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Difference between revisions of "Sideshow Mel"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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|age        = 50
 
|age        = 50
 
|job        = Assistant to Krusty
 
|job        = Assistant to Krusty
|relatives  = '''Wife:'''[[Barbara]]<br>
+
|relatives  = '''Wife:'''[[Barbara]], '''Children:'''3 Unnamed, Becca, '''Uncle:'''Unnamed
'''Children:'''3Unnamed Becca<br>
 
'''uncle:'''Unnamed
 
 
|appearance = [[Itchy and Scratchy and Marge]]
 
|appearance = [[Itchy and Scratchy and Marge]]
 
|voiced by  = [[Dan Castellaneta]]
 
|voiced by  = [[Dan Castellaneta]]
Line 14: Line 12:
 
'''Sideshow Mel''', full name '''Melvin Van Horne''' (voiced by [[Dan Castellaneta]]), is a character on the animated TV show ''[[The Simpsons]]''. Sideshow Mel has served as [[Krusty the Clown]]'s sidekick for more than a decade, replacing [[Sideshow Bob]] after Bob was incarcerated from framing Krusty for robbery. He is often seen in the mobs of people throughout greater Springfield. His role seems to be that of summing up the group's sentiments in a line.
 
'''Sideshow Mel''', full name '''Melvin Van Horne''' (voiced by [[Dan Castellaneta]]), is a character on the animated TV show ''[[The Simpsons]]''. Sideshow Mel has served as [[Krusty the Clown]]'s sidekick for more than a decade, replacing [[Sideshow Bob]] after Bob was incarcerated from framing Krusty for robbery. He is often seen in the mobs of people throughout greater Springfield. His role seems to be that of summing up the group's sentiments in a line.
  
== Role in The Simpsons ==
+
== History ==
 
=== Replacement for Bob ===
 
=== Replacement for Bob ===
Mel's hiring was never explicitly shown in the series. He first appeared shortly after Sideshow Bob was sent to prison, filling the exact role that Bob once did. The gag seems to be that Krusty unceremoniously replaced Bob with someone even stranger-looking than he was.
+
Mel joined the cast of [[The Krusty the Klown Show|the Krusty the Klown Show]] to replace Sideshow Bob, who was sent to prison for attempting to frame [[Krusty the Clown|Krusty]] for armed robbery. It seems that Krusty unceremoniously replaced Bob with someone even stranger-looking than he was.
  
=== Primary Role ===
+
Sideshow Mel uses a slide whistle to communicate on camera. When not in character, Mel speaks in a grandiose British/Shakespearean accent and owns poodles. His main accomplishment so far has been successfully removing [[Waylon Smithers]] from suspicion of having shot [[Mr. Burns]] <ref>[[Who Shot Mr. Burns?]]</ref>. Off-screen, Mel is generally very eloquent, educated, poetic and intelligent, with a beautiful singing voice-it is implied that, as with Sideshow Bob before him, his true talents are wasted on Krusty's show. When Lisa Simpson won the "Entertainer of the Year Award";it was revealed that Melvin also won the award previously for his portrayal of Biff in Death of a Salesman. <ref>[[All About Lisa]]</ref>. He was once forced to conduct an orchestra of kazoo-playing monkeys. When he pleaded with Krusty to not force him to do it, Krusty simply shouted at him to "shut up and conduct!"
Sideshow Mel uses a slide whistle to communicate on camera. When not in character, Mel speaks in a grandiose British/Shakespearean accent (Castellaneta's play on [[Kelsey Grammer]]'s character, [[Sideshow Bob]]) and owns poodles. His main accomplishment so far has been successfully removing [[Waylon Smithers]] from [[Who Shot Mr. Burns?|suspicion of having shot]] [[Mr. Burns]]. Off-screen, Mel is generally very eloquent, educated, poetic and intelligent, with a beautiful singing voice-it is implied that, as with Sideshow Bob before him, his true talents are wasted on Krusty's show. When Lisa Simpson won the "Entertainer of the Year Award"&nbsp;it was revealed that Melvin also won the award previously for his portrayal of Biff in Death of a Salesman. In one particularly humiliating episode, he was forced to conduct an orchestra of kazoo-playing monkeys. When he pleaded with Krusty to not force him to do it, Krusty simply shouted at him to "shut up and conduct!"
 
  
=== Recent Seasons ===
+
== Personality ==
In recent seasons, Sideshow Mel's frequency of appearance has increased noticeably, delivering his usual summing up a group or mob's sentiments. This has been met with criticism among viewers who believe that the routine has become massively overused.
 
 
 
== Character Traits ==
 
 
=== Religion and Education ===
 
=== Religion and Education ===
 
Little is known about Mel. He is a Cornell University graduate and an Atheist (though he is occasionally seen at the Presbylutheran church). It is also shown that Mel could be a recovering alcoholic as he had attended several Alcoholic Anonymous meetings.
 
Little is known about Mel. He is a Cornell University graduate and an Atheist (though he is occasionally seen at the Presbylutheran church). It is also shown that Mel could be a recovering alcoholic as he had attended several Alcoholic Anonymous meetings.
Line 31: Line 25:
 
   
 
   
 
[[File:Mel.jpg|thumb|300px|Mel's True Hair]]
 
[[File:Mel.jpg|thumb|300px|Mel's True Hair]]
Mel perpetually wears a bone in his hair which may or may not be permanently affixed: in "[[22 Short Films About Springfield]]" he warned [[Lisa Simpson]] not to use a bone to try and get gum out of her hair, as he did and it became permanently stuck there. However, in another episode, he removed and used it as a weapon during a duel.He is also seen in [The Simpsons Movie]removing the bone and whacking it at the dome that's surrounding Springfield. In "[[Skinner's Sense of Snow]]", he indicated that he could feel meteorological conditions in the bone, such as incoming storms. In [[Simpsons Tall Tales]], he is seen sporting a pair of buffalo horns in his hair in place of the usual bone. Before he got his bone, Mel was famous in both London and Hollywood and was able to comb his hair.
+
Mel perpetually wears a bone in his hair which may or may not be permanently affixed. He once warned [[Lisa Simpson]] not to use a bone to try and get gum out of her hair, as he did and it became permanently stuck there <ref>[[22 Short Films About Springfield]]</ref>. However, he was once seen removing the bone and using it as a weapon during a duel. When Springfield was trapped under a dome by the EPA, he was also seen removing the bone and whacking it at the dome <ref>[[The Simpsons Movie]]</ref>. He indicated that he could feel meteorological conditions in the bone, such as incoming storms <ref>[[Skinner's Sense of Snow]]</ref>. Before he got his bone, Mel was famous in both London and Hollywood and was able to comb his hair.
  
 
=== Disabilities ===
 
=== Disabilities ===
[[Bart Simpson]] has found out that Mel is [[Lactose intolerance|lactose-intolerant]]. Krusty once poured liquid [[nitrogen]] down Mel's pants and cracked his [[buttocks]] with a hammer.
+
[[Bart Simpson]] found out that Mel is lactose-intolerant. Krusty once poured liquid nitrogen down Mel's pants and cracked his buttocks with a hammer.
  
 
=== Family ===
 
=== Family ===
He may be married to or living with a woman named [[Barbara Van Horne|Barbara]], who may or may not be Krusty's sister (as referenced in "[[Colonel Homer]]") with whom he wished to purchase a house from [[Marge Simpson]] in the episode "[[Realty Bites]]." In the episode "[[I'm With Cupid]]" he complains that Barbara will no longer pleasure him with the French Arts. In another episode, he states to Krusty that "[his] wife is giving birth as [they] speak", before being chased by Krusty as a dog chasing a fire hydrant. Mel's last name of Van Horne, along with his accent, may suggest his family is of South African origin.  
+
He may be married to or living with a woman named [[Barbara Van Horne|Barbara]], who may or may not be Krusty's sister <ref>[[Colonel Homer]]</ref> with whom he wished to purchase a house from [[Marge Simpson]] <ref>[[Realty Bites]]</ref>. Mel once complained that Barbara no longer pleasured him with the French Arts <ref>[[I'm With Cupid]]</ref>. Mel's last name of Van Horne, along with his accent, may suggest his family is of South African origin.  
 
 
 
 
  
In the episode "[[The Great Wife Hope]]", Krusty reveals to Mel that he has been secretly dating Mel's wife, and that he wants to dump her after 11 years since the thrill is gone.
+
Krusty reveals to Mel that he has been secretly dating Mel's wife, and that he wants to dump her after 11 years since the thrill is gone <ref>[[The Great Wife Hope]]</ref>.
  
 
== Other Jobs ==
 
== Other Jobs ==
 
After Krusty's show was cancelled following the rise of Gabbo, Mel worked at a taco stand where he initially refused Krusty's pleas to return to his show.
 
After Krusty's show was cancelled following the rise of Gabbo, Mel worked at a taco stand where he initially refused Krusty's pleas to return to his show.
  
He was the jury foreman for the [[Mona Simpson]] trial in "[[My Mother the Carjacker]]". The jury was sequestered at a Quality Inn which "more than lived up to its name."
+
He was the jury foreman for the [[Mona Simpson]] trial. The jury was sequestered at a Quality Inn which "more than lived up to its name." <ref>[[My Mother the Carjacker]]</ref>
  
 
== Appearances ==
 
== Appearances ==
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*{{Bon|Comic Fan No More}}
 
*{{Bon|Comic Fan No More}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
== References ==
 +
<references/>
  
 
{{Simpsons characters}}
 
{{Simpsons characters}}

Revision as of 09:40, February 18, 2010

Sideshow Mel
Sideshow Mel.jpg
Character Information
Gender: Male
Status:
Unknown
Age: 50
Hair: Green
Occupation: Assistant to Krusty
Relatives: Wife:Barbara, Children:3 Unnamed, Becca, Uncle:Unnamed
First appearance: Itchy and Scratchy and Marge
Voiced by: Dan Castellaneta


Sideshow Mel, full name Melvin Van Horne (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), is a character on the animated TV show The Simpsons. Sideshow Mel has served as Krusty the Clown's sidekick for more than a decade, replacing Sideshow Bob after Bob was incarcerated from framing Krusty for robbery. He is often seen in the mobs of people throughout greater Springfield. His role seems to be that of summing up the group's sentiments in a line.

History

Replacement for Bob

Mel joined the cast of the Krusty the Klown Show to replace Sideshow Bob, who was sent to prison for attempting to frame Krusty for armed robbery. It seems that Krusty unceremoniously replaced Bob with someone even stranger-looking than he was.

Sideshow Mel uses a slide whistle to communicate on camera. When not in character, Mel speaks in a grandiose British/Shakespearean accent and owns poodles. His main accomplishment so far has been successfully removing Waylon Smithers from suspicion of having shot Mr. Burns [1]. Off-screen, Mel is generally very eloquent, educated, poetic and intelligent, with a beautiful singing voice-it is implied that, as with Sideshow Bob before him, his true talents are wasted on Krusty's show. When Lisa Simpson won the "Entertainer of the Year Award";it was revealed that Melvin also won the award previously for his portrayal of Biff in Death of a Salesman. [2]. He was once forced to conduct an orchestra of kazoo-playing monkeys. When he pleaded with Krusty to not force him to do it, Krusty simply shouted at him to "shut up and conduct!"

Personality

Religion and Education

Little is known about Mel. He is a Cornell University graduate and an Atheist (though he is occasionally seen at the Presbylutheran church). It is also shown that Mel could be a recovering alcoholic as he had attended several Alcoholic Anonymous meetings.

Hair

File:Mel.jpg
Mel's True Hair

Mel perpetually wears a bone in his hair which may or may not be permanently affixed. He once warned Lisa Simpson not to use a bone to try and get gum out of her hair, as he did and it became permanently stuck there [3]. However, he was once seen removing the bone and using it as a weapon during a duel. When Springfield was trapped under a dome by the EPA, he was also seen removing the bone and whacking it at the dome [4]. He indicated that he could feel meteorological conditions in the bone, such as incoming storms [5]. Before he got his bone, Mel was famous in both London and Hollywood and was able to comb his hair.

Disabilities

Bart Simpson found out that Mel is lactose-intolerant. Krusty once poured liquid nitrogen down Mel's pants and cracked his buttocks with a hammer.

Family

He may be married to or living with a woman named Barbara, who may or may not be Krusty's sister [6] with whom he wished to purchase a house from Marge Simpson [7]. Mel once complained that Barbara no longer pleasured him with the French Arts [8]. Mel's last name of Van Horne, along with his accent, may suggest his family is of South African origin.

Krusty reveals to Mel that he has been secretly dating Mel's wife, and that he wants to dump her after 11 years since the thrill is gone [9].

Other Jobs

After Krusty's show was cancelled following the rise of Gabbo, Mel worked at a taco stand where he initially refused Krusty's pleas to return to his show.

He was the jury foreman for the Mona Simpson trial. The jury was sequestered at a Quality Inn which "more than lived up to its name." [10]

Appearances

References