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7 Unexpected Ways The 'My Son Is Also Named Bort' Joke Became A Real-Life Nightmare For One Simpsons Fan

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The phrase "My son is also named Bort" is one of the most quotable, bizarre, and enduring throwaway gags in the history of *The Simpsons*, a line that instantly signals a deep-cut knowledge of the show's golden era. Originating from a simple scene about a lack of personalized souvenirs, the quote has evolved into a pop culture shorthand for unexpected commonality and bureaucratic absurdity. However, as of December 21, 2025, this beloved piece of television history has taken a surprising, and frustrating, turn for one dedicated fan, whose real-life vanity license plate has made her the unwitting star of a modern-day sitcom plot involving a deluge of fines and toll notices.

This article dives deep into the origin of the legendary "Bort" joke, its massive cultural impact, and the bizarre, fresh, and unique story of the Massachusetts woman whose dedication to the gag resulted in her being "swamped with tickets," proving that sometimes, reality is stranger—and more expensive—than fiction.

The Complete Bort Saga: Origin and Cultural Entities

The entire phenomenon stems from a single, brilliant moment in *The Simpsons* Season 6, Episode 4, titled "Itchy & Scratchy Land." This episode, which first aired on October 2, 1994, is a masterpiece of theme park parody and a defining moment of the show's comedic peak. The plot follows the Simpson family on their disastrous vacation to the violent, cartoon-themed amusement park.

The "Bort" gag occurs when Bart Simpson attempts to purchase a personalized souvenir license plate from a gift shop in the park. The rack, a classic theme park trope, is completely sold out of "Bart" plates. Instead, Bart finds a plate that reads "Bort."

A nearby mother then attempts to console her crying son, who is upset about the lack of a personalized plate with his name. The mother's famous, deadpan line is the punchline: "No, my son is also named Bort." This confirms that "Bort" is, inexplicably, a common name at the park, further highlighting the joke's absurdity and the park's strange inventory choices.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords from the Bort Universe:

  • The Simpsons: The animated series that created the joke.
  • Itchy & Scratchy Land: The fictional theme park where the scene takes place.
  • Bart Simpson: The character who attempts to buy the license plate.
  • Personalized License Plate: The souvenir item that triggers the gag.
  • Season 6, Episode 4: The specific episode where the line first appeared.
  • David Mirkin: The showrunner at the time, often credited with the episode's sharp humor.
  • "Nothing Could Possib-lie Go Wrong": Another iconic, and ironic, line from the same episode.
  • Killer Robots: The malfunctioning animatronics that attack the family.
  • Meme Culture: The internet phenomenon that cemented the quote's status.
  • Universal Studios: The real-life theme park that has referenced the gag, sometimes leaving the "Bort" plates intentionally empty.
  • Bort Name Tag: A popular piece of merchandise and a recurring gag among fans.
  • E-ZPass: The real-life toll system involved in the recent controversy.
  • Vanity Plate: The legal, personalized car tag at the center of the modern story.
  • Massachusetts: The state where the fan with the legal "BORT" plate resides.
  • Katie Unis: The *Simpsons* megafan who owns the real "BORT" plate.
  • Toll Notices: The unexpected bills and fines she receives.
  • Novelty Plates: The fake, souvenir "BORT" plates causing the confusion.
  • Absurdist Humor: The style of comedy the joke embodies.

The Real-Life Bort: How a Fan Was Swamped with Tickets

For decades, the "Bort" license plate remained a harmless inside joke, a piece of nostalgic merchandise sold at conventions and online stores. However, in the last few years, the joke has manifested into a genuine administrative headache for at least one dedicated *Simpsons* megafan: Katie Unis, a woman residing in Massachusetts.

Unis, a genuine enthusiast of the show, successfully applied for and received a legal, state-issued vanity license plate that simply reads "BORT." She was thrilled, believing she had secured a unique, personalized tribute to her favorite show. Little did she know, she had inherited a surprisingly common name—just like the fictional Bort's mother.

The problem stems from the sheer popularity of the "BORT" novelty plates sold as merchandise. These souvenir license plates, which are not legal for road use, are often purchased by other *Simpsons* fans. The critical issue is that the Massachusetts state license plate design, with its color scheme and font, is strikingly similar to the widely available "BORT" novelty plates.

When other drivers, many of whom are also fans, use the novelty "BORT" plates (often illegally or as a joke, sometimes simply displayed in a window), their vehicle information is not registered in the system. When these cars pass through automated toll booths or speed cameras, the optical recognition systems, designed to read official license plates, often misread the fake plates as the one real, registered "BORT" plate: Katie Unis's.

The Unexpected Consequences of Fandom Dedication

The result for Katie Unis has been an overwhelming, and constant, stream of unwanted mail. She has been "swamped with tickets" and E-ZPass toll notices for violations she did not commit, all because of the cultural impact of a 30-year-old cartoon joke.

The sheer volume of fines and toll bills is staggering. Unis has had to spend countless hours disputing the charges, filing appeals, and providing evidence to prove that her vehicle was not in the location where the violation occurred. This administrative nightmare has turned her joyful act of fandom into a frustrating, costly, and time-consuming burden. She has publicly pleaded for other fans to "please stop" using the novelty plates, as the mix-ups are becoming unmanageable.

7 Ways the 'Bort' Joke Became a Real-Life Nightmare:

  1. Deluge of Toll Notices: Receiving bills for dozens of E-ZPass tolls from vehicles she doesn't own, often from different states.
  2. Speed Camera Fines: Getting traffic tickets for speeding or running red lights that were committed by other drivers with fake plates.
  3. Time-Consuming Disputes: Having to dedicate significant personal time to filing appeals and providing photographic evidence to state authorities.
  4. The "Bort" Effect: The joke's popularity means the novelty plate is highly common, ensuring a steady stream of misreadings.
  5. Similarity to Official Plates: The specific design of the Massachusetts state plate closely matches the widely sold merchandise, confusing automated systems.
  6. Lack of Unique Identifier: A personalized plate like "BORT" is unique in the system, making it the only possible match when a camera reads the text.
  7. The Irony of Fandom: A tribute to her favorite show has ironically caused her significant real-life distress, turning a funny gag into a bureaucratic loop.

This situation perfectly mirrors the absurdist humor of *The Simpsons* itself. The joke was always about the unexpected commonality of a bizarre name. Now, in a twist of real-world irony, the name "Bort" is indeed incredibly common—not among people, but among novelty license plates, creating a unique and modern conflict between pop culture and administrative technology.

The Enduring Legacy of Bort

Despite the headaches it has caused for Katie Unis, the "Bort" gag remains one of the most celebrated moments in television history. Its legacy is tied to the show's ability to create deep, quotable humor from the most mundane situations. The line is used by fans worldwide to signal an inside joke, a shared cultural moment, or simply to express a feeling of unexpected familiarity.

The recent events involving the Massachusetts fan only add another layer to the joke's rich history. It serves as a hilarious, if frustrating, cautionary tale about the power of pop culture and the unintended consequences when a fictional gag crosses over into the real world. The next time you hear someone say, "No, my son is also named Bort," remember that somewhere in Massachusetts, a dedicated fan is still battling the administrative fallout of a joke that has truly, and expensively, come to life.

7 Unexpected Ways the 'My Son Is Also Named Bort' Joke Became a Real-Life Nightmare for One Simpsons Fan
my son is also named bort
my son is also named bort

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