the show's other recurring gags, however, there's only so much mileage that one can get out of a crazy old lady throwing cats. Aside from perhaps throwing some other form of domesticated animal, it's difficult to see how the character could be developed any further and so it might just be better for Eleanor to hang up her cats for good.
2 Great: Hank Scorpio
Hank Scorpio is an evil genius who's inspired by some of the great Bond villains of yesteryear. Despite his ambitions of world domination though, he just might be the best boss that Homer has ever had. He's incredibly generous, cares deeply about his employees, and possesses levels of charisma that Mr. Burns could only dream of.
First appearing in the fantastic season 8 episode You Only Move Twice, Hank would go on to feature in a couch gag in season 22 and also appeared in the background of a few other episodes. Things could have been very different, however, with the personable philanthropist having originally been planned to feature as the main villain in The Simpsons Movie. Sadly, however, it just wasn't meant to be.
1 Overused: Gary Chalmers
Were it not for Gary Chalmers the world would never have been treated to Ralph's classic "Super Nintendo Chalmers" line back in season 10. For that, everyone should be eternally grateful. Even so, it's hard to argue too much in favor of the character's continued prevalence throughout the series given how little he offers in return.
What started out as occasional drop-ins to Springfield Elementary quickly devolved into a near-permanent residency. Given that Gary is supposed to be in charge of multiple schools in the area, it makes very little sense for him to spend as much time there as he does. The character hasn't provided anything meaningful to the show in quite some time and is at this point little more than a mechanism with which to chastise Skinner. Both characters deserve a lot more; as too do the show's viewers.