LEGO’s not-quite-confirmed decision to make LEGO Minifigures Series 13 Simpsons themed in certainly a controversial one, as this is the first time the LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series will be limited to licensed The Simpsons characters instead of original concepts. Not everyone (including me) is thrilled about this choice, but it’s time to try to look on the bright side and make lemonade. After careful thought and consideration, here’s our choices for the Top 16 Simpsons Characters to include in the 2014 LEGO Minifigures Series 13…

Now that a LEGO Simpsons Minifigure Series is strongly rumored to be becoming a reality, I decided to spend some time trying to work out which characters would be best–and most appropriate–for a Simpsons LEGO Minifigures Series. As we’re likely to be getting the six main Simpsons characters in their regular clothes (Homer Simpsons, Bart Simpson, Lisa Simpson, Marge Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Grandpa Simpson) packed in with the direct-to-consumer 2014 LEGO Simpsons House, I don’t see the need to include those characters in the blind bags series as well (although I’d be stunned if we don’t get a Bartman minifigure anyway).

Looking at the rest of the Simpsons cast, some of the more prominent secondary characters aren’t exactly figures I want kids playing with. Moe and Barney were immediately thrown out–I don’t like the idea of selling kids a LEGO Bartender, and I like the idea of a LEGO alcoholic minifigure even less. Itchy and Scratchy are the animal mascots of The Simpsons, but also the goriest, most violent characters in the show–I don’t particularly want kids reenacting Itchy and Scratchy shorts with LEGO Minifigures. Finally, I decided to leave out the womanizing, embezzling, corrupt politician Mayor Quimby. I don’t think I need to explain that one.

And thus, I have whittled down the list to the following 16 Characters to fill out the LEGO Minifigures Series 13 Simpsons blind bags series…

16. Disco Stu: LEGO loves making wacky, off-the-wall type minifigures, so you’ll see a few such LEGO Simpsons minifigures on the list along those lines. Though he’s certainly a background character, Disco Stu has a rather large cult following that would quickly snap up a LEGO  Disco Stu minifigure. “Disco Stu doesn’t advertise!”–but this minifigure would definitely get the attention of Simpsons fans and collectors worldwide and hopefully drive interest and sales in this 2014 LEGO Minifigures Series.

15. Principal Skinner: Yes, I know he’s just a guy in a suit, but Principal Skinner is probably the single most well-known school principal in history. LEGO hasn’t done a principal minifigure yet, and that’s probably because it’s hard to make one that’s visually-interesting or at least recognizable as a principal. If LEGO ever does want to make one, a LEGO Principal Skinner minifigure is the best choice to fill that role.

14. Professor Frink: He’s a brilliant, nerdy, doofy scientist character who wears bright pink pants. Is LEGO going to skip the chance to make another crazy scientist minifigure, especially one wearing bright pink pants? I think not. A LEGO Professor Frink minifigure will require a lab coat, though, and I’m curious to see how LEGO pulls it off. Soft goods, perhaps?

13. Milhouse Van Houten: I don’t know if anyone especially loves Milhouse, but I figure that LEGO is going to want to have a couple Simpsons kids minifigures in this series, and there’s only one more prominent than Milhouse. As Bart Simpson’s best friend and Lisa Simpson’s future husband (maybe), a LEGO Milhouse minifigure will make a great complement for the Simpsons family members coming with the Simpsons House LEGO set.

12. Bumblebee Man: Another wacky, crazy, colorful figure. We got a LEGO Bumblebee Girl in LEGO Minifigures Series 10, and now it’s time for LEGO Bumblebee Man minifigure to join her! ‘Nuff said.

11. Mrs. Krabappel: The Simpsons does not do the greatest job developing popular female characters outside of the main family, so Mrs. Krabappel was almost in this list simply be default. If you’re going to have LEGO Simpsons kids minifigures you’re going to need a teacher to watch over them, and a LEGO Mrs. Krabappel minifigure fits that description. Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner’s mother, Agnes Skinner, are really the only women I could think of to include in this list, and I don’t see a geriatric old lady minifigure exactly setting the collecting world on fire.

10. Dr. Nick: “Hi Dr. Nick!” The quack physician Dr. Nick has made numerous lists of the top doctors in television history, and a LEGO Dr. Nick is a fun minifigure to fill the role of doctor in this series. Dr. Hibbert has far more appearances (and lines), but, well… I just have never found that character funny or seen a big following for him. I think it’s more likely we’ll get a Dr. Hibbert minifigure, but I would prefer Dr. Nick.

9. Sea Captain McCallister: To say that the Simpsons Sea Captain (Horatio McCallister) doesn’t do a lot in the Simpsons TV show would be an understatement, but he is exactly the kind of fun, colorful, niche job character that LEGO seems to love making. And really, this is probably the closest LEGO will ever be able to come to making a LEGO minifigure of Popeye.

8. Comic Book Guy: “Worst. Minifigure. EVER!” While it would be tough to capture the enormously obese Simpsons Comic Book Guy in LEGO minifigure form, he’s easily among the most popular Simpsons characters with collectors–exactly the sort of people LEGO wants to take notice of this LEGO Minifigures 2014 series.

7. Sideshow Bob: The quintessential “supervillain” of the Simpsons universe, a Sideshow Bob minifigure needs to come with a rake accessory and a reversible head. Sideshow Bob is perhaps my favorite Simpsons character ever (as well as many other fans’), and the inclusion of a LEGO Sideshow Bob minifigure will greatly increase the play possibilities for LEGO Bart and Krusty figures.

6. Kang/Kodos: LEGO enjoys mixing alien characters into their various LEGO Minifigures Series, so they can continue that tradition with a LEGO Kang/Kodos minifigure based on the recurring The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror aliens. These would definitely require some new pieces, but I’m certain some of the parts could find their way into future LEGO space sets–and the chance to make a LEGO Maggie Alien minifigure with the pieces from these is just way too irresistible.

5. Chief Wiggum: I was seriously on the verge of deeming Chief Wiggum inappropriate and throwing him out of this pool, based upon his status as a fat, irresponsible, donut-eating cop. That said, I think LEGO would want to have a police officer in the LEGO Simpsons minifigure series, and a LEGO Chief Wiggum Minifigure fits that bill. And besides, Chief Wiggum is the perfect complement to…

4. Ralph Wiggum: “That’s where I saw the leprechaun. …He told me to burn things!” If there’s any child character from the Simpsons secondary cast more popular than Ralph Wiggum, I don’t know who it is.While not as prominent in the Simpsons TV Show as Milhouse, Ralph is infinitely more popular with viewers. Give a LEGO Ralph Wiggum minifigure a leprechaun and some glue as accessories and watch non-LEGO collectors flock to stores to try their luck pulling blind bags for Ralph.

3. Mr. Burns: While there are probably more Mr. Burns-centric episodes than those of any other character on this list, it’s tough to rank a LEGO minifigure of a balding old man in a suit any higher than this. Mr. Burns is the stereotypical evil businessman billionaire and most frequent antagonist on the Simpsons cartoon show. Not including a LEGO Mr. Burns minifigure would be a true shocker and just all-around unlikely (as it should be).

2. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon: The singing, dancing Kwik-E-Mart clerk Apu brings some much-needed ethnic diversity to the LEGO Minifigures Series Simpsons set (and it’s really scary is that I was able to spell “Nahasapeemapetilon” without looking it up). Give him some Kwik-E-Mart specific accessories and this minifigure will be a smash hit.

1. Krusty the Clown: There’s no way the LEGO will pass up the chance to make some new LEGO minfigure clown parts, and there’s no way they’ll skip one of the most recognizable (if not beloved) characters from the Simpsons. A LEGO Krusty the Clown minifigure would allow LEGO to develop some new LEGO clown shoes and clown hair to use on future clown minifigures, while capturing one of the most essential Simpsons characters at the same time.

Remember, these are all just our guesses based upon deduction and the rumors surrounding the LEGO 2014 Simpsons theme. Nothing is official until LEGO makes it official, and we likely won’t hear anything from LEGO regarding the actual lineup of LEGO Minifigures Series 13 until early 2014. I’ll update with official info on the Simpsons LEGO sets and minifigures as soon as LEGO confirms details, and you can ‘Like’ Bricks and Bloks on Facebook to have LEGO news, photos and updates sent straight to your Facebook Newsfeed.

What do you think, LEGO Minifigures collectors? Would you be satisfied with a Simpsons LEGO Minifigures Series 13 set that looked like this, or are there different characters you’d prefer to have compose the series?