Tab Spangler

Tab Spangler

Character Information Gender: Male ♂ Status: Alive Hair: Gray Occupation: Fat camp director Relatives: Father: Unnamed First Appearance: "The Heartbroke Kid" Voiced by: Albert Brooks

Tab Spangler is the director of Serenity Ranch, a maximum security fat camp which Bart attended after he got fat from the Scammer and Z-Dog snacks from the school vending machines.

Background

Tab Spangler is a veteran of the Marines. He started working at Serenity Ranch after he retired from the military, and his military background shows in his mannerisms: namely, his style of speaking which always sounds like he's giving orders. Spangler's military background also shows in the treatments he administers to his fat camp clients: waking them up by clanging garbage cans and lids; making them run and cracking a whip at them; and tearing them down by forcing them to admit to their own role in their weight gain.

Spangler is in his 40s but no older than 47. When he asked Marge to guess his age and she guessed 47, Spangler got angry and said it hurt when people's guesses were over, or even when they were correct. He didn't specify whether Marge's guess was over or correct.

Personality

Spangler is a highly unstable personality, prone to emotional outbursts which lead to his yelling at both people and objects. However, he is quick to back down and apologize after he calms down.

Family

The only family member Spangler mentions is his father, from whom he appears to be estranged. When Spangler showed Bart how his family was faring while he was attending fat camp, he said that they would look for his father if there was time left over.

History

When Bart attended Serenity Ranch, Spangler put him through the full range of treatments. When Bart cheated, Spangler drove him back to Springfield and showed him the measures his family had to resort to in order to pay for the treatment: converting their home into a youth hostel and taking in German backpackers who constantly humiliated and berated them. Confronted with the true cost of his addiction, Bart kicked his junk food habit and needed no further treatment.

Spangler then announced that the Simpsons still had unused (and non-refundable) treatment time, and ended up taking Homer to Serenity Ranch for treatment. While they were driving, Spangler suggested they stop off at a motel and split a room, even though it was only an hour's drive between Serenity Ranch and Springfield. When Homer asked where he would sleep, Spangler said they could worry about that when they were "standing naked before the bed".

Behind the Laughter

• There are a few hints that Spangler is gay:
  

  

  Tab Spangler's chariot, the "Chubby Chaser".
  • During the conversation with Homer in the car, Spangler suggests they stop at a motel and split a room. (He also tells Homer they've got a long drive, where he previously told Bart it was a one-hour drive from Serenity Ranch to Springfield.)
  • The chariot Spangler rides in while his clients pull it is called the "Chubby Chaser", which in the gay community is a term for a man who is attracted to overweight men.
  • Spangler's emotional instability could be explained by his having an attraction to fat men, yet having a job where he helps people to lose weight.

Appearances

• Episode – "The Heartbroke Kid"

• – The Simpsons Movie

LGBT characters

Lesbian Annette Andersen • Jacqueline Atkins • Patty Bouvier • Dominique Braud-Stiger • Jennifer Crittenden • Ellen DeGeneres • Alison Elliott • Verity Heathbar • Anne Heche • Elizabeth Jacobs • Billie Jean King • Jane O'Brien • Sappho of Lesbos • Susan Sontag • Miss Viola Hinted to be Lesbian Lady Gaga • Martha • Peppermint Patty Gay Joseph Boucher • Alf Clausen • David Cohen • Comic Book Gay • Contractor • Greg Daniels • Dewey • Grady • Craig Feeney • Don Gilbert • Matt Groening • Huckleberry Hound* • Al Jean • John • Julio • Kissing cops • Joel Kuwahara • Dewey Largo • Gay Latino man* • Chris Ledesma • Mark McJimsey • George Meyer • David Mirkin • Bill Oakley • Richard Raynis • Mike Reiss • The Rich Texan's grandson • Roscoe • Mike Scully • Grizzly Shaun • David Silverman • Waylon Smithers* • Stuart • Thad • Ken Tsumura • Ping Warner • Josh Weinstein Hinted to be Gay Carl Carlson • Karl • Rod Flanders* • Todd Flanders* • Kevin • Lenny Leonard • Raoul • Dr. Smith • Tab Spangler • Cameron Winklevoss • Tyler Winklevoss Bisexual The Cool Moms* Hinted to be Bisexual Duffman • Horatio McCallister • Martin Prince, Jr. • Santa's Little Helper • Shauna • Lisa Simpson* • Milhouse Van Houten • Ralph Wiggum Transsexual Constance Harm • Brunella Pommelhorst • Stanmarina • Francine Simpson Hinted to be Transsexual Dewey Largo • Helen Lovejoy • Martin Prince, Jr.* • Francine Simpson • Waylon Smithers

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