# Bart Simpson should be 36 Years Old **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108 "2017-01-01T23:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/21 "2017-01-03T22:27:36Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I don’t think Homer was in Vietnam. He joined the army in _G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)_, and the naval reserve in _Simpson Tide_, but both of those are set in the present, and I think Homer’s only military experience. Vietnam is part of Skinner’s backstory. And I think it remains so, despite aging him more, just like WWII stays in Grandpa’s backstory. Thanks. As said, I’m basically not into this stuff – don’t know who Skinner is. Must have seen one of the episodes which you mention above; and erroneously imagined from same, the Vietnam thing. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/22 "2017-01-03T23:06:32Z")
I know that there was an episode where Homer and Marge attended their high school reunion, and the reunion was for the class of 1974. 1974 is when I graduated high school, and I’m sixty years old. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/23 "2017-01-03T23:47:55Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s not just comics - Ed McBain’s \*87th Precinct \*detective novels were published over the course of almost 50 years, each book set in the year it was written, and yet in that entire time the main characters barely aged. The James Bond novels are similar in many ways - James Bond himself never seems to age (despite having served in WWII), but oddly enough people around him do (such as M). There’s a fan theory “James Bond” is actually an assigned codename given to whichever agent has the 007 designation, explaining why the world’s top secret agent seems to be perpetually in his late 30s while his secretary and bossand other collegauges age and retire. And also why he isn’t pretty much instantly made whenever he tries to do anything even slightly espionagey. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/24 "2017-01-05T17:49:21Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > …Funny wins out over continuity. This x1000. > [@Sangahyando](#): > > Thanks. As said, I’m basically not into this stuff – don’t know who Skinner is… Behold!: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8TicAnW90](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8TicAnW90) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/25 "2017-01-05T19:17:34Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > According to _The Simpsons_ episode history, Bart was born in 1981. That would make him 36, Lisa 34, and Maggie 28. Except that, also “according to episode history,” Lisa was born in August, 1984, so she “should be” only 32, and Maggie was born in 1993, so she “should be” only 23. But then again, Bart was born after Marge started college in 1991. But then again again, in at least one episode, it has been mentioned that Bart foiled Sideshow Bob’s attempt to frame Krusty for armed robbery “in 1990,” and Bart, Lisa, and Maggie were all in the audience at Krusty’s show. And _The Simpsons_ is not alone in this; an episode of _Family Guy_ had Brian and Stewie go back in time ten years to meet themselves, even though neither of them are 10 years old… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/26 "2017-01-05T19:53:16Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > And _The Simpsons_ is not alone in this; an episode of _Family Guy_ had Brian and Stewie go back in time ten years to meet themselves, even though neither of them are 10 years old… Brian Griffin also has a 13-year-old son. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/27 "2017-01-06T03:44:09Z")
Even if Bart was conceived the night of the special edition re-release of _The Empire Strikes Back_ instead of the original 1980 version, he’d be about 18. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/28 "2017-01-06T08:53:22Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > As said, I’m basically not into this stuff – don’t know who Skinner is. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > This x1000. > > Behold!: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8TicAnW90](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8TicAnW90) My thanks. Right – the horrible headmaster: does ring a faint bell after all. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/29 "2017-01-06T09:10:32Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > My thanks. Right – the horrible headmaster: does ring a faint bell after all. _Headmaster_? I think we have a foreigner here. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/30 "2017-01-06T11:05:25Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > The James Bond novels are similar in many ways - James Bond himself never seems to age (despite having served in WWII), but oddly enough people around him do (such as M). **There’s a fan theory “James Bond” is actually an assigned codename given to whichever agent has the 007 designation,** explaining why the world’s top secret agent seems to be perpetually in his late 30s while his secretary and bossand other collegauges age and retire. And also why he isn’t pretty much instantly made whenever he tries to do anything even slightly espionagey. The 1966 version of _Casino Royale_ did this (after a catastrophe at MI5 headquarters); they designated all agents as 007. That’s why I tend to say that my favorite Bond is George Raft. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/31 "2017-01-06T12:57:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I enjoy the “future” episodes. In the season 6 episode _Lisa’s Wedding_, a fortune teller at a carnival tells Lisa about her near-wedding to Hugh St. John Alastair Parkfield (voiced by Mandy Patinkin). The date of the wedding was August 1, 2010. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/32 "2017-01-06T14:44:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > In the season 6 episode _Lisa’s Wedding_, a fortune teller at a carnival tells Lisa about her near-wedding to Hugh St. John Alastair Parkfield (voiced by Mandy Patinkin). The date of the wedding was August 1, 2010. Weddings of Future Past! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/33 "2017-01-06T16:52:57Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I don’t think Homer was in Vietnam. He joined the army in _G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)_, and the naval reserve in _Simpson Tide_, but both of those are set in the present, and I think Homer’s only military experience. Vietnam is part of Skinner’s backstory. And I think it remains so, despite aging him more, just like WWII stays in Grandpa’s backstory. Remember, Lt. Abe Simpson also served in [WWI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjmWU3U1wc8). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/34 "2017-01-06T17:15:22Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Remember, Lt. Abe Simpson also served in [WWI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjmWU3U1wc8). I don’t think I’ve ever seen that clip, or I forgot I’ve seen it. But that was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/35 "2017-01-06T23:13:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The 1966 version of _Casino Royale_ did this (after a catastrophe at MI5 headquarters); they designated all agents as 007. Fortunately that movie isn’t canon. _shudders_ ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/36 "2017-01-06T23:55:16Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > My thanks. Right – the horrible headmaster: does ring a faint bell after all. > [@Biggirl](#): > > _Headmaster_? I think we have a foreigner here. We say “headmaster” (or more often in this PC age, “head teacher”); you say “school principal”; I’d reckon that either sounds equally odd, to “the other crowd” ! ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/37 "2017-01-07T01:52:27Z")
Kinda a spin on this trope is that characters sharing the same continuity will age faster the further from the limelight they are, e.g., Phantom Blonde, who is cognizant she’s fictional, teams up with She Hulk to reclaim her youth. Likewise, Bosko and Honey (reimagined as foxes instead of black caricatures) regain their vitality after being rescued from obscurity in Tiny Toon Adventures. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/38 "2017-01-10T19:32:41Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > We say “headmaster” (or more often in this PC age, “head teacher”); you say “school principal”; I’d reckon that either sounds equally odd, to “the other crowd” ! No, we just say “principal”. But that’s just a job, not a title, so it’s still bizarre on the show (and some other shows seem to make this error, maybe it’s a californiaism?) when they call him “Principal Skinner” not “Mr. Skinner”. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/39 "2017-01-10T21:56:35Z")
We watched [_I Married Marge_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Married_Marge) the other night. The deep embedding of this episode into 1980/81 is remarkable. Over and over the time period is brought up. And this is two years into the run of the show. So if this had been a Season 1 episode the flashback should have been to 1978/79. Bart would be 37 in that Universe. Great episode, but it contradicts others. E.g., There are no family members at the wedding but elsewhere it’s mentioned that Patty and Selma cause problems at the wedding. ---
**Author:** ![ElderSign](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eldersign/32/8263_2.png) [@ElderSign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElderSign)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108/40 "2017-01-13T22:11:49Z")
It’s a cartoon, just like Mickey Mouse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bart-simpson-should-be-36-years-old/776108.md?page=3)