The Simpsons: 10 Best Characters Only In One Episode
8. Roy
It may seem pretty ridiculous now, but back in 1996 there were fears that The Simpsons was nearing the end as an eighth season loomed. Fearful that the show had lost the shock value and novelty that had helped propel its ratings through the roof, several executives suggested to Matt Groening and his writing staff that the addition of a new character to the Simpson family might help freshen things up.
They had other ideas. The team certainly took the advice on board, going meta before we had a name for such a thing by inventing a new, 'edgy' Simpson and throwing rocking dog Poochie into the deadly Itchy & Scratchy Show mix for good measure. The writers' likenesses can also be found in the team of hacks forced to author the Worst Episode Ever as The Simpsons plumbed new depths of parody, skewering corporate culture and lampooning both themselves and their fans in the process to produce an all-time classic episode.
But aside from all that, there's Roy. Without explanation, the Fonzie-esque character casually appears at the Simpson family breakfast table several times before eventually taking off to move in with two sexy ladies. Everybody now: We like Roy, we like Roy."