The Simpsons just gave a 34-year-old character a total makeover in Season 36

In The Simpsons Season 36 episode 17, “Full Heart, Empty Pool,” Squeaky Voiced Teen, an icon of sorts for many after appearing in fast food joints and movie theaters for over three decades, finally receives a character redesign. Not only does the episode give him a different name and a family, but for reasons unexplained, the show blesses him with a storyline, some character development, and an unusual sprinkle of joy.

For so many years, fans have known the Squeaky Voiced Teen only by his nasally voice and unfortunate incidents. The name “Jeremy Freedman” stuck with him in several earlier episodes, but the character’s identity has always been a moving target. However, in this season’s 17th episode, that identity gets altered once and for all.

Mr. Teen, pardon I mean Andrew Teen, as he is now called, is reintroduced in a courtroom scene where Homer is suing a hardware store for allegedly renting him a backhoe without proper vetting. Andrew, as it happens, was the most unfortunate employee stuck with the task of approving the rental. The reason I say ‘happens’ is that while the scene is intended to only set up a joke, it provides surprisingly robust character exposition.

A brand-new family (And no Lunchlady Doris in sight)

“Full Heart, Empty Pool” reveals Andrew living with an entirely new suburban family, peasant in nature, completely devoid of Doris or any prior connections. As long-time fans may remember, Lunchlady Doris was at one point heavily implied to be the mother of the Squeaky Voiced Teen, disowning him at one point during an earlier episode. This marks an opportunity for the character— a makeshift and strategic retcon in a show that eliminates timelines without a lick of order.

A prom date, a breakthrough, and a new voice

Andrew’s subplot centers on the fact that he is missing his date’s “prom-pose” because he was subpoenaed for Homer’s trial. It’s the sort of minor character rueful irony the show has, more often than not, employed for comedic purposes. This time, however, things get turned around.

By episode’s end, his unexpected ‘gets the girl’ moment was tenderly woven into the messy tapestry of Homer and Grampa’s Noodleball debacle—a foot-in-your-mouth twist, if you will. This show also surprises us by finally letting Andrew’s voice break—after 34 years of high-pitched awkwardness defining him since the 1990s, it’s a supremely shocking twist.

A legacy built on change

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Although Homer spends this episode worrying about his legacy, it is, rather ironically, his ridiculous lawsuit that causes Andrew Teen’s sudden transformation. In a show where time moves like molasses and characters remain static, The Simpsons managed to do something astonishing: transform a minor background character into someone of considerable depth and a full story to a background character.

For a sitcom that delights in hitting the reset button, Andrew Teen’s transformation serves as a highlight for his character development. It is uncertain if this new version of the Squeaky Voiced Teen will be a more frequent presence in Springfield, but for now, viewers have one of the most shocking and rewarding makeovers from the series to celebrate.

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