Paul Lynde

Paul Lynde was an American comedian and actor.

History
At the Museum of TV and Television, Bart and Milhouse saw part of an old Easter special starring Paul Lynde, Helen Reddy and the Hudson Brothers; and with guest stars Willie Tyler, and Nadia Comăneci. Lynde, dressed in a rabbit costume and speaking in a blatantly leering and lascivious manner, said to Comăneci that he would like to "hippity-hop on [her] balance beam". Comăneci shuddered in disgust, then recovered her composure and drily replied, "I don't think you understand the mechanics of heterosexual sex." Lynde then said, in the same manner as before, "Circle gets the square!"

After that line, Bart and Milhouse walked away from the TV showing the program, and Bart said that TV was better today.

Special effects expert performed several practical effects tricks when he appeared at The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop. At one point, his head was apparently detached from his body as he continued to talk. When Savini replaced his head back on his neck, most of the audience cheered, but Comic Book Guy derisively said that he had seen Paul Lynde do "that same hackneyed trick" on .

Behind the Laughter

 * In his comedy persona, Paul Lynde (1926-1982) was known for delivering lines in an over-the-top snarky and campy manner and frequently using, much as depicted in the program that Bart and Milhouse watched.
 * In real life, Lynde was gay. He never made any public statement about his orientation, but it was an open secret in Hollywood.
 * Lynde's "Circle gets the square!" line is a reference to his having been the permanent center square for most of the original run of .
 * Lynde had a recurring role as on .