Super Nintendo Chalmers is a classic gag from The Simpsons - here’s how it evolved into one of the show’s best memes. While fans may argue over the current quality of The Simpsons, its commonly accepted that from around season three to season ten, the show was creatively on fire. The quality of the writing and voice acting combined to make it one of the funniest sitcoms of all time, which is why this period is regarded as something of a golden era.
This can be seen in the sheer number of memes that have spawned from this period of The Simpsons. This includes Homer backing into a bush to signal embarrassment or leaving an awkward situation, which comes from season five episode “Homer Loves Flanders,” or the now legendary Steamed Hams meme that swept the internet in 2018, which came from season seven’s “22 Short Films About Springfield.”
Another classic The Simpsons meme originated from season ten episode “Lisa Gets An “A,” where Superintendent Gary Chalmers accompanies Principal Skinner and Lisa into a computer lab, where Ralph Wiggum greets him with a cheerful “Hi Super Nintendo Chalmers!” Chalmers’ nonplussed response sums up what’s great about the character too, which is why this quick gag has emerged over time as a fan favorite.
This is true of Superintendent Chalmers also, who is now seen as one of the most underrated characters on The Simpsons. Chalmers first emerged as a comic foil for Principal Skinner who would periodically come to inspect the school, which led to a panicked Skinner having to tell ever more elaborate lies to make it appear everything was running smoothly. This is best seen in the Steamed Hams segment, where Skinner’s lies and excuses escalate to an insane degree.
Chalmers’ barely concealed contempt for Skinner and his deadpan acceptance of his blatant falsehoods are what make his scenes so hilarious. The writers of The Simpsons consider Chalmers to be one of the only characters in the show that functions on a rational, human level, and the only way he can accept the madness of Springfield itself is to not ask too many questions. In the Steamed Hams scene, for example, he’s fully aware Skinner is constantly piling up lies, but he knows not to dig too deep.
This is also why he doesn’t bother correcting Ralph Wiggum about “Super Nintendo Chalmers” either. This is one reason Chalmers is now recognized as one of the funniest side characters on The Simpsons and why he seems to keep appearing in its best memes.
