50 Hidden Messages We Never Noticed In The Simpsons

1. Homer And Marge Are Married In Real Life

(Image Source/PasteMagazine)The people behind the French animations are Philippe Peythieu and Veronique Augereau - they are the ones who bring us these iconic voices. The two of them met while auditioning for the roles in 1989, they fell in love and tied the knot in 2001. A love story on and off the screen.

2. They Hide Swear Words In Nearly Every Episode

(Image Source/Tumgir)There are no swear/curse words allowed in The Simpsons. But that did not stop them trying to sneak one past Fox producers in season 7. Apu graduates with a Ph.D. from Springfield Heights Institute of Technology. Look closely at the acronym and see what it spells.

3. Maggie's Price Has A Secret Meaning!

(Image Source/simpa)We are all very familiar with the moment Maggie gets scanned at this till and the price pops up which is  $847.63, but do you actually know why? The reason for this is that in 1989 when it was made, this was the estimated cost of raising a baby, per month. Clever!

4. Homer Disproves Fermat's Last Theorem!

(Image Source/NPR)For the majority of us, Fermat's last theorem is a completely unknown concept. But, Simpson's has been written by mathematical geniuses. And, while these little maths details go unknown by most - Homer in ‘The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace’ episode disproves this theory.

5. God And Jesus Have 5 Fingers - Here's Why!

(Image Source/Pinterest)God and Jesus are the only people in Simpsons to have five fingers. These figures are higher entities in The Simpsons and this has been symbolised through their extra finger. It links to Pythagoras who said numbers are divine - a gift from god (again, it was written by a group of math whizzes).

6. There's A Subplot Of The McBain Series Running Through The WHOLE Thing!

(Image Source/YouTube)McBain is like a mini series within The Simpsons. McBain is an Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired action hero Rainier Wolf castle. And if you place all of the clips together, they form a continuous sort of mini series. Another clever thing about The Simpsons that makes you appreciate it even even more.

7. Michael Jackson Makes A Cameo

(Image Source/YouTube)In The Simpsons there is an episode which is called Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie. There are very famous cameos in this episode when two people in particular feature. They are not explicitly stated but we know all the same. It was none other than Michael Jackson and Dustin Hoffman.

8. Ahoy Hoy Was The Real Hello

(Image Source/NME)When Mr Burns answers the phone he always says 'ahoy hoy'. It turns out that this is not just a random little quirk of Mr Burns but it actually has historical significance. When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he suggested that this should be the way to answer it.

9. The Watergate Exposure

(Image Source/ProBoards)Do you remember Bart reading ‘The Truth About Whacking Day’? It was written by the Washington Post and the journalist stated on it is Bob Woodward who was crucial the the exposure of Watergate. Again, more proof that The Simpsons creators are geniuses.

10. Another Dig At The President...

(Image Source/reddit)The Simpsons is packed full of political references and they do not hold back when it comes to taking a dig at former presidents. Bart shreds some papers and if you watch closely, you'll see a second long clip where he shreds a piece of paper saying 'V.P. Quayle... Embarrassment’.

11. John Swartzwelder Gets Sent To A Mental Hospital

(Image Source/Yahoo)John Swartzwelder is one of the most iconic writers in The Simpsons history. He was often deemed a recluse in real life. And during one episode he can be seen behind a door in a mental hospital, playing on the rumours that surrounded him from the public. 

12. Producers Take A Swipe At 'Obsessive' Fans

(Image Source/slate)Alt.tv.simpsons is a website where fans go to nit pick every single tiny detail of The Simpsons after each episode. So, in one episode there is a dig. Bart is a huge fan of comic book guy and he logs on the computer onto the site alt.nerd.obsessive where they do the same thing.

13. There's A LOT Of Clever References To History

(Image Source/squareeyed)Remember the episode that takes place at the Vietnamese hall, there are two signs called Fops and Dandies. These are references to 18th-century European culture, where Fops was a name for men who were overly obsessed with their appearance and Dandies wore tail coats.

14. The Infamous A113

(Image Source/Pinterest)If you are a Disney fan, you will know about the recurring A113. And, it's also a feature in The Simpsons too. It refers to the institute of the arts where many talented animators graduate and then continue on to make film and TV series - a place especially where Disney employs its animators.

15. Did You Spot The Hidden Code?

(Image Source/HELLO)A lot of what goes on in The Simpsons is unknown to most people who would not have the specific knowledge to understand or appreciate it. For example, when Homer goes into the video game the sequence of numbers actually converts form code to 'Frink rules' as a reference to professor Fink.

16. You Probably Didn't Notice This! Danny Elfman's Has A Store In The Opening!

(Image Source/Eeggs.com)Even thought this one is in plain sight, it's barely noticeable. Danny Elfman is the creator of the famous Simpsons theme tune, and we can see his name written on the store front in the very opening of the credits. Once you notice you'll always see it.

17. The Controversial O.J Simpson Reference

(Image Source/thehollywoodreporter)This episode aired just two months after the trial aired. In this series there is a trial - who shot Mr Burns. They way they talk about it highlights all the injustices and the way the trial was held. It is a clear reference to their view in the O.J Simpson trial. The Simpsons creators aren't afraid to air their opinions.

18. Bart Is An Anagram

(Image Source/YouTube)You may have figured this one out for yourself - but Bart is an anagram for the world brat, but of course jumbled up. And we can't deny he is a bit of a brat, we just can't help but love him all the same because he's one oft he funniest characters in the show.

19. Matt Groening Named Them After His Family

(Image Source/TheVerge)Matt Groening is of course the iconic creator of The Simpsons. And, he decided to name all of the characters after members of his own family - apart from himself. Bart was the one he switched for his own name...and we already know what that means from the previous point.

20. The Real Reason Why The Are Yellow

(Image Source/BBC)Why yellow? We've all thought it. And the answer is pretty obvious really. When you are flicking through channels they wanted something to grab your attention. And something instantly recognisable. As soon as we see yellow we know that it's The Simpsons.

21. Paul McCartney's Lentil Soup Recipe

(Image Source/PasteMagazine)Lisa becomes a vegetarian in The Simpsons and so she goes to speak to Paul and Linda McCartney - who are also famous vegetarians. In the episode Paul tells Lisa to play his track 'Maybe I’m Amazed' backwards you will find a lentil soup recipe. Another thing they got right.

22. D'oh Has Been Added To The Official Dictionary

 (Image Source/buzinga)Now this is an impressive feat for a cartoon - but as we all know, The Simpsons is no ordinary cartoon or TV show in general. It is elite on many levels. And this is shown by the fact that Homer's famous D'oh is now in the official dictionaries as a real recognised word.

23. Only One Character Speaks In Every Episode

(Image Source/wikipedia)There is only one character that speaks in every single Simpson's episode and that person is Homer - of course it had to be him. The next most frequent person to speak is both Bart and Marge. And then it is followed by Mr Burns and in fourth place comes Lisa.

24. The Length Of The Couch Gags Depends On The Episode Length

(Image Source/YouTube)You'll have definitely noticed that the couch gag varies a lot each time - sometimes it's really long and sometimes it's tiny. And why is that? Well it just depends on the actual length of the episode, if it is shorter it has to be extended. If the episode is longer then it as to be cropped down.

25. There Was Only 1 Episode In The 80s

(Image Source/Nerdist)Many people consider The Simpsons as an 80s show. But in actual fact there was only one episode that was filmed in the 80s which was the iconic Christmas special called Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire which was filmed in 1989. The next episode was filmed in 1990.

26. 'Itchy And Scratchy Land' Was A Reaction To Fox

(Image Source/avocado)Fox told the producers of The Simpsons that they did not want any more itchy and scratchy included in the episodes. The Simpsons were not happy and they outright refused to take it out - this episode was made as violent as possible and the producers threatened to go to the media if they tried to censor them.

27. Matt Groening's Did Sounds For The Show

(Image Source/wiki)Matt Groening is the producer, of course he had to be included in some kind of way as a part of the sound. No, he does not do a voice over but he actually makes the sound of Maggie sucking the pacifier - a sound we are all familiar with, he did not do it alone however.

28. Fox Owns The Simpsons Future Rights

(Image Source/YouTube)Fox owns the rights to The Simpsons way into the future - until the year 2082. We do not know whether new episodes will be still being made then but we certainly hope so. After all, with the conspiracies people will be waiting for for future predictions.

29. Is Principal Skinner Actually Jean Valjean?

(Image Source/Reddit)This theory is not known by many people at all. But, do you remember when Skinner revealed his POW number in Vietnam? It was 24601 - which is the same as the iconic and widely recognised prisoner number of Jean Valjean. This can't be a coincidence surely?

30. Homerpalooza Gwen Stefani's Band

(Image Source/Noise11)In the episode called Homerpalooza, there is a feature of Gwen Stefani and her band. This seemed completely random because what is the relevance here? It turns out that Gwen Stefani's brother worked as one of the animators and decided to add her in.

31. Krusty Is Homer's Clone

Image Source / The Mercury NewsYou may not have even put Homer and Krusty together - just some similar animation design, which you'd expect in an animated show, and that's it. But Krusty was originally meant to be Homer's cynical alter-ego, a secret identity that Homer would occasionally put on. Needless to say, the idea was eventually scrapped.

32. Dustin Hoffman Had A Cameo

Image Source / GoldDerbyThe Simpsons celebrated many a celebrity cameo, so it's no surprise a big actor would have one. But did you ever notice it? Some of the biggest celebrity cameos were easily missable. Dustin Hoffman appeared in one episode as Lisa's favourite teacher - but Dustin's name wasn't even credited.

33. The Musical Episode Was A Glimpse Into The Future

Image Source / VarietyOne episode of The Simpsons was a clip show of previous episodes, which was donned 'lazy' by fans and implying that they'd run out of ideas for episodes. To show that they'd definitely not run out of ideas, the creators made a musical episode revealing hints of stories to come, like Marge becoming a robot.

34. Matt Groening's Signature On Homer's Head

Image Source / RedditMatt Groening is the cartoonist creator of The Simpsons, but did you know that his signature appears in every episode? It's carefully implemented into Homer's head, of all things. The wisp of hair on the side of his head, and the ear beneath, combine to make the initials 'M.G'.

35. The 'Frink Rules' Message

Image Source / RedditThe 'Homer Cubed' episode had a code included that only the biggest and brightest mathematical brains would be able to decipher. The series of numbers and letters, when paired with ASCII protocol, spells out 'Frink Rules' - Frink, the discoverer of a means of interdimensional travel.

36. The Insults Within Rock Bottom's Retractions

Image Source / VimeoRock Bottom was a news outlet that left Homer's life in bits. Following his pay back, Rock Bottom is forced to offer a retraction. These scroll through the screen very quickly, but if you pause, you can read a number of insulting shout-outs, including 'if you are reading this, you have no life'. Charming.

37. The Real Reason Scratchy Keeps Getting Killed

Image Source / NestflixItchy and Scratchy are a thoroughly entertaining (and violent) part of The Simpsons, but you'll know that Scratchy the cat is the one always on the backfoot when it comes to Itchy thinking up horrible ways to end him. Scratchy is a black cat - often associated with bad luck - which, in The Simpsons, is shown through the bad luck affecting the cat itself rather than anything else.

38. Matt Groening Has A Cameo As The Courtroom Sketch Artist

Image Source / Animation World NetworkOf course you're going to put yourself in as a character from time to time when you're a creator of the show. Matt Groening actually appears as a Simpsons character when Bart testifies in court to save the mayor's nephew. The courtroom sketch artist is Groening, and you can even see his signature on what he's drawing.

39. The Peter Griffin Cameo

Image Source / Simpsons WikiFamily Guy and The Simpsons have long been compared to each other as huge animated showrunners, and there's even been a crossover episode of The Simpsons in Family Guy - which was amazing, to say the least. But did you know Peter Griffin made a cameo in the Treehouse of Horror XIII episode?

40. The Game Of Thrones-Esque Opening

Image Source / GamesRadarYou might not have ever compared Game of Thrones to The Simpsons, but there's something to be said about both show's openings. The Simpsons opening is always a long journey through Springfield, in full iconic Westeros treatment, going through all the locations and characters.

41. Did You Find Waldo?

Image Source / RedditIf you've been looking for Waldo, apparently he's in Springfield. Where's Waldo has been referenced in The Simpsons a fair few times, but he's also been spotted in the background of a few scenes, too. As you'd expect, he's always in the background, or within a crowd of people.

42. The Simpson Family First Appeared As A Series Of Shorts In The Tracey Ullman Show

Image Source / Simpsons WikiThe Simpson family didn't start as the very first episode of the show. They were originally a series of shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show, after Matt Groening had said no to an offer to turn his Life in Hell comic into animated shorts. The Simpson family first appeared in 1987.

43. Matt Groening First Sketched The Simpson Family Quickly In A Lobby

Image Source / The Simpsons Tapped Out AddictsAnd leading on from the previous point, Matt Groening's very first sketch of the now-legendary family was while he was waiting in the lobby for his pitch meeting for the show. What could have been simply a doodle to keep him entertained has now turned into so much more, to say the least!

44. The Distinctive Silhouettes

Image Source / SporcleThere's no doubt that you'd easily be able to recognize any Simpsons character based on their silhouettes alone, and there's a reason for that. Groening specifically wanted every character to be recognisable by their shape, which is the reason for the very distinctive hairstyles and head shapes.

45. The Iconic Music From The Opening Sequence Took Only 2 Days To Create

Image Source / Salon.comLegendary composer Danny Elfman was asked by creator Groening to produce a piece of music with a retro-like theme for the opening sequence of the show. The music from the beginning sequence is now iconic, but it only took 2 days to create the masterpiece!

46. 3 Key Elements From The Opening Sequence Change Every Time

Image Source / MetroThe show's opening sequence is very lengthy, but there's always something new to watch out for. Three elements change from episode to episode - did you notice them? It's the message on Bart's chalkboard lines, the music Lisa plays on her sax, and the length of the couch at the end of the title sequence. See if you notice next time!

47. Springfield Is A Common City Name In America - And Was Chosen For That Reason

Image Source / Today ShowWith so many cities in America, there's bound to be one or two that are named in a TV show by coincidence - but for Springfield, this was purely intentional. Matt Groening said that it was named after Springfield, Oregon, near his home town, and that it'd be cool if everyone from a 'Springfield' in America would think it could be based on theirs.

 48. The Bush Family Did Not Like The Show

Image Source / WikipediaThe Bush family have appeared as cameos in the show, but that doesn't mean they were huge fans. The First Lady (back then) Barbara Bush in 1990 actually said the show was the 'dumbest thing' she'd ever seen. The show's writers actually wrote a letter to her - from Marge Simpson - which said they were trying their best. Barbara then apologised!

49. And President George H.W. Bush Even Referenced The Simpsons In One Of His Speeches

Image Source / Encyclopaedia BritannicaWe're starting to think the Bush's secretly loved the show if they're mentioning it this much... In 1992, then-President Bush referenced the show in his speech, in relation to trying to strengthen the American family and make them 'more like the Waltons' rather than The Simpsons. The writers even put in a response to the next broadcast.

50. The Voice Of Lisa Is The Only Cast Member To Stick To One Character

Image Source / The HustleWith such a diverse cast of talent on The Simpsons, you may have noticed that many of the voice actors do more than one voice for a variety of characters. But Yeardly Smith, who provides the iconic voice of Lisa Simpson, is the only main cast member to voice just one.

51. Next Up: 30 Hidden Messages We Never Noticed In Family Guy! The Star Wars Cantena Scene Reveals Some Amazing Cameos

Image Source / RankerBlue Harvest, the legendary Star Wars themed episode of Family Guy, revealed that entertaining cantena scene - but if you look closely, it's more than just Family Guy and Star Wars-related jokes on screen. You can actually see cameo appearances from American Dad's Roger the Alien, and Futurama's Bender!

52. Stewie Spells Out The Shining's Redrum

Image Source / RankerFans of Stanley Kubrick's iconic horror movie may have noticed this, but it's easily missed. When Stewie is playing with his toy building bricks, you can actually see that he's not spelling out random baby words, but rather REDRUM - a shout out to the word that Danny and his imaginary friend spell out at the Overlook Hotel.

53. The 99 Red Balloons Reference

Image Source / RankerWhen Mort Goldman uses Stewie's time machine to travel back in time in the episode 'Road to Germany', he ends up in the middle of a group of Nazi scientists. One of the scientists shows Mort their 100 "luftballoons" - until 1 of them pops, leaving 99 in reference to that iconic 80s pop song 99 Red Balloons.

54. Gumbel 2 Gumbel: Seth MacFarlane's First Pitch

Image Source / RankerThe very first project that Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane pitched to Fox was a show called Gumbel 2 Gumbel. In the episode 'If I'm Dying, I'm Lying', Peter is asked which show he would bring back if he could bring back any - and he chooses Gumbel 2 Gumbel, a shout out in-joke to MacFarlane's back catalogue!

56. What Would Jesus Do?

Image Source / Ranker In the 'North by North Quahog' episode, there's a scene from the fictional movie Passion of the Christ 2: Crucify This, in which Jesus is seen with Chris Tucker driving a convertible. The license plate of the car reads WWID - What Would I Do? - as a comedy spin on that phrase we all know: what would Jesus do?

57. Those Famous Composers Making Music For An Adult Movie

Image Source / Ranker In the episode 'Brian Does Hollywood', we see an awards ceremony sequence where porn star Ron Jeremy is presenting the award for best music score of an Adult movie. Among the nominees are some big names: Ron Jones, Walter Murphy and John Williams. These composers in real life are responsible for the music of Family Guy and blockbuster movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars.

58. The Wilhelm Scream

Image Source / Ranker The Wilhelm Scream is a famous scream found in many movies and TV shows. The scream in question is famous for being particularly overused in many huge projects - particularly Star Wars, which Family Guy really seems to love - so the use of it in this animated show is a funny nod to how overused the scream soundbite actually is.

59. Megatron Is Actually Meg's Full Name

Image Source / Ranker

60. Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story

Image Source / Ranker

During the episode 'Road to Rupert', we see Brian clearing out some stuff by having a yard sale. While he's talking to Stewie, you can see a stack of DVDs on the table nearby - one of which is a DVD titled 'Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story'. This is actually a real life film, a straight-to-DVD Family Guy release!

Image Source / Ranker You may have already been a huge fan of this American comedy series from the 80s, or you may not have even known it existed. Either way, Peter - and Family Guy - pay a pretty big homage to the series during the episode 'Peter's Progress', where we see Peter and his pals performing in a talent show dressed in a very particular way.

62. The Shout-Out To Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Image Source / Ranker

63. 'If You Can Read This, Your TV Is Upside Down'

Image Source / Ranker

There are a lot of Family Guy Easter eggs that are shown in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion, and this particular one from the episode 'One If By Clam, Two If By Sea' is exactly that. In this moment, when Peter is taking part in the race, you can see writing on the background which reads: "If you can read this, your TV is upside down"!

64. The 'Ms. Swan' Reference

Image Source / RankerIn the episode 'Don't Make Me Over', where everyone ignores the title and gives Meg(atron) a makeover anyway, there's a character named Ms. Swan who becomes Meg's new assistant. This is a reference to a character named Ms. Swan from MADtv, who is voiced by the same actress who plays Lois on Family Guy, Alex Borstein!

65. The Famous American Court Case: Brown Vs. Board Of Education

Image Source / RankerIn the episode 'Brian Goes Back to College', there's a football game that shows a huge scoreboard - which you might not have paid much attention to at the time. But if you did, you may have noticed it read 'Brown vs The Board of Education', with Brown leading at 42 points to 0. This is a reference to a famous real life court case regarding racial segregation.

66. Neil Goldman Is Named After A Specific Person

Image Source / RankerThe nerdy admirer, borderline stalker, of Meg Griffin in the show is actually named after one of the show's writers, Neil Goldman! Whether that's because the character of Goldman is exactly like the writer (we hope not) or just because they needed a name, we'll never know. Or maybe the writer himself likes Meg.

67. The Other Mayor West

Image Source / RankerIn the episode 'You May Now Kiss The... Uh... Guy Who Receives', Mayor West says the line: "I'm the only Mayor West that's in trouble". This isn't just a throwaway line, because it's actually a reference to the real life Mayor Jim West from Spokane, Washington, whose career ended when he was involved in a gay scandal after speaking openly against gay marriage.

68. The Pecan Sandies

Image Source / RankerIn the episode 'Meet the Quagmires', we see a familiar face in the form of Roger the alien from American Dad. When he appears in the episode, he says the line, "Francine, did you remember the pecan sandies?". In American Dad's pilot episode, this was the very first line spoken.

69. The Planes, Trains And Automobiles Speech

Image Source / RankerAnother shout out to a John Hughes classic is the speech made by Peter Griffin which sounds oddly familiar if you're a fan of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. So familiar, in fact, because it's actually word-for-word. In the episode 'Baby Not On Board', Peter delivers the emotional monologue after fighting with Lois.

70. The TV Guide Easter Egg

Image Source / Ranker This is another one for those eagle-eyed fans always looking for a Family Guy Easter egg or two! In the episode 'The Story on Page One', if you look closely - and quickly, because it's over in a flash - there's a TV Guide next to Peter, which reads on the corner of the page, "If you can read this, Family Guy is on the air".

71. Rob Schneider's Migrant Workers

Image Source / Ranker

72. Cherry Chevapravatdumrong

Image Source / Ranker

Any Family Guy fan will recognise this (very recognisable) name, and that's because it's the name of one of the show's writers. Just like Neil Goldman being named after the show's writer Neil Goldman, a character in one of the episodes is called Joyce Chevapravatdumrong after Lois shouts the name at her.

73. It's Never Clear How Peter And Lois Actually Got The House

Image Source / Family Guy Fanon WikiThe Griffin house is a home away from home for us fans, but it's a little muddled when it's explained how they actually bought it. In the show, one episode explained that they got the house after suing a condom company when Lois fell pregnant. In another episode, it's instead said that they're actually renting the house, whereas another episode says Lois's parents pay the mortgage!

74. The Phone Number Of The House Is Actually Revealed

Image Source / YouTubeThere's no reason we need to know the actual phone number for a fake phone in a fake, animated house, but the show delivered anyway. The number is 555-666-0112. It's revealed when Lois calls home from a jewelry store, when Peter calls home after being arrested and when Bonnie calls the line to speak to Lois.

75. Buffalo Bill Is Actually The Inspiration For Chris Griffin's Voice

Image Source / WhatCulture.comBuffalo Bill is a famous - and disturbing - character from Silence of the Lambs, and the actor behind Chris Griffin's voice, Seth Green, was actually dared to do the Buffalo Bill voice in his audition for Family Guy. He not only got the part, but they loved the voice he used, and it stuck. Not only that, but there's a scene with Chris Griffin dancing and singing in front of a camera like Buffalo Bill did in the movie!

76. Bonnie Was Pregnant For Far Too Long

Image Source / IMDbWe all knew the running joke that Joe's wife, Bonnie, was just pregnant forever and never seeming to actually have the baby, but did you know she was actually pregnant for around 7 seasons! In real time, that's about 7 years of pregnancy - poor Bonnie! But after a while we just sort of got used to it and didn't question it.

77. Some Episodes Weren't Even Allowed To Be Shown

Image Source / IMDbThere's no doubt that Family Guy is controversial, and that's even with the episodes that were allowed to air! Some were so controversial they didn't get a look in, including 'When You Wish Upon A Weinstein' and also 'Partial Terms Of Endearment', which was banned because of its plotline relating to pro-life activisits. Yeesh.

78. There Are Actually Two Versions Of Every Episode

Image Source / Rotten TomatoesBecause of all this controversy and what Fox are able to show on the air, there are actually two versions of every Family Guy episode demanding on how many boundaries the show wants to push! There's a full, risky episode and then the 'more appropriate' cut versions you see on TV. You can actually watch the uncensored episodes in full by watching them on DVD or streaming them instead.

79. Stewie Predicted The Future About Kevin Spacey

Image Source / ImgflipSpeaking of controversy - it was revealed in recent years the truth about Kevin Spacey and the allegations against him. But back in 2005, they wrote in a joke that Stewie delivers about escaping from Kevin Spacey's basement! Little did anyone know how eerily true this would become, years in the future...

80. Stewie Is Strangely Similar To Jimmy Corrigan

Image Source / Chicago Literary Hall of FameJimmy Corrigan is the character from a comic strip titled 'The Smartest Kid On Earth' - and he actually looks very familiar to Family Guy fans. The character Jimmy and Stewie Griffin have a lot of similarities, including that football-shaped head, as well as both being highly intelligent (as the comic strip's name suggests!).