Dr. Julius Hibbert, with his mellow chuckle and Cosby-style patchwork sweaters, is Springfield's most-visited physician. We all know him to be a man of integrity and sound medical mind. But when one needs "professional" advice on how to gain a hundred pounds, or can't afford an actual licensed practitioner, to whom can one turn? Why to Dr. Nick Riviera, of course, proud graduate of the Hollywood Upstairs Medical College1x Sure, the last words you hear from Dr. Nick, just before you succumb to the inescapable grip of anesthesia, might be: "What the hell's that?" but he's a heckuva guy regardless. Just follow these links to extensive and hilarious recaps of every Dr. Nick appearance on The Simpsons, then find out why Nick is a better doctor than Hibbert. And since you've stopped by his waiting room, don't forget to get your personal diagnosis from the man himself.

Then there's the mighty McBain, The Simpsons' action-hero extraordinaire, who's played by cartoon actor Ranier Wolfcastle. McBain's personal site, much like Dr. Nick's, includes a detailed account of each time the brawny uberbrute blasted into Springfield. Especially fun is a section pointing out tiny but fascinating McBain moments and nuances you might have missed. You'll learn something new about this Schwarzenegger-style tough guy before you can say, "Up and at them1x"

Now a trivia question: What do Moe the bartender, Apu the Quickie Mart owner, and the ever-bumbling Chief Wiggum have in common? Yup, they're all voiced by Hank Azaria, who gives the term "character actor" new meaning by uttering the words for more than 15 recurring roles (including the aforementioned Dr. Nick) on the show. A Simpsons section of a fan site devoted to Azaria (he does live-action work too -- remember the scene-stealing houseboy in The Birdcage?) offers some priceless useless facts and an illuminating list of the characters Hank brings to life. To hear this vocal chameleon in action, click on the Sounds page and choose from a slew of clips, including many quotes from the nerdy yet ever-popular Professor John Frink, um-hey1x In case you've forgotten, this scientific visionary once predicted: "Within 100 years, computers will be twice as powerful, ten thousand times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them." Visionary, indeed.

Of course, any look at The Simpsons, however brief, really isn't complete without mention of the Simpson family proper. Much has changed since these five lovable two-dimensional scamps started raising hell in 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show. Remember how Homer used to sound like Walter Matthau? Or how Bart's head was a different shape? Well, your "Entertain Me" buddy has unearthed a series of strips that chronicle the cartoon evolution of (_8(|) Homer, @@@@8 (|) Marge, Bart, Lisa, and little Maggie -- from '87 to '98, and beyond. Matt Groening's creations were so crudely drawn at first that it's eye-opening to see how far they've come ? the simple line-drawn humans have grown sharper over the years, and without aging a bit. Let's just hope that, eleven years from now, the Simpsons are still pointing out just how goofy us 3-D folk can be.

Would you like to Comment on this article or send it to a friend? You can do either one just below where you see:

• Submit Comments on this Article: or
• Mail this article to a friend?

If you want to read more articles from this author just enter their last name in the "Site Search" box (located at top right of this screen) and press your "enter" key.