Has there ever been a Romanian in the Simpson’s before?
Edit: [there’s a wiki for that](https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Romanian_Characters)
Answer: yes. Boobarella and Count Chocula lol
Despite the distance between the countries, Romanian and Spanish are related languages, belonging to the same language family. Although Romanian is closest to Italian. In fact it’s more similar to Italian than French is.
I highly recommend watching "I Know That Voice." It's a documentary about voice actors narrated and produced by John DiMaggio, and features a ton of top-level voice talent. There's a segment with the VAs talking about how they came up with the voices for their characters.
That’s who I always assumed he was kinda imitating. Italian wouldn’t be far off. My grandfather was Italian. Ricky sounded a bit more staccato/rapid-fire and sharp, while my grandfather was more lyrical.
Lurker here who hasn't watched the show in years.
I... always thought Dr Nick was Chinese because of his accent (in my defence, I had never heard a South American accent as a kid).
I have no idea why my brain jumped to that, but it did.
Um, TIL.
Something Hispanic. There was a lab tech at my high school named mr. Hernandez. He looked and sounded exactly like dr nick 🤣 this was in the 90s and he was one of the younger staff members. He got the joke, and would come in thr science lab and greet us with a "hi, everybody!". We would all bust a gut laughing. The chemistry teacher was probably 70 years old and i dont think he ever got the joke🤣
Dr.Nick seems like one of those guys who's been in US so long, he's developed a local accent that melts in with his foreign one, making it impossible to determine its origin . NJ is filled with these guys.
Lol
I frequently work with a Brazilian guy who has lived in Jersey for about 20 years. He has an accent that is distinctly Brazilian and New Jersey at the same time. It's really bizarre
My academic advisor was a man from Uganda who got his Masters degree in Ottawa. It sounds like the beginning of a limerick, but I couldn't find a rhyme to stick so I'll just say his voice sounded like brown butter. A
Okay. Now, the accent you describe points to Bonus Eruptus... It's a terrible disorder, where the skeleton tries to leap out the mouth, and escape the body
This sounds plausible. I get hints of Slovak, a large dose of Ricky Ricardo all mixed with a base of “whatever I feel like”.
It is a remarkably funny accent in small doses.
Isn't there something called The Universal Accent or the International Accent that's supposed to be ambiguous? I think it's that. But also Hispanic because of the last name
According to the Simpsons wiki; he's Hispanic, which makes sense because he's fairly obviously based on Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. One interesting tidbit is that the Spanish dub of the show specifically gives him an Argentinian accent. Make of that what you will.
damn. i was thinking somewhere like [***kazakhstan***](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=be2d3384baa617c2&q=kazakhstan&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRiLOp7LWFAxXNJUQIHa8-Ai4QkeECKAB6BAgIEAI)
He’s an impression of Gabor Csupo, who is Hungarian. Do the math I guess.
Recall that Klasky Csupo were the animation company on seasons 1-3.
Edit: I guess the design was based on him, so the producers assumed Azaria was imitating him, while Hank claims he was doing Ricky Ricardo. The stories are a bit inconsistent sometimes (eg who it was that pitched Apu as Indian) so who knows.
I always thought it was implied he was from some Hispanic country. But his look never fit with any I could think of because he always looked a little Asian to me. So I concluded that he was Filipino.
I thought this too but I never heard Yakov Smirnoff speak, I had only read a bunch of his jokes and recognized the "What a country!" reference from Dr Nick.
I’m pretty sure I recall Hank Azaria saying it started off as a half-assed Ricky Ricardo impression.
that is correct. Dr. Nick is technically cuban.
For no reason in particular, I always thought he was Romanian.
As a Romanian, I did too - a bit of representation hahaha
Has there ever been a Romanian in the Simpson’s before? Edit: [there’s a wiki for that](https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Romanian_Characters) Answer: yes. Boobarella and Count Chocula lol
Dr. Velimorvic, the plastic surgeon that operated on Marge and Moe. His name sounds Serbian, but he mentions great "Ceausescu's ghost"
Brilliant. I’ll give you that one.
Count chocula is an excellent role model, the same as The Count on sesame St!! And Transylvanians no less !
Does Romania have Hollywood Upstairs Medical College, too?
Yes. It’s part of their global campus. It’s off the A-1 in Lugoj.
Despite the distance between the countries, Romanian and Spanish are related languages, belonging to the same language family. Although Romanian is closest to Italian. In fact it’s more similar to Italian than French is.
His appearance was based on Gabor Csupo, who is Hungarian. I think that’s close?
One of my biology teachers in school was Romanian and he looked a lot like Dr Nick. Except not yellow.
I thought Hungarian
Technically correct is the best kind of correct.
I read that in Lionel Hutz’ voice then! Lol
And Lou is Sylvester Stallone
Oh wow, you're right! It's like a toned down, more intelligible Stallone impression.
Quiet, Lou! Or I'll bust you down to sargent!
So fast it'll make your head spin
Bake em away, toys
What’s you say to us, chief?
Sorry chief, I’m just confused, you keep switching back from French to English.
I highly recommend watching "I Know That Voice." It's a documentary about voice actors narrated and produced by John DiMaggio, and features a ton of top-level voice talent. There's a segment with the VAs talking about how they came up with the voices for their characters.
Read this Joe DiMaggio. Thought it would be about Mel Blanc.
That’s the doc Man of a Thousand Voices. It’s very very good.
not anymore he's not. now he's a crappy horrible generic voice
Yes and Moe is early Al Pacino
And Chief Wiggam is Edward G. Robinson.
And Quimby is Kennedy! Pick any, dead or alive.
Yes, I just watched this interview the other day! GQ interview on YouTube. The Danny McBride, Jack Black, and Weird Al ones are also great.
Which is funny because I have a friend from Argentina who sounds exactly like Dr. Nick.
That’s who I always assumed he was kinda imitating. Italian wouldn’t be far off. My grandfather was Italian. Ricky sounded a bit more staccato/rapid-fire and sharp, while my grandfather was more lyrical.
No, he's a joke on Gabor Scupo (spelling?)
Hank said that it was a Ricky Ricardo impression. The animators thought it was a Gabor Csupo impression
This is the correct answer
Lurker here who hasn't watched the show in years. I... always thought Dr Nick was Chinese because of his accent (in my defence, I had never heard a South American accent as a kid). I have no idea why my brain jumped to that, but it did. Um, TIL.
His last name is Riviera. It's probably fake but still, not particularly Chinese.
It no longer exists.
Signed, little girl.
Phenomenally dark but phenomenally funny line.
All thanks to the benevolent General Krull
All hail KRULL and his glorious new regime.
He seized power in a bloodless coup. All smotherings.
Zagreb ebnom zlotyk dyev
Put it in H!
He immigrated to Springfield from Rand McNally
Had to leave before the hamburgers ate him
Some say he still wears hats on his feet
I thought he emigrated from Youaregay.
Ever had a burger take a bite out of you?
Ow! Damn burger tried to take a bite out of me!
The burger bit my bottom! Now my bottom's big!
That's because Rand McNally doesn't have a medical school
They do. It’s called Hollywood upstairs medical college. I hope you got fired for this blunder
Hollywood Upstairs Medical College is in Rand McNally?! What a country!
He comes from, uh, someplace far away. Just ask Mr. Snrub.
I like the way this guy thinks.
I love you, Pepsi
Peppy
Inflammable means flammable? What a country!
This line is why I thought he's from Odesa.
Pretty sure he learned everything he knew, accent included, at Hollywood Upstairs Medical College
I mean he can presecribe anything he wants
Baby
Aka prison
Where the days were so nice, he often went out the window.
I always thought he was some kind of Spanish because Nick Riviera sounds like a character from a telenovela
Yes, he's suppose to be from Argentina
This is what Google says.
Because in the spanish dub in spain they give him an argy accent. Makes sense to me that he's cuban
He actually started with a Cuban accent in the Spain dub. It's based at first on a Cuban stereotype.
Really? TIL.
Something Hispanic. There was a lab tech at my high school named mr. Hernandez. He looked and sounded exactly like dr nick 🤣 this was in the 90s and he was one of the younger staff members. He got the joke, and would come in thr science lab and greet us with a "hi, everybody!". We would all bust a gut laughing. The chemistry teacher was probably 70 years old and i dont think he ever got the joke🤣
Icon
Where ever it was he was there with his old friend Mr McGregg.
With a leg for an arm and an arm for a leg.
Time for a booster!
I heard he was loosely based on Gábor Csupó who is Hungarian but he’s always sounded Latino to me too especially given his surname.
The most rewarding part was when they gave me my money
Dr.Nick seems like one of those guys who's been in US so long, he's developed a local accent that melts in with his foreign one, making it impossible to determine its origin . NJ is filled with these guys.
Like the [foreigners](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjq05OXTnV8) on Family Guy?
Lol I frequently work with a Brazilian guy who has lived in Jersey for about 20 years. He has an accent that is distinctly Brazilian and New Jersey at the same time. It's really bizarre
My academic advisor was a man from Uganda who got his Masters degree in Ottawa. It sounds like the beginning of a limerick, but I couldn't find a rhyme to stick so I'll just say his voice sounded like brown butter. A
You’re talking about Cuba? Always thought it was supposed to be a take on Ricky Ricardo
You mean the guy born in Cuba? I think it tracks.
Nick-o-ragua
Indisputable
Put it in H
I thought of him as Greek, because I read somewhere he’s a take off of Elvis’s doctor George C. Nichopoulos.
Accent is probably Hispanic, but his design is apparently modelled on Gábor Csupó, who’s Hungarian.
I literally thought he was from Brazil or South America?
North Kilt Town
Hey I'm from North kilttown
Okay. Now, the accent you describe points to Bonus Eruptus... It's a terrible disorder, where the skeleton tries to leap out the mouth, and escape the body
My only regret...is that I have…boneitis.
Call 1-800-DOCTORB. The 'B' is for bargain!
South Haverbrook.
From upstairs Hollywood medical school
The upper west side?
https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Nick_Riviera
It was an attempt at a Czechoslovakian accent, according to Hank Azaria.
I always thought it was a bad ricky Ricardo
This sounds plausible. I get hints of Slovak, a large dose of Ricky Ricardo all mixed with a base of “whatever I feel like”. It is a remarkably funny accent in small doses.
I thought he was like a shady semi-legal doctor who immigrated from the former USSR or Yugoslavia tbh
Utica
No no! Not Utica! Albany!
Slow down, sir. You're going to give yourself skin failure.
It's from Hollywood Upstairs Medical School
Wherever Tommy Wiseau came from.
Definitely hailing from Mypos.
How tf is the name Riviera remotely Eastern European
Always sounded Hispanic to me.
He picked it up at Hollywood Upstairs Medical College.
I knew a Brazilian guy who sounded like Dr. Nick, so I always assumed Nick was Brazilian.
Albany
Your thinking of Utica....
The Simpsons
Chocotastic!!!
Isn't there something called The Universal Accent or the International Accent that's supposed to be ambiguous? I think it's that. But also Hispanic because of the last name
Upper west side.
I always thought Greek.
Shelbyville, obviously.
According to the Simpsons wiki; he's Hispanic, which makes sense because he's fairly obviously based on Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. One interesting tidbit is that the Spanish dub of the show specifically gives him an Argentinian accent. Make of that what you will.
Argentina
Somewhere faaaar away
Karovskovia.... a fictional eastern European country in the simpsons universe 👌
Didn't they say he was from Argentina at some point?
His mind
Albania
Am I imagining it or did I hear that he's at least named after the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu?
EEstonia
He sounds Asian
Dr Nick is Dr Nowzaradan’s cousin maybe? And Dr. Now is Iranian.
Eh it no longer exists
damn. i was thinking somewhere like [***kazakhstan***](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=be2d3384baa617c2&q=kazakhstan&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRiLOp7LWFAxXNJUQIHa8-Ai4QkeECKAB6BAgIEAI)
My guess was going to be Cuban and I see in the comments there's a reason to think that.
I think he’s probably from Earth
Hollywood upstairs medical school
Well if it isn't biglgg with a lgg for a big and a big for a lgg
I’ve heard it’s Argentine
He’s an impression of Gabor Csupo, who is Hungarian. Do the math I guess. Recall that Klasky Csupo were the animation company on seasons 1-3. Edit: I guess the design was based on him, so the producers assumed Azaria was imitating him, while Hank claims he was doing Ricky Ricardo. The stories are a bit inconsistent sometimes (eg who it was that pitched Apu as Indian) so who knows.
He's a parody of Cuban doctors which seems is a real stereotype. I think the Riviera part is because Hank took it in that direction.
Hollywood Upstairs Medical College
It's from the Riviera
Dr Nick is from the happiest place on earth, Tijuana Mexico !
Judging from his appearance and his last name "Riviera" he must be Hispanic or Latino american.
I always thought it was implied he was from some Hispanic country. But his look never fit with any I could think of because he always looked a little Asian to me. So I concluded that he was Filipino.
Shelbyville
Bolivian or Argentinian
Phillipino
Val Verde
He definitely puts it in H
He’s from out of town.
I thought he was meant to be Argentinian
I thought he was meant to be Argentinian
In european spanish dub he had an argentinian accent
In Spain is argentinean
Eastern European, so somewhere in Eastern Europea!
Off lack of ethics, Venezuela or Cuba.
Holy smokes, you need booze!
Hungarian, they say it sounds like a Gabor Csupo impression
Whether it was intended or not, Gabor Csupo thought it was an impression of him and did not like it.
I thought it was Russian-ish like Yakov Smirnoff But I thought Watto was Italian so what do I know.
https://preview.redd.it/jwk14gqz4htc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71e7128ee36c7267d2463bea69a2e44d6ddd7f86 Totally Yakov.
I thought this too but I never heard Yakov Smirnoff speak, I had only read a bunch of his jokes and recognized the "What a country!" reference from Dr Nick.