<P> In the early seasons, Carl was rarely seen with Lenny and did not have a consistent voice--on some occasions, he can be heard with Lenny's voice and vice versa . One example of Carl having Lenny's voice is in "Brush with Greatness". In an early 1991 episode, "Principal Charming", Carl's name is spelled "Karl", the same spelling seen for an unrelated character of the same season . In the episode "The Saga of Carl", we learn that Carl is from Iceland . </P> <P> In the fourteenth - season episode "' Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky", Carl made reference to his childhood in Iceland which hinted that he may have Icelandic ancestry . In the twenty - fourth - season episode "The Saga of Carl" it was in fact revealed that he was adopted by a couple in Iceland . Carl often serves as a taciturn straight man to Homer and company, because of his harsh opinions of others, as seen in "Pygmoelian" when he makes everyone in Moe's Tavern cry and, breaking the fourth wall, explains: "See, this is why I don't talk much ." He is offended when people stereotype him even though their stereotypes are usually correct . In "The Great Wife Hope", Homer asks Carl if he knows African - American boxer Dredrick Tatum; Carl takes offense, saying that just because he is African American, he doesn't know all the other African - American citizens in Springfield . However he then says that he indeed met Dredrick Tatum while he was at a party with Dr. Hibbert at Bleeding Gums Murphy's house (both of those characters are also African - American). In "Children of a Lesser Clod", during a basketball game, Carl voices his irritation when everybody makes high expectations of his performance, and he remarks that he isn't a good player only because he is an African American, but proves himself, however, to be an amazing basketball player . Despite being against racism, Carl has some sort of dislike of Muslims, visible in "Mypods and Boomsticks". He is the intellectual one, but apparently, Lenny, his best friend, dumbs him down for his own sake . In the episode "The Girl Who Slept Too Little", he tells Lenny to shut up as he was tired of "dumbing (him) self down for (Lenny).". Despite being a good friend, Carl can be very self - centered and workaholic at times--in "The Devil Wears Nada", Carl becomes the new supervisor of Homer's sector (for being the most competent of them), and starts to abuse his position by forcing Homer to become his assistant, making him do even the mostly simple and unnecessary tasks (much to Homer's dismay). </P> <P> During a conversation in the Springfield Hub, Carl and Bernice Hibbert are hinted to have had a past relationship, that Carl wants to rekindle . However, in "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday", he says he will give a ring to his wife for their anniversary . Also, he is shown with a woman (presumably his wife) attending Homer's marriage class in "Secrets of a Successful Marriage". He also mentions having a family in "HOMR". In "Lisa the Drama Queen", he appears in a car with Lenny and two women, possibly one is his wife . </P> <P> Lenny and Carl are best friends, as they are rarely seen apart; their other friends are Homer, and regulars at Moe's including Barney Gumble and Moe Szyslak . Homer repeatedly confuses Lenny and Carl, and is shocked to learn on one occasion that Lenny is white, and Carl is black . To guide himself, Homer has "Lenny = White, Carl = Black" on his hand . He once muttered to himself, "Is that right?" while reading it . In "Helter Shelter", Homer exclaims, "That's Lenny? I wanted the black one!" When Mr. Burns appears on a radio show in an attempt to boost his popularity in "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", Homer tells him that he has a list of jokes explaining the differences between white and black people; Homer later states, "White guys have names like Lenny, whereas black guys have names like Carl ." </P>

That's lenny i wanted the black one