Ep. 13 - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Jul 18

Adam and Nate watch The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), a top-grossing musical comedy that barely exists. Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton star as star-crossed lovers, a small-town sheriff and a madam, both trying to save the local brothel from a meddling media personality. Sound familiar? This movie/musical/true story inspired the plot of “Bart After Dark” (S8E5), one of Nate and Adam’s favorite Simpsons episode of all time.

Also in this episode:

The real-life Maison Derriere, a brothel that operated illegally (and discretely) near LaGrange, Texas, for 63 years
How parodies of overblown media, side-stepping politicians, and mob mentality make this one of the most Simpsons-y movies we’ve watched so far
The short and underappreciated career of Colin Higgins (Harold and Maude, 9 to 5)
The rise of Dolly Parton, the fall of Burt Reynolds, and the magic moment where they overlapped
Adam and Nate fall down a deep Dom DeLuise rabbit hole (The Charlie Horse Music Pizza, anyone?)

Next time, Adam and Nate step up for A Chorus Line (1985).

Every Reference to The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on The Simpsons

By our count in The Simpsons Movie Reference Database, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas has only been directly referenced in 1 episode of the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons. The only reference appears in “Bart After Dark” (S8E5) from 1996, 14 years after the release of the movie.

Scene & Plot Parodies

Bart After Dark (S8E5): Marge’s efforts to close the Maison Derriere, much to the chagrin its diverse and powerful clientele, is a parody of this musical and the true story it’s based on.