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Remember when The Simpsons first came on the air? Remember when "D'oh!" was a weird, unnatural-sounding nonsense noise instead of a ubiquitous expression of frustration, and "Don't have a cow, man," "Ay caramba," and "Cowabunga, dude!" were the show's big catchphrases? If you don't, no sweat; The A.V. Club barely does either. But a ridiculous number of other catchphrases from the show have leaked into our cultural vocabularies and our daily lives. Here are just a few Simpsons lines that The A.V. Club uses in day-to-day parlance—and recommends for everyone else's daily use too.
Quote: "Ohhh. I've wasted my life."
Episode: "Treehouse Of Horror VIII" (10/26/97)
Context on the show: While reading a comic and loudly lecturing Aquaman on his romantic choices, the Comic Book Guy sees a missile bearing down on him and comes to sad terms with his impending death.
Real-life uses: Useful at virtually any moment of self-realization or self-awareness, unless you cured cancer today or something, big shot.
Quote: "Stupid TV! Be more funny!"
Episode: "Marge On The Lam" (11/5/93)
Context: While trying to understand why a studio audience is laughing appreciatively at a dryly serious Garrison Keillor-like performer, Homer pounds the family TV, trying to improve its humor reception.
Real-life uses: Whenever frustrated with any form of insufficient humor, from your friends' lame jokes to, um, sub-par episodes of The Simpsons.
Quote: "Everything's coming up Milhouse!"
Episode: "Mom And Pop Art" (4/11/99)
Context: Milhouse utters these immortal words in joy when the rolled-up cuffs of his "flood pants" keep his cuffs "bone-dry" after Homer floods Springfield as an elaborate piece of conceptual art. Beat that, Christo!
Real-life uses: Useful for celebrating any lucky, unexpected sequence of events, no matter how comically minor or insignificant. (Note: this phrase need not be reserved solely for people actually named "Milhouse.")
Quote: "May all your disgraces be private!"
Episode: "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" (5/5/1994)
Context: Corrupt, distinctly Kennedy-esque Mayor "Diamond" Joe Quimby offers his William Kennedy Smith-like nephew Freddie Quimby this self-serving toast at a fancy birthday party.
Real-life uses: Can be applied to any scandal-prone wild child of privilege whose obnoxious behavior threatens to hit the tabloids. It's especially useful for the scions of powerful families with surnames like "Hilton," "Kennedy," "Bush," or "Trump." It can also be employed by Page Six freelancers after successfully shaking down publicity-conscious billionaires for hush money.
Quote: "I was saying 'Boo-urns.'"
Episode: "A Star Is Burns" (3/5/95)
Context: When the audience at the Springfield Film Festival boos Montgomery Burns' entry, Smithers reassures his boss that the crowd is actually chanting "Boo-urns." The audience then reiterates that no, they were actually booing, though Hans Moleman mutters that in his case, at least, Smithers was right.
Real-life uses: It can be an actual, gentler substitute for booing—complete with exaggerated frowny-face—or, in keeping with the original spirit, it can be a way to express that you aren't going along with the crowd.
Quote: "In another, more accurate way, Barney is the winner."
Episode: "Deep Space Homer" (2/24/94)
Context: After Homer and Barney compete for a spot on the space shuttle, the scientist in charge of the project reassures them, "In a way, you're both winners," then clarifies the point.
Real-life uses: Substitute any victorious team and/or person for "Barney," and you've got a smart-ass way to answer the question, "Hey, who won the game last night?"
Quote: "Yes! 'Crisitunity!'"
Episode: "Fear Of Flying" (12/18/94)
Context: Homer's response when Lisa informs him that the Chinese use "the same word for 'crisis' as they do for 'opportunity.'"
Real-life uses: As an irrationally exuberant response to any impending crummy situation.
Quote: "Then get me his non-union, Mexican equivalent!"
Episode: "A Star Is Burns" (3/5/95)
Context: When Steven Spielberg isn't available to direct the self-aggrandizing opus "A Burns For All Seasons," Mr. Burns demands the next best thing. Enter Steven Spielbergo.
Real-life uses: Any time you have to settle for second best. For example, virtually everyone turned down the male lead in Basic Instinct 2. Thus David Morrissey becomes Michael Douglas' non-union, Mexican equivalent.
Quote: "Don't praise the machine."
Episode: "Bart Gets An Elephant" (3/31/94)
Context: Air-headed KBBL DJs Bill and Marty find their jobs in jeopardy when their boss threatens to replace them with a machine, the DJ 3000. It can play music automatically and has three varieties of "inane chatter," such as "Hey, hey. How about that weather out there? Whoa! That was the caller from hell. Well, hot dog! We have a wiener!" Bill chuckles "Man, that thing's great!", but Marty chides him.
Real-life uses: Any time a person speaks positively about something that's a potential threat, or simply not worthy of compliments.
