Kent Brockman: Springfield's TV anchor

Always ready to switch sides for good ratings: Kent Brockman is the star — and pompous — anchor of the Springfield news.

Sensationalist, cynical and perfectly opportunistic, he embodies The Simpsons' satire of television journalism. Here is his profile.

Who is Kent Brockman?

Kent Brockman is the news anchor at Channel 6, Springfield's television station, where he also hosts the current-affairs show "Smartline". Grouchy, self-centered and pompous, he embodies the worst of his profession: sensationalism, sweeping judgments and careerism. First seen at the trial of Krusty the Clown, he has covered every event in town — real or not — ever since. A delicious detail: his real name is in fact Kenny Brockelstein. On air, he happily covers the escapades of Mayor Quimby, the town's corrupt official. And when he throws to a colleague, it is most often to squabble with Arnie Pye, the helicopter reporter, his declared rival.

🖼️ Channel 6 made Kent Brockman its face, both on the news and on the set of "Smartline"; on your bedroom wall, our Simpsons posters play that same role: the image everyone notices first.

"Our new insect overlords": his cult line

His most famous scene comes in the episode "Deep Space Homer" (1994), in which Homer heads into orbit: wrongly believing in an invasion of giant ants from space, Brockman hurries to pledge allegiance on air. The line "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords" has become a worldwide meme, complete with his offer to help round up others to "toil in their underground sugar caves". In the French version he pledges to "welcome these new big bosses".

🐜 Brockman offers to help round up others to toil in the insects' underground sugar caves; your snack, meanwhile, stays sealed tight in our Simpsons lunch bags, well out of the ants' reach.

The king of the about-face

If there is one constant with Brockman, it is his shameless opportunism: he will gladly expose a scandal… then drop the story the second a promotion or a raise appears. Even after winning 130 million dollars in the lottery, he keeps anchoring the news — solely because he is under contract. Springfield's small screen has other stars too, such as Bumblebee Man, the costumed star of local Spanish-language television.

🧥 Bumblebee Man, the costumed star of Springfield's Spanish-language TV, is recognized above all by his outfit; when you head out, it's one of our Simpsons jackets that becomes your signature.

Kent Brockman's voice actors

In the original version, Brockman is voiced by Harry Shearer; the character was modeled on American anchorman Ted Koppel. In the French version, he was played by Michel Modo, then Gérard Rinaldi, and finally Xavier Fagnon.

In front of the news

Simpsons Blanket in Front of the TV

The "in front of the TV" blanket: exactly Springfield's position whenever Brockman speaks.

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Summary table

FAQ

• Who is Kent Brockman?
  The star anchor, pompous and opportunistic, of the Channel 6 news in Springfield.
• What is his cult line?
  His pledge of allegiance to "our new insect overlords" (giant ants) in "Deep Space Homer", now a worldwide meme.
• What is Kent Brockman's real name?
  Kenny Brockelstein, revealed in a flashback in the episode "Mother Simpson".
• Who voices Kent Brockman?
  Harry Shearer in the original version; Michel Modo, then Gérard Rinaldi, then Xavier Fagnon in French.

Conclusion

Pretentious, cynical and ready to do anything for ratings, Kent Brockman is the perfect satire of the television journalist. A character who, behind his on-air smile, says a great deal about the failings of the media.