History Series / DennisTheMenace

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Gale Gordon replaced Joseph Kerns as George Wilson's brother John for the final season after Kerns passed away. Oddly enough, Gordon resembles the newspaper image of George Wilson much more than Kerns did.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': An episode entitled "Two Bad Neighbors" parodied the show with former President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush moving into the neighborhood, complete with Bart at one point greeting him with "Heyyyyyy Misssssssterrrrrrr Buuuuuuuuuussssssh!"
** In another episode Bart refers to himself as "This generation's Dennis The Menace".
** Comparing Bart to Dennis is something of a RunningGag on the show. Yet another episode has one of Lisa's friends remarking "Who does (Bart) think he is with that slingshot in his back pocket, Dennis The Menace?"

* ''TheSimpsons'': An episode entitled "Two Bad Neighbors" parodied the show with former President GeorgeHWBush moving into the neighborhood, complete with Bart at one point greeting him with "Heyyyyyy Misssssssterrrrrrr Buuuuuuuuuussssssh!"

-->-- '''Dennis Mitchell''', calling his 'best friend' Mr George/John Wilson, who generally mutters "Oh, no..." to himself in response.

* HeyItsThatGuy: RonHoward played one of Dennis's friends in a few episodes.
** In one episode Edward Everett Horton appears as John Wilson's Uncle, furious after Wilson turned his life story into a [[RockyAndBullwinkle Fractured Fairy Tale]].
** In one episode Mr Wilson hires [[AllInTheFamily Edith Bunker]] as a maid.
** John Wilson wants to play golf with Dr [[Series/PetticoatJunction Sam]] [[GreenAcres Druker]].
** Dennis's hermit friend is [[Series/PetticoatJunction movin' kinda slow]].
** [[Film/BlazingSaddles Headley Lamarr]] is running a contest Mr. Wilson has won.
** [[TheMaryTylerMooreShow Rhoda's Dad]] is Dennis's Principal.
** [[MchalesNavy Lt Leroy C arpenter]] doesn't believe Mr Wilson's shaggy dog story.
** The Dog Catcher's voice is familiar, but his face draws a [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes "Blanc"]].

* ThirdPersonPerson: Opie the Fix-it Man in "Dennis and the TV Set".

* NoodleIncident: When Mr Wilson's TV turns itself on (via Dennis' rented remote from his window) he thinks Mrs Wilson's behind it.
-->'''Mr Wilson''': I was taking my nap and the tv came on and started running wild! I even thought you were hiding in the closet, changing channels on me.
-->'''Mrs Wilson''': Oh, I'd never do that to you, Dear."
-->'''Mr Wilson''': Oh, yea? What about that time in Atlantic City?

** Yet another episode has one of Lisa's friends remarking "Who does (Bart) think he is with that slingshot in his back pocket, Dennis The Menace?"

* CatchPhrase: For Dennis: "Heyyyyyy, Misssssster Willllllllllllson!", "Good ol' Mr Wilson" "Jeepers!" "I was only trying to help!". For Mr Wilson: "Oh, Great Scott!"
** Lampshaded at the end of one episode

* BillingDisplacement: For the first three years the credits featured Jay North by himself, and then one screen with three credits in the order of Herbert Anderson (Henry), Gloria Henry (Alice), and Joseph Kerns (Mr Wilson). When Gale Gordon joined the cast, he became the second person to be credited, followed by Anderson and Henry.

* AdaptationDistillation: Dennis does not own Ruff the dog in the television version, while George Wilson aquires a terrier named Fremont.

* PutOnABus: Joseph Kearns, who played Mr. Wilson died from a cerebral hemorrhage, so it was written that George and Martha Wilson went off on an extended trip, and George's brother John Wilson (Gale Gordon) watched over the house in his place. Gordon, amusingly enough, looked more like the comic strip version of Mr. Wilson than Kearns.

Dennis the Menace is a US television series based on [[DennisTheMenaceUS the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name]]. The show aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS and stars Jay North as Dennis Mitchell; Herbert Anderson as his father, Henry; Gloria Henry as his mother, Alice; Joseph Kearns as George Wilson, Gale Gordon as John Wilson, and Sylvia Field as Martha Wilson.

!!Dennis the Menace provides examples of:

** The Dog Catcher's voice is familiar, but his face draws a [[LooneyTunes "Blanc"]].

** Lampshaded at the end of one episode

** Spring Byington appears in one episode as herself visiting her niece, the mother of one of Dennis's friends. Although playing herself, Dennis refers to her by the name of her character from ''DecemberBride''. (Which is somewhat ironic, as Jay North would grow up to resent the fact that everyone thought of him as Dennis, making it next to impossible to find post ''Dennis'' acting work.)

** [[BlazingSaddles Headley Lamarr]] is running a contest Mr. Wilson has won.

* AsHimself: Spring Byington and Sandy Kofax
* BaseballEpisode: With Special Guest Star Sandy Kofax AsHimself.

** [[MchalesNavy Lt Leroy Carpenter]] doesn't believe Mr Wilson's shaggy dog story.

** John Wilson wants to play golf with Dr [[PetticoatJunction Sam]] [[GreenAcres Druker]].
** Dennis's hermit friend is [[PetticoatJunction movin' kinda slow]].

** [[{{Rhoda}} Rhoda's Dad]] is Dennis's Principal.