# Favorite Simpsons running gag? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085 "2007-08-10T00:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/21 "2007-08-10T18:21:30Z")
I like the jokes about geography, both the fact that they never decide where Springfield is and the fact that buildings within Springfield keep moving in relation to each other. ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/22 "2007-08-10T18:24:33Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] Hard for me to pick a favorite though. Maggie has a few. The pacifier and the fact that she falls on her face every two feet are good. Also, Homer tends to forget her as one of his children: [/QUOTE] **Marge:** Bart’s grades are a little up this semester, but Lisa’s are way down. **Homer:** D’oh, we always have one good kid and one bad kid. **Marge:** We have three kids, Homer. **Homer:** Marge, the dog doesn’t count as a kid… ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/23 "2007-08-10T18:26:45Z")
I really, really miss Lionel Hutz. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/24 "2007-08-10T18:28:02Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] And according to Wikipedia, his middle man is Mussolini- was this ever mentioned in an episode? [/QUOTE] I don’t recall it. Is it possible it’s a prankish wiki edit? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/25 "2007-08-10T18:31:37Z")
“I mace you good!” ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/26 "2007-08-10T18:37:28Z")
I always like Mr. Burns’ use of antiquated 19th century terms. However, it’s especially funny when he’s talking about his employees (“Jackanapes … LOLLIGAGGERS … **NOODLEHEADS**!”). ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/27 "2007-08-10T18:38:14Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] I don’t recall it. Is it possible it’s a prankish wiki edit? [/QUOTE] I haven’t seen all of the recent eps, but do recall one where we learn one of Milhouse’s nans is Italian- maybe it was mentioned then? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/28 "2007-08-10T18:38:16Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] I don’t recall it. Is it possible it’s a prankish wiki edit? [/QUOTE] Pretty recent episode. The one where Lisa is trying to learn Italian and Milhous is her tutor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/29 "2007-08-10T18:42:30Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] And according to Wikipedia, his middle man is Mussolini- was this ever mentioned in an episode? [/QUOTE] Maybe two years ago. He tutored Lisa in Italian and explained that he learned the language from his Italian grandmother. She hated him and ‘taught’ him by ordering him to speak in Italian, then chasing him around the countryside and whipping him with an olive branch when he spoke English. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/30 "2007-08-10T18:58:38Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] I always like Mr. Burns’ use of antiquated 19th century terms. However, it’s especially funny when he’s talking about his employees (“Jackanapes … LOLLIGAGGERS … **NOODLEHEADS**!”). [/QUOTE] I love that Burns says “hoy hoy” when he answers the phone. Seems that there was a debate, when the phone was first invented, over the proper telephone greeting - the debate was between “hello” (favored by the phone’s inventor, Alexander Graham Bell) and “hoy hoy”. Awesome, albeit very sublte, reference. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/31 "2007-08-10T19:24:36Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] I really, really miss Lionel Hutz. ☹ [/QUOTE] Me too. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/32 "2007-08-10T19:34:19Z")
I should say another thing I love is when characters (usually Homer) names things and all the names end with an “eee” sound. Lobster? Pinchy! Elephant? Stampy! Monorail possum? Bitey! Racing rubber duck? Cheaty! Gratuitous cartoon dog? Poochy! (and the list goes on…) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/33 "2007-08-10T19:45:24Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] I really, really miss Lionel Hutz. ☹ [/QUOTE] I miss Troy McClure’s movie titles and educational videos. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/34 "2007-08-10T19:47:13Z")
I also think “Arnie Pye, with Arnie in the Sky” is genius. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/35 "2007-08-10T20:02:09Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I also think “Arnie Pye, with Arnie in the Sky” is genius. [/QUOTE] I can’t see people’s souls Kent, but if I could, your’s would be black. Black like a spade. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/36 "2007-08-10T20:04:27Z")
Running gag? The changing messages outside the Springfield Retirement Home. My favorite: Springfield Retirement Home Please don’t discuss the outside world or The signs associated with various businesses: Sneed’s Seed and Feed formerly Chuck’s ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/37 "2007-08-10T20:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=RandMcnally] I can’t see people’s souls Kent, but if I could, your’s would be black. Black like a spade. [/QUOTE] “I’m tired of reporting the news- I want to _make_ the news!” “Arnie, this isn’t the time…” “_You’re_ not the time, Kent! _You’re_ not the time!” “Due to a fire at the army testing lab, a bunch of escaped, infected monkeys are on the freeway. Don’t unroll your windows, because those monkeys look confused and irritable!” “And look out on the corner of 14th and Elm, because I just dropped my bagel!” ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/38 "2007-08-10T20:26:12Z")
I like the signs outside of various events, conventions, and the church. Bi-mon-sci-fi-con! 7:30 Medfly spraying 8:00 Concert 8:15 Medfly spraying, second pass ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/39 "2007-08-10T20:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=Atomicktom] I love that Burns says “hoy hoy” when he answers the phone. Seems that there was a debate, when the phone was first invented, over the proper telephone greeting - the debate was between “hello” (favored by the phone’s inventor, Alexander Graham Bell) and “hoy hoy”. Awesome, albeit very sublte, reference. [/QUOTE] So close and yet so far. [Alexander Graham Bell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello) initially used Ahoy (as used on ships) as a telephone greeting. Edison suggested hello. A favorite Burns anachronism line: **Burns** : I’d like to send this to the Prussian consulate in Siam by Aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 auto-gyro? And I’m surprised no one’s mentioned the [prank call](http://www.thisisarecording.com/prankcalls/the_simpsons_prank_calls_mp3.shtml) bit. My favorite part is Moe’s responses. **Moe Szyslak** : When I get a hold of you, I’m gonna use your head as a bucket and paint my house with your brain. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/40 "2007-08-10T20:37:36Z")
[Quote=Marley23] I miss Troy McClure’s movie titles and educational videos. [/quote] _Smoke Yourself Thin_ Classic. [QUOTE=plnnr] Sneed’s Seed and Feed formerly Chuck’s [/QUOTE] I remember wondering when I saw that the first time how many people were going to not get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085.md?page=3)