Everybody knows Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson have a lot in common, ranging from their unyielding appetites, round bellies and, above all, incompetence. In fact, sometimes the list of detailed similarities borders on the absurd. Besides arguing about which show is better, rival fans have long debated on which program is stealing scripts and ideas. Given that Homer was born first, it’s hard to deny he’s the original fat, dumb dad. However, there is a vast difference between Homer of the past and Homer of the present. It seems these two have fused together, meeting the demands of the nation. Here are three absurd similarities:
1.) Same Work History: Although Homer Simpson has always managed to hold onto his position as Safety Inspector of Sector 7-G at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, he has also had a long history of money making schemes and temporary jobs that go beyond his shift at the radiation factory. Peter also has a spotty history of money making schemes and odd jobs but, of his many positions at the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory, his most consistent was his title as Safety Inspector.
2.) Nearly the Same IQ: Sure, everybody knows Homer and Peter are dolts but not everyone realizes their IQ’s are nearly equal. Arguably Peter is dumber than Homer because Homer actually has an IQ score where as, according to doctors, Peter is immeasurably stupid. When doctors tried to rate Peter’s intelligence, they discovered he was lower than the chart allows. He was designated “Petarded.” Homer is inherently stupid thanks to the “Simpson Gene,” but other factors, including ceaseless head trauma and exposure to radiation, are a major component. In fact, Homer’s low intelligence is mostly due to a crayon lodged in his frontal lobe (reducing his IQ by 50 points). The reality is both Peter and Homer hover around brain dead. The fact that their cartoon hearts continue to pump is amazing.
3.) Names Arguably Rooted in Fiction: In human history, Homer is an ancient Greek epic poet that may have written the Iliad and the Odyssey. Many modern scholars, however, are skeptical that the poet ever actually existed and, through scrupulous research, it has become evident that the two famous poems were actually handed down through the ages via verbal lore. The Apostle Peter, also known as Saint Peter, not only broke bread with Jesus, but also went on to establish churches and spread the word of God – a story that has been handed down for over 2,000 years. Like the allegedly fictitious poet named Homer, many modern scholars argue that religion is fiction.
