When watching all of his appearances, I went back and forth over how sympathetic Kirk actually is. He landed somewhere between Barney Gumble and Helen Lovejoy in terms of the "likeability and sympathy" spectrum.

I'm voting for a simpsons histories episode on the entire town of Shelbyville.

I too, don't like the idea of Milhouse having two spaghetti meals in one day.

"So that's it after 20 years. So long, good luck?" "I don't recall saying good luck."

The best thing about "A Milhouse Divided" was how Kirk singing for Luann at the end felt like a typical wrap-up to make things normal again, but then he proposed and Luann said "Eww no!" and they stayed divorced.

I still think Artie Ziff would be an interesting choice. He’s such a huge role in Marge and Homer’s backstory, yet was also a non-presence in the show outside of flashbacks until the ‘modern’ era. His characterisation of ‘trendy tech dude’ also gives a good insight into what, well, was trendy tech when the episode aired

I lent Kirk a feeling. Still hasn't paid me back.

I’m always a huge advocate for Flanders getting a history episode. He’s such an important side character to the point I’d argue he’s more famous than most of the side cast combined. He’s also a character who has had a plethora of changes to their status quo and character focus. And my most important reason, he’s my favorite character. What can I say; every one who counts loves Ned Flanders.

I’d love a Sideshow Mel history, He is such an unspoken yet major presence in the show

Finally we’ll uncover wether or not he ever got to borrow a feeling

With this amount of attention this video will recieve, he’ll able to sleep in TWO racecars!

I’d like to see a Simpsons histories for Maude Flanders, as I feel like the show regrets killing her off sometimes. I know the reason they did it was because her voice actress left, but ever since the voice actress came back the shows taken every opportunity to feature Maude in a flashback or non canon episode.

Tbh, I kind of always felt that both Mulhouse’s parents are just straight up awful in their own special, horrible ways, which definitely helps explain why Melhouse is the way he is, I’d imagine.

How about Doctor Hibbert for the next Simpsons Histories? He started off as a Cosby parody (which doesn't age well given what we now know about Cosby) and he's about the only prominent secondary character without his own spotlight episode. We frequently see him, but know little about him.

Squeaky Voiced Teen history would be slightly interesting.

"I dont like the idea of Jim's having two Spaghetti meals a day"

I always theorized that Luann was just Kirk's Shelbyville doppelganger. If everyone in Springfield each had their own counterpart & she was born in Shelbyville, then there you go. Also not too crazy about that revelation that they actually WERE cousins, not just cuz the mystery was more fun but because it feels like it conveniently sums up Milhouse's laundry list of issues as just being genetic. (But that's probably me reading more into it.) Milhouse comes off as the kind of guy who would grow up to try to interrupt someone else's Girls' Night Out in an attempt to pick up chicks.

I think it's important to point out that unlike Homer with Bart, Kirk's relation with Milhouse never seem to deteriorate over the season, Milhouse always showed a lot of care and compassion for his dad

Sleeping in a race car lol such a bad ass moment.

Disco Stu needs a video from you!

I know we just had a backstory drop with him, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Comic Book Guy video. Also, I'd still like a Moe History at some point, just because his character has gone through so much

Imagine marrying someone from shelbyville

I continue to vote for Marge's mother, there is so much of her that we did not see but that peeks out in Marge's traumas from her upbringing

The twins Sherri and Terri, you've done a bunch of side characters for Homer and Bart (even tertiary characters) but very few for the Simpsons girls.

There’s a really neat understated moment in their Great Gatsby episode in S28. Burns invites everyone to what’s supposed to be a glamorous Jazz Age cocktail party at his mansion on not-Long Island, but when they get there the house is a dilapidated old dump and the party was clearly put together on a shoe string budget. Everyone who gets a speaking role complains, but Kirk silently looks around and is still impressed.

Kirk's vocal quirks always crack me up; like how awkward he sounds every time he's about to say something. "Uhhhhhh, I sleep in a racing car! Do you?" I know that also applies to Milhouse but the fact that his own father - a grown man - also talks that way is just a bit funnier to me.

Favorite Kirk Quote" "Milhouse, give him back his soul. I've got work tomorrow!"

Lewis and Richard for the next Simpsons history, it’s really interesting how they started off in the barts key friend group then they just disappeared

"Get super turned on when they find out Milhouse is popular" And they say the later seasons have gone down hill!

It feels like you've been teasing this for years.

This is one of the funniest low-key characters in The Simpsons: he's a lousy human being - almost just as Homer, but in very different ways.

Main thing I remember about Kirk is how traumatic that Pictionary blowup scene was for a lot of my fellow elder Millennial friends because of how authentic it was to their own parents' inciting incidents for divorce or toxic decay.

We need one about Kearney

Here's a weird Simpsons Histories angle: Moe's Tavern. It's always been depicted as a crap bar, but has the type of crap bar it is changed? How have the regulars changed?

I remember the first time me and my brother saw Milhouse Divided, it was the night before our parents split up (and never reconciled). It can be a goofy episode, but its an interesting look into a very common childhood struggle. I love the jokes in Milhouse Divided but I've always resented the way the Simpsons writers knocked Kirk down but then never built him up again. It feels like a missed opportunity to create a symbol of hope during a divorce / tough time.

I'd like to see a history on proffesor frink proffesor frink (makes you laugh, makes you think)

id love cookie kwan, i feel like she's doing something completely different every time she appears

Don't forget that he was a huge 80's musician

I remember Kirk’s last concert. Played can I borrow a feeling in the front encore to the delight of us all. RIP big man 😢

Just wanted to say I was watching Three Men and a Comic Book the other day and saw a post saying that Cloris Leachman passed away. *Rest in peace to that lovely, talented actor.*

I wish one of those famous KZfaq cover singers would do an un-ironic cover of "Can I Borrow A Feeling?"

Can we get a Simpsons Histories about Moe?

I would love to see a histories episode on Snake. I always found him oddly relatable, especially when he acts lovingly like to that puppy or to his son

Some folk’ll never get a Simpsons history, but then again, some folk’ll. Do Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel!

we're doing Simpsons histories on single people now? Frankly, I think it's a market you could do without

To be fair, a Simpsons Histories on Gumbly Simpson would actually be amazing

Similarly to Ichy and Scrathy, what about a Simpsons histories on Radioactive Man, the comic book superhero. Given our recent superhero dominated blockbuster landscape, there've got to be plenty of material for the later seasons to satirise.

Groundskeeper Willie is the man I would love to see one on him. It’s been a sec since a Springfield elementary histories too. Loved the video btw :)

>their ancestor >they inherited holup

Do a Simpsons histories for Ned Flanders.

A history of a more obscure character like the Blue Haired Lawyer would be pretty fun! Or the guy with the giant hand who works at the Nuclear Plant, purely because he's somehow been in at least two episodes where they've made jokes about his giant hand.

I had a girlfriend whose single dad wrote a song. He sang it when I was around one time and my mind automatically went to Can I Borrow A Feeling and I struggled to keep a straight face as the song was as terrible. But I think I got away with it.

Kirk is basically the "Jerry" of the Simpsons.

''Can I borrow a feeling?'' is actually underrated and has got me through some hard times in my life, I don't care what anyone says.

The weird french waiter who says: Yessssss

Kirk Van Houten, the character written to be a bigger loser than Milhouse.

3:30 I believe you mean ‘A Kirk’s son divided’

I would really like to see Akira done next. He's been around for a long time but very little is done with him as far as I can recall.

I’m surprised we haven’t seen a Mr. Burns history yet - he drives so much plot, I’d love to see exactly where he stands

You never did a Mr.Burns Simpsons histories, which surprises me, I'd love to see that. One of my favourite characters.

Kirk: I sleep in a race car do you Homer: I sleep in a big bed with my wife Best comeback ever

I feel like the reason it is ok to have the Van Houtens get back together is because they are not the same characters that got divorced. I feel they evolved and developed them into something different enough that they no longer resembled the prior versions and; as you mentioned held more potential together. Relaistically, they shifted them into their divorced selves but independently refined them in that state then took the diverse aspect as far as they could go. At that point it made sense to drop the divorce gimik and get them together again with their new traits other than the higher bitterness toward each other. It was really a case of very slowly reinventing the Van Houtens as a family dynamic. It also clearly had an impact on Millhouse's personality to a degree.

I'd like to nominate Groundskeeper Willie for Simpsons histories.

Kirk randomly getting his arm sliced off lives in my head more than any other Simpsons scene

Please do one on Lenny and Carl, they’re 2 of my favorite characters

"Kirk's son falls in love" hahaha

When Homer laughs at his demo tape "Can I borrow a feeling?" Is easily in my top 5 favorite Simpsons moments.

A Milhouse Divided has always been one of my personal favorite Simpsons episodes, and Kurk definitely played a role in that feeling. There are so many good lines related to him, even if he mostly shined in the first half. And I felt it was really interesting that the Van Houtens in particular took a plunge in changing up the status quo, showing how a divorce shakes up an entire family. And as for a future Simpsons Histories, Supernintendo Chalmers would be a fun candidate. Outside of the steamed hams meme, I think it would be interesting to look at him considering he was written as the closest we have to a “straight man” besides Frank Grimes, and how the later seasons seemed to catch him up to speed with the increasing wackiness of the world.

You know, this place used to be a pet shop...

Nice touch with the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past happy village music there. And it was sad that Kirk was destroyed by the writers.

I would pay Jims A LOT of money to do a Simpsons Mysteries episode on Springfield Elementary School.

next history: Mr. Burns!

i have been waiting for this!! gosh i love the van houtens lol

Do a history on Maggie I love that they usually forget about her but occasionally give her big spotlight moments

Every time one of these videos reaches the "yeah, but what could they do with this character at this point?" the response that comes into my mind is actually "They should have stopped making the damn show."

What about Mayor Quimby? The joke of him and his family just being the Kennedy's has been going strong for like 30 years now but we still know next to nothing about Springfields 6 term mayor

I would still love to see a Simpsons Histories on the quickly swept-aside Louis and Richard.

Wake up babe, new TheRealJims video!

Suggesting Groundskeeper Willie for the next one, and seconding other people's recommendations for Doctor Hibbert and Artie Ziff. Also, if Homer's long lost brother has more to him than the two episodes I remember, then that would be an enlightening one.

Either Doctor Hibbert or a Lenny and Carl combo since they're pretty damn tied at the hip throughout the show.

Thank you, Jim's. You the real MVP

Only The Simpsons would flesh out the best friend's dad as much as they did. How many other shows can you think of that go the extra mile to make characters like Kirk feel like an actual person instead of just filling a spot in the town?

I like how Kirk is basically like an adult Milhouse, like father like son as they say.

Can't forget about ol' Gil.

Could you do a video those guys that are always sitting in the back of bar their probably the characters we see the most that never do anything

This is the first new video since I’ve been a subscriber. So happy these videos exist. I was a kid when The Simpsons debuted and it’s been amazing revisiting it all as an adult and finding a new appreciation for the show. Thanks for making these videos!

Kirk is only known to be worked at Cracker Factory. Sadly that's the only story arc I have remembered as a young boy.

I think an episode about Jimbo, Dolph and Kearny (I view them as one character, despite having certain characteristics of their own) would be pretty interresting.

Snake Jailbird is a character that really fascinates me.

Can we get a history episode of Moes Pickled egg jar

Dude I was JUST thinking last night how bad I wanted a Kirk History and now I'm convinced I willed the video into existence.

i never realized how similar milhouse's parents look before watching this video, it's like they're twin siblings

Please do Mr.Burns!!!!! He has such an extensive background it would be long but I’d watch all of it!!

Duffman for the next Simpsons Histories.

Kirk Van Houten. Technically, everyone is a Kirk Van Houten. We're not mean enough to be the villain of someone's story, but we're also not nice enough to be the hero.

Jim I’ve been waiting for this video for so long

I would like to see a Simpsons Histories on someone mad obscure like Richard, Rich Texan, or Dr. Marvin Monroe.

Dolphin Starbeam. He's the most underappreciated of the bullies, and my personal favourite aside from Nelson.

My daughter just asked me who’s my least favorite Simpsons character and Kirk was the first character to pop in my head. Now this video is recommended for me to watch, ha.

Kirk is one of my all time favorite characters. This exchange always makes me howl with laughter: Kirk: How many of you children have gone out to your car and found a flyer on the windshield? Nelson: Are you the guy that puts them there? Kirk: No. I'm his assistant. But one time he was sick and he let me do it. I totally screwed it up.