This article is for quizzes on Monday June 22nd, 2015...
Charles Montgomery "
Monty"
Burns, usually referred to as
Mr. Burns, is a recurring character in the
animated television series The Simpsons, and was voiced by
Harry Shearer. Burns is the evil owner of the
Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and is also
Homer Simpson's boss. He is attended at almost all times by
Mr. Smithers, his loyal and
sycophantic aide, advisor, confidant and secret admirer.
Although originally conceived as a one-dimensional, recurring
villain who might occasionally enter the Simpsons' lives and wreak some sort of havoc, Burns' popularity has led to his repeated inclusion in episodes. Modeled after
Jacob Rothschild while having
David Rockefeller's speech patterns; Mr. Burns is a stereotype of corporate America in his unquenchable desire to increase his own wealth and power, inability to remember his employees' names (including Homer's, despite frequent interactions – which has become something of a recurrent joke) and lack of concern for their safety and well-being. Reflecting his advanced age, Burns is given to expressing dated humor, making references to
Jazz Age popular culture, and aspiring to apply obsolete technology to everyday life.
Conan O'Brien has called Mr. Burns his favorite character to write for, due to his arbitrarily old age and extreme wealth.
Burns'
trademark expression is the word "Excellent", muttered slowly in a low, sinister voice while steepling his fingertips. He occasionally orders Smithers to "release the
hounds", so as to let his vicious guard dogs attack any intruders, enemies or even invited guests. Mr. Burns is
Springfield's richest and most powerful citizen (and also the richest person in Springfield's state; his current
net worth has been given as $1.3 billion by
Forbes, though it fluctuates wildly depending on the episode).
