ender, Krusty the Klown, Mr. Burns, Homer’s miserly old boss, Chief Wiggum, the fat, lazy police chief, Principal Skinner, and Bart’s chain-smoking teacher, Ms. Krabapple. All of these characters are introduced as flat characters, but over time their personalities have been comprehensively developed into much more. By developing these side characters, as well as the members of the Simpson family, the cartoon figures often become more believable and seem more real than human, clichd characters on television. This evolution is central to the show’s prolonged prime-time success.An example of the show’s focus on the supporting cast is the documentation of the love affair between Principal Skinner and Ms. Krabapple. Previously the viewers had only known them in relation to Bart, but subsequent shows reveal that they were both lonely souls who found each other, bringing happiness into each other’s lives. The writers go so deeply into the development that, when accused of having sex in the janitor’s closet at school, Principal Skinner reveals that he is a virgin. Principal Skinner is further developed by the discovery that he is using the name Seymour Skinner as an alias, and that he is actually a deadbeat from Capital City. The real Seymour Skinner is a war hero who has come to Springfield to set the record straight. In the end, the town decides that they like the old Seymour Skinner better, and they send the “real” Seymour Skinner out of town strapped to a train.Some characters may be the focal point of the show for weeks at a time, or for a significant number of shows over a period of years. An example of a continually growing character is Krusty the Klown, who has had several encounters with the Simpson family over the years. Krusty is introduced on the show as simply as clown TV star, but over the years the viewers have come to find out a great deal about him. Through his numerous...
