I, For One, Welcome Our New Cliché-Laden Overlords

[Polycarp]

…but I’d very much like to know the origin of the phrase that’s been riffed on a hundred times on SDMB, most recently as the title of this thread.

[DoctorJ]

“The spacecraft has apparently been taken over – “conqured” if you will – by a master race of giant space ants. It’s difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality I could be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.” – Kent Brockman

From “Deep Space Homer”.

[Mr.Blue_Sky]

It’s from the Simpsons episode where Homer goes on the space shuttle. He accidently breaks an ant farm, sending the ants floating all over the place. Kent Brockman (the TV news guy) sees the ants on a live feed from the shuttle and thinks the ants are aliens bent on world domination. He says, “I, for one, welcome our alien ant overlords.” (paraphrased)

[Evil_Captor]

Damn, I was hoping to find out about some new film or Tv series or something that featured a race of cliche-laden overlords. Haven’t really had one since that John Travolta thing. And ID4. And Mars Needs Women.

[Evil_Captor]

Oh, wait a sec … sci fi channel is doing the new Battlestar Galactica series. Guess our new cliche laden overlords really are on their way…

[Hail_Ants]

Best. Episode. Ever.

[Waenara]

I found this interesting site: The memetic phylogeny of “our new * overlords”.
By plugging variations on the phrase into Google, it shows how the meme has evolved.

From the second link:

In addition to “I, for one, welcome our new * overlords”, you might also consider the variations on this theme, listed below with google hits for *, * *, * * *, * * * *, and total. For convenience, the numbers for the root snowclone are also listed. I don’t get the same numbers as you do, even using the link you provided, so I have listed the numbers I get.

I, for one, welcome our new * overlords (1880, 334, 213, 36; 2463)
I, for one, welcome our new * overlord ( 39, 13, 12, 2; 66)
I welcome our new * overlords ( 25, 40, 0, 0; 65)
I welcome our new * overlord ( 0, 0, 0, 0; 0)

I, for one, welcome our new * masters ( 152, 65, 36, 12; 265)
I welcome our new * masters ( 11, 0, 0, 0; 11)
I, for one, welcome our new * master ( 8, 0, 0, 0; 8)
I welcome our new * master ( 0, 0, 0, 0; 0)

It seems obvious that “for one … overlords” is the original, while the others are variations. The number of hits decreases as the number of changes from “for one … overlords” increases. At the same time it’s evident that it’s the meaning behind the words and not blind textual copying that is behind the pattern. This is evidenced by the much greater prevalence of “masters” over other words as the object of the sentence.

[F.U.Shakespeare]

Amen.

Possibly my favorite Simpsons line ever:

The spacecraft is attempting a risky re-entry procedure. The two experienced astronauts are quiet, and as we read their thoughts, are soberly humming “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

Homer is also humming a song to himself:

Oh, those Golden Grahams,
Oh those Golden Grahams,
Crispy, crunchy, graham cereal,
Brand new breakfast treat

I can’t think of a more pointed, eloquent way of expressing the concern that one has filled one’s head with a lifetime of garbage. (A concern shared by many Simpsons fans).

@Hail Ants

Best. Episode. Ever.

[CaveMike]

@Hail Ants

Best. Episode. Ever.

I’ve always assumed this is where you got your nome de Dope.

[diku]

Same episode, Kent Brockman has a sign over he shoulder reading “Hail Ants”. He quickly takes it down.

I’m so happy season five is out on DVD.

[Cliffy]

@Evil Captor

Oh, wait a sec … sci fi channel is doing the new Battlestar Galactica series. Guess our new cliche laden overlords really are on their way…

Actually I’ve heard it’s supposed to be really good.

–Cliffy

[Polycarp]

Thanks to all who responded. I suppose it shows that I don’t watch the Simpsons.

@Waenara

I found this interesting site: The memetic phylogeny of “our new * overlords”.
By plugging variations on the phrase into Google, it shows how the meme has evolved.

From the second link:

I think that “mutating memes,” “cascading snowclones,” and “alien ant overlords” could make the basis for a wonderful pastiche on a particular style of SF story.

[CynicalGabe]

I, for one, stand corrected.

I always thought it came from GTA3: Vice City, from the KCHAT radio station I believe.

I think it was the “Dr. Laura” type talk-show host, something about
“I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.”

[kaylasdad99]

@Polycarp

Thanks to all who responded. I suppose it shows that I don’t watch the Simpsons.

I think that “mutating memes,” “cascading snowclones,” and “alien ant overlords” could make the basis for a wonderful pastiche on a particular style of SF story.

Cool. Three BAND NAMEs in one post.

[Nightwatch_Trailer]

Now that we know the origin, can we please stop using the phrase? It’s got to be one of the most irritating and overused cliches on the internet (not just on the Dope).

[cckerberos]

@Nightwatch Trailer

Now that we know the origin, can we please stop using the phrase? It’s got to be one of the most irritating and overused cliches on the internet (not just on the Dope).

Naw, it’s still got some life left in it. It’ll take at least another decade before it becomes as irritating and overused as any given Monty Python quote.

[bughunter]

Aw, stupid rod!

[Polycarp]

@kaylasdad99

Cool. Three BAND NAMEs in one post.

What can I say – I’m good!!

[Tuckerfan]

@Nightwatch Trailer

Now that we know the origin, can we please stop using the phrase? It’s got to be one of the most irritating and overused cliches on the internet (not just on the Dope).

So, you’re suggesting that we threaten anyone who uses it with a 1920’s style death ray, perhaps?

[Cisco]

@Nightwatch Trailer

can we please stop using the phrase? It’s got to be one of the most irritating and overused cliches on…the Dope…

Agreed. Hail Ants was a funny screen name when he registered but I’d be pissed if I were him due to the overuse of that quote here. It’s at the top of my cringeworthy phrases list right now and I’ve been on the verge of pitting it for the last two weeks or so.