Editing Ned Flanders

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{{Nav|the character|the location|Flanders (location)}}
{{Quote|Okilly-dokilly!|Ned Flanders' catchphrase}}
{{Quote|Stupid Flanders!|Homer's heavily-used nickname of him.}}
{{Character
|name = Nedward Flanders, Jr.
|image = [[File:Ned Flanders.png|200px]]
|gender = {{Male}}
|status = Alive
|alias = Stupid Flanders
|age = 60<ref>"[[Viva Ned Flanders]]"</ref>
|hair = Brown
|job = Entrepreneur<br>Owner of [[Leftorium]] and [[FlanCrest Enterprises]] and Volunteer Soup Kitchen worker<br>'''Former:'''<br>Volunteer fireman<br>Pharmacist<br>Scout leader<br>Principal of [[Springfield Elementary School]]
|relatives = '''Mother:''' [[Mona Flanders]]<br>'''Father:''' [[Nedward Flanders, Sr.]] <br>'''Wife:''' [[Edna Flanders]] (deceased)<br>'''Ex-wives:''' [[Maude Flanders]] (deceased) and [[Ginger Flanders]]<br>'''Sons:''' [[Todd Flanders|Todd]] and [[Rod Flanders]]<br>'''Grandparents:''' [[Grandma Flanders]]<br>'''Cousins:''' [[José Flanders]], [[Lord Thistlewick Flanders]] and [[Ted Flanders]]
|appearance = "[[Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]]"
|voiced by = [[Harry Shearer]],<br />[[Karl Wiedergott]]<ref>"[[Homer to the Max]]"</ref>
}}

'''Nedward''' "'''Ned'''" '''Flanders, Jr.'''<ref>"[[I'm Goin' to Praiseland]]"</ref> is the [[Simpson family]]'s extremely religious next door neighbor. He is a genuinely well-meaning good-natured person and is one of the few in [[Springfield]] to whom that description applies. Though firmly religious, he can be timid and something of a pushover. He thoroughly worships [[God]] and strictly follows the Bible as literally as possible and is easily shocked when challenged on any point of dogma. He also owns the Leftorium and a home business, [[FlanCrest Enterprises]], which makes religious hook rugs. He also works as a member of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department. [[Homer]] often dislikes Flanders for his ways of doing things and his success.
== Biography ==
[[File:Ned Flanders Every Simpsons Ever.png|thumb|left|250px]]
[[File:Flanders with Parents.png|thumb|Ned as a boy with his parents]]

Flanders grew up in New York and was the son of "freaky beatniks" who did not discipline Ned and let him run wild. Eventually they took him to [[Dr. Foster]], a psychiatrist, who put the young Ned through the University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol, which involved eight months of continuous spanking. The treatment worked so well that it rendered Flanders unable to express any anger at all and resulted in his trademark nonsensical jabbering at moments when he was particularly close to losing his temper, causing Ned to unknowingly repress his anger. Flanders got his diploma from Oral Roberts University. Flanders worked as a salesman in the pharmaceuticals industry for the bulk of his adult life. Having saved much of his earnings, Flanders decided to quit his job and invested his family's life savings into a store in the Springfield mall called "[[The Leftorium]]" specializing in products for left-handed people. He is 60 years old and attributes his youthful appearance to his conformity to the "clean living, chewing thoroughly, and a daily dose of vitamin church." He lives at 744 Evergreen Terrace.

=== Personality ===
[[File:Young Ned Spanked.png|thumb|left|Ned being spanked as part of his treatment]]
Ned is very honest and sincere in carrying out the Christian doctrines of charity, kindness and compassion to an extent unseen within the rest of the Springfield community. He is frequently shown doing volunteer work, and is rigorously honest and upright, even going so far as to spend an entire day tracking down a Leftorium customer in order to give him the extra change that he had forgotten to hand over. He once donated a kidney and a lung out of the goodness of his heart to whoever needs them first.<ref>"[[Homer's Triple Bypass]]"</ref> He is also a good neighbor to the Simpsons, regularly offering his assistance. Ned's dogged friendship inspires the loyalty of others; when his Leftorium appeared on the verge of bankruptcy shortly after it opened, Homer arranged a George Bailey-esque bailout with the help of many people in Springfield. However, he also embodies many of the intolerant aspects of the American religious right. He has shown occasional antipathy and even outright mockery towards Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and competing Christian denominations like homophobia, as he participated in "the walk for the cure for homosexuality"; and trying to stop same sex marriages from happening in Springfield; also, upon discovering that [[Bart]] and [[Lisa]] Simpson were not baptised he immediately took it upon himself to (unsuccessfully) conduct the ceremony without their consent. In more recent episodes he seems to have gained more tolerance to other religions and homosexuality, as long as the people in question are good-natured. However, he still thinks that they will have a harder time getting to heaven.

[[File:744 Evergreen Terrace.png|250px|thumb|Ned's house on Evergreen Terrace.]]

Flanders is a widower, having been married to the equally religious [[Maude Flanders|Maude]]. They had two children together; the sheltered and naive [[Rod Flanders|Rod]] and [[Todd Flanders|Todd]]. Maude dies an untimely death in a freak accident involving a t-shirt cannon, leaving Ned alone and grieving. While still married to Maude, Ned married [[Ginger Flanders|Ginger]], a waitress, while on a drunken bender in Las Vegas. Ginger came to live with Ned and his sons for a brief period following Maude's death, but she quickly grew tired of the Flanders' sickly-sweet personalities and fled. Flanders has also been connected romantically with a beautiful Christian-rock singer, [[Rachel Jordan]], and [[Sara Sloane]], a movie star. He also makes absolute certain every year to pay and file his tax returns at the start of the new year, especially when considering how the vast majority of Springfield usually waited until April 15 to file their tax returns.<ref>"[[The Trouble With Trillions]]"</ref>

[[Homer]] generally loathes Ned, because his family, job, health and self-discipline are of higher quality than he could ever hope to attain himself. Homer has since come to have a love-hate relationship with Flanders, sometimes being his best friend, partly due to Ned's selfless tolerance of him, and other times treating Flanders with complete disregard. Homer seems to genuinely care for Ned, despite still expressing and often acting on feelings of loathing. Nowadays Homer seems to regard Ned as more of a nuisance. Sometimes, Marge considers Flanders to be a perfect neighbor and usually sides with him instead of her husband, which always enrages Homer.

Flanders has been shown to call [[Reverend Lovejoy]] for advice often, even over minuscule things, to the point that Lovejoy has stopped caring and has even suggested that Flanders try a different religion. Reverend Lovejoy used to care for Flander's problems, but over the years Lovejoy became increasingly uninterested in Flanders' problems.<ref>"[[In Marge We Trust]]"</ref> Flanders is shown to have a room in his house filled with memorabilia of the Beatles. He claims that this is because they were "bigger than Jesus". He also even owns a small home business called Flancrest Enterprises.
Ned is a genuinely well-meaning and good-natured person. He is often insecure and is obsessed with following the Bible as literally as possible and is easily shocked when challenged on any point of dogma. This has led to his frequent calls to Reverend Lovejoy ("I... I think I'm coveting my own wife!"), who has become increasingly frustrated with Flanders and passive-aggressively avenges himself by encouraging his Olde English Sheepdog to defecate on Ned's lawn. Ned is also against drugs. When Ned, Homer and [[Apu]] go on road trip to [[Canada]] for cheap prescription drugs, they meet [[Canadian Flanders|someone who looks and acts just like Ned]], but then this guy offers Ned marijuana ("Hey, would you like to puff on a reeferino? It's legal here.") but he promptly turns down ("They warned me Satan would be attractive. Let's go").<ref>"[[Midnight Rx]]"</ref> He did, however, briefly smoke a cigarette when playing the role of Mad Dog during his fire safety skit with some disgust.<ref>"[[Brother's Little Helper]]"</ref> He also once suffered hallucinogenic experiences of the Dancing Bears and Skeletons of the Grateful Dead crossing the road, as well as witnessing an entity resembling a fusion between the hammers from Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Rolling Stones' lips & tongue attempting to kiss him after drinking groovy grove juice that, unbeknownst to him, was spiked with Peyote thanks to Homer Simpson.<ref>"[[D'oh-in' in the Wind]]"</ref>

His sons Rod and Todd are very sheltered and raised in an extremely strict climate of Christian morality, causing them to be unable to behave like all the other children in Springfield ("They're going to be eaten alive, in Middle School" Lisa once observed). For instance, the family has at least five different Trivial Pursuit sets relating to different versions of the Bible. "He is a real Christian. He stinks!" said Homer. Also, all of the family's board games contain no dice, as Ned believes that dice are "wicked". Rod says that they just move one space at a time, as it is "less fun that way". His pet peeve is Maude underlining passages in his Bible.

=== Appearances ===
[[File:Cyrus Manly.png|left|thumb|How Flanders was once pictured by Marge when she was writing a book]]
Despite a meek outward appearance, Ned hides an exceptionally well-built physique under his pink shirt and green sweater combination. When he is revealed to be in his early 60s, Ned claims his deceptively youthful appearance is due to his conformity to the "three Cs" - "clean living, chewing thoroughly, and a daily dose of vitamin Church".<ref>"[[Viva Ned Flanders]]"</ref>

Both Ned and his family rarely refer to his moustache as such, preferring nicknames such as "Nose Neighbour," "Mr. Tickles," "The Soup Strainer," "The Cookie Duster," "The Pushbroom," and "Dr. Fuzzenstein." He once shaved it off, after Homer implied that people were mocking Ned's facial hair behind his back. He also once had it pulled off with a vacuum cleaner by Maude after Homer, who was thought to have leprosy, kissed Ned in gratitude for sending them to be treated. Ned's moustache would also affect his decision to move to the town of [[Humbleton]], PA. After being hired at the town's Humble figurine manufacturing factory,<ref>"[[Home Away from Homer]]"</ref> Ned was ordered to shave his moustache, due to an unofficial ban on facial hair. Ned defiantly refused to shave his moustache for which he was labelled a troublemaker.

=== Religion ===
Flanders is a devout Christian. Ned's sons have been raised in a strict climate of Christian morality, to which they willingly conform. It is revealed that they "{{W|vaccine controversy|don't believe in inoculations}}",<ref>"[[The Computer Wore Menace Shoes]]"</ref> much as their father considers insurance to be a "form of gambling" and dice games to be "wicked". Rod and Todd go to bed several hours before sunset and are not allowed to consume sugar. However, he is shown serving Rod, Todd and Bart hot chocolate.

Most of the entertainment enjoyed by the family involves religion in some way. The family uses at least five different versions of the Bible to play "Bombardment...of Bible Questions!" ("The bridal feast of Beth Chadruharazzeb!?"), and are part of a competitive bowling team called the ''Holy Rollers'' (their uniform consisting of a Franciscan Friar's robes). Ned seems to sense that he cannot completely shield his family from the vagaries of popular culture, but does his best to mitigate the effects; one of his children's stories concludes "...and Harry Potter and all his wizard friends went straight to Hell for practising witchcraft." Though they have satellite TV, nearly all of the 230 channels are blocked out — likely for the best, as one episode of [[Itchy & Scratchy]] was enough to more or less permanently scar Rod and Todd. Rod used to watch "Davey and Goliath", but finding the idea of talking dogs to be blasphemous, he has since stopped.

Ned is willing to fight for what he believes in. For example, he once attempted to forcibly baptise the Simpson children, using his portable baptism' kit, after finding out that they had never undergone the ritual. Ned once reminded himself to get his hand "re-blessed" after shaking a Catholic priest's hand (odd, considering he keeps a Latin Vulgate Bible in his home).<ref>"[[The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star]]"</ref>

Despite occasional antipathy toward Catholicism, Judaism and [[Hindu]]ism (he once compared worshipping Shiva to asking for help from Hawkman, and he fears that his children will grow up to become Jewish Hollywood producers), Ned is honest and sincere in carrying out the Christian doctrines of charity, kindness and compassion. He even admits (after a hurricane destroyed his home) that he has kept kosher just in case. He is frequently shown doing volunteer work, and is rigorously honest and upright, even going so far as to spend an entire day tracking down a Leftorium customer in order to give him the extra change that he had forgotten to hand over (à la Abraham Lincoln). Similarly, after winning football tickets by answering a radio trivia question, he immediately asked for the cash value so he could report it on his income taxes. He also is a good neighbor to the Simpsons, regularly offering his assistance — and then suffering the consequences often paid to those with good intentions.
[[File:Flanders Family.png|thumb|Ned, Maude, Rod and Todd]]

=== Family ===
The Flanders Clan has members around the globe, who convened at the Flanders Family Reunion bible bashing BBQ. Relatives included Mexican [[Jose Flanders]] ("Buenos ding-dong-diddliy días, señor") and English [[Lord Thistlewick Flanders]] ("Charmed... ''[he is prompted by Ned]'' ...a-googily-doogily").
There was a relative of Flanders who served in World War II. He was a superior to Sgt. [[Abe Simpson]]. [[Abe]] called him Commander Flanders when yelling at Burns for stealing paintings.

Flanders is believed to have 3 younger sisters.<ref>"[[Burns, Baby Burns]]"</ref><ref>"[[Das Bus]]"</ref> Ned and family planned on moving in with one of them who lived in [[Capital City]] after the loss of their home and business in Springfield.<ref>"[[When Flanders Failed]]"</ref> He might also have a possible Gay brother or stepbrother.

=== Speech patterns ===
Ned has the odd habit of attaching "diddily," "doodily" and other nonsensical phrases to his sentences. "Hi-diddily-ho, neighborino," is a common example.<ref>It reflects the greeting of the Gordon Hathaway recurring character on the Steve Allen Show, with his arch "Hi-ho, Steverino!"</ref> This is the result of sublimated anger caused by his upbringing, anger which has no other outlet. This trait is, strangely, demonstrated by his relatives from around the world. However, one of his relatives; Lord Thistlewick Flanders, does not have this trait other than when pressured by Ned Flanders, which may imply that his relatives might just attach the trait when with Flanders. He also has the habit of saying "Okally-Dokally", when replying to someone - meaning OK. He might also occasionally add a "doo" on the end, for example... "Okilly dokilly-doo". This is more often than not repeated, when Homer tells him to "Shut up" or "Get lost and we don't need your help".

His extreme prudishness makes him averse to saying "sex" aloud, even when there are no children in sight — he either spells it out or sheepishly calls it "doodily". Ned also uses the word "doodle", "Flander-doodle" or "shrinky-dink" when referring to his penis (ironically, he actually shouts "penis" while praying with his kids before eating at [[Krusty Burger]] after Bart lands on a window naked in front of him<ref>"[[The Simpsons Movie]]"</ref>). He wears a bathing suit in the shower or when he takes a bath. He also uses annotated words, when referring to words that could slightly have a bad, injury related, or slightly offensive meaning. An example is when Bart and Homer are on the roof, and Bart is dangling from the guttering. He says the word "parapleig-orino" referring to parapleigic. (A person paralysed from the waist down). Nevertheless Bart and Homer both reply "Shutup Flanders..." His speech pattern once got him into trouble with [[Rex Banner]] because the latter thought he was drunk during a time when prohibition was revived.<ref>"[[Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment]]"</ref>
[[File:Leftorium 2.png|thumb|right|The Leftorium]]

=== Career ===
==== The Leftorium ====
Ned worked as a salesperson in the pharmaceuticals industry for the bulk of his adult life. Having saved much of his earnings, Flanders announced during a barbecue he was throwing for his family and friends that he had quit his job and planned to invest the family's life savings into a new business. After burning his necktie, he proclaimed his intent to open a store in the [[Springfield Mall]] called ''The Leftorium'' specializing in products for left-handed people: everything from left-handed can openers to an entirely left-handed car, of which only three were ever made. Many of the Leftorium's products are merely labeled as "left-handed," such as pens and nunchucks. He does not sell, however, left-handed eyelash curlers.<ref>"[[When Flanders Failed]]"</ref>

The Leftorium faces stiff competition from ''[[Leftopolis]]'' and ''[[Left-Mart]]''. However an unusually large proportion of Springfield's citizens are left-handed, including [[Bart Simpson]], [[Marge Simpson]], [[Principal Skinner]], [[Mr. Burns]], and [[Moe Szyslak]]. Most cities probably wouldn't have a much left-handed people as Springfield does.

Note: If there's most left-handed people than right-handed people in Springfield, it would be ''very ''unusual, as cities usually have more right-handed people than left-handed people.

==== Other jobs ====
Ned began an internet company called ''Flancrest Enterprises'' (which deals in religious hook-rugs) and founded a Bible-themed amusement park called ''[[Praiseland]]'', in honor of his late wife (that he would go to such lengths to fulfill her last wish is unsurprising, as Ned had previously exerted himself a great deal in order to avoid disappointing Maude — after accidentally killing Maude's prized ficus plant, he attempted to bury and secretly replace it rather than explain the situation). Ned also spent a stint as principal of Springfield Elementary School, replacing [[Seymour Skinner]] (Armin Tamzarian).

He, along with his late wife, also worked as a member of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, once saving Homer from his burning house.<ref>"[[Homer the Heretic]]"</ref> Because of his membership status, he also participates in Fire Safety Day at Springfield Elementary School, once doing an act trying to display the dangers of not taking care of Fire Safety where he acted completely different from himself for the role. He portrayed a pot-smoking, chain smoking, hog-riding hippie partygoer named MadDog whom, after arriving back home with his girlfriend (played by Maude Flanders), who is also a pot-smoking hippie partygoer, they smoked a cigarette to "make the night complete." His girlfriend suggests that they get another smoke alarm in case their current one "tricks out on them" but MadDog refused as one was good enough for him before telling her that they should "hit the sack." While sleeping, MadDog accidentally drops his cigarette on his pants thus burning them. His girlfriend tries to warn him to stop drop and roll, but he ignores it as he felt it was for clydes and that "a little fire won't hurt him." The performance turned out awry because Ned Flanders was forced to break character due to the fire spreading fast, and the usual method of stop drop and roll was not successful at all in putting out the fire, and had it not been for Bart Simpson's latest hijyx involving a hose and the gymnasium, he would have been burned alive.

=== Relationships ===
Ned's dogged friendship inspires the loyalty of others; when his Leftorium appeared on the verge of bankruptcy shortly after it opened, Homer arranged a Frank Capra-esque scene akin to [[George Bailey]] by advertising the Leftorium to many left-handed people in Springfield.

==== Romantic relationships ====
[[File:Ned sara sloane.png|thumb|Ned and Sara on their first date]]
At some point before or after college, Ned met and married the equally meek and religious Maude. They had two children together; the sheltered and naïve Rod and Todd. Maude dies an untimely death in a freak accident involving t-shirt cannons,<ref>"[[Alone Again, Natura-Diddily]]"</ref> leaving Ned alone and grieving. He is technically still married to a woman named [[Ginger]], whom he married on a drunken bender in Las Vegas.<ref>"[[Viva Ned Flanders]]"</ref> Ginger comes to live with Ned and his sons for a brief period following Maude's death,<ref>"[[Brawl in the Family]]"</ref> but she quickly grows tired of the Flanders' sickly-sweet personalities and flees. Also since Maude's death, Ned has been connected romantically with a beautiful Christian-rock singer, Rachel Jordan, and a movie star, Sara Sloane with whom he had a sexual relationship, despite his own "no sex before marriage" beliefs. Ned and Marge had once almost kiss twice, since Homer spent too much time as [[Carl]]'s assistant and Ned felt alone. Marge had hit Ned with a hammer, so she invited him to dinner. While helping [[Marge]] with the food they were going to kiss, but the oven rang, later, while eating cream strawberries, they almost kiss again, but Marge remembers Homer so they just hug before Homer arrives.<ref>"[[The Devil Wears Nada]]"</ref> He is currently in a relationship with [[Edna Krabappel]].<ref>"[[The Ned-liest Catch]]"</ref> They had a small difference in opinion, but soon eventually sorted it out,<ref>"[[The Falcon and the D'ohman]]"</ref> ending with Edna moving in with Ned. Edna is now married to Ned.<ref>"[[Ned 'N' Edna's Blend]]"</ref>
Edna's voice actor died at the age of seventy due to cancer so Edna will no longer be on the show. Tribute was paid to Marcia Wallace ,voice of Edna,  at the end of "The Man Who Grew Too Much" where Ned and Edna would dance for the very last time

==== Friendship/One-sided conflict with Homer Simpson ====
Flanders personality makes him think of Homer as good and friendly, but Homer actually hates Flanders. The first three seasons focused on how Ned was {{W|prosperity theology|doing well financially since he was a devout Christian}}, and Homer was angry with that on account of the Simpsons being a struggling family. That issue was largely resolved in [[When Flanders Failed]]. Marge Simpson's enduring crush for Ned Flanders does not help the situation, either. Homer tells Ned to "shut his stupid face" on a regular basis, and has even prayed for his ruin and death — "I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another, until you just wish Flanders was dead." Ironically, at one time, Homer becomes Flanders' best friend, but becomes so annoying that Flanders starts to hate him, but eventually things go back to the way they were.<ref>"[[Homer Loves Flanders]]"</ref> Homer and Ned's relationship has been good on occasions, in which Homer seems to genuinely care for Ned, despite still expressing (and often acting on) feelings of loathing. Examples of this include Homer comforting Ned following Maude's death (seconds after preparing to bash Ned's head in with a rock) largely due to Marge's insistence that the Simpson family must now be supportive of the Flanders family in wake of the tragic loss of Maude, and helping Ned build Praiseland Amusement Park. Despite their friendship, Homer wrote the song "[[Everybody Hates Ned Flanders]]", and even sang and produced it with David Byrnes. When Ned was embarrassed in front of the entire community after two young women who rented his house were found to be using it to film a racy website (for which Homer helped spread), Ned moves away in shame. Homer genuinely misses Ned's absence, especially when a gruff, unneighborly man buys the house, and is overjoyed when Ned returns to Springfield. Homer and Ned became friends when they got a job as bounty hunters.

==== Friendship with Bart Simpson ====
When Bart becomes a camper, he would seem to have taken a liking to his head camper Ned Flanders. This is shown by Bart talking in Flanders normal diddly-doodily fashion. However, Ned reassures Bart that Homer is his true father, and that Bart must be a receptive son in order to help Homer be a concerned father during [[Trappuccino|Springfield's darkest hour]].

== Non-canon ==
{{Noncanon}}
[[File:FlandersDevil.png|thumb|Flanders as the devil in "Treehouse of Horror IV", portrayed as such due to being "the one you least suspect".]]
=== Treehouse of Horror ===
In the [[Treehouse of Horror IV]] segment "The Devil and Homer Simpson", Flanders appeared as the devil in front of Homer Simpson (quoted by Flanders, "It's always the one you least expect!") and when he comes to claim Homer's soul, he and Bart exchange casual greetings. He acts as the "unquestioned Lord and Master of the world" (in a parallel universe) in a segment in [[Treehouse of Horror V]], in which he instituted Orwellian "Re-Neducation" facilities for those with impure thoughts culminating in frontal lobotomies. In other Halloween episodes he proclaimed his preference for "wanton carnality" as an early Pilgrim immigrant to the New World, only to be vetoed by Maude; been transformed into a werewolf; been murdered by Homer Simpson (who used the rise of a zombie horde as an excuse for killing him) (Homer Simpson: "He was a zombie?"— Homer didn't care if Ned was actually zombie or not), a clone of Homer Simpson, and an evil bus-gremlin whom he attempted to adopt.

=== Future ===
In "[[Bart to the Future]]", Bart sees his own future. Ned is seen blind, revealing he received laser eye surgery, which was great at the beginning, but after the 10-year-point, your eyes fall out.
[[File:Flanders Werewolf.png|thumb|right|Ned as a werewolf in Treehouse of Horror X]]

=== Video Games ===
==== The Simpsons Road Rage ====
In ''[[The Simpsons Road Rage]]'' Ned Flanders is a driver that you can unlock. While not being played, he is a passenger.

==== The Simpsons Game ====
In [[The Simpsons Game]], Ned is carjacked by [[Martin Prince, Jr.]] in the level "[[Mob Rules]]", so he joins Marge's mob to stop the game ''Grand Theft Scratchy'' to be sold to kids.

==== The Simpsons: Tapped Out ====
===== Default =====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Flanders Family|Ned}}

===== Devil Flanders =====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Costumes|DevilFlanders}}

===== Puritan Flanders =====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/Thanksgiving|PuritanFlanders}}

===== Stupid Sexy Flanders =====
{{TranscludeSection|The Simpsons: Tapped Out characters/More Costumes|StupidSexyFlanders}}

== Behind the Laughter ==
[[File:Flanders' book of Faith.png|thumb|right|One of the many Flanders merchandise, Flander's Book of Faith]]
=== Creation ===
The writers found Harry Shearer's voice for Flanders so sweet that they decided to make the character a Christian.

Ned Flanders, who was designed by Rich Moore, first appeared in the season one episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The episode was the series premiere, but not the first episode produced. The first episode in which Flanders and his family were prominent is season two's "Dead Putting Society", which also contained the first appearance of Maude and Rod Flanders. Flanders was named after Flanders St. in Portland, Oregon, the hometown of Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Groening described the inspiration for Flanders as "just a guy who was truly nice, that Homer had no justifiable reason to loathe, but then did". It was not until after the first few episodes that it was decided Flanders would be a faithful Christian. Mike Scully noted that Flanders is "everything Homer would love to be, although he'll never admit it". Flanders had been meant to be just a neighbor that Homer was jealous of, but Harry Shearer used "such a sweet voice" and Flanders was broadened to become a Christian and a sweet guy that someone would prefer to live next to over Homer. Flanders is known for his nonsensical jabbering, and his first use of the word "didly" was in "The Call of the Simpsons".

=== Development ===
Ned Flanders was not religious in his first few appearances and in the first few seasons he was only mildly religious and his primary role was to be so "cloyingly perfect as to annoy and shame the Simpsons", whereas Homer Simpson has always hated Ned Flanders and always tries to undermine him. There has been a consistent effort among the show's writers to make him not just "goody good and an unsympathetic person". In the later seasons, Flanders has become more of a caricature of the Christian right, and his role as an irritating "perfect neighbor" has been lessened.

Ned's store "The Leftorium" first appeared in "[[When Flanders Failed]]". It was suggested by George Meyer, who had had a friend who had owned a left-handed specialty store which failed. The episode "[[Hurricane Neddy]]" shows Ned's faith being tested and the writers also used the episode as a chance to examine what makes him tick.

There have been two occasions where Flanders was not voiced by Harry Shearer. In "[[Bart of Darkness]]", Flanders's high pitched scream was performed by Tress MacNeille and in "[[Homer to the Max]]", Flanders comments about cartoons being easily able to change voice actors; on this occasion he was voiced by then showrunner Mike Scully.

=== "The Adventures of Ned Flanders" ===
{{Main|The Adventures of Ned Flanders}}
''The Adventures of Ned Flanders'' was a short that appeared at the end of the episode "[[The Front]]". Entitled ''Love that God'', it highlights the Flanders' dedication to religion and perfect family niceness, yet again. Ned nearly scolds Rod and Todd, who are busy praying, after they refuse to get ready for church — only to be told that it is, in fact, a Saturday. Ned laughs at his mistake with a trademark "Okelydokely!" According to commentary on ''[[22 Short Films About Springfield]]'', ''The Simpsons'' team wanted to do more "Adventures of Ned Flanders" shorts. Time limitations have prevented them from producing more. Ironically, the reason why "The Adventures of Ned Flanders" was first conceived was because they couldn't expand the episode to fill up the remaining time gap.

=== Foreign dubs ===
{{Dub voices
|frVoice=[[Patrick Guillemin]]
|poVoice=[[Wojciech Paszkowski]] (movie)
}}

== Trivia ==
*In most of Flanders' appearances on the show, he was voiced by [[Harry Shearer]]. However, there was one episode where he was voiced by someone other than Harry Shearer. The episode was "[[Homer to the Max]]" where he was voiced by [[Karl Wiedergott]], which was deliberately done as a self-referential joke at the time where the voice actors for ''[[The Simpsons]]'' got low salaries from [[FOX]], and FOX threatened to replace them with replacement voice actors.

== Appearances ==
{{Incomplete}}
{{scroll|
*{{ep|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire}}
*{{ep|The Call of the Simpsons}}
*{{ep|The Telltale Head}}
*{{ep|Homer's Night Out}}
*{{ep|The Crepes of Wrath}}
*{{ep|Bart Gets an "F"}}
*{{ep|Simpson and Delilah}}
*{{ep|Dancin' Homer}}
*{{ep|Dead Putting Society}}
*{{ep|Bart the Daredevil}}
*{{ep|Itchy & Scratchy & Marge}}
*{{ep|Bart Gets Hit by a Car}}
*{{ep|One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish}}
*{{ep|Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment}}
*{{ep|Bart's Dog Gets an "F"}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Substitute}}
*{{ep|Old Money}}
*{{ep|The War of the Simpsons}}
*{{ep|Stark Raving Dad}}
*{{ep|When Flanders Failed}}
*{{ep|Bart the Murderer}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror II}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Pony}}
*{{ep|I Married Marge}}
*{{ep|Saturdays of Thunder}}
*{{ep|Radio Bart}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Greek}}
*{{ep|Homer Alone}}
*{{ep|Flaming Moe's}}
*{{ep|Homer at the Bat}}
*{{ep|Bart the Lover}}
*{{ep|Dog of Death}}
*{{ep|Kamp Krusty}}
*{{ep|Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?}}
*{{ep|A Streetcar Named Marge}}
*{{ep|Homer the Heretic}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Beauty Queen}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror III}}
*{{ep|Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie}}
*{{ep|Marge Gets a Job}}
*{{ep|Mr. Plow}}
*{{ep|Lisa's First Word}}
*{{ep|Homer's Triple Bypass}}
*{{ep|Marge vs. the Monorail}}
*{{ep|Brother from the Same Planet}}
*{{ep|I Love Lisa}}
*{{ep|Duffless}}
*{{ep|So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show}}
*{{ep|Cape Feare}}
*{{ep|Rosebud}}
*{{ep|Homer Loves Flanders}}
*{{ep|Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song}}
*{{ep|Bart of Darkness}}
*{{ep|Another Simpsons Clip Show}}
*{{ep|Sideshow Bob Roberts}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror V}}
*{{ep|Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy}}
*{{ep|A Star Is Burns}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Wedding}}
*{{ep|Two Dozen and One Greyhounds}}
*{{ep|'Round Springfield}}
*{{ep|The Springfield Connection}}
*{{ep|Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)}}
*{{ep|Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Vegetarian}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror VI}}
*{{ep|King-Size Homer}}
*{{ep|Mother Simpson}}
*{{ep|Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming}}
*{{ep|Marge Be Not Proud}}
*{{ep|Team Homer}}
*{{ep|Two Bad Neighbors}}
*{{ep|Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield}}
*{{ep|Bart the Fink}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Iconoclast}}
*{{ep|The Day the Violence Died}}
*{{ep|22 Short Films About Springfield}}
*{{ep|Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"}}
*{{ep|Much Apu About Nothing}}
*{{ep|Summer of 4 Ft. 2}}
*{{ep|Homerpalooza}}
*{{ep|You Only Move Twice}}
*{{ep|Bart After Dark}}
*{{ep|Burns, Baby Burns}}
*{{ep|A Milhouse Divided}}
*{{ep|Lisa's Date with Density}}
*{{ep|Hurricane Neddy}}
*{{ep|El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer}}
*{{ep|The Springfield Files}}
*{{ep|Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious}}
*{{ep|The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show}}
*{{ep|Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment}}
*{{ep|Grade School Confidential}}
*{{ep|In Marge We Trust}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror VIII}}
*{{ep|The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Skeptic}}
*{{ep|Realty Bites}}
*{{ep|Miracle on Evergreen Terrace}}
*{{ep|Bart Carny}}
*{{ep|Trash of the Titans}}
*{{ep|Natural Born Kissers}}
*{{ep|When You Dish Upon a Star}}
*{{ep|Viva Ned Flanders}}
*{{ep|Sunday, Cruddy Sunday}}
*{{ep|Homer to the Max}}
*{{ep|I'm with Cupid}}
*{{ep|Marge Simpson in: "Screaming Yellow Honkers"}}
*{{ep|Simpsons Bible Stories}}
*{{ep|Mom and Pop Art}}
*{{ep|Monty Can't Buy Me Love}}
*{{ep|They Saved Lisa's Brain}}
*{{ep|Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo}}
*{{ep|Beyond Blunderdome}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror X}}
*{{ep|E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)}}
*{{ep|Eight Misbehavin'}}
*{{ep|Grift of the Magi}}
*{{ep|Little Big Mom}}
*{{ep|Faith Off}}
*{{ep|The Mansion Family}}
*{{ep|Saddlesore Galactica}}
*{{ep|Alone Again, Natura-Diddily}}
*{{ep|Missionary: Impossible}}
*{{ep|Bart to the Future}}
*{{ep|Days of Wine and D'oh'ses}}
*{{ep|Behind the Laughter}}
*{{ep|A Tale of Two Springfields}}
*{{ep|Insane Clown Poppy}}
*{{ep|Lisa the Tree Hugger}}
*{{ep|The Computer Wore Menace Shoes}}
*{{ep|The Great Money Caper}}
*{{ep|Skinner's Sense of Snow}}
*{{ep|Tennis the Menace}}
*{{ep|Trilogy of Error}}
*{{ep|I'm Goin' to Praiseland}}
*{{ep|Children of a Lesser Clod}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XII|(mentioned)}}
*{{ep|The Parent Rap}}
*{{ep|She of Little Faith}}
*{{ep|Brawl in the Family}}
*{{ep|Sweets and Sour Marge}}
*{{ep|Jaws Wired Shut}}
*{{ep|Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XIII}}
*{{ep|Large Marge}}
*{{ep|Helter Shelter}}
*{{ep|The Dad Who Knew Too Little}}
*{{ep|Pray Anything}}
*{{ep|A Star is Born Again}}
*{{ep|Three Gays of the Condo}}
*{{ep|Dude, Where's My Ranch?}}
*{{ep|The Bart of War}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XIV}}
*{{ep|'Tis the Fifteenth Season}}
*{{ep|Diatribe of a Mad Housewife}}
*{{ep|The Ziff Who Came to Dinner}}
*{{ep|My Big Fat Geek Wedding}}
*{{ep|Fraudcast News}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XV}}
*{{ep|All's Fair in Oven War}}
*{{ep|Fat Man and Little Boy}}
*{{ep|Midnight Rx}}
*{{ep|Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass}}
*{{ep|Mobile Homer}}
*{{ep|Don't Fear the Roofer}}
*{{ep|Thank God It's Doomsday}}
*{{ep|Home Away from Homer}}
*{{ep|The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star}}
*{{ep|Milhouse of Sand and Fog}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XVI}}
*{{ep|Simpsons Christmas Stories}}
*{{ep|Bart Has Two Mommies}}
*{{ep|The Wettest Stories Ever Told}}
*{{ep|Regarding Margie}}
*{{ep|The Monkey Suit}}
*{{ep|Jazzy and the Pussycats}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XVII}}
*{{ep|Marge Gamer}}
*{{ep|You Kent Always Say What You Want}}
*{{mov}}
*{{ep|He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs}}
*{{ep|The Homer of Seville}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XVIII}}
*{{ep|Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind}}
*{{ep|Love, Springfieldian Style}}
*{{ep|Mona Leaves-a}}
*{{ep|Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XIX}}
*{{ep|Dangerous Curves}}
*{{ep|MyPods and Boomsticks}}
*{{ep|Take My Life, Please}}
*{{ep|How the Test Was Won}}
*{{ep|No Loan Again, Naturally}}
*{{ep|In the Name of the Grandfather}}
*{{ep|Wedding for Disaster}}
*{{ep|The Good, the Sad, and the Drugly}}
*{{ep|Father Knows Worst}}
*{{ep|Coming to Homerica}}
*{{ep|Homer the Whopper}}
*{{ep|Bart Gets a "Z"}}
*{{ep|The Devil Wears Nada}}
*{{ep|Rednecks and Broomsticks}}
*{{ep|The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed}}
*{{ep|Chief of Hearts}}
*{{ep|To Surveil With Love}}
*{{ep|The Fool Monty}}
*{{ep|Moms I'd Like to Forget}}
*{{ep|Homer the Father}}
*{{ep|Angry Dad: The Movie}}
*{{ep|The Ned-liest Catch}}
*{{ep|The Falcon and the D'ohman}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XXII}}
*{{ep|Replaceable You}}
*{{ep|The Food Wife}}
*{{ep|The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants|(cog in [[Homer]]'s head)}}
*{{ep|Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson}}
*{{ep|Ned 'N' Edna's Blend}}
*{{ep|Lisa Goes Gaga}}
*{{ep|Moonshine River}}
*{{ep|A Tree Grows in Springfield}}
*{{ep|The Day the Earth Stood Cool}}
*{{ep|Black-Eyed, Please}}
*{{ep|Pulpit Friction}}
*{{ep|Four Regrettings and a Funeral}}
*{{ep|Brick Like Me}}
*{{ep|Pay Pal}}
*{{ep|The Wreck of the Relationship}}
*{{ep|Super Franchise Me}}
*{{THOH|Treehouse of Horror XXV|(opening scene)}}
*{{ep|Opposites A-Frack}}
*{{ep|Simpsorama}}
*{{ep|I Won't Be Home For Christmas}}
*{{ep|The Man Who Came To Be Dinner}}
*{{ep|The Musk Who Fell To Earth}}
*{{ep|Walking Big & Tall}}
*{{ep|The Kids Are All Fight}}
*{{ep|Every Man's Dream}}
*{{spec|Homer Votes 2012}}
*{{bon|O Bart, Where Art Thou?}}
*{{bk|Comic Book Guy's Book of Pop Culture}}
*{{bk|Flanders' Book of Faith}}
*{{bk|Simpsons World The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1-20}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Skateboarding}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Road Rage}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Hit & Run}}
*{{game|The Simpsons Game}}
*{{game|The Simpsons: Tapped Out}}

}}

== References ==
{{Images|Ned Flanders}}
{{Scroll|
{{Reflist}}
}}

{{MultiNavbox|
{{Flanders family}}
{{Teachers|former=yes}}
{{Springfield Elementary|previous staff=yes}}
{{Springfield Isotots Baseball Team members}}
{{Actors|other actors=yes}}
{{Junior Campers}}
{{Tapped Out characters|flanders=yes}}
{{Simpsons World factfiles|3=yes}}
{{Simpsons characters|springfield=yes}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flanders, Ned}}

[[Category:Seniors]]
[[Category:Fathers]]
[[Category:Business proprietors]]
[[Category:Springfield Elementary School faculty]]
[[Category:Characters voiced by Harry Shearer]]
[[Category:Recurring characters]]
[[Category:Characters introduced in season 1]]
[[Category:Christian characters]]