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How The Breakfast Club gave Bart Simpson one of his iconic catchphrases, years before he even existed
The Simpsons took some inspiration from John Hughes’s 1985 classic The Breakfast Club
Chicago's C2E2 2025 was three days of comics, community, celebrities, and pizza (Pequod's, if you want to know). Read our full recap of the weekend, watch all of the Main Stage panel videos, see all the best cosplay photos, and more. And if you want to do it all again next year, we've got the dates for C2E2 2026, too.
The Simpsons has added many catchphrases to the pop culture lexicon, from "D’oh!" to "Ay caramba," but one of their most iconic retorts was first popularized in The Breakfast Club.
During the 1985 film, Judd Nelson’s character famously says "eat my shorts." This was two years before the Simpsons made their debut on The Tracey Ullman Show, and five years before Bart Simpson would utter the phrase in the episode ‘Bart the Genius.’
Does this mean The Simpsons were influenced by The Breakfast Club? That’s just what Josh Horowitz wanted to know when he moderated the Don’t You Forget About Me: The Breakfast Club 40th Anniversary Reunion panel at C2E2 2025. “Was 'eat my shorts' a phrase at the time in pop culture? Do The Simpsons owe you a debt of gratitude for that phrase?” Horowitz asked.
Watch the 'Don't You Forget About Me: The Breakfast Club 40th Anniversary Reunion' panel from the C2E2 2025 Main Stage powered by CGC x JSA right now:
While some lines were adlibbed, Judd Nelson said the phrase came from director and screenwriter John Hughes. “It was in the script,” Nelson recalled.
“The Simpsons didn’t exist yet,” Ringwald said. “So, I think it probably comes from The Breakfast Club.”
To be fair, the phrase existed before The Breakfast Club. Bart Simpson voice actress Nancy Cartwright has said she used to say it during her high school days. (Cartwright also says she improvised it during a table read.) In light of that evidence, while The Breakfast Club seemingly didn’t originate the phrase, it did cement it’s place in pop culture before The Simpsons came along.
Hmmmm…I wonder if there’s a way to credit John Hughes with Homer Simpson saying ‘D’oh'?
Popverse members can watch Don’t You Forget About Me: The Breakfast Club 40th Anniversary Reunion from C2E2 2025's Main Stage for yourself, guaranteed by CGC x JSA, as part of Popverse's all-encompassing coverage of C2E2 2025.
Did you miss a C2E2 Main Stage panel? Don't worry, we're filming it all thanks to our partners at CGC x JSA - our official authenticator & grading partner. Here is the C2E2 2025 panel list and release schedule.
About C2E2 2025
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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