Wearing their Bart on their sleeve

RICK O’SHEA
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Has to be the episode where Homer joins The Be Sharps and barbershop takes over the world. Essentially it’s a Rutles-style parody of The Beatles’ career featuring the real George Harrison.
Favourite Simpsons line?
A bit obscure but it’s “Duff Gardens, hurrah!” Homer says it just before he collapses on the steering wheel of his car after eating the now putrid sandwich he brought home from the company picnic. It’s become a catch-all phrase in my life, any time anyone who’s sick is pretending to be well enough to continue on.
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Krusty
2. Professor Frink
3. Homer
4. Seymour Skinner
5. C. Montgomery Burns

GARY LIGHTBODY

Simple Simon. Homer becomes a masked vigilante, initially to avenge Lisa after she’s humiliated by a brash Texan at a country fair place-setting competition. He then develops a taste for being a hero and comes to the aid of various down-trodden Springfielders. He’s later corrupted by Mr. Burns and talked out of the hero business by the ever-boring/never funny Lisa.
I always enjoy the Homer-heavy episodes because maximum silliness ensues. I especially love the idea of clumsy, sweary, exercise and work dodging Homer being a superhero.
Favourite Simpsons line?
Lisa: “Dad, did you know the Chinese use the same word for crisis as they do opportunity?”
Homer: “Yes, Chrisatunity!”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Homer (“Trying’s the first step towards failure.”)
2. Moe Sizlack (Gleefully about Mr. Burns’ monkey Furious George after a knife fight in international waters. “Oh, he ain’t pretty no more.”)
3. Chief Wiggum (He’s getting away in a… car. Suspect is hatless, I repeat hatless.”)
4. Mr. Burns (To Homer: “Very well, come on in. Perhaps I’ve something I can scald you with.”)
5. Krusty The Clown (“Nobody likes a bi-polar clown.”)

MARK GEARY
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Santa’s Little Helper. Homer loses the Christmas money and has to work as a Santa. Then he blows his wages on a dog that doesn’t win.
A Star Is Burns. Barney quits drinking and enters his life story, Pukahontas, in the Springfield Film Festival. It’s really beautiful and tragic.
Favourite Simpsons line?
Marge saves Homer from having an affair with Kim Basinger and he sings: “Oh Margy, you came and brought me a turkey for my vacation away from worky.”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Homer
2. Barney
3. Comic Book Guy
4. Gill, the guy based on the Jack Lemmon character in Glengarry Glen Ross
5. Monty Burns

ROB BOCHNIK, THE FRAMES
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Flaming Moe’s. Moe ran out of beer. Homer wanted a drink, so he fixed himself and Moe a ‘Flaming Homer’, which consisted of the little bits that were left in every liquor bottle, the secret ingredient of Krusty Cough Syrup and fire. I don’t know the scientific explanation but fire made it good.
Moe took the idea and capitalised on it, giving no credit to his good friend Homer. I’ve seen my share of perfectly good neighbourhood watering holes in Chicago with plenty of character and cheap beer turn into crappy, expensive, trendy bars that attract rich yuppies.
Favourite Simpsons line?
Bart tries to demonstrate how to make a Flaming Homer. Mrs. Krabappel is shocked that he’s brought alcohol into school and says: “Bart, are those liquor bottles? Take those to the teacher’s lounge. You can have what’s left at the end of the day.”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Itchy & Scratchy
2. Dr. Nick Riviera
3. Bumble-Bee Guy
4. Cletus Delroy
5. Hugh Jass

MARIO ROSENSTOCK
Favourite Simpsons episode?
There are so many to choose from – not only one of the best comedies, but one of the best TV programmes ever.
I loved Bart’s Girlfriend where he falls in love with Reverend Lovejoy’s daughter played by Meryl Streep (didn’t believe it could be her ‘til I saw the credits!).
Bart is unfairly accused of stealing money from the church collection box but has a huge crush on the real thief (Streep). He’s torn between giving her up or giving her one!
Favourite Simpsons line?
Kent Brockman on the shooting of Mr. Burns: “Burns was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was later transferred to a better hospital where doctors upgraded his condition to alive.”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Homer
2. Moe
3. Ned Flanders
4. Disco Stu
5. Itchy & Scratchy

BREN & COLM EYEBROWY
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Trash Of The Titans. Springfield’s retailers create a new holiday, Love Day, but Homer displays a predictable lack of enthusiasm for taking out the trash generated by the festivities.
After insulting the garbage men, Homer finds his rubbish not being collected and decides to run for Sanitation Commissioner, appealing to all the lazy slobs with his ‘Can’t Someone Else Do It?’ campaign. Homer wins and then finds he’s blown his annual budget in a month.
Favourite Simpsons line?
Homer: “Fame was like a drug, but what was even more like a drug were the drugs”.
Marge: “Homer, is this how you pictured married life?"
Homer: "Yeah, pretty much, except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Homer
2. Mr. Burns
3. Chief Wiggum
4. Ned Flanders
5. Comic Book Guy

NEIL O’CONNOR, REDNECK MANIFESTO & SOMADROME
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Homer The Great. When Homer notices Lenny and Carl acting strangely, he trails them and discovers that they’re members of a secret organisation, The Stonecutters. Luckily, Grampa is a Stonecutter (and a member of The Black Panthers) so Homer’s membership is a shoo-in.
Once on the inside, Homer discovers that The Stonecutters are a rigidly hierarchical group – he’s given a number instead of a name, and must work his way up the ladder. But when The Stonecutters’ leader, Number One, spies a mark on Homer’s butt he’s anointed The Chosen One.
As Supreme Head, he turns a once-great organisation into a laughing stock. His followers rebel and start a new secret club, The Ancient Mystic Society Of No Homers.
Favourite Simpsons line?
“I’m just gonna hide under a pile of coats and hope everything works out” from Homer Goes To College
Top 5 Simpsons Characters?
1. Lionel Hutz (R.I.P.)
2. Troy McClure (R.I.P.)
3. Moe
4. Chief Wiggum
5. Homer

RICHIE EGAN, JAPE
Favourite Simpsons episode?
Dumbbell Indemnity. When Moe gets a girlfriend, and has to resort to all sorts of hi-jinx to keep up the high life for the lady. He gets Homer to help by destroying his car for the insurance, which Homer totally bungles and ends up going to jail for.
I love the montage where Moe gets run over by a horse and carriage when he’s on rollerblades.
Favourite Simpsons line?
Moe: “Back then, they called me ‘Kid Gorgeous’. Then it was ‘Kid Presentable’. Then ‘Kid Gruesome’. And finally, ‘Kid Moe’.”
Top 5 Simpsons characters?
1. Moe
2. Homer
3. Handsome Pete
4. Itchy
5. Scratchy
Pics: Graham Keogh and Naomi McArdle