Signs for streets in Portland, Oregon which inspired select characters on The Simpsons
There are many connections between the American animated sitcom The Simpsons and the city of Portland, Oregon , the hometown of series creator Matt Groening .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
Many characters on the show have names similar to streets in Portland; Burnside , Flanders, Kearney, Lovejoy, Quimby, and Terwilliger inspired Mr. Burns , Ned Flanders , Kearney Zzyzwicz, Reverend Lovejoy , and Mayor Quimby , and Robert Onderdonk Terwilliger Jr. (better known as Sideshow Bob ), respectively.[ 4] [ 5]
The 2019 episode "Marge the Lumberjill " is set in Portland and includes street signs with the names that inspired the character names.[ 6]
In early 2021, Groening signed a portrait of Homer Simpson for a fundraising auction for Lincoln High School , his alma mater.[ 7]
Ned Flanders Crossing (2021), a footbridge spanning Interstate 405 to connect the Northwest District and Pearl District , is named after Ned Flanders.[ 8]
In 2021, an anonymous artist installed a "Merge Simpson" depicting Marge Simpson near an on-ramp to Interstate 405 in northwest Portland . The sign was displayed below a column of shrubbery resembling Simpson's beehive . City officials removed the sign because of driving safety concerns.[ 9] [ 10]
^ Rose, Joseph (May 4, 2012). " 'The Simpsons' map of Portland (What other proof do you need that they're Oregonians?)" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ De La Roca, Claudia (May 2021). "Matt Groening Reveals the Location of the Real Springfield" . Smithsonian . Smithsonian Institution . ISSN 0037-7333 . Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ Schneider, Michael (April 12, 2012). "Exclusive: Nope, Springfield is Not in Oregon, Clarifies The Simpsons' Matt Groening" . TV Guide Magazine . Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-24 .
^ Turnquist, Kristi (May 27, 2017). " 'The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening returns to Portland to share stories about Bill O'Reilly, more" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ Hogan, Michael (December 15, 2014). "25 things you never knew about The Simpsons" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ Bereta, Jesse (11 November 2019). "Review: The Simpsons "Marge the Lumberjill" " . Bubbleblabber . Retrieved 12 January 2024 .
^ Turnquist, Kristi (February 1, 2021). "Matt Groening creates a special Homer Simpson pandemic portrait for Lincoln High School fundraiser" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ McCarter, Reid (September 13, 2021). "Well, hi-diddly-ho, Portland now has a bridge called "Ned Flanders Crossing" " . The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ "D'oh! 'Merge Simpson' street sign appears in NW Portland" . KATU . October 14, 2021. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ Ramakrishnan, Jayati (October 14, 2021). "Portland removes 'Merge Simpson' sign from NW Portland freeway ramp" . The Oregonian . Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
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