10 Incredible Tiny Details Hidden In The Simpsons
7. Sideshow Bob, Sideshow Cecil And Their Father Are One Big Frasier Reference
If you’re in the market for two of America’s best and most celebrated sitcoms, you need look no further than The Simpsons and Frasier (spin-off of the equally beloved Cheers). If you’re a fan of both shows, you’ll surely be aware that Bart’s nemesis Sideshow Bob is voiced by Kelsey Grammer, Frasier Crane himself. This is why the character seems to sing so darn much: because Grammer’s voice is smoother than the most bit-less of no bits orange juice.
In Season Eight’s “Brother From Another Series,” Bob’s brother Sideshow Cecil comes to town, seeking revenge on Bob for his older brother outshining him (it was Cecil’s dream to become Krusty’s sideshow). Again, fans of both shows will surely know that Cecil was voiced by David Hyde Pierce, who played Frasier’s equally pompous and sophisticated brother Niles. There’s more, though, which is where the true brilliance comes in.
In “Funeral For A Fiend,” Sideshow Bob is (supposedly) laid to rest. His funeral is attended by his brother and their father, Dr. Robert Terwilliger Sr. Who voices him, you ask? The late John Mahoney, Frasier and Niles’ father Martin Crane!