Matt Groening's Favorite Simpsons Character Isn't Who You Think

When it comes to groundbreaking titles in adult animation, "The Simpsons" undoubtedly leads the pack. Arriving in the late 1980s, courtesy of "The Tracey Ullman Show," the hijinks of the Simpson family became astoundingly popular with television viewers in no time. As a result, they soon got their own small screen program on Fox that's still running to this day. Though many longtime fans of the show agree it's not exactly what it used to be, its pop-culture legacy endures, and it's all thanks to the creative vision of one man: Matt Groening.

Groening first rose to prominence as the creator of a self-published comic known as "Life in Hell." It became a near-immediate success, thus affording him the opportunity to jump into the realm of animation. Shortly after, "The Simpsons" was born, and as one could imagine, he was a made man after that. Nevertheless, he has continued to pursue other projects over the years, such as "Futurama" and "Disenchantment." Even still, he remains involved with "The Simpsons" and doesn't seem eager to distance himself from his life-changing creation any time soon.

It's clear that "The Simpsons" has changed lives across the globe, but perhaps none more so than Matt Groening's. He's very much in tune with his beloved brainchild, so much so that he has even chosen a favorite character based on their fictional personality.

Throughout its multiple decades on the air, "The Simpsons" has hosted the arrival of numerous iconic characters. From major players like Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) to more minor cast members like Superintendent Gary Chalmers (Hank Azaria), odds are everyone that has appeared on the program enjoys a fanbase of their own. At the same time, who could possibly warrant the top spot of Matt Groening himself, the person responsible in one way or another for virtually every resident of Springfield, Illinois? According to him, choosing a favorite isn't as difficult as it may seem to everyone else.

In April of 2018, Matt Groening sat down with USA Today to discuss the series and reveal some of his favorite elements of it. On the topic of his favorite character, he was quick to hand a famous member of the Simpson family the honor. "I love Lisa Simpson the most because she seems like the one character that's going to evolve and eventually escape Springfield," he explained, adding that those around her seem "pretty oblivious and like they're stuck there." Groening also cited Ralph Wiggum (Nancy Cartwright), Milhouse van Houten (Pamela Hayden), Principal W. Seymour Skinner (Harry Shearer), Agnes Skinner (Tress MacNeille), and Apu (Azaria) as standout supporting characters.

Lisa Simpson (Yeardley Smith) is and forever will be one of the most important elements of "The Simpsons" for the reasons that Matt Groening mentioned. She's driven, intelligent, and knows what she wants, making her the perfect foil for most other characters on the show. It wouldn't have been the same without her, just as it wouldn't have been the same without Groening at the helm.