Editing Ralph Wiggum

{{Featured article}}
{{for2|the song by {{W|The Bloodhound Gang}}|Ralph Wiggum (song)}}
{{redirect|Ralph|[[Ralph (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Quote|Me fail English? That's unpossible!|Ralph|Lisa on Ice}}
{{character
|name = Ralph Wiggum
|image = [[File:Ralph Wiggum.png|230px]]
|caption = Artwork of Ralph by [[Matt Groening]]
|gender = {{Male}}
|hair = Black
|age = 8
|status = Alive
|job = Student at [[Springfield Elementary School]]
|relatives = '''Father:''' [[Clancy Wiggum]]<br>'''Mother:''' [[Sarah Wiggum]]<br>'''Grandfather:''' [[Iggy Wiggum]]<br>'''Grandmother:''' Unnamed (deceased)<ref>"[[The Blue and the Gray]]"</ref><ref>"[[Four Regrettings and a Funeral]]"</ref><br>'''Uncle:''' [[Fred Kanneke]]<ref>"[[Million-Dollar Abie]]"</ref><br>'''Aunt:''' Lucy Wiggum<br>
|appearance = "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]"
|voiced by = [[Nancy Cartwright]]
}}

'''Ralph Wiggum''' is a student who attends [[Springfield Elementary School]]. He is best known as the [[Springfield|town's]] resident oddball, and has been immortalized for his non sequiturs and erratic behavior. His lines range from purely nonsensical, or bizarre interpretations of a current event, to surprisingly profound statements that go over people's heads. For this, Ralph is somewhat of an outcast among his peers, although he seems to be on good terms with a fair number of the other kids at school such as [[Bart]], [[Lisa]], and [[Milhouse]].

The son of [[Springfield Police Department|Police]] [[Clancy Wiggum|Chief Clancy]] and [[Sarah Wiggum]], Ralph is rarely picked on or bullied due to his unscrupulous father's position. He purportedly has immense potential as a musical performer (school roles attained for him, however, by his police chief father's extorting Springfield teachers, including [[Miss Hoover]], which may explain her dislike for Ralph). He also manipulated the Republican and Democratic parties in Springfield to join forces in their support of him for public office in "[[E Pluribus Wiggum]]", a parody of voting and elections. 

== Biography ==
[[File:Ralph Every Simpsons Ever.png|thumb|left|250px]]
[[File:Ralphfolder.PNG|thumbnail|left|Ralph's character folder in the Hall of Records on The Simpsons website.]]
=== Personality ===
Ralph suffers from learning disabilities of some sort, as evidenced by his apparently slow grasp of things in the world around him, his difficulty in studying, and his sporadic speech impediments. His unique manner of speech is often the source of the character's trademark random quotes, where Ralph may make a comment such as "What's a battle?", "It tastes like... burning!", or "[[Ned Flanders|Mr. Flanders]], you're blindeded!", as well as his tendency to call his [[Elizabeth Hoover|teacher]] "School Mommy", and, on one occasion, calling [[Superintendent Chalmers]] "Super Nintendo Chalmers"; neither was happy with the moniker.<ref>"[[Lisa Gets an "A"]]"</ref> He may not be as unintelligent as he normally appears and has strong performing talents. An incredible tap dancer and played the role of [[George Washington]] in the school play, he not only recited his lines perfectly but also managed to play the role so well that he brought the audience to tears.<ref name="I Love Lisa">"[[I Love Lisa]]"</ref> When he was a baby, his father dropped him on his head. After that, Ralph had trouble bringing a baby bottle to his mouth.<ref>"[[Moms I'd Like to Forget]]" (flashback)</ref>

Ralph is often seen eating paste, crayons, worms, knobs, lamps, and the Easter bunny. He has a rather immense imagination and is seemingly oblivious to the world around him. As such, he is generally a cheerful boy. However, in one episode Ralph displays a dark side (pyromania).<ref name="This Little Wiggy"/> After seeing Ralph cry over not receiving a Valentine's card, Lisa gave him one out of pity. He then developed a crush on her, which eventually becomes so annoying that she breaks up with him but the pair eventually become friends again.<ref name="I Love Lisa"/> On one occasion, Bart is forced by his mother [[Marge]] to play with Ralph. At first bored, Bart ends up having fun after they steal Ralph's father's master key to the city, the convoluted consequences of which almost result in the electrocution of [[Mayor Quimby]].<ref name="This Little Wiggy">"[[This Little Wiggy]]"</ref> Ralph's relationship with his parents seems to be loving and affectionate. Clancy, in particular, rather adores his son as the two do much together, such as various road trips or Ralph's first trip to a major league baseball game.<ref>''[[If You Can't Wiggum, Join 'Em!]]''</ref> 

Ralph has a multitude of imaginary friends such as [[Wiggle Puppy]] and a pyromaniacal [[leprechaun]]. His teacher, [[Miss Hoover]], will often correct him in a dull, condescending manner ("The children are ''right'' to laugh at you, Ralph", she tells him at one point) but he always misses the point.

Ralph was also part of a rather infamous hoax where [[Homer]], [[Seymour Skinner|Skinner]], [[Apu]], [[Lenny]], [[Carl]], Chief Wiggum and others had become so fed-up with the whole issue of voting early for the election that they decided to cast all of their votes to someone who was not only unbelievably small, but also so young and unbelievably unintelligent it would be impossible for him to be considered a candidate (they unsurprisingly chose Ralph). Ironically, Lisa discovers that Ralph is not only aware of what being nominated means, but is also taking the idea of being elected seriously. Using his childish behavior, he intentionally manipulated the Republican and Democratic parties to join forces in their support of him.<ref>"[[E Pluribus Wiggum]]"</ref>
[[File:This Little Wiggy.png|thumb|Ralph's friend the Leprechaun]]

=== Typical behavior ===
During class, Ralph's teacher [[Miss Hoover]] will stop lecturing the class for a moment to question Ralph's actions such as eating something he shouldn't, or saying something bizarre or oblivious. Another common 'Ralph' moment is that Ralph will be at a major event, and will say something to either perplex everyone present or point out something so glaringly obvious it's funny. Ralph has quite a knack for getting himself into sticky situations as well. Examples of Ralph moments include him gorging himself with chocolate,<ref>"[[Bart the Murderer]]"</ref> being profiled by a scary dentist,<ref>"[[Last Exit to Springfield]]"</ref> pretending to be a firetruck,<ref>"[[Fraudcast News]]"</ref> pretending he is an imaginary [[Wiggle Puppy|puppy]]<ref>"[[This Little Wiggy]]"</ref>, and proclaiming that he will attend "Bovine University".<ref>"[[Lisa the Vegetarian]]"</ref> He has been shown wetting himself in public.<ref>"[[Little Girl in the Big Ten]]"</ref> 

Similarly, in the future, he can be seen talking to a classmate by the punchbowl, saying "I can use the potty now.".<ref>"[[Future-Drama]]"</ref> Also, Skinner looked at the building sadly and remembers touching moments with kids saying things like "I know how to read" and "Thank you, Principal Skinner". Ralph's distinctive voice saying "Principal Skinner, I got carsick in your office", is heard.<ref>"[[Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song]]"</ref> This seems to have subsided a little recently, although appearances by Ralph himself have been lighter. He demonstrated signs at being borderline psychotic, seeing a leprechaun who tells him to burn things. When he later helps save the Mayor of Springfield with Bart and Lisa, the leprechaun appears and tells him, "You've done grand laddie. Now you know what you have to do? Burn the house down! Burn them all!", with Ralph smiling vacantly and nodding in agreement.<ref name="This Little Wiggy">"[[This Little Wiggy]]"</ref>

When Ralph saw [[Bart]] skateboarding naked, he said, "I like men now!"<ref>''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''</ref> 
[[File:Ralph004.gif|thumb|left|Ralph eating paste.]]

== Relationships ==
=== Bart ===
[[File:This Little Wiggy - Bart and Ralph.png|thumb|right|Ralph and Bart.]]
Ralph has shown to have an occasional friendship with [[Bart]]. Bart stood up to bullies who were bullying him and befriended Ralph as a result of this and befriended him after finding out about all the cool police stuff he had in his house.<ref name="This Little Wiggy"/> Ralph has also been invited to a party for Bart by [[Marge]], and Bart insulted him, causing him to run off crying.

=== Lisa ===
Ralph and [[Lisa]] used to date and Lisa seems to be on good terms with Ralph still, often defending him and helping him. Lisa identified Ralph as representing "The Chose One" among [[The 20 Types of People You Meet in Elementary School]].<ref>''[[The Lisa Book]]''</ref>

=== Other children ===
Ralph has been shown with different children all the time. He is often seen with the rest of the second grade class: rolling down hills and climbing trees.

== Non-canon ==
{{Noncanon}}
In the episode ''"[[Lisa's Wedding]]"'', he becomes one of [[Krusty the Clown|Krusty]]'s [[sideshow]]s.<ref>"[[Lisa's Wedding]]"</ref> 

=== The Simpsons Game ===
Ralph appears along with [[Rod Flanders|Rod]] and [[Todd Flanders]] as Hobbit-like children who help Homer and Marge defeat the two-headed dragon in order to get the keycard.<ref>"[[NeverQuest]]"</ref> He also appears as a holder of one of the three Sparklemon that Homer and Lisa must defeat.<ref>"[[Big Super Happy Fun Fun Game]]"</ref> At the end of the game, he is seen watching the closing moments of the Simpsons family talking with [[God]], then he sees the player and says "Daddy... someone's looking at me...".

=== The Simpsons: Tapped Out ===
==== Default ====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Kids|Ralph}}

==== Little Helper Ralph ====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/More Costumes|LittleHelperRalph}}

==== Ballet Ralph ====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Sporty Wannabes|BalletRalph}}

==== Christmas Tree Ralph ====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Winter 2017|ChristmasTreeRalph}}

== Behind the Laughter ==
=== Creation ===
In Ralph's first credited appearance in the show was the episode "[[Moaning Lisa]]", he was considerably different in both appearance and behavior from his later appearance, although he also briefly appeared in the first episode "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]". 
Ralph's signature use as a character in the show is to deliver either an odd bit of behavior, or dialogue which either perplexes others or merely gives the audience a quick laugh. Originally intended to be a "Mini-Homer", Ralph eventually took on a life of his own. The staff figured that he'd also fit perfectly as the son of [[Chief Wiggum]], a fact made canon in "[[I Love Lisa]]", (although he is referred to by his last name of Wiggum in "[[Kamp Krusty]]" before). Ralph was named after comedian Jackie Gleason's character on ''The Honeymooners'' Ralph Kramden. [[Matt Groening]] considers any lines for Ralph "really hard to write."

[[Nancy Cartwright]], the voice of Ralph, raises her eyebrows whenever she performs Ralph's voice.

=== Popular culture ===
Ralph's popularity as a character has even spread so far that the rock band The Bloodhound Gang made a song called "{{ap|Ralph Wiggum|song}}," dedicated to the character and comprised solely of some of his most famous quotes for lyrics. The song can be found on their album ''{{W|Hefty Fine}}''. Another band, Trillium Circle, has a member named Ralph Wiggum. Ralph also became a prominent pop-culture figure in the {{W|United States presidential election, 2008|2008 U.S. Presidential election}} after "[[E Pluribus Wiggum]]" aired in January 2008. Show creator [[Matt Groening]] has stated that Ralph is one of his personal favorite characters on ''The Simpsons'', and whenever someone asks who writes specific characters (a common misconception about the writing process), writers will most likely take credit for writing for Ralph.[http://www.avclub.com/content/node/47771/3]

=== Merchandising ===
Ralph has his own book in the series [[The Simpsons Library of Wisdom]]. He also had presidential posters and merchandise for the 2008 election, a'la "E Pluribus Wiggum".

== Appearances ==
{{scroll|
*{{ep|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire}}
*{{ep|Bart the General}}
*{{ep|Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Substitute}}
*{{ep|Bart the Murderer}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Pony}}
*{{ep|Bart's Friend Falls in Love}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Beauty Queen}}
*{{ep|I Love Lisa}}
*{{ep|Whacking Day}}
*{{ep|Last Exit to Springfield}}
*{{ep|Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Rival}}
*{{ep|Lisa on Ice}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Wedding}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Vegetarian}}
*{{ep|Grade School Confidential}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Skeptic}}
*{{ep|Das Bus}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Simpson}}
*{{ep|This Little Wiggy}}
*{{ep|Lard of the Dance}}
*{{ep|Lisa Gets an "A"}}
*{{ep|Brother's Little Helper}}
*{{ep|E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)}}
*{{ep|Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder}}
*{{ep|Grift of the Magi}}
*{{ep|Alone Again, Natura-Diddily}}
*{{ep|Bart to the Future}}
*{{ep|The Great Money Caper}}
*{{ep|Worst Episode Ever}}
*{{ep|New Kids on the Blecch}}
*{{ep|Bye, Bye, Nerdie}}
*{{ep|I'm Goin' to Praiseland}}
*{{ep|Children of a Lesser Clod}}
*{{ep|Sweets and Sour Marge}}
*{{ep|I Am Furious (Yellow)}}
*{{ep|Tales from the Public Domain|(as Laertes)}}
*{{ep|Little Girl in the Big Ten}}
*{{ep|Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge}}
*{{ep|The Dad Who Knew Too Little}}
*{{ep|Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington}}
*{{ep|'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky}}
*{{ep|Brake My Wife, Please}}
*{{ep|The Bart of War}}
*{{ep|Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays}}
*{{ep|Simple Simpson}}
*{{ep|The Way We Weren't}}
*{{ep|Fraudcast News}}
*{{ep|Sleeping with the Enemy}}
*{{ep|Midnight Rx}}
*{{ep|Future-Drama}}
*{{ep|Last Tap Dance in Springfield}}
*{{ep|A Star Is Torn}}
*{{ep|Milhouse of Sand and Fog}}
*{{ep|See Homer Run}}
*{{ep|The Last of the Red Hat Mamas}}
*{{ep|We're on the Road to D'ohwhere}}
*{{ep|Girls Just Want to Have Sums}}
*{{ep|Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em|(couch gag)}}
*{{ep|Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)}}
*{{ep|Springfield Up}}
*{{ep|Yokel Chords|(couch gag)}}
*{{ep|24 Minutes}}
*{{mov}}
*{{ep|E Pluribus Wiggum}}
*{{ep|Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words}}
*{{ep|How the Test Was Won}}
*{{ep|Gone Maggie Gone|(couch gag)}}
*{{ep|Father Knows Worst}}
*{{ep|Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh}}
*{{ep|Coming to Homerica}}
*{{ep|The Color Yellow}}
*{{ep|Postcards from the Wedge|(couch gag)}}
*{{ep|Judge Me Tender}}
*{{ep|MoneyBart}}
*{{ep|Moms I'd Like to Forget}}
*{{ep|Flaming Moe}}
*{{ep|Homer the Father}}
*{{ep|Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts}}
*{{ep|Replaceable You}}
*{{ep|The Book Job}}
*{{ep|The D'oh-cial Network}}
*{{ep|The Daughter Also Rises}}
*{{ep|Beware My Cheating Bart}}
*{{ep|Ned 'n' Edna's Blend Agenda}}
*{{ep|Lisa Goes Gaga}}
*{{ep|A Tree Grows in Springfield}}
*{{ep|A Test Before Trying}}
*{{ep|Black-Eyed, Please}}
*{{ep|Pulpit Friction}}
*{{ep|Brick Like Me}}
*{{ep|Pay Pal}}
*{{ep|The Yellow Badge of Cowardge}}
*{{ep|Clown in the Dumps}}
*{{ep|Super Franchise Me}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XXV}}
*{{ep|Simpsorama}}
*{{ep|Covercraft}}
*{{ep|I Won't Be Home for Christmas}}
*{{ep|Walking Big & Tall}}
*{{ep|My Fare Lady}}
*{{ep|Kamp Krustier}}
*{{ep|A Father's Watch}}
*{{ep|Bart's Not Dead}}
*{{ep|Heartbreak Hotel}}
*{{ep|My Way or the Highway to Heaven}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XXIX}}
*{{ep|Werking Mom}}
*{{ep|Krusty the Clown (episode)|pipe=yes|3=Krusty the Clown}}
*{{ep|Daddicus Finch}}
*{{ep|E My Sports}}
*{{ep|Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy}}
*{{ep|Girl's in the Band}}
*{{ep|I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say D'oh}}
*{{ep|D'oh Canada}}
*{{ep|Woo-hoo Dunnit?|(picture)}}
*{{ep|Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion}}
*{{ep|The Winter of Our Monetized Content}}
*{{ep|The Fat Blue Line}}
*{{ep|Marge the Lumberjill}}
*{{ep|Livin La Pura Vida}}
*{{ep|Thanksgiving of Horror}}
*{{spec|Homer Shake}}
*{{spec|Join The Simpsons at the Daytona 500}}
*{{spec|Springfield of Dreams: The Legend of Homer Simpson|(picture)}}
*{{TSG}}
*{{ad|Bart Surfing at the Beach}}
*{{ad|CC's Dare Number 14}}
*{{ad|The Bully}}
*{{ad|Bart's Locker}}
*{{bon|A Chair of One's Own}}
*{{bon|Cyrano de Bart}}
*{{bon|Hill of Beans}}
*{{bon|Bartology 101}}
*{{bon|Comics Fan No More!}}
*{{bon|Bart Cops Out}}
*{{bon|If You Can't Wiggum, Join 'Em!}}
*{{bon|The Book That Ate Springfield!}}
*{{bon|Spree for All}}
*{{bon|Handy Pop Culture Quotes for All Occasions!}}
*{{bon|The Disappearing Duchess!}}
*{{bon|Hog Tied}}
*{{bon|The Uter Bomber}}
*{{bon|Faking the Band}}
*{{bon|The Man of the House}}
*{{bon|Ralph's Room 1}}
*{{bon|Ralph Wiggum's Day Off}}
*{{bon|Where's Ralph?}}
*{{bon|Ralph's Room 2}}
*{{bon|Ralph the Role Model}}
*{{bk|The Ralph Wiggum Book}}
*{{bk|The Lisa Book}}
*{{bk|Flanders' Book of Faith}}
*{{bk|Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20}}
*{{bk|Chief Wiggum's Book of Crime and Punishment}}
*{{game|Virtual Bart}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Wrestling}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Road Rage}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Skateboarding}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Hit & Run}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Tapped Out}}
*{{RWeb|Wiggumforprez08.com}}
*{{merch|Simpsons Mania! (Inkworks)|Simpsons Mania!}}
*{{merch|Springfield's Festive Friends}}
}}

== References ==
{{Images|Ralph}}
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Krusty's Li'l Starmaker}}
{{LGBT}}
{{Springfield Elementary|2nd grade=yes}}
{{Springfield Isotots Baseball Team members}}
{{Party Posse}}
{{Tapped Out characters|kids=yes}}
{{Simpsons World factfiles|4=yes|19=yes}}
{{Simpsons characters|elementary=yes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiggum, Ralph}}

[[Category:Children]]
[[Category:Wiggum family]]
[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Characters voiced by Nancy Cartwright]]
[[Category:Recurring characters]]
[[Category:Characters introduced in season 1]]