Lenny Leonard

Simpsons character


name=Lenny Leonard
gender=Male
hair=Dark brown
job= Worker at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
relatives= Unnamed mothercite episode| title = Mona Leaves-a | series = The Simpsons | credits = Joel H. Cohen (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2007-05-11 | season = 19|number = 11 ]
spouse= an ex-wife
appearance="Life on the Fast Lane"
voiceactor= Harry Shearer|

Lenny Leonard, MPhys [cite episode| title = Homer's Enemy | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Swartzwelder (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1997-05-04 | season = 8|number = 23] is a fictional character in the FOX animated series, "The Simpsons", and is voiced by Harry Shearer. He is the best-friend of Carl Carlson and Homer Simpson. He works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and possesses a master's degree in nuclear physics, but is portrayed as a simple, often naïve blue-collar working man. [ cite episode| title = Homer's Enemy | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Swartzwelder (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1997-05-04 | season = 8|number = 23 ]

Biography

Despite being shown in the First Church of Springfield, Lenny is a Buddhist. [ cite episode| title = She of Little Faith | series = The Simpsons | credits = Bill Frielberger (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2001-12-16 | season = 8|number = 23 ] Born in Chicago, he is also a war hero and a three-time juror. His grandmother spent 20 years in a Soviet work camp, hinting that Lenny is at least half Russian. [ cite episode| title = Midnight Towboy | series = The Simpsons | credits = Ian Maxtone-Graham (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2007-10-07 | season = 19|number = 03 ] During one episode, he is shown to be an adept guitar player. [ cite episode| title = How I Spent My Strummer Vacation | series = The Simpsons | credits = Mike Scully (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2002-11-02 | season = 14|number = 2 ] "Homer the Great" reveals Lenny was member number 12 of the Springfield chapter of the Stonecutters secret society. In the episode "Half-Decent Proposal", Lenny is shown to have little regard for his own life: "Quick and pointless, that's the death for me."

Lenny is unmarried (see "love life"). He had plastic surgery when a sudden upswing in the price of power plant stock led to most of the employees (with the exception of Homer) to have a big profit ("Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk"). In "Burns' Heir", both Mr. Burns and Waylon Smithers refer to him as "Leonard", the same way they refer to Homer as "Simpson". In one episode, Lenny reveals that one of his other pastimes (aside from drinking at Moe's) is dressing up like a baby. [ cite episode| title = The Seemingly Never-Ending Story | series = The Simpsons | credits = Ian Maxtone-Graham (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2006-03-12 | season = 17|number = 13 ] In "Homerazzi" Lenny is hinted to be a transvestite when he dresses up like "Seven of Nine" from "". [ cite episode| title = Homerazzi | series = The Simpsons | credits = J. Stewart Burns (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2007-03-25 | season = 18|number = 16 ] Lenny drives a green two-door hatch back, whose licence plate reads "DUI GUY". [ cite episode| title = Midnight Towboy | series = The Simpsons | credits = Ian Maxtone-Graham (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2007-10-07 | season = 19|number = 03 ] Lenny has a terrible relationship with his mother, who likes Carl and Moe more.

Jobs

Lenny works at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant alongside Homer Simpson and Carl Carlson. [ cite episode| title = Life on the Fast Lane | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Swartzwelder (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1990-03-18 | season = 1|number = 09 ] Despite his steady job, Lenny has been featured with several other jobs. On one occasion, he is promoted to head of the power plant when Mr. Burns goes bankrupt; his tenure is described as a "reign of terror". Homer considers Lenny to be the second richest man he knows. [ cite episode| title = Mountain of Madness | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Swartzwelder (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1997-02-02 | season = 8|number = 12 ] However, Lenny is once shown living in a dilapidated house, and asks Marge to not tell anyone how he lives. [ cite episode| title = Realty Bites | series = The Simpsons | credits = Dan Greaney (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1997-12-07 | season = 9|number = 9 ] In a "future episode", it's shown Lenny is once again in charge of the power plant. [ cite episode| title = Lisa's Wedding | series = The Simpsons | credits = Greg Daniels (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1995-03-19 | season = 6|number = 19 ] On one occasion, its implied he is an undercover agent whose target is Homer. [ cite episode| title = The Wandering Juvie | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Frink, Don Payne (writers) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2004-03-28 | season = 15|number = 16 ] At the Adult Education Annex, Lenny teaches a class on "How To Chew Tobacco". [ cite episode| title = Secrets of a Successful Marriage | series = The Simpsons | credits = Greg Daniels (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1994-05-19 | season = 5|number = 22 ] In one of Homer's daydreams, it's shown that Lenny is the President of the United States. [ cite episode| title = The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace | series = The Simpsons | credits = John Swartzwelder (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1998-10-20 | season = 10|number = 02 ] Lenny is also a successful writer who wrote a series of mystery novels which are called "scary good fun" by Stephen King. [ cite episode| title = The Boys of Bummer | series = The Simpsons | credits = Michael Price (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2007-04-29 | season = 18|number = 18 ]

Friends

Lenny's most obvious friend is Carl Carlson (see below), as they are rarely seen apart; his other friends are Homer, and regulars at Moe's including Barney Gumble and Moe Szyslak. [ cite episode| title = Don't Fear the Roofer | series = The Simpsons | credits = Kevin Curran (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2005-05-01 | season = 16|number = 16 ] On Lenny's birthday, his friends attempted to throw a surprise party for him at Moe's, which is ruined by Homer, who then sits on a cake shaped like Lenny's favourite barstool. [ cite episode| title = Don't Fear the Roofer | series = The Simpsons | credits = Kevin Curran (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2005-05-01 | season = 16|number = 16 ] Homer repeatedly confuses Lenny and Carl, and is shocked to learn on one occasion that Lenny is white, and Carl is black. To guide himself, Homer has "Lenny = White, Carl = Black" on his hand. [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/BABF20 SNPP: Lenny = White, Carl = Black] In "Helter Shelter", Homer exclaims, "That's Lenny? I wanted the black one!" When Mr. Burns appears on a radio show in an attempt to boost his popularity in "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", Homer tells him that he has a list of jokes explaining the differences between white and black people; Homer later states, "White guys have names like Lenny, whereas black guys have names like Carl." Lenny appears to be well liked by the Simpson family - on one occasion, Marge and the kids build a prayer shrine for him when learning he was taken to the hospital. In "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder", Homer goes bowling but tells Marge that Lenny was hospitalized; when Marge informs the kids, they respond the same way she did and shout, "Not Lenny!". In "Sleeping with the Enemy", the Simpson family has a cake inscribed "Happy Labor Day Lenny". [ cite episode| title = Sleeping with the Enemy | series = The Simpsons | credits = Jon Vitti (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2004-11-21 | season = 16|number = 03 ] In "Pranksta Rap", it's revealed Marge has a picture of Lenny in her hair. [ cite episode| title = Pranksta Rap | series = The Simpsons | credits = Matt Selman (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2005-02-13 | season = 16|number = 09 ]

Love life

Lenny is apparently divorced - in "Bart of War", Carl says that he sang "The Best Is Yet to Come" at Lenny's wedding, [ cite episode| title = Sleeping with the Enemy | series = The Simpsons | credits = Jon Vitti (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 2004-11-21 | season = 16|number = 03 ] although in another episode Lenny punches Carl for giving a bad speech at his wedding. Lenny is a persistent bachelor who has poor luck with women. In "Marge on the Lam", Lenny shaves the legs of a woman who calls him an idiot for not shaving in an upward direction. [ cite episode| title = Marge on the Lam | series = The Simpsons | credits = Bill Canterbury (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1993-11-04 | season = 5|number = 06 ] In "Team Homer", Homer mentions to Moe that both Lenny and Carl are with their mistresses. In "Bart Star", it is revealed Lenny had dated Marge. [ cite episode| title = Bart Star | series = The Simpsons | credits = Donick Cary (writer) | network = Fox Broadcasting Company | airdate = 1997-11-09 | season = 6|number = 09 ] In "Homer the Smithers" he is seen in the opening scene with his arm around a woman who appears to be his girlfriend. [http://snpp.com/episodes/3F14.html SNPP; Homer the Smithers] In "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife", it's revealed that he had dated a woman in a Woody Woodpecker outfit at a fairground for three months until she left him for the man who cleans the vomit on the roller coaster. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4120569.stm BBC; Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife]

Relationship with Carl Carlson

Lenny and Carl are constant companions. Despite Lenny and Carl appearing to be best friends, as of the eighth season, Carl had yet to meet Lenny's alleged beauty-queen wife. ["The Simpsons" "In Marge We Trust" April 27, 1997] A running gag through the series is the possibility of a sexual relationship between Lenny and Carl. When Marge's Popsicle stick sculptures of Lenny and Carl are destroyed, Lenny states, "I don't know where Carl ends and I begin!", to which Carl replies, "See, it's statements like that that make people think we're gay". ["The Simpsons" "Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)" November 26, 2006]

Bart had apparently paid the two to kiss one another. ["The Simpsons" "Behind the Laughter" May 21, 2000] Carl tells Seymour Skinner that "Marriage is gonna be great. Now you'll have someone who'll rub your back - without being asked" while glaring at Lenny, who sighs "Oh, not "this" again." Carl then responds "Yes, "this" again." ["The Simpsons" "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" April 18, 2004] In one episode, Homer runs out of gay couples to marry; he speculates that Lenny and Carl might be interested, and Marge responds with "Don't you push them -- they've gotta work that out for themselves." ["The Simpsons" "There's Something About Marrying" February 20, 2005] In "Treehouse of Horror XVI", Lenny dies and sees the angels in Heaven take the form of Carl. ["The Simpsons" "Treehouse of Horror XVI" November 6, 2005] Once, Chief Wiggum remarks that Lenny's relationship with Carl is on the rocks. ["The Simpsons" "Thank God It's Doomsday" May 8, 2005] In "Fat Man and Little Boy", Homer quotes to Lisa "You and science go together like Lenny and Carl - the science is Carl". ["The Simpsons" "Fat Man and Little Boy" November 12, 2004] In "Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play", Lenny and Carl see Homer and Marge kiss, prompting Lenny to remark, "Remember when we used to kiss like that, Carl?... With our respective girlfriends." They then discuss what happened to them. Apparently one turned out to be a prostitute and one died. ["The Simpsons" "Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play" May 21, 2006]

Lenny's hero worship over Carl has reached a mounting point. In "Half-Decent Proposal", its shown he carved Carl's face on a mountain, and called it Mount Carlmore. He later leaves a burning oil field, only because Carl arrived. ["The Simpsons" "Half-Decent Proposal" February 10, 2002] On one occasion, the residents of Springfield see the stars, and see deep within their hearts and souls; Lenny sees Carl's face in the stars. ["The Simpsons" "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" March 30, 2003] Lenny publishes a newspaper called "The Lenny-Saver" with the headline: "The Truth About Carl: He's Great." After displaying this, he sheds a tear and states that "it had to be told." ["The Simpsons" "Fraudcast News" May 23, 2004]

Lenny and Carl are shown with their arms slung around each other in a scene of "The Simpsons Movie". ["The Simpsons" "The Simpsons Movie" July 21, 2007]

References