Santa's Little Helper because there were animation problems with the others. Jean told the "Houston Chronicle" in 2001 that after the first episode was broadcast and "the next seven didn't have the dog, people wondered why." He also said in 2003 that the staff enjoyed the first episodes that centered on him, particularly "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", which is the reason that more episodes about him were written. Writer John Swartzwelder has noted that the staff members of the show write the character Homer in the same way that they write Santa's Little Helper: "Both are loyal. Both have the same
Springfield (The Simpsons) legs, presumably some sort of insect or spider (or perhaps a mutated animal from the vicinity of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant), that was driven into extinction by its production. Places based on places shown in "The Simpsons" exist at Universal Studios Florida, including one based on Krusty Burger. Lard Lad Donuts is a donut store in Springfield. Its mascot is an (estimated) tall statue of a rather chubby boy proudly holding a donut over his head. The name and the statue of the eponymous boy are likely references to Big Boy Restaurants. In "The Simpsons Game", the Lard Lad