"Bonjourrrrr, you cheese-eating surrender monkeys" - Groundskeeper Willie's Legacy

n/a | 2/14/2003 | Pyro7480

[Pyro7480]

If you haven't heard of the phrase in the title of this thread, YOU MUST BE LIVING UNDER A ROCK! The phrase has turned up in foreign newspapers all over the world. FReepers and many conservatives use it readily to display their scorn for the French. It has been attributed to the wrong character on the Simpsons in some articles (usually Bart Simpson).

How did this phrase come about? It is from an episode of the Simpsons where parents of students and staff at the Springfield Elementary School have to temporarily fill in as teachers at the school. Lunchlady Doris, another secondary character on the Simpsons, describes the situation, saying, "They've even got Groundskeeper Willie teaching French." The episode then cuts to Willie in a striped shirt and a beret at the front of some students in a classrom, saying in his thick Scottish accent, "BONJOURRRR, you cheese-eating surrender monkeys."

The rest is history....

[Pyro7480]

I thought I'd post this to clear up some confusion over the origin of the phrase, even though some have already cleared it up on the related threads. Here's a link to the wav of Willie saying the now infamous phrase.
http://www.worldwide-web.com/JeffreyBabad/Simpsons/Willie/french.wav

The voice of Willie is performed by Dan Castellaneta ,who also does the voice for Homer,Grandpa,Krusty,Barney,Sideshow Mel,and Mayor Quimby. Mr. Castellaneta orginally starred on the Tracey Ullmen Show were he created the voice of Homer on the show.

Now THIS is what a real man looks like, you French pansies!

[Pyro7480]

BTTT!

[Fred Mertz]

I saw that episode.

[Pyro7480]

I've seen it several times. It cracks me up every time I see it, along with many other Simpsons episodes.

[holymoly]

No, I am NOT digging for truffles, ye beret wearin' girly-men!

[MrConfettiMan]

Like I said the other day: A couple of years ago my wife's sister and husband went on a vacation to Paris. At the time, I said I would never set foot in a country that has such disdain for Americans. I'm sure not all Frenchman feel this way, but obviously a large majority of them do and to them I say, "You're nothing but a bunch of cheese eating, surrender monkeys." I did decide a little bit later that it would be a privilege to visit the sacred shores of Normandy but I'm not sure they have an airport with a customs office so I could fly there directly. :)

[Eala]

Just a nit: the balmoral (cap) is tilted the wrong way, and the sgian dubh (stocking knife) is normally worn on the right.

[amused]

Other funny Willy quotes.

"For battle we donned a full length ballroom gown with sequins"

"Ya USED ME SKINNER! Ya USED ME!"

"Nothing can out run a greased Scotsman"

[RippleFire]

Truffle snuffler bump

[mdittmar]

Would love to hear this explained by Paul Harvey:"Now you know,the rest of the story".

lol

[expatpat]

Willie is Left-handed, it appears. Clearly, the knife should be on the owner's dominant side.

[Phantom Lord]

Go Willie!

[Defiant]

The writer who penned the phrase ought to be found and credited.

[mabelkitty]

What about the comment when the kids were representatives from the UN? That was hilarious.

[dinasour]

Probably one of the most famous actors in the world, but he could be sitting right next to you and you wouldn't know it.

 

Dan Castellaneta

[Eala]

Willie is Left-handed, it appears. Clearly, the knife should be on the owner's dominant side.

As a rule, yes (though not when you're in a band, and it's pretty much just for show now anyway). I was willing to let it go until I saw the balmoral the wrong way.

[Defiant]

That was hilarious, I remember it. My absolute favorite was the Australia episode, where they wanted to give Bart the Boot. It came right after the controversy with Singapore caning some kid for a minor offense. Bart wrote "Don't Tread on Me" on his butt, and mooned the Australian parliament from the safety of the US embassy. The family then had to evacuate from the embassy roof. A classic. I hope they don't show that in Australia, it might make them mad.

[elbucko]

I wonder when "Willie" plays his pipes if he uses the "Heavy" throw on "D" or the light one? Just curious...;^)

[Riley]

Probably one of the most famous actors in the world, but he could be sitting right next to you and you wouldn't know it.

He could have a LOT of fun with that in public places!

[capitan_refugio]

Maybe the negative got reversed ;^)