Ep. 13 - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
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.
Extra Credit
Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.
From Adam: La Cage aux Folles (1978) & The Birdcage (1996)
From Nate: 9 to 5 (1980)
On the Watchlist: Nashville (1975)
Further Reading & Viewing
Video: “The Aggie Song,” censored performance by the Broadway cast at the Tony Awards, 1979.
Video: Jack Regas, “The Best Little Special in Texas,” August 1982.
Video: “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: The Making of Featurette,” 1982.
Article: Scott Miller, “Inside The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,“ New Line Theatre, 2002.
Video: voltrex2649, “The Charlie Horse Music Pizza Intro,” YouTube, April 10, 2011.
Article: Sonia Smith, “Last Madam at the La Grange Chicken Ranch Dead at 84,“ Texas Monthly, February 29, 2012.
Article: Durrell Bowman, “‘The Spring in Springfield:’ Songs and ‘Mini-Musicals’ on The Simpsons,“ July 11, 2013.
Video: David Engel, “The Aggie Song (Reconstructed),” Vimeo, 2015.
Article: Kelsey Goeres, “‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’: What Dolly Parton Said About the Rumor That Burt Reynolds Was Difficult to Work With,“ Showbiz CheatSheet, November 13, 2021.
Video: Vance’s Media Treasures, “Where Stallions Run (Deleted Scene),” YouTube, April 23, 2022.
Wiki Entry: “V-Chip,” Wikipedia, accessed July 16, 2023.
Dom Deluise and his lookalike Louisianan Chef Paul Prudhomme at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen. Credit: The Times-Picayune.
