Saturday, January 12, 2008

Lenny & Carl

I don't know if it's true or not about Lenny Leonard and Carl Carlson the lovable and much hinted upon gay couple from the Simpsons, but there have been many hints dropped throughout the entire run. Marge even scolded Homer when he ran out of gay couples to marry and suggested them. "You let them figure that out for themselves." At one point, Lenny and Carl both seemed to have wives. Lenny apparently had a beauty queen wife that Carl hadn't even met. Carl is apparently aware that people think they're gay. Wikipedia says that it might simply be "hero worship" on Lenny's part without any romantic involvement. But, he and Carl spend an awful lot of time together --- hanging at Moe's, chatting on the cell phones to each other during black outs, starting riots, taking car trips and bird watching together. I have no proof of their relationship ---- until now! Below this very candid snap shot of my favorite interracial lovers are several references that probably only my brother and I would find funny.

  • In the episode There's Something About Marrying, Homer runs out of homosexual couples to marry, and speculates that Lenny and Carl might be interested. Marge scolds him, saying that the two need to "work that out for themselves".
  • In the episode Ice Cream of Margie (With the Light Blue Hair) in season 18, Lenny ends up inside the combined broken popsicle stick sculptures of Lenny and Carl. He states, "I don't know where Carl ends and I begin!" Carl replies, "See, statements like that are why people think we're gay" indicating that they identify themselves as straight.
  • In the episode Thank God It's Doomsday, Lenny asks Chief Wiggum if he will be his "rapture buddy", to which Wiggum responds by saying, "What's wrong with Carl? Trouble in paradise?"
  • In the episode Fraudcast News, 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."
  • In Treehouse of Horror XVI where Lenny dies and sees Heaven, the angels all take the form of Carl. They chorus, "Hurry up, Lenny! We'll be late for work at the plant!"
  • In several episodes where Lenny reveals his deepest desires, such as when Mayor Quimby switches off the town lights, and Lisa shouts that "for eons people have gazed at the skies and seen into their souls" - when Lenny looks up, he sees Carl's face in the stars (which Carl also does).
  • In the final episode of season 17, Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play, Lenny is with Carl at the baseball game and after seeing Homer and Marge on the Kiss-cam remarks to Carl, "Remember when we used to kiss like that, Carl? {pause} With our respective girlfriends." They then discuss what happened to them. Apparently one turned out to be a prostitute and one died.
  • In Behind the Laughter, Lenny and Carl are describing the Simpsons tendency to spend large amounts of money. Lenny says, "Even Bart was throwing dough around. He paid me and Carl a thousand bucks to kiss each other!" Then Carl (looking puzzled) says, "Hey, did we ever get that money?". Suddenly, they both look upset.
  • My Big Fat Geek Wedding features Carl reflecting 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."
  • In Half-Decent Proposal, when Homer and Lenny are leaving Springfield forever, they drive past a mountain with Carl's face carved in it. Lenny calls it "Mount Carlmore" and says he carved it one beautiful summer. Later on, when Artie Ziff's helicopter comes to rescue Homer and Lenny from a burning oil field, Lenny is hesitant to go saying "There's nothing on that helicopter for me" to which Carl appears and responds "Don't be so sure!" and Lenny gasps and rushes up the rope ladder.
  • In the Episode The Way We Weren't, Homer tells Lenny and Carl about his encounter with an unknown girl (Marge) through the kitchen flaps. Carl replies "Oh man, someday, love will come sliding down my chute."
  • In The Simpsons Movie, as Homer and Marge start the first dance at their wedding, Lenny and Carl are shown with arms slung around each other.
  • In season 18 episode Little Big Girl Carl states that they have the same mother when a major fire is closing in on her work.

9 comments:

John K said...

Are you going to send the drawing to Matt Groening? I bet he'd love it!

Victor Hodge said...

Oh, absolutely not. Groening would probably fall out. But then ... maybe he wouldn't. This was all in fun. What I did to Jimbo Jones, Kearney and Dolf (the bullies) just can't be posted. :-) You may end up seeing what I'm going to do with Dr. Hibbert, Lou (the cop), Flanders, Rainier Wolfcastle and Drederick Tatum!

Anonymous said...

But wait!

Lenny and Carl are apparently brothers!

In episode 12 of season 18, "Little Big Girl," there is a fire in Springfield. Lenny notes that it is headed toward "the flammable district," to which Carl says, "That's where our mother works!"

Scott
Pasadena, CA

Anonymous said...

Aww, Lenny and Carl, the OTP (one true pairing) of the Simpsons! I adore them. I've drawn dozens of pics of them. http://nenial.deviantart.com/

I even made a list of gay hints which is longer and more detailed than yours, but it's in German.

Victor Hodge said...

I am definitely going to check out your work. I've done some Simpsons stuff that I think I can only post to Deviant. I'm keep saying I'm going to do it. Stay tuned!

Anonymous said...

You've got a deviantART account? Then visit mine, so I can visit you back. I'm very interested!

By the way, I missed that "love comes sliding down my chute" thing. Maybe it got lost when translated to German. God, that sounds so gay! Have to add it to my list. XD

Anonymous said...

Hey,
I woukd like to read the list from anonymus why lenny and carl are gay. where can i do it?
i'm from germany, my english isn't very good. =)
thanks

Victor Hodge said...

Hey, people with more skills than me! Does anybody know how to translate this list into German?!?

Wiko Lenny said...

Lenny apparently had a beauty queen wife that Carl hadn't even met. Carl is apparently aware that people think they're gay. Wikipedia says ... wikolenny.blogspot.de