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Is Homer Simpson Canadian?

In Montreal for a performance of The Simpsons  In the Flesh stage show at the Just for Laughs comedy festival, the shows creator Matt Groening noted Thursday his dad was born in Canada. Homer being named after Groening's father, so what does where does this lead Homer? 

"That would make Homer Simpson a Canadian," Groening said in an interview. "I hope Canadians won't hold it against the show now that they know.

Not all too surprising, as one fan noted, "Homer eats foods commonly associated with Canada: donuts, beer, bacon, and has been know to have a glass of maple syrup for breakfast.". 

Update (June 2, 2003): After Matt Groening stated his father, Homer Groening, was likely from Winnipeg, the city of Winnipeg declared Homer Simpsons and honorary Winnipegger on May 30, 2003. Although it has now be revealed the Homer Groening is more likely to hail from Main Centre, Saskatchewan it didn't have an effect on the 300 some people who attended the ceremony.  

Article written by Wade Penner
Source: Don't Have A Cow! Homer Simpson is a Canadian, creator says... (Yahoo! Canada)
Update Source: Ross Romaniuk (Winnipeg Sun) - May 2003

Canadians Inside the Simpsons

There is actually three known Canadians on the Simpsons writing team.

• Joel Cohen, who was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. Cohen attended the University of Alberta. He got his start writing for the Brooke Shields sitcom Suddenly Susan.
  Episodes by writer

• Tim Long, who was born in Exeter, Ontario. Tim attended the University of Toronto. He also was formerly Letterman's head writer. 
  Episodes by writer

• Rob Cohen, brother of Joel, is the author of the famous "Flaming Moe" episode.

• and Jeff Poliquin, who was born in Saskatchewan.

Tim and Joel (pictured left, credit CP) were the writers responsible for bringing the Simpsons to Toronto in season thirteen's episode The Bart Wants What it Wants.

Unfortunately the over- hyped episode brought disappointment to many fans for the Simpsons brief stopover.

Watch a Global National News promo about this episode. It features an interview with Time and Joel, also keep an eyes open for an appearance of yours truly. (Requires Windows Media Player)

As for a return trip to Canada to redeem themselves, Cohen has stated that doubts it, citing the simple fact that there are simply too many other countries to burn.

Surprisingly according to Tim and Joel, most of the Canadian references in past shows where pitched by Americans, sighting that they didn't want to always "be that guy, always pitching the Canadian joke".

Regardless it is almost certain Canadian references will continue to make there way it into the show, and as long as they do Canadians will be sure to notice. 

Article written by Wade Penner
Sources: Canadian Edition of TV Guide - December 1998, Kevin Williamson (Calgary Sun) - Nov. 2002, Global National News - Feb. 2002, Bill Brioux (Toronto Sun) - Feb. 2002
Video (c) 2002 Global National News, used with permission.

Matt Groening and Canada

Is The Simpsons anti-Canadian? That's the rumble on the Internet, where recent knocks against the Great White North on the show have been noted. On one episode, a character wanted to "bomb Canada to the Stone Age." And recently, some kids in Bart's remedial class were told to talk slower to a Canadian classmate. But creator Matt Groening insists he really loves Canada. In fact, Groening first sold the comic strip which evolved into The Simpsons to a Toronto weekly in 1982. "There were some of the first people to encourage me" Groening says that, far from suggesting that Canadians are slow, the student gag was "a comment on the insularity and xenophobia of the U.S. We are so self-absorbed, that if somebody talked with a Canadian accent, we would assume that there was something wrong with them." So the next time you see questionable content on The Simpsons, Groening says to remember "there's fondness behind it all".

Article written by Bill Brioux
Courtesy Haynees Lee

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Last Updated June 02, 2003

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