Another JB reference on the Simpsons?

[Radioman]

Given that Frank Nelson has appeared on the Simpsons at least three times, we can presume that the Simpsons creators are fans of JB--especially since much of Simpsons' audience probably has never heard of FN's expression "Yeessss!"

Consider these lines from (I think) the episode where Springfield added an area code, which divided the town's population:

Kent Brockman: Scientists say they're also less attractive physically, and while we speak in a well-educated manner they tend to use low-brow expressions like "oh yeah?" and "come here a minute!"
Homer: Oh yeah? They think they're better than us, huh? Bart, come here a minute!
Bart: You come here a minute!
Homer: Oh yeah?

As an avid JB fan, I've noticed, especially in the 1940s-1950s episodes that Jack says "Come here a minute" a LOT. I believe he also says "Oh yeah?" pretty often as well.

Is it possible that Kent Brockman's comment is based on this old 1940s radio show, or am I off my beam again?

allen

[shimp scrampi]

Hey, that could be, even if it is unconscious! I always thought the joke was that those two expressions are just so common and so entirely non-grammatical (and I plead guilty to using both).

As for Frank Nelson's "Yeeeeeesssss?" - perhaps others could point to some examples, but didn't that become Nelson's catchphrase even on other programs? I know he was on "I Love Lucy", "Sanford and Son", etc. essentially playing the Benny show character - but did he use the "Yeeeessss?" on the other programs? Seems like he did to me. Simpsons viewers might be familiar with that from other TV series.

[Roman]

I remember Frank Nelson playing a game show host on a couple of episodes of I Love Lucy. It's been a while since I saw those episodes but I'm pretty sure he didn't say YEEEEEESSS. His character was very enthusiastic though.

I'm also not sure how fond the Simpsons tribute was to Frank. I recall the Simpson's Frank Nelson answering Homer with a YEEEEEESSS. Homer then asking him why he talked like that and the answer was (in Frank Nelson fashion) "BECAUSE I HAD A STROOOOOOOKE." Somehow though I think that Frank Nelson would appreciate being remembered on the Simpsons even if the remembrance was a bit on the cruel side. After all, his characters were anything but warm and fuzzy.

[LLeff]

As for Frank Nelson's "Yeeeeeesssss?" - perhaps others could point to some examples, but didn't that become Nelson's catchphrase even on other programs? I know he was on "I Love Lucy", "Sanford and Son", etc. essentially playing the Benny show character - but did he use the "Yeeeessss?" on the other programs? Seems like he did to me. Simpsons viewers might be familiar with that from other TV series.

Well, YOU should buy a copy of the bound back issues, because Frank himself discusses this in the last issue of 2005. (OK, shameless plug off...)

Frank wouldn't do the "Yessss" on other shows without Jack's permission. But after he was no longer doing it on the Benny program, I know that he used that catchphrase on the late-70s McDonalds commercial ads, and am pretty sure he used it on Sanford and Son. Probably not on Lucy due to "channel conflict" (gives that phrase new meaning) with the Benny show.

[shimp scrampi]

Well, YOU should buy a copy of the bound back issues, because Frank himself discusses this in the last issue of 2005. (OK, shameless plug off...)

Frank wouldn't do the "Yessss" on other shows without Jack's permission. But after he was no longer doing it on the Benny program, I know that he used that catchphrase on the late-70s McDonalds commercial ads, and am pretty sure he used it on Sanford and Son. Probably not on Lucy due to "channel conflict" (gives that phrase new meaning) with the Benny show.

Hey, I preordered! Yeeeeeeeeeeessss, I did!

[David47Jens]

Frank wouldn't do the "Yessss" on other shows without Jack's permission. But after he was no longer doing it on the Benny program, I know that he used that catchphrase on the late-70s McDonalds commercial ads, and am pretty sure he used it on Sanford and Son.

And Garfield! Not to mention an animated special called The Roquefort Gang, written by Mark Evanier. And if I may be excused for linking to Mr. Evanier's great article a second time (the first was only three weeks ago, in another thread discussing Frank), you'll find three great Nelson-related anecdotes here!

[Frank Nelson]

It seems like there was another JB reference a couple of weeks ago on The Simpsons, my wife & I noticed & talked about it, but I don't remember what it was.

[Brad from Georgia]

It seems like there was another JB reference a couple of weeks ago on The Simpsons, my wife & I noticed & talked about it, but I don't remember what it was.

There's a little bit of a JB impression in "Marge Versus the Monorail": scam artist Lyle Lanley, voiced by the late Phil Hartman, has left his "secret plan" on his desk. It reads something like "1. Sell Monorail to town. 2. Get lots of money. 3. Skip town." Actually, I think it's a set of doodles conveying that idea.

Anyway, Marge finds the plans and gasps. Lyle appears and demands, "What did you see?"

"Nothing!" Marge insists.

"Good!" Lanley says, and Marge leaves.

And then Lanley claps his hand to his cheek and says, "I don't know WHY I keep this lying around in plain sight!"

On the DVD, the animators remark that the hand to the cheek was done to reinforce the Jack Benny impression "Lanley" was doing.