Editing Bart Simpson (section)

=== Creation ===
[[File:Matt Groening by Gage Skidmore -retouch.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.7|[[Matt Groening]] (''pictured in 2009'') conceived Bart in 1987.|alt=A man in glasses and a plaid shirt sits in front of a microphone.]]
[[Matt Groening]] conceived Bart and the rest of the [[Simpson family]] in 1987 while waiting in the lobby of producer [[James L. Brooks]]'s office.<ref name="p299">{{cite web | last=Thielman | first=Sam | title=Happy Birthd'oh!: ''The Simpsons'' Celebrates 30 Years of Cultural Milestones | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=April 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203044608/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/19/the-simpsons-birthday-30-years-fox-history |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |url-status=live | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/19/the-simpsons-birthday-30-years-fox-history | access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name="k770">{{cite web | last=Bianculli | first=David | title=''Simpson''{{'}}s Creator Matt Groening | publisher=[[NPR]] | date=February 14, 2003 | url=https://www.npr.org/2003/02/14/1162008/simpsons-creator-matt-groening | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=December 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201144554/https://www.npr.org/2003/02/14/1162008/simpsons-creator-matt-groening | url-status=live }}</ref> Groening was invited to pitch a series of animated shorts for ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' and initially planned to adapt his comic strip, ''[[Life in Hell]]''. Realizing that adapting the strip would require him to relinquish [[publication right]]s, he decided to create something new.<ref name="a529">{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Ivan | title=The 12 Most Unexpected Spinoffs in TV History | website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] | date=November 29, 2016 | url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/11/the-most-unexpected-spinoffs-in-tv-history.html | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=December 7, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207183931/https://www.vulture.com/2016/11/the-most-unexpected-spinoffs-in-tv-history.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Groening sketched a concept for a [[dysfunctional family]],{{sfn|Sito|2006|p=305}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=It's a Family Affair?|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=July 1990|page=67|volume=6|issue=4}}</ref> naming the characters after members of his family.{{sfn|Fink|2019|p=21}}<ref name="k983">{{cite web | last=Day | first=Patrick Kevin | title=Matt Groening's mom dies; maiden name Wiggum, she inspired Marge Simpson | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | url-access=subscription | date=May 7, 2013 | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-matt-groening-mom-marge-simpson-dies-20130507-story.html | access-date=December 21, 2024 | archive-date=May 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520081916/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-matt-groening-mom-marge-simpson-dies-20130507-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> For the rebellious son, he chose "Bart", an [[anagram]] of ''brat'',{{sfn|Ezell|2016|p=133}}{{sfn|Pinsky|2007|p=5}} instead of his own name because he felt that "Matt" would not "go over well in a pitch meeting".<ref name="i616">{{cite web | title=Marge Simpson's Namesake Has Died | website=[[HuffPost]] | date=May 7, 2013 | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/marge-groening-matt-groening-marge-simpson-inspiration_n_3226541 | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=December 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201211131/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/marge-groening-matt-groening-marge-simpson-inspiration_n_3226541 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="w413">{{cite web | last=Blackall | first=Luke | title=From the Wiggums to Chain-Smoking Aunt Patty: The Real-Life Groening | website=[[The Independent]] | date=May 7, 2013 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/from-the-wiggums-to-chainsmoking-aunt-patty-the-reallife-groening-family-behind-the-simpsons-revealed-in-obituary-of-creator-s-mum-8606463.html | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=December 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202062008/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/from-the-wiggums-to-chainsmoking-aunt-patty-the-reallife-groening-family-behind-the-simpsons-revealed-in-obituary-of-creator-s-mum-8606463.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Bart's middle initial "J" is an homage to the animated characters [[Bullwinkle J. Moose]] and [[Rocket J. Squirrel]] from ''[[The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show]]'', who were named after creator [[Jay Ward]].<ref name="x978">{{cite web | last=Bibby | first=Daniel | title=Bart & Homer Simpson's Names Subtly Honor Another Classic Cartoon | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=February 11, 2024 | url=https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-honors-rocky-bullwinkle-character-names/ | access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name="q895">{{cite magazine | last=Stransky | first=Tanner | title='Rocky & Bullwinkle': Happy 50th Birthday to the Sweet Duo! (And Boris and Natasha, too!) | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=November 19, 2009 | url=https://ew.com/article/2009/11/19/rocky-and-bullwinkle-50th-birthday/ | access-date=November 24, 2024 | archive-date=December 3, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203112203/https://ew.com/article/2009/11/19/rocky-and-bullwinkle-50th-birthday/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Although numerous interpretations of his middle initial have been given, Groening said that Bart's full middle name is "Jo-Jo", which was chosen by Cartwright during a recording session.{{sfn|Groening|1996|pp=12, 54, 82, 101, 103, 154, 168, back cover}}{{sfn|Groening|2001b|p=90}}

According to ''[[The Oregonian]]'', Bart was conceived as "a much milder, troubled youth given to existential angst who talks to himself"; the character was changed due to [[Nancy Cartwright]]'s voice acting.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christmans Is 'Life in Hell' for ''The Simpsons''|date=December 17, 1989|work=[[The Oregonian]]|last=Farrell|first=Peter}}</ref> Groening has credited numerous sources as inspirations for Bart's character. His older brother, Mark Groening, influenced Bart's rebellious attitude. Mark introduced him to a variety of comics, including [[Mad (magazine)|''Mad'']] (when it was still a comic), ''[[Donald Duck in comics|Donald Duck]]'', ''[[Uncle Scrooge]]'', ''[[Little Lulu]]'', and ''[[Tales from the Crypt (comics)|Tales From the Crypt]]''; all were sources of inspiration for Matt.<ref>{{cite web|last=Paul|first=Alan|title=Life in Hell|work=[[Flux (magazine)|Flux]]|date=September 30, 1995|url=http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening95.html|access-date=December 26, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208235641/http://www.snpp.com/other/interviews/groening95.html|archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> Bart was envisioned as an exaggerated version of a typical misbehaving child, combining the extreme traits of characters such as [[Tom Sawyer]] and [[Huckleberry Finn]].{{sfn|Waltonen|Du Vernay|2014|p=182}} Groening described Bart as "what would happen if the son of [[Eddie Haskell]] [from ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]''] got his own show".<ref>{{cite news |title=With Spirit of Youthful Rebellion, ''Simpsons'' Creator Takes on Success |last=Kolbert|first=Elizabeth|date=March 11, 1993|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> He was disappointed with the premise of ''[[Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'', which inspired him to create a character who was genuinely mischievous.<ref>{{cite news|last=Groening|first=Matt|year=2005|title=Commentary for "[[Two Bad Neighbors]]", In ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season''|publisher=[[20th Century Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Bart first appeared with the Simpson family on April 19, 1987, in ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' [[The Simpsons shorts|short]] "[[Good Night (The Simpsons)|Good Night]]".{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997|p=14}}<ref name="u828">{{cite web | last=Tallerico | first=Brian | title=''The Simpsons'' at 30: Six Era-Defining Episodes | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 28, 2018 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/arts/television/simpsons-history-season-30-timeline.html | access-date=November 26, 2024 | archive-date=April 22, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422062640/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/arts/television/simpsons-history-season-30-timeline.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On December 17, 1989, the shorts were developed into ''The Simpsons'', a half-hour series on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]],<ref name="s787">{{cite web | last=Ortved | first=John | title=''The Simpsons'' Family Values: How the Cartoon Took Over TV | website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=July 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214051941/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/simpsons200708 |archive-date=December 14, 2024 |url-status=live | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/simpsons200708?srsltid=AfmBOoov6_MhRIP-W7X_IkrOMxHI8xGIoMzxYvu8fhvg-liiZBYylU3c | access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref><ref name="a058">{{cite web | last=Tyler | first=Adrienne | title=''The Simpsons'' Opening Sequence Had A Continuity Error For 20 Years | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=April 7, 2020 | url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-opening-credits-homer-boxes-garage-continuity-error/ | access-date=November 26, 2024 | archive-date=April 11, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411140317/https://screenrant.com/simpsons-opening-credits-homer-boxes-garage-continuity-error/ | url-status=live }}</ref> where Bart and the Simpson family became the central characters.<ref name="b306">{{cite web | last=Gunning | first=Cathal | title=''The Simpsons'' Season 35 Finally Addressed One Of The Show's Biggest Mysteries | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=October 9, 2023 | url=https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-season-35-characters-age-mystery/ | access-date=November 26, 2024 | archive-date=September 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915224608/https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-season-35-characters-age-mystery/ | url-status=live }}</ref>