# TV characters who have "J." as their middle initial **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025 "2003-03-04T16:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/1 "2003-03-04T16:50:14Z")
Bullwinkle J. Moose Rocket J. Squirrel Abraham J. Simpson Homer Jay Simpson Bartholomew Jo-Jo Simpson Philip J. Fry I don’t know about Rocky but there is a tendency for male animated characters to have “J.” for their middle initial. Coincidence or are the shows paying homage to Jay Ward? Do any live-action characters follow suit? ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/2 "2003-03-04T16:59:19Z")
Richard J. Cunningham ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/3 "2003-03-04T17:03:44Z")
Rocky and Bullwinkle’s middle initials were based upon Jay Ward (or perhaps his birth name, J-his parents wanted him to name himself). I believe Groening is paying homage to Ward, as he loves moose and squirrel. (Interestingly, Nancy Cartwright gave Bart the middle name Jo-Jo herself. It’s never been mentioned on the show.) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/4 "2003-03-04T17:04:43Z")
Elmer J. Fudd Michigan J. Frog Simple J. Malarkey Ray J. Johnson, jr. Michael J. Pollard ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/5 "2003-03-04T17:07:26Z")
The “Rocky and Bullwinkle” characters were, indeed, a nod to creator Jay Ward. The “Simpsons” J’s (officially, Marge and Lisa also have J. as a middle initial) are an homage to “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. I’d assume the same of Fry, since Futurama is by the same people as “The Simpsons”. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/6 "2003-03-04T17:16:37Z")
Ray Jay Johnson. Oh, you doesn’t have to call him Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/7 "2003-03-04T17:17:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > \*\*Ray J. Johnson, jr. > \*\* Crap! ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/8 "2003-03-04T17:24:46Z")
Does J. Jonah Jameson count? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/9 "2003-03-04T17:30:11Z")
Probably. ---
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/10 "2003-03-04T17:31:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > \*\*Elmer J. Fudd > \*\* Thats “Elmer J. Fudd…millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/11 "2003-03-04T17:32:12Z")
Phineas J. Whoopee of Tennessee Tuxedo fame… ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/12 "2003-03-04T17:42:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The\_Raven \* > \*\*Phineas J. Whoopee of Tennessee Tuxedo fame… \*\* Wasn’t this also a production of Ward’s shop? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/13 "2003-03-04T17:45:36Z")
B. J. Honnicut on M_A_S\*H ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/14 "2003-03-04T18:21:45Z")
I went to IMDB after the fact to see if I spelled the name right and plugged “B. J.” into character search. It returned more than 250 characters, although it actually came up with more “J. B.'s” than “B. J.'s”. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/15 "2003-03-04T19:47:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*I went to IMDB after the fact to see if I spelled the name right and plugged “B. J.” into character search. It returned more than 250 characters, although it actually came up with more “J. B.'s” than “B. J.'s”. \*\* Congratulations on doing the only search in the history of the WWW where you could type in “B.J.” and be able to talk about it in a PG-13 forum.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/16 "2003-03-04T20:15:33Z")
The differerence between the 70s and today is really hit home by the fact that never once in a twelve-year show about the military did they ever make fun of the fact that B.J. could have that double meaning. Today they would have an eight-year-old do so before the opening credits. ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/17 "2003-03-04T20:31:26Z")
**T.J. Hooker**! ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/18 "2003-03-04T20:40:10Z")
B.J. McKay from “B.J. and the Bear” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/19 "2003-03-04T23:19:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cliffy \* > \*\*Wasn’t this also a production of Ward’s shop? > > –Cliffy \*\* No, this was a production of Total TV, also responsible for _Underdog_. Somehow, Peter Piech ended up getting the rights for both Ward and Total cartoons, and put them both together. (Yes, Piech’s name was the inspiration for the name of Ward’s Wrongway Peachfuzz.) ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025/20 "2003-03-04T23:22:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crown Prince of Irony \* > \*\ ***T.J. Hooker**! \*\* And T.J. is just a transposition of his most famous character’s initials, J.T.! Coincedence? Probably . . . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-have-j-as-their-middle-initial/159025.md?page=2)