Laurel and Hardy

Laurel and Hardy was a British-American comedy film series (1927-1950) starring the British actor Stan Laurel (the thin one) and American actor Oliver Hardy (the obese one). They are one of the most iconic and popular comedy duos in the world. Laurel and Hardy have been referenced in The Simpsons numerous times.

Homer's famous line D'oh is a reference to actor James Finlayson in the Laurel and Hardy movies, who used to say the same line, but much slower and longer: "D'ooooooooh!". Since everything in animation has to go a lot quicker Homer said the line much quicker too. Matt Groening and David Silverman are on record as fans of the duo.

References to Laurel and Hardy in The Simpsons

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference Tracey Ullman shorts: Season 3 33 "Punching Bag" In this episode Homer says D'oh for the first time, after being hit by a punching bag. The word was borrowed from actor James Finlayson in the Laurel and Hardy series, but at the suggestion of Matt Groening it was said much quicker to fit the animation timing. 1 4 "There's No Disgrace Like Home" The scene where The Simpsons are giving each other electric shock therapy, which escalates, was inspired by Laurel and Hardy pie fights, according to the DVD commentary. 15 329 "The Wandering Juvie" Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are seen in prison uniforms, waiting in line to have their chains sawed through. This could either be a reference to their movie "The Second Hundred Years" or "Pardon Us", in which they indeed try to escape from prison. 21 450 "Thursdays with Abie" In Granpa's flashback sequence several famous movie actors from the 1930s are seen descending from a train, among them Laurel and Hardy. 22 480 "A Midsummer's Nice Dreams" Mr. Burns', being under the influence of marihuana smoke during a Cheech & Chong comedy routine, starts hallucinating and imagines he's watching Laurel and Hardy. 23 360 "Them, Robot" Mr. Burns watches an old movie starring two comedians who resemble Laurel and Hardy and who are trying to move a piano. This is a reference to the Laurel and Hardy film "The Music Box" (1932). 33 716 "A Made Maggie" Laurel and Hardy drop off a piano from a balcony almost hitting Maggie. They are dressed in their piano mover's outfits from the film The Music Box (1932). Hardy tells Laurel: "There's another avoidable death you've gotten us into.", whereupon Laurel starts crying, a nod to the duo's famous catchphrase: "There's another nice mess you've gotten us into."

External links

• Laurel and Hardy at Wikipedia

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