- For the character, see Dennis the Menace (character).
Dennis the Menace is a 1951 humoristic newspaper cartoon series created by Hank Ketcham. It features a young boy called Dennis the Menace who always causes mayhem, which works on his parents and especially his neighbor George Wilson's nerves. George's wife, Martha Wilson, usually defends little Dennis in front of her husband. Between 1959-1963 the comic strip was adapted into a TV sitcom, which Matt Groening saw as a child and disappointed him deeply, since Dennis didn't really live up to being a menace. As Groening described in the documentary My Wasted Life (2000) it was with this instinct in mind that he created Bart Simpson to be more like an actual menace. Dennis the Menace has been adapted into various films and an animated TV series too.
References to Dennis the Menace in The Simpsons
Episodes
Picture
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Season
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Episode number
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Episode name
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Reference
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5
|
83
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"Cape Feare"
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When Sideshow Bob was after Bart, he asked his family who'd want to hurt him, as he is just this century's Dennis the Menace.
|
|
7
|
141
|
"Two Bad Neighbors"
|
The relationship between Bart and George H.W. Bush is portrayed in a style reminiscent of Dennis the Menace and George Wilson; Barbara Bush acts just like Martha Wilson, even using her catchphrase "Oh, George..."..
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7
|
153
|
"Summer of 4'2"
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Erin compares Bart unfavorably to Dennis the Menace.
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11
|
228
|
"Brother's Little Helper"
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Marge describes Bart – who is missing – to Lou, who sketches him out for identification. The drawing he comes up with depicts Dennis the Menace.
|
|
11
|
234
|
"Take My Wife, Sleaze"
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Bart was talking with Jay North, the original Dennis the Menace, when he was in Greaser's Cafe. North tries to impress Bart with "how much of a menace he was", though the things he describes are so lame that Bart is not impressed.
|
|
12
|
260
|
"Tennis the Menace"
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The title is a pun on the series.
|
|
14
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311
|
"Brake My Wife, Please"
|
While walking to work, Homer runs a stick across a fence, and then across George Wilson's face. Martha Wilson also makes an appearance. She tried to get him to calm down but he replied that he would get a divorce, which made Martha happy.
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16
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343
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"Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass"
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Dennis was seen on the cover of The Bible for Wise-Asses.
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|
20
|
423
|
"Double, Double, Boy in Trouble"
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Homer describes Bart as a “Dennis level menace”.
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24
|
528
|
"The Fabulous Faker Boy"
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Principal Skinner wants Bart to be less “Dennis the Menace, more Casper the Friendly Ghost, if he were still alive.”
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The Simpsons Movie
Comics
External links