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Difference between revisions of "Lionel Hutz"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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{{Character|
 
{{Character|
image=http://www.smellofdeath.com/lloydy/images/Lionel_Hutz_Attorney_at-Law_and_angry_scooter_rider.gif |
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image=[[Image:Lionel Hutz.gif]]|
 
name=Lionel Hutz|
 
name=Lionel Hutz|
 
gender=[[Male]]|
 
gender=[[Male]]|
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voiced by=[[Phil Hartman]]|
 
voiced by=[[Phil Hartman]]|
 
}}
 
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'''Lionel Hutz''', voiced by [[Phil Hartman]], is a [[fictional]] [[secondary character]] from ''[[The Simpsons]]''. Although he is known for being an [[attorney at law|attorney]], he is also a [[babysitting|babysitter]], agent, [[bodyguard]], unauthorized [[biography|biographer]], [[realtor]], cobbler, and possibly a [[illegal drug trade|drug dealer]].
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'''Lionel Hutz''' (b. 31st July 1963) is a [[fictional character]] from the [[animated]] [[TV series]] ''[[The Simpsons]]'', voiced by [[Phil Hartman]]. The local lawyer, Hutz' first appearance was in the second-season episode ''[[Bart Gets Hit by a Car]]'', and his final speaking role was in the ninth season's ''[[Realty Bites]]''.
  
He was an inept [[Wikt:ambulance chaser|ambulance chaser]] whom the Simpsons nonetheless repeatedly hired as their lawyer (a fact remarked on by [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] in a typically self-aware aside). His legal practice, located in a [[shopping mall|mall]], was named "I Can't Believe It's A Law Firm!" (possibly a reference to the product [[I Can't Believe It's Not Butter]] or the chain I Can't Believe It's Yogurt). He often tried to entice potential clients with free gifts, including a "smoking monkey" doll and a business card that "turns into a sponge when you get it wet". In ''[[The Simpsons Hit & Run]]'', there is a sign advertising his law firm that reads "Out-of-court settlement in 30 minutes or your pizza is FREE!" Season 4 and 5 Episode Commentaries had revealed that [[Roy Cohn]] had been the basis for many of Lionel Hutz' quirks and his unethical behavior, though the same comments can be made about the Blue Haired Lawyer.
+
==Character==
 +
He is an inept [[ambulance chaser]] and, to quote [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]], a "[[shyster]]" whom the Simpsons nonetheless repeatedly hired as their lawyer (a fact remarked on by [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] in a typically self-aware aside). At one point, he claims to have graduated from Princeton school of law, although Princeton has never had a law school.  His legal practice, located in a [[shopping mall]], was named "I Can't Believe It's A Law Firm!". He often tried to entice potential clients with free gifts, including a "smoking monkey" doll and a business card that "turns into a sponge when you put it in water."  
  
In the episode "[[Realty Bites]]", he also tried his hand at selling [[real estate]]. Hutz was briefly married to [[Patty and Selma|Selma Bouvier Terwilliger Hutz McClure Stu]]. When Marge hired him to babysit the Simpson children, he had renamed himself '''Miguel Sanchez''' following some trouble that prompted him to change his identity. At some point, he apparently went by the alias '''Dr. Nguyen Van Thoc'''.
+
===Creation===
 +
Hutz was characterized as both an incompetent lawyer with little or no knowledge of the actual law<ref>From ''[[Marge in Chains]]'':
 +
:Hutz: And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.
 +
:[[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Judge Roy Snyder|Judge]]: Hmm. Mr Hutz, do you know that you're not wearing any pants?
 +
:Hutz: DAAAA!! I move for a bad court thingy.
 +
:Judge: You mean a [[mistrial]]?
 +
:Hutz: Right!! That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy.
 +
:Judge: You mean the lawyer?
 +
:Hutz: Right.[http://www.snpp.com/guides/hutz.file.html]</ref>
 +
and an unethical individual in general; for instance, in the season 4 episode ''[[Marge in Chains]]'' he described the following as his auto accident:
 +
:Well he's had it in for me ever since I kinda ran over his dog... Well, replace the word "kinda" with the word "repeatedly," and the word "dog" with "son.".
 +
Hutz was a [[addiction|recovering addict]]; also in ''Marge in Chains'', he hastily left the courtroom after handling a bottle of [[Bourbon whiskey|bourbon]] in order to consult his [[12 step|sponsor]], musician [[David Crosby]]. Also, Hutz referred to bourbon as "brownest of the brown liquors" and offered to share with Marge and Homer "a belt of scotch" at 9AM, explaining that he "hadn't slept in days."
  
The character was retired after Hartman's murder in 1998, as well as his other main character [[Troy McClure]]. Since court scenes are somewhat frequent, different characters have represented the Simpsons in legal matters after the retirement. For example, in "[[Sweets and Sour Marge]]", the equally incompetent [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Ol' Gil|Gil]] stepped in, while [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Blue Haired Lawyer|Blue Haired Lawyer]] has also served the same function. Lionel Hutz still appears in clip shows and flashbacks, as well as crowd scenes, but only in non-speaking roles. It could be said that he suffers from [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]].
+
===Jobs Oustside of Law===
 +
Beyond the law, he also tried his hand at selling [[real estate]] in ''[[Realty Bites]]''. Hutz was briefly married to [[Patty and Selma Bouvier|Selma Bouvier]], although this storyline was not shown in an episode. When Homer hired him to babysit the Simpson children, he had renamed himself '''Miguel Sanchez''' following some trouble that prompted him to change his identity. At some point, he apparently went by the alias '''Dr. Nguyen Van Phuoc''', a [[Vietnamese name]].
  
Lionel Hutz is currently a retired character, after the untimely death of his voice actor [[Phil Hartman]].
+
== Cases won ==
 +
Although Hutz loses almost all of his cases, he did win several cases for the Simpsons, for instance representing [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] in his case against [[Captain Horatio McAllister]] and the Frying Dutchman restaurant over its "All You Can Eat" offer. While the [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Blue-Haired Lawyer|Blue Haired Lawyer]] tried to show that Homer's eating was far beyond what could reasonably be expected out of an all-you-can-eat offer, Hutz won by putting Marge on the stand and having her reveal the desperate actions she and Homer took after they were kicked out of the restaurant. At Hutz´ urging, Marge tearfully admitted that after searching for another All You Can Eat fish restaurant  until 3AM, Homer and Marge "went fishing." Considering Marge's honest nature, it is unlikely that she was lying. Captain McAllister was then forced to [[settle out of court]] with Homer.  
  
==Quotes==
+
Another case he won for one of the Simpsons was when [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] discovered that an old tramp named Chester J. Lampwick was the real creator of [[The Itchy & Scratchy Show|Itchy and Scratchy]], which was proved by an old drawing by Lampwick. Roger Myers (who had falsely claimed credit for the creation) then had to pay him $800 billion, which forced the Itchy & Scratchy Studios to close down for a short time.
* '''Hutz''': ''(looking at his card which says "Works on contingency--No money down")'' Oh, they got this all wrong! ''(writes on the card and shows it to Bart; it now reads "Works on contingency? No, money down!")''<br/>'''Bart''': So you ''don't'' work on a contingency basis?<br/>'''Hutz''': "No, money down!" I shouldn't really have this bar association number here either. ''(Rips off the number at the bottom of the card and eats it)''
+
 
* '''Hutz''': Mrs. Simpson, your in luck! Your sexual harasment suit is just the think I need to rebuild my shattered practice. Care to join me in a belt of Scotch?<br/>'''Marge''': It's nine thirty in the morning.<br/>'''Hutz''': Yeah, but I haven't slept in days. <br/>(Lionel takes a glub of scotch)<Br/> '''Hutz''':Last chance? (extending the bottle as the offer is made)<br/> (Hutz then continues to finsh the bottle)<br/> '''Hutz''':Oh yeah!<br/>
+
Hutz additionally represented Homer in a [[Treehouse of Horror]] episode, against the [[Devil]] ([[Ned Flanders]]).  At issue was the rightful owner of Homer Simpson's soulIn a hastily assembled courtroom in the Simpsons' living room, before a jury of the damned, Hutz discussed competently the nature of a [[contract]], although his argument ironically was harmful to Homer. Despite the fact that the contract between Homer and the Devil clearly awarded Homer's soul to the Devil upon Homer's consumption of the 'forbidden donut', the jury ruled that Homer had in fact given his soul to Marge years earlier, and thus the soul was not his to give to the Devil. In retribution for losing the court case, Homer was cursed by the Devil and his head was turned into a giant donut. The case was not won so much for Hutz's skill as an attorney, but by Marge's introduction of the relevant evidence (a photo with a note from Homer on the back, granting his soul to Marge).
* ''(defending Homer in a legal case against Satan, in which Satan has Homer under contract)'' That was a right-pretty speech, sirBut I ask you, what is a contract?  Webster's defines it as "an agreement under the law which is unbreakable." ''(emphasizing)'' Which is unbreakable! ''(the members of the jury look at him)'' Excuse me, I must use the restroom.
+
 
* ''(in a deleted scene from the above episode)''<br/>'''Hutz''': ''(carrying a pizza box)'' Well, we didn't win, here's your pizza.<br/>'''Marge''':But we did win!<br/>'''Hutz''': That's okay, the box is empty.
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== Retirement ==
* ''(when Marge is on trial for shoplifting)''<br/>'''Hutz''': Uh-oh, we've drawn [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Judge Roy Snyder|Judge Snyder]].<br/>'''Marge''': Is that bad?<br/>'''Hutz''': Well, he's had it in for me ever since I kinda ran over his dog.<br/>'''Marge''': You did?<br/>'''Hutz''': Well replace the word "kinda" with "repeatedly" and the word "dog" with "son."
+
The character was retired after [[Phil Hartman#Death|Hartman's murder]] in 1998, as well as his other main character [[Troy McClure]]. Since the Simpson family frequently appears in court,<ref>Often enough for Lisa, in ''[[The Parent Rap]]'' to be on a first-name basis with a [[court officer]].</ref> other characters have represented the Simpsons in legal matters since the retirement. For example, in ''[[Sweets and Sour Marge]]'', the equally-incompetent [[Gil Gunderson|Gil]] stepped in. The [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Blue-Haired Lawyer|Blue Haired Lawyer]] has also served as the family's attorney. Lionel Hutz still appears infrequently in clip shows and flashbacks, as well as crowd scenes, but only in non-speaking roles. Hutz and McClure still appear in [[Simpsons Comics]], as a voice actor is not needed.
* ''(after Marge is acquitted of shoplifting)''<br/>'''Bart''': When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer just like you.<br/>'''Hutz''': Good for you, son. If there's one thing America needs, it's more lawyers. Can you imagine a world without lawyers?<br/>''(Hutz imagines people of diverse ethnicities happily dancing in a circle in a lush, sunny landscape, and shudders.)''
 
* ''(on his career change to realtor)'' Legal business has been slow and since most of my clients keep losing their homes, it was a natural career move.
 
* '''Lisa''': You're a modern-day [[Clarence Darrow]].<br/>'''Hutz''': Was that the [[Clarence Williams III|black guy]] from ''[[The Mod Squad]]''?
 
* '''Hutz:''' ''(in a sidebar with Judge)'' I move for a bad court thingy.<br/>'''Judge''': You mean a [[mistrial]]?<br/>'''Hutz''': Yeah, that's why you're the judge and I'm the law talking guy.<br/>'''Judge''': You mean the lawyer?<br/>'''Hutz''': Right...
 
*'''Judge''': Mr. Hutz are you aware that you're not wearing any pants? (Hutz looks down and screams)
 
*'''Judge''': This verdict is written on a cocktail napkin. And it still says guilty! And guilty is spelled wrong...(Judge angrilly looks down at Hutz)
 
* I've argued before every judge in the state...often as a lawyer!
 
* Don't worry, Mister Simpson! I saw [[Matlock (television series)|Matlock]] in a bar last night. The sound wasn't on, but I think I got the gist of it.
 
* ''(after Homer and Marge are thrown out of the "all you can eat" buffet at the Frying Dutchman)'' Mr. Simpson, this is the most blatant case of false advertising since my lawsuit against the movie ''[[Die Unendliche Geschichte (film)|The NeverEnding Story]]''!
 
  
{{Simpsons characters}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Characters|Hutz, Lionel]]
 
[[Category:Characters|Hutz, Lionel]]
 
[[Category:Retired Characters]]
 
[[Category:Retired Characters]]

Revision as of 19:38, December 9, 2007

Lionel Hutz
File:Lionel Hutz.gif
Character Information
Gender: Male
Status:
Unknown
Age: 30
Hair: Brown
Occupation: Lawyer and Realtor and Shoe Repairer
Relatives: Ex-Husband of Selma Bouvier
First appearance: "Bart Gets Hit By A Car"
Voiced by: Phil Hartman


Lionel Hutz (b. 31st July 1963) is a fictional character from the animated TV series The Simpsons, voiced by Phil Hartman. The local lawyer, Hutz' first appearance was in the second-season episode Bart Gets Hit by a Car, and his final speaking role was in the ninth season's Realty Bites.

Character

He is an inept ambulance chaser and, to quote Lisa, a "shyster" whom the Simpsons nonetheless repeatedly hired as their lawyer (a fact remarked on by Marge in a typically self-aware aside). At one point, he claims to have graduated from Princeton school of law, although Princeton has never had a law school. His legal practice, located in a shopping mall, was named "I Can't Believe It's A Law Firm!". He often tried to entice potential clients with free gifts, including a "smoking monkey" doll and a business card that "turns into a sponge when you put it in water."

Creation

Hutz was characterized as both an incompetent lawyer with little or no knowledge of the actual law[1] and an unethical individual in general; for instance, in the season 4 episode Marge in Chains he described the following as his auto accident:

Well he's had it in for me ever since I kinda ran over his dog... Well, replace the word "kinda" with the word "repeatedly," and the word "dog" with "son.".

Hutz was a recovering addict; also in Marge in Chains, he hastily left the courtroom after handling a bottle of bourbon in order to consult his sponsor, musician David Crosby. Also, Hutz referred to bourbon as "brownest of the brown liquors" and offered to share with Marge and Homer "a belt of scotch" at 9AM, explaining that he "hadn't slept in days."

Jobs Oustside of Law

Beyond the law, he also tried his hand at selling real estate in Realty Bites. Hutz was briefly married to Selma Bouvier, although this storyline was not shown in an episode. When Homer hired him to babysit the Simpson children, he had renamed himself Miguel Sanchez following some trouble that prompted him to change his identity. At some point, he apparently went by the alias Dr. Nguyen Van Phuoc, a Vietnamese name.

Cases won

Although Hutz loses almost all of his cases, he did win several cases for the Simpsons, for instance representing Homer in his case against Captain Horatio McAllister and the Frying Dutchman restaurant over its "All You Can Eat" offer. While the Blue Haired Lawyer tried to show that Homer's eating was far beyond what could reasonably be expected out of an all-you-can-eat offer, Hutz won by putting Marge on the stand and having her reveal the desperate actions she and Homer took after they were kicked out of the restaurant. At Hutz´ urging, Marge tearfully admitted that after searching for another All You Can Eat fish restaurant until 3AM, Homer and Marge "went fishing." Considering Marge's honest nature, it is unlikely that she was lying. Captain McAllister was then forced to settle out of court with Homer.

Another case he won for one of the Simpsons was when Bart discovered that an old tramp named Chester J. Lampwick was the real creator of Itchy and Scratchy, which was proved by an old drawing by Lampwick. Roger Myers (who had falsely claimed credit for the creation) then had to pay him $800 billion, which forced the Itchy & Scratchy Studios to close down for a short time.

Hutz additionally represented Homer in a Treehouse of Horror episode, against the Devil (Ned Flanders). At issue was the rightful owner of Homer Simpson's soul. In a hastily assembled courtroom in the Simpsons' living room, before a jury of the damned, Hutz discussed competently the nature of a contract, although his argument ironically was harmful to Homer. Despite the fact that the contract between Homer and the Devil clearly awarded Homer's soul to the Devil upon Homer's consumption of the 'forbidden donut', the jury ruled that Homer had in fact given his soul to Marge years earlier, and thus the soul was not his to give to the Devil. In retribution for losing the court case, Homer was cursed by the Devil and his head was turned into a giant donut. The case was not won so much for Hutz's skill as an attorney, but by Marge's introduction of the relevant evidence (a photo with a note from Homer on the back, granting his soul to Marge).

Retirement

The character was retired after Hartman's murder in 1998, as well as his other main character Troy McClure. Since the Simpson family frequently appears in court,[2] other characters have represented the Simpsons in legal matters since the retirement. For example, in Sweets and Sour Marge, the equally-incompetent Gil stepped in. The Blue Haired Lawyer has also served as the family's attorney. Lionel Hutz still appears infrequently in clip shows and flashbacks, as well as crowd scenes, but only in non-speaking roles. Hutz and McClure still appear in Simpsons Comics, as a voice actor is not needed.
  1. From Marge in Chains:
    Hutz: And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.
    Judge: Hmm. Mr Hutz, do you know that you're not wearing any pants?
    Hutz: DAAAA!! I move for a bad court thingy.
    Judge: You mean a mistrial?
    Hutz: Right!! That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy.
    Judge: You mean the lawyer?
    Hutz: Right.[1]
  2. Often enough for Lisa, in The Parent Rap to be on a first-name basis with a court officer.