Today is the birthday of a very powerful Rabbit. Bugs Bunny of Looney Tunes fame turns 82 today. Now, Bugs Bunny is known for a lot of things. Where do you even begin with Bugs Bunny? He's a rabbit who uses a delightful mix of quick wits, slapstick violence and gender fluidity to get out of any situation the writers could throw at him. Except for the few times he lost because it was funnier that way.
Anyway, one of the things Bugs Bunny is notable for mucking with is the English language. You know how nimrod is a common insult towards someone's intelligence? Well, before Looney Tunes the term was a religious one. Mentioned in the book of Genesis, Nimrod was said to be the name of a mighty hunter. When Bugs Bunny started calling Elmer Fudd that ironically, the reference was lost on enough viewers it was a proper term for a fool today.
[CONTRIBUTOR’S NOTE: So much of Bugs Bunny’s power comes from Mel Blanc, in my opinion. His “What’s up, Doc?”s just aren’t the same in newer post-Blanc series and movies.]
You gotta love bugs bunny man, everyone loves a good trickster character.