A tiny bath beneath a duck-patterned shower curtain, with a yellow rubber duck peeking out beside aqua tiles.

Original artwork, not a still

Homer

Whoops. Sorry, son. I didn't know you, Jay Leno, and a monkey were bathing a clown.

— The Simpsons · 1989

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker apologises to a son after describing him, Jay Leno and a monkey as jointly bathing a clown. The bizarre combination makes the line absurd. Its casual opening treats the unexpected activity as an ordinary misunderstanding that can be smoothed over with an apology.

Context reviewed

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