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FOLLOWING THE THREAD · 28 RECORDED EPISODES · 12 SEASONS

Charlie’s illiteracy

Written language, as interpreted by Charlie Kelly.

Core running joke · 28 documented episodes ↗

Also known as illiterate · hieroglyphics

Connection board ↗ Combine tags +

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The episodes

Charlie’s illiteracy · 12 recorded seasons
In episode order. Images illustrate episodes, not the documented scene.

  1. FIRST RECORDED OCCURRENCE · S02 E02

    The Gang Goes Jihad

    IMDb8.5/10

    Dennis struggles with the misspellings in Charlie’s video script.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  2. S02 E08

    The Gang Runs for Office

    IMDb7.9/10

    Dennis cannot make sense of the campaign speech Charlie wrote.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  3. S03 E01

    The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby

    IMDb8.5/10

    Mac and Dee struggle to interpret Charlie’s badly written note.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  4. S03 E04

    The Gang Gets Held Hostage

    IMDb8.9/10

    Charlie’s warning on the vent wall leaves Frank confused.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  5. S03 E06

    The Gang Solves the North Korea Situation

    IMDb8.3/10

    Charlie mistakes the private-room sign for a reference to a pirate.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  6. S03 E09

    Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person

    IMDb9.2/10

    Charlie substitutes drawings for written lyrics.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  7. S03 E15

    The Gang Dances Their Asses Off

    IMDb8.9/10

    Charlie confuses the entry form’s prize field with something to be proud of.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  8. S04 E13

    The Nightman Cometh

    IMDb9.7/10

    Artemis explains that she added words while transcribing Charlie’s original work.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  9. S05 E03

    The Great Recession

    IMDb8.0/10

    Charlie mistakes the closed sign for a Coors sign.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  10. S05 E04

    The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention

    IMDb8.7/10

    Dennis and Dee turn the intervention discussion toward Charlie’s reading.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  11. S05 E11

    Mac and Charlie Write a Movie

    IMDb8.0/10

    Charlie struggles with writing and says his partner can type more better; his literacy limits the screenplay collaboration.

    Springfield · S05E11 dialogue

  12. S06 E02

    Dennis Gets Divorced

    IMDb7.6/10

    Frank disguises the prenup as a phone bill; Charlie signs money-related papers without understanding the financial terms.

    Springfield · S06E02 dialogue

  13. S06 E04

    Mac's Big Break

    IMDb8.1/10

    While trying to look up the radio answer, Charlie cannot find the H key or spell hockey.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  14. Still from Dee Reynolds: Shaping America's Youth

    S06 E09

    Dee Reynolds: Shaping America's Youth

    IMDb8.9/10

    Charlie’s film performance includes difficulty reading the police-chief dialogue.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  15. Still from Charlie Kelly: King of the Rats

    S06 E10

    Charlie Kelly: King of the Rats

    IMDb8.3/10

    The gang deciphers Charlie’s dream-book spelling, mistaking Wermhat for several kinds of worm hats.

    Springfield · S06E10 dialogue

  16. Still from Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games

    S07 E07

    Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games

    IMDb9.2/10

    An ungrammatical trivia question exposes Charlie’s authorship.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  17. Still from Pop-Pop: The Final Solution

    S08 E01

    Pop-Pop: The Final Solution

    IMDb7.8/10

    Charlie mangles the dental practice’s name when reading its sign.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  18. Still from Charlie and Dee Find Love

    S08 E04

    Charlie and Dee Find Love

    IMDb8.9/10

    Frank cannot decipher Charlie’s written instructions.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  19. Still from Charlie's Mom Has Cancer

    S08 E06

    Charlie's Mom Has Cancer

    IMDb7.7/10

    Bonnie’s prepared appeal includes Charlie’s broken-syntax demand for money.

    Springfield · S08E06 dialogue

  20. Still from Frank's Back in Business

    S08 E07

    Frank's Back in Business

    IMDb8.1/10

    Dennis questions how Charlie will handle a job requiring reading.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  21. Still from Flowers for Charlie

    S09 E08

    Flowers for Charlie

    IMDb8.8/10

    Dennis points out that listening bypasses Charlie’s inability to read.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  22. Still from Mac Kills His Dad

    S10 E07

    Mac Kills His Dad

    IMDb7.9/10

    Charlie fails to recognize his mother’s cursive signature.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  23. Still from Frank Retires

    S10 E09

    Frank Retires

    IMDb8.0/10

    The blood signature misspells Charlie’s name.

    Seen at

    Springfield! Springfield! · episode dialogue

  24. Still from The Gang Goes to a Water Park

    S12 E02

    The Gang Goes to a Water Park

    IMDb9.5/10

    Charlie struggles to orient the park map.

    Seen at

    Forever Dreaming · episode transcript

  25. Still from Old Lady House: A Situation Comedy

    S12 E03

    Old Lady House: A Situation Comedy

    IMDb8.5/10

    Charlie reads the message through its pictures.

    Seen at

    Forever Dreaming · episode transcript

  26. Still from The Gang Tends Bar

    S12 E08

    The Gang Tends Bar

    IMDb8.1/10

    Charlie cannot find a rhyme for Jerry.

    Seen at

    Forever Dreaming · episode transcript

  27. Still from The Gang Goes to Ireland

    S15 E05

    The Gang Goes to Ireland

    IMDb8.0/10

    Mac contrasts Charlie’s Irish reading with his English difficulties.

    Seen at

    Forever Dreaming · episode dialogue

  28. Still from Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang

    S16 E02

    Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang

    IMDb7.7/10

    Charlie admits he cannot read while Donald proposes reading with Mac.

    Springfield · S16E02 dialogue

Recorded occurrences only. Earlier or additional uses may exist in episodes still being documented.