Zoidberg's strange (Yiddish?) use of "why not?"

[on:]

I searched for a thread and couldn't find one, but please direct me to one if it exists. Can anyone explain Zoidberg's strange use of "why not"? It happens two times in the series:

"It was starting to get a little cramped in there so I molted, why not."

"As the candy hearts poured into the fiery quasar, a wondrous thing happened, why not."

If you guys have heard the lines, you know the tone of voice is like he's saying, "I molted, you see," or "a wondrous thing happened, you see." It's definitely not a question, and I've never heard anyone IRL speak this way.

Is this a Yiddish / classic Jewish comedian thing or just a Zoidberg / Billy West thing? I've looked everywhere!

[Reply #1 on:]

I'm rather certain it's the former.  Some sort of portrayal of a generalized Jewish response... but it probably does have a very specific source that I just can't quite recall off the top of my head.

[Reply #2 on:]

Many things portrayed by Zoidberg are of a Jewish stereotype so I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

[Reply #3 on:]

Decapodians in general are portrayed with a bit of a Jewish slant. I have no idea why, but I love it. It's just so delightfully bizarre to see a race of sandal-wearing space lobsters with names like Norm and Edna, using words like "Schlep" and "Feh!"

It's especially amusing, because as forms of shellfish, Decapodians would actually be considered unclean by actual Jews.

[Reply #4 on:]

His name is Zoidberg...lol

[Reply #5 on:]

And his cousin's name is ZoidFARB! (Which just may be the funniest name ever.)

[Reply #6 on:]

I've always believed Zoidberg was of Jewish decent.  He seems to me like he's an orthodox Jew. 

[Reply #7 on:]

I realize he's supposed to be a Space Jew. I just wondered if this was a particularly Jewish thing to say.

I'm really hoping for a quote or a clip of a real person saying this.

[Reply #8 on:]

Maybe look for a few vids on YouTube of some Yiddish people speaking English. It could be a common phrase in their language that translates to the "why not" in English.

I googled and all i found was
the description located on the right side of this site


Want to visit the National
Yiddish Book Center?
How about NewYork? Yes, New York
City,why not!

I don't know if that counts but I'm saying it does so I didn't just waste ten minutes of my time googling Yiddish

[Reply #9 on:]

Haha! It's closer than I got!

EDIT: I emailed the leader of that group. So we'll see if she knows anything.

[Reply #10 on:]

I've always believed Zoidberg was of Jewish decent.  He seems to me like he's an orthodox Jew. 

We're Jews out in space.
We're zooming along, protecting the Hebrew race!
We're Jews out in space.
If trouble appears we'll put it right back in its place!

When goyim attack us,
we give 'em a smack, we'll slap them right back in the face!

We're Jews out in space.
We're zooming along, protecting the Hebrew race!

[Reply #11 on:]

Xanfor you do enjoy your parodies don't you!

I emailed the leader of that group. So we'll see if she knows anything.

Wow you really do what to know that badly!! Hahaha

[Reply #12 on:]

Xanfor you do enjoy your parodies don't you!

I emailed the leader of that group. So we'll see if she knows anything.

Wow you really do what to know that badly!! Hahaha

I really DO. I've wondered for months.

I've always believed Zoidberg was of Jewish decent.  He seems to me like he's an orthodox Jew.  

We're Jews out in space.
We're zooming along, protecting the Hebrew race!
We're Jews out in space.
If trouble appears we'll put it right back in its place!

When goyim attack us,
we give 'em a smack, we'll slap them right back in the face!

We're Jews out in space.
We're zooming along, protecting the Hebrew race!

<3 Mel Brooks.

[Reply #13 on:]

That's who it was.... Mel Brooks.

[Reply #14 on:]

Dr. Jerkberg.

[Reply #15 on:]

Any word yet emily? Now I'm actually curious as to what they had to say haha.

[Reply #16 on:]

Dr. Jerkberg.

Awwwww.....

[Reply #17 on:]

Any word yet emily? Now I'm actually curious as to what they had to say haha.

No word yet. :-D