Difference between revisions of "Gary Chalmers"

Revision as of 10:22, October 5, 2011

"Skinneeeeer!!!."

―Superintendent Chalmers' catchphrase

Super-duperintendent^[2] Gary^[3] Chalmers is the superintendent of Springfield's school district.

Biography

Chalmers originally hails from Utica, New York,^[4] but has also said that he comes from Queens, New York and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. He attended Ball State University and is a proud owner of a red 1979 Honda Accord (and later, a Camry, which Otto Man promptly wrecks).

Personality

Chalmers is a strict, no-nonsense, and largely humorless man, with a short temper and low tolerance for disorder or rule-breaking; his general manner and personality like that of a military officer. Whenever he visits Springfield Elementary, some sort of disaster strikes. He produces extreme anxiety in Principal Skinner, who offers increasingly improbable stories to explain what is happening. Chalmers is known for throwing open the doors to the room and bellowing "SKINNER!!!" or "SEYMOUR!!!", to which Seymour stammers "S-Superintendent Chalmers!". His catchphrase has caused some paranoia in Skinner.^[5] On a few occasions he says Skinner's name this way when absolutely nothing has gone wrong, implying that he probably pronounces Skinner's name this way out of habit.

Chalmers's own competence and dedication to his job are questionable. He let Ned Flanders allow the school to descend into anarchy when he was principal, freely admitting that he had fired Skinner for far less, explaining simply that "Skinner really bugged me." In fact, the only reason Chalmers even allowed Skinner to be reinstated as Principal that time was because Ned Flanders exposed himself to have introduced prayer into the school, and thus was fired as a result (namely because Chalmers feels that religion should never be placed within school walls just as school or government shouldn't be placed in church walls). He seems disturbingly unconcerned with the school's decline, saying that "the way America's public schools are sliding, they'll all be like this in a matter of months. I say enjoy it — it's a hell of a toboggan ride!" He also promotes people based on personal bias as opposed to actual competence, promoting Principal Holloway, described by Skinner as a "drunk" and Chalmers as a "pill-popper", to assistant superintendent, overlooking the efforts made by Skinner to improve his school's standing.

When Springfield began erecting surveillance cameras around Springfield and 742 Evergreen Terrace is discovered to be a blind spot and transformed into a crowding place for rebellious activity, Superintendent Chalmers was spotted swinging nunchucks while prancing in a Tutu.^[6]

Romantic Interests

Chalmers was seen dating Agnes Skinner, much to Seymour's dismay ^[7] (although in other episodes he has mentioned he is married).

In How Munched Is that Birdie in the Window?, Seymour receives a note by carrier pigeon stating that Chalmers and Edna Krabappel are "doing it". In "Flaming Moe", he states that he is dating one of the children's mothers that is in the Springfield Elementary band.

Chalmers's sign is Sagittarius.^[8]

Non Canon Appearance

The contents of this article or section are considered to be non-canon and therefore may not have actually happened or existed.

Future

In the episode "Future-Drama", which takes place in the future, the superintendent is practically a vegetable, only capable of saying his trademark line.

In a Simpsons Comic he states that he went to LSU.

Behind the Laughter

In the DVD commentary to "22 Short Films About Springfield", Simpsons creators noted that Superintendent Chalmers seems to be one of the few "normal" characters on the show, and Chalmers is frequently alone in his awareness of the show's zaniness.

His first name was revealed to be Gary in "Yokel Chords".

Appearances

Reference