Woohoo! Level 38! You know what that means… more WDTCF action for you to enjoy. To start off all the madness I’m sure I’ll bring to the table, I figured we’d go with Judge Roy Snyder. He’s the kind of guy who would start off stern and Jewish only to rediscover himself as a lenient and African American judge. What do you mean that makes no sense? Have YOU found the Simpson’s recreation room lately?
Judge Snyder is one of those characters that wasn’t easy for the creators to pin down right away. He has had both yellow and black skin (early in the show, he switched back and forth) throughout his tenure as one of the judges of Springfield County. He even went by the name of Judge Moulton in “Bart Gets Hit by a Car” (S2:E10).
When I think of Judge Roy Snyder, my first thought is “the clown is down”, but right after I stop laughing about that, I picture his interactions with Lionel Hutz. Here’s a little dialogue from Season 4 Episode 21, “Marge in Chains”.
Lionel Hutz: Now don’t you worry, Mrs. Simpson, I- uh-oh. We’ve drawn Judge Snyder. Marge: Is that bad? Lionel Hutz: Well, he’s kind of had it in for me, since I accidently ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidently” with “repeatedly,” and replace “dog” with “son.”Sounds like Hutz SHOULD be nervous in Snyder’s courtroom. I love Lionel and wish the characters voiced by Phil Hartman would join our game, but for now, I will just have to imagine them in Springfield. I personally think Lionel is working in the Springfield Mall. Out of loving memory for Hartman’s characters, here’s another funny line Judge Snyder says after Lionel Hutz tries to cheat during Marge’s trial for shoplifting.
Judge Snyder: This verdict is written on a cocktail napkin. And it still says guilty. And guilty is spelled wrong.
The Simpsons crack me up. If you go through the episodes in the show, you will find that our favorite family visits the judicial system frequently. One of the judges in Springfield is Roy Snyder and IMHO, he is the best of them. For any nerd’s out there, his character is actually based on U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s unsuccessful Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork.
Combing through my brain and the ultraweb, there are so many appearances by Judge Snyder in the show. While this list is not meant to be all inclusive, it’s pretty lengthy.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a WDTCF if we didn’t point out Judge Snyder’s first appearance in the show. We have to go all the way back to the year 1990, Season 1, Episode 12, “Krusty Gets Busted”. Krusty is set up for armed robbery and finds himself in front of the judge where it is discovered that Krusty is illiterate.
Judge Snyder: Can it be that the champion of child literacy can’t even read himself?
Here are some more appearances by Judge Snyder:
2) Bart Gets Hit by a Car (S2:E10): Also the first appearance of Lionel Hutz.
3) Bart the Murderer (S3:E4): Bart almost gets convicted for the murder of Skinner as the leader of the Springfield Mafia. Seriously, watch it and see.
4) New Kid on the Block (S4:E8): The Laura Powers episode AND Homie as “Bottomless Pete: Nature’s Cruelest Mistake.”
5) Marge vs. the Monorail (S4:E12): This episode starts off with good old Monty and Waylan hiding nuclear waste in the Springfield Park. When Burns is caught, he finds himself in the Halls of Justice before Judge Snyder.
Bada Bing! Recognize that statue Addicterinos? In my world, that’s what we call a WDTCF two-fer.
6) Marge in Chains (S4:E21): Besides the quotes I put near the top of this post, I love when Judge Snyder points out that Lionel Hutz is not wearing any pants.
7) Burns’ Heir (S5:E18): This episode is really funny. Snyder shows that he isn’t always the best of judges by ruling that Mr. Burns is Bart’s biological father. He also may dye his hair and beard.
8) Sideshow Bob Roberts (S6:E5): Only a judge will do to strip Sideshow Bob of his mayoral position. Even Edgar Neubauer would agree.
9) The Day the Violence Died (S7:E18): An Itchy & Scratchy origin story within a Judge Snyder origin post… you don’t say!
10) The Principal and the Pauper (S9:E2): Apparently, Judge Snyder has the authority to bestow names and grant pasts, present, futures and mothers upon people. I love that he also can decree “things will be just like they were” and not be mentioned under penalty of torture. Best part is he wasn’t even in the courthouse.
11) Lisa the Skeptic (S9:E8): In another quick hit, Judge Snyder is called upon to judge Lisa when she is suspected of destroying a scientific curiousity aka the Angel. The trial is cut short when the angel is discovered outside the courthouse but that doesn’t keep our new judge from rendering this verdict.
“As for science versus religion, I’m issuing a restraining order. Science should stay 500 yards from religion at all times.”
12) The Parent Rap (S13:E2): In my favorite appearance, Judge Snyder appears in the Springfield Juvenile Court.
Bart and Milhouse get caught joyriding in Wiggum’s police car. In court, Judge Snyder lets Milhouse off the hook because “boys will be boys”, but before he can rule on Bart’s case, his vacation starts and Bart is left in the merciless hands of Judge Constance Harm.
While I find her Judge Judy-esque character to be entertaining and seeing Homer and Bart tethered together makes for some good laughs, I’ve always preferred Judge Snyder. Yeah… spanking Homer and Marge while they are in stocks is hilarious, but Bart is right, his parents don’t deserve to be punished for his misdeeds. Judge Harm almost sentences Bart to 5 years in Juvie, but thankfully Judge Snyder arrives just in the nick of time.
Judge Snyder: Well, I’m back from vacation. Judge Harm: But I was just about to bang my gavel making the sentence official. Judge Snyder: Sorry, I’ve already put my clown down. Judge Harm: But I was just going to— Judge Snyder: The clown is down
A Simple motion for a writ of boys will be boys ties everything up neatly.
13) Sweets and Sour Marge (S13:E8): America’s Fattest City… now that’s something Springfield can be proud of. Judge Snyder is seen celebrating with the other fatties.
It appears he changes his tune later during Marge’s class action lawsuit against “Big Sugar”. After the Motherloving Sugar Company CEO Garth threatens to kill everyone in the courtroom and then tries to bribe Snyder with some taste-imony … a surprise verdict is made.
What’s Springfield to do when they can’t ride the white horse? Go cray cray and illegally smuggle of course. It all ends well when Judge Snyder realizes he wildly exceeded his authority. In Springfield judges can overturn verdicts while in track suits.
14) My Mother the Carjacker (S15:E2): The introduction of Homer’s Mama Mona. Trust me when I say every chubby dummy needs his mother. I can totally picture mine signing false names at National Parks too.
15) Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times (S18:E11): This episode is one of those awesome 3 parters that the Simpsons do so well. In the first segment, the Count of Monte Fatso, Judge Snyder appears as the magistrate of the French Court and I love this little scene with Homer.
Judge Snyder: I sentence you to life…
Homer Simpson: You moron! I’m already alive!
Judge Snyder: …in prison.
Homer Simpson: Ah!
I know it’s non-canon but this episode does include a great Bartman segment and was dedicated to a bunch of characters who die in Star Wars so it’s inclusion was basically guaranteed by me.
16) Funeral for a Fiend (S19:E8): The Sideshow Bob funeral episode. One of my favorites that I don’t want to ruin any more than I might have already. Spoiler Alert: There’s a funeral involved.
17) Rednecks and Broomsticks (S21:E7) Judge Snyder presides over a witch trial. I’ve said it before but seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
18) Donnie Fatso (S22:E9): This is the most recent I found and is a simple scene with Snyder sentencing Homer to 10 years in Prison. Pretty straightforward and very judge-like. Also reveals that Springfield Penitentiary was built by the mob, Fat Tony is actually dead and a fat version of his cousin Fit Tony and mob friendships are the heterosexual kind. You know? The “kind the Greeks wrote about”.
Well, there you go. 18 appearances by our new character and some rambling by yours truly.
For reference here’s a list of Judge Snyder’s Tasks in TSTO:
| Task | Task Length | Earns | Location |
| Get in Shape for a Role | 1hr | $70,17xp | Outside |
| Preside Over Court Session | 4hrs | $175,45xp | Court House |
| Act in a Local Film | 8hrs | $275, 70xp | Channel 6 |
| Try Out for a Role | 12hrs | $420, 100XP | Channel 6 |
| Tale a 24 Hour Vacation | 24hrs | $600/150xp | Minnow Pond |
What is your favorite Judge Snyder moment? Did I leave out one you liked? Happy tapa-tapa-tapping everybody.
TTFN… Wookiee out!
All original art and content © Up All Night, LLC and TSTOAddicts.com
All Screen Shots of Game Graphics & Dialogue and Game Graphics from files ™ and © EA, Gracie Films and FOX
HIs greatest judgement – “Boys will be boys…” 🙂
Definitely. I also like the restraining order for science and religion.
Hahaha… But nobody were there to hear that verdict… If I remember correctly!
Just a little mistake in the article, Sideshow Bob’s first appearance was in “The telltale head”, also in season 1, “Krusty gets busted” was his first speaking appearence, but really the second appearance.
Oh, and we want Lionel Hutz in Tapped Out!!!! 🙁
Unfortunately I don’t know if we’ll ever get him due to the retirement of all Hartman’s characters. It would be awesome!
This is why I love all the readers! I’ll make sure I fix it… thanks for looking out!
Firstly, I admit to being a dinosaur: I keep reading WDTCF here and don’t know what it means.
On topic, it could be that the writers hadn’t yet decided who Snyder was. But I’m thinking of the timing (mid 1990s) when I wondered if they meant to make a passing reference to Judge Ito when Snyder was light-skinned. Both have a small black beard and the Simpsons often makes references to current events.
Also, there is the inside joke about the the name Simpson.
Sorry about that. WDTCF stands for Where Did THAT Come From?! We shortened it down over the Christmas break because of the massive amount of Where Did THAT Come From posts we did to cover all of the Content. However, I think (since you’re now the second person to mention not knowing what WDTCF means) we may have to go back to Where Did THAT Come From. 🙂
Thanks. I think it’s fine to use the acronym. Maybe use the full version occasionally so dodos and pterodactyls like me can figure it out ourselves. 🙂