Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The sound of schadenfreude, written as two syllables. Nelson's laugh is blunt, humourless and aimed at someone smaller, and the Simpsons then lets him be lonely and human underneath, which is why a bully became a fan favourite. Fans use it, usually pointing, whenever someone trips, gets rejected or loses a bet, and it is probably the cleanest example of a TV laugh that works as a punctuation mark.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The SimpsonsShow the scene
Nelson Muntz, the biggest bully at Springfield Elementary, is introduced in the first season episode "Bart the General", where he beats Bart up for sticking up for Lisa, whose cupcakes for the teacher Nelson has stolen. Bart responds by recruiting Grampa and Herman and organising the whole school into an army. Nelson's mocking "Ha-ha!" is the sound he makes at the expense of anyone who is down. Nancy Cartwright, who also voices Bart, performs him, and the laugh became his signature.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Nelson MuntzintroReference checked
- Wikipedia: Bart the Generalintro and PlotReference checked
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