Editing Mayor Quimby

{{short description|Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Mayor Quimby
| series = [[The Simpsons]]
| image = Mayor Quimby.png
| first_major = "[[Bart Gets an 'F']]"
| first_date = October 11, 1990
| creator = [[David M. Stern]]
| designer = [[Matt Groening]]
| voice = [[Dan Castellaneta]]
| based_on = [[Kennedy family]], particularly [[Ted Kennedy]] and President [[John F. Kennedy]] <br> [[The Edge]] (namesake)
| full_name = Joseph Fitzgerald O'Malley Fitzpatrick O'Donnell Quimby
| gender = Male ♂
| occupation = [[Mayor]] of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]]
| family = Rose Quimby (mother)<br>Clovis Quimby (brother)
| relatives = [[The Boy Who Knew Too Much (The Simpsons)|Freddy Quimby]] (nephew)<br> [[Cremains of the Day (The Simpsons)|Robert F. Quimby]] (unspecified)
| spouse = [[Martha Quimby]]
| children = {{Plainlist|
*Shirley (daughter)
*3 unnamed sons
*1 unnamed daughter
}}
}}

'''Mayor Joseph Fitzgerald O'Malley Fitzpatrick O'Donnell''' "'''the Edge'''"/"'''Joe'''" '''Quimby''',<ref>{{cite episode |title=Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes |episode-link=Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |network=Fox |airdate=2008-09-28 |season=20 |number=1 |time=0:49 |credits=Curran, Kevin; Kramer, Lance}}</ref>{{Sfn|Groening|2010|p=958}} nicknamed "'''Diamond Joe'''",{{Sfn|Groening|2010|p=272}} is a recurring character from the [[Animated cartoon|animated sitcom television series]] ''[[The Simpsons]]''. He is voiced by [[Dan Castellaneta]], and first appeared in the episode "[[Bart Gets an 'F']]{{-"}}. Quimby is the corrupt [[mayor]] of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]], and is a [[Composite character|composite]] [[parody]] of U.S. Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] and certain other members of the [[Kennedy family]] who have entered politics.

==Concept and creation==
Joe Quimby is a parody of [[Massachusetts]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Ted Kennedy]] and the [[Kennedy family]].{{r|brown20070702}} Like the Kennedys, Quimby [[Irish Americans|is of Irish descent]], "speaks with a [[Boston accent]], throws money at political problems, and vacations in a coastal resort called the '[[Kennedy Compound|Quimby Compound]]{{'"}}.{{r|brown20070702}} Dan Castellaneta voices Quimby with a [[Northeastern elite accent|Boston elite accent]], resulting in a voice reminiscent of that of President [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref>Groening, Matt (2005). Commentary for the episode "[[Sideshow Bob Roberts]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season'' [DVD]. Twentieth Century Fox.</ref>

==Appearances==
Quimby has long served as the [[mayor]] of the city of [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]]. He appears as a slick, opportunistic politician whose chief priorities seem to be keeping himself in office and various other forms of corruption, including [[embezzlement|embezzling]] tax money, taking [[bribery|bribes]] from [[Fat Tony (The Simpsons)|Fat Tony]], and giving monthly [[Political corruption#Kickbacks|kickbacks]] to Police [[Chief Wiggum]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Homer the Vigilante|episode-link=Homer the Vigilante|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Reardon, Jim; Swartzwelder, John |network=Fox |airdate=1994-01-06|season=5 |number=11 }}</ref> The seal on the wall of his office reads "Corruptus in Extremis",<ref>{{cite episode |title=Marge in Chains|episode-link=Marge in Chains|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Bill Oakley; Josh Weinstein; Reardon, Jim |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-06|season=4|number=21 }}</ref> which means "extremely corrupt". He is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].

Like Kennedy, Quimby is known as a [[wikt:womanizer|womanizer]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ghaly |first1=Sera Jane |title=High Culture: 10 Of The Best Cannabis Moments On The Simpsons |url=https://herb.co/news/culture/10-best-cannabis-moments-simpsons/ |work=[[Herb (company)|Herb]] |date=2022-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sachleben |first1=Mark |last2=Yenerall |first2=Kevan M |title=Seeing the Bigger Picture Understanding Politics Through Film & Television |date=2004 |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Lang]] |location=Switzerland |isbn=9780820462486 |page=161}}</ref> and occasionally amuses himself with [[Pornography|pornographic]] [[playing card]]s during town meetings. Quimby was once the subject of 27 separate [[Paternity (law)|paternity suit]]s. One of the women he impregnated is [[List of recurring The Simpsons characters#Cookie Kwan|Cookie Kwan]], whose baby is remarkably similar to Quimby in both looks and mannerisms.<ref>{{cite episode |title=She Used to Be My Girl|episode-link=She Used to Be My Girl|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Nastuk, Matthew; Long, Tim |network=Fox |airdate=2004-12-05|season=16 |number=4 }}</ref> Quimby also is frequently noticed in bed with the same or similar blonde woman/women, at least one of whom was [[Miss Springfield]].<ref name="Stephanie1">{{cite episode |title=See Homer Run|episode-link=See Homer Run|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Kruse, Nancy; Gillis, Stephanie |network=Fox |airdate=2005-11-20|season=17 |number=6 }}</ref> He also once accidentally courted his own niece, which is one of the few things Quimby has ever shown shame over.

Despite being the mayor for such a long time, Quimby does not know or care much about his city, often privately (or even publicly) showing his outright contempt for Springfield's citizens.<ref name=Slate2013-05-17/> He frequently takes overseas vacations, which take him out of town for extended periods of time, leading to the headline "Mayor Visits City" in the ''Springfield Shopper''. He once referred to Springfield as "Springfeld" at a public meeting. However, he makes frequent, albeit short, public appearances for local festivities, events, business openings, etc.

If bending the law will suit Quimby's purposes, he will likely do so. He once arranged [[Marge Simpson]]'s release after she was arrested for blocking traffic on a bridge after suffering a [[Mental breakdown|nervous breakdown]], claiming that if she went to jail, Quimby could kiss the "chick vote" goodbye.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Homer Alone|episode-link=Homer Alone|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Kirkland, Mark; Stern, David M. |network=Fox |airdate=1992-02-06|season=3 |number=15 }}</ref> He also resorted to bribing witnesses when assault charges were brought against his nephew, leading [[Bart Simpson]] to observe that "the system works: just ask [[Claus von Bülow]]".<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Boy Who Knew Too Much|episode-link=The Boy Who Knew Too Much (The Simpsons)|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Lynch, Jeffrey; Swartzwelder, John |network=Fox |airdate=1994-05-05|season=5 |number=20 }}</ref>

His [[catchphrase]] is "Vote Quimby", which he always finds an opportunity to say, even in situations where it would be disadvantageous to identify himself, like inadvertently being caught by Homer in a motel room with his [[Mistress (lover)|mistress]].

Quimby was elected Mayor of Springfield in 1986 (three years before the show's debut) and has been re-elected several times since, despite openly admitting to fraud and wrongdoing. In the season 4 episode "[[Krusty Gets Kancelled]]" he admits to using taxpayer dollars to fund the [[murder]] of his enemies, but thanks to a clever use of a popular Gabbo catchphrase ("I'm a bad wittle boy"), he is re-elected in a landslide.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Krusty Gets Kancelled|episode-link=Krusty Gets Kancelled |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Silverman, David; Swartzwelder, John |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-13 |season=4 |number=22 }}</ref>

[[Image:Dan Castellaneta 2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Dan Castellaneta]], the voice of Quimby.]]
Quimby's political stranglehold on Springfield has earned him the hatred of Springfield's small but vocal [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] elite, themselves portrayed as mostly dark, ghoulish figures who meet in a castle. When the Republicans nominate [[Sideshow Bob]] as their mayoral candidate, Bob rigs the election, briefly deposing Quimby. He is re-instated when Bob is found guilty of fraud and imprisoned.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Sideshow Bob Roberts|episode-link=Sideshow Bob Roberts |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Kirkland, Mark; Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh |network=Fox |airdate=1994-10-09 |season=6 |number=5 }}</ref> Later, Quimby briefly flees the city thinking his corruption has been exposed and is deemed to have "abandoned office" and is replaced by a short-lived "council of learned citizens" headed by [[Lisa Simpson]], [[Professor Frink]], [[Comic Book Guy]], [[Lindsey Naegle]], [[Dr. Hibbert]], and [[Principal Skinner]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=They Saved Lisa's Brain|episode-link=They Saved Lisa's Brain|series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits= Michels, Pete; Selman, Matt |network=Fox |airdate=1999-05-09 |season=10 |number=22 }}</ref> He also survives a [[recall election]], with no candidate in the race against him (candidates include [[Rainier Wolfcastle]] (a [[California recall election, 2003|Schwarzenegger reference]]), [[Kent Brockman]], and even [[Homer Simpson]]) garnering the five percent necessary to force a recall.<ref name="Stephanie1"/>

==Reception==
Literary critic [[Paul Cantor]] has cited Mayor Quimby as an example of Springfield's [[Atomism (social)|atomistic politics]], noting "Mayor Quimby is a demagogue, but at least he is Springfield's own demagogue. When he buys votes, he buys them directly from the citizens of Springfield."<ref>{{cite journal
| last       = Cantor
| first      = Paul A. 
| date       = Dec 1999
| title      = The Simpsons: Atomistic Politics and the Nuclear Family
| journal    = Political Theory 
| volume     = 27
| issue      = 6
| pages      = 734–749
| doi        = 10.1177/0090591799027006002
| jstor = 192244 
| s2cid = 143998133 
}}</ref> During the ''[[USA Today]]'' contest to choose which Springfield would host the release of ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', [[Ted Kennedy]] himself appears in a video in which he invited "Diamond Joe" Quimby and the film to premiere in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], and even mocked his own oft-mocked pronunciation of the word "Chowder" (as "Chow-Dah"); however, [[Springfield, Vermont]] was chosen instead.<ref name="brown20070702">{{cite news|last=Brown|first=John Robbie|title=Kennedy backs city's 'Simpsons Movie' campaign|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/07/02/kennedy_backs_citys_simpsons_movie_campaign/|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 2, 2007|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> On May 17, 2013, following reporting on a new scandal, Justin Peters, crime reporter for [[Slate (magazine)|''Slate'' magazine]] compared the highly corrupt gaffe-plagued [[Mayor of Toronto]] [[Rob Ford]] to Quimby. Peters prepared a list of 20 outrageous statements, and asked readers to guess which ones were uttered by the fictional Quimby, and which were uttered by the real life Ford.<ref name=Slate2013-05-17>{{cite news|last=Peters|first=Justin|title=Who Said It: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford or Simpsons Mayor Diamond Joe Quimby |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/05/17/rob_ford_crack_cocaine_simpsons_mayor_diamond_joe_quimby_or_toronto_mayor.html?wpisrc=most_viral|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=November 13, 2017|quote=In fact, the public servant Ford most closely resembles is the fictional mayor from The Simpsons, Diamond Joe Quimby. Both men are heavyset. Both are often at odds with constituents, colleagues, and the press. And both are prone to saying outrageous things in public.}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Politics in The Simpsons|Politics in ''The Simpsons'']]
{{portal bar|The Simpsons|Animation|Television|Comedy}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Groening |title=Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 |title-link=Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide: Seasons 1–20 |date=2010-10-28 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=9780061711282 |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |edition=1st |editor2-last=Gimple |editor2-first=Scott M. |editor2-link=Scott M. Gimple |editor-last3=McCann |editor-first3=Jessie L. |editor-last4=Seghers |editor-first4=Christine |editor-last5=Bates |editor-first5=James W.}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.simpsonsworld.com/character/mayor_quimby Profile of Mayor Quimby] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093148/http://www.simpsonsworld.com/character/mayor_quimby |date=2017-11-14 }} from SimpsonsWorld.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160306170712/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0003006/ Mayor Quimbi] on [[IMDb]]
{{The Simpsons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quimby, Joe}}
[[Category:The Simpsons characters]]
[[Category:Animated characters introduced in 1990]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1990]]
[[Category:Fictional mayors]]
[[Category:Fictional Democrats (United States)]]
[[Category:Fictional political bosses]]
[[Category:Male characters in animated television series]]
[[Category:Fictional American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American male characters in sitcoms]]