History Main / OhTheHumanity

* In WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb, "The Fast and the Phineas", as Dr. Doofenshmirtz's blimp hits a broadcasting tower, the announcer only has time to say, "Oh, the hu-" before the feed is cut.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', Jay's parents are about to go on their second honeymoon to celebrate their 40th anniversary, but when they get to the airport, they discover that the airline is on strike. The only airline that will honor their tickets is [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Hindenburg Airways,]] which has the Hindenburg crashing for their logo with the quote "Oh, the humanity!"[[/folder]]

** Much of the humor in pop-culture related to this horrifying mishap was likely due to the original recording being sped up, making Herbert Morrison sound like a hyper-dramatic rodent and creating unintentional {{Narm}}. Slowed down to the correct speed and it's a genuinely serious, harrowing moment and he doesn't sound so narmy and ridiculous.

%% Please keep this page's examples section alphabetized. The troper collective thanks you.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/oh-the-huge-manatee3_294.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[MemeticMutation Oh, the huge manatee!!]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' does it in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_the_Beauty_Queen "Lisa the Beauty Queen,"]] when the Duff Beer blimp crashes Kent Brockman mutters "Oh, the humanity... anyway..." and carries on talking as if nothing had happened.
** Another ''[[TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' episode has Bart showing off his checkbook flip-book of the Hindenburg crash, with the last check reading, "OH THE HUMANITY"

StockPhrase for whenever someone sees something particularly horrible. So horrible, in fact, that you just can't help but shout your horror to the heavens. Originated in 1937, when reporter Herbert Morrison witnessed UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg disaster first-hand. Morrison kept reporting, though he was clearly horrified, and, overcome, exclaimed "All the humanities!" ("Humanity" was apparently a term Morrison frequently used to describe any large group of people; in context, immediately prior to the disaster, he'd used the word to refer to the "mass of humanity" awaiting the blimp's arrival, and was expressing concern that they could be injured, rather than appealing to humanity as an abstract concept.) In interviews later, he explained he had said that because he thought everyone on board had died.

* The TropeMaker: Famously spoken by Herbert Morrison, a WLS Radio announcer witnessing UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg disaster. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F54rqDh2mWA Warning, extremely sobering moment.]] Morrison and his assistant Charlie Nehlsen were making an experimental audio recording; a malfunction in the recording equipment caused Morrison's voice to be recorded at a much higher pitch than it should have been. It was played on WLS that night and on the NBC Radio Network the following day, but not dubbed onto newsreel footage until some time later. Today, the discs reside in the National Archives.
** Furthermore, contrary to folk legend, Morrison was definitely ''not'' fired for the way he covered the disaster. In fact, his boss congratulated Morrison for the fine job he did. He did leave that broadcaster, but that's because a competitor offered him more money.

* ''Series/KenanAndKel'': [[ChewingTheScenery I...DROPPED THE SCREW IN THE TUNAAA]] , OH THE HUMANITY.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Mondegreen}} Oh, the huge manatee!!]]]]

* The last issue of Creator/ArchieComics' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic Mini-series]] (the four comics printed before the main series began), Sonic (disguised as a Roboticized version of himself) inputs the wrong coordinates for Robotnik's missile, causing it to strike his Buzzbomber factory. The Buzzbomber that was with Robotnik cries "Oh, the inhumanity!"

* The last issue of Franchise/ArchieComics' [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic Mini-series]] (the four comics printed before the main series began), Sonic (disguised as a Roboticized version of himself) inputs the wrong coordinates for Robotnik's missile, causing it to strike his Buzzbomber factory. The Buzzbomber that was with Robotnik cries "Oh, the inhumanity!"

* On ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'', a balloon crashes into the cloud where the gods have gathered to witness a festival, causing Homer to shout, "Oh, the divinity!"

** Fish Head: OOH! THE HUMANNITY! or should I say... THE FISHANITY!

StockPhrase for whenever someone sees something particularly horrible. So horrible, in fact, that you just can't help but shout your horror to the heavens. Originated in 1937, when reporter Herbert Morrison witnessed UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg disaster first-hand. Morrison kept reporting, though he was clearly horrified, and, overcome, exclaimed "All the humanities!" ("Humanity" was apparently a term Morrison frequently used to describe any large group of people; in context, immediately prior to the disaster, he'd used the word to refer to the "mass of humanity" awaiting the blimp's arrival, and was expressing concern that they could be injured, rather than appealing to humanity as an abstract concept. In interviews later, he explained he had said that because he thought everyone on board had died.

* Newman tops off a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' by yelling it as his mail-truck catches on fire.

* The narration of the first Martian attack in the famous Orson Welles/Mercury Theater broadcast of ''Radio/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' was based directly on UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg broadcast, including the famous "Oh the humanity". This verisimilitude may have been one reason why some people found it so convincing and panicked. Reportedly the actor listened to the original several times in order to get into character.

StockPhrase for whenever someone sees something particularly horrible. So horrible, in fact, that you just can't help but shout your horror to the heavens. Originated in 1937, when reporter Herbert Morrison witnessed UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg disaster first-hand. Morrison kept reporting, though he was clearly horrified, and, overcome, exclaimed "Oh! The humanity!" ("Humanity" was apparently a term Morrison frequently used to describe any large group of people; in context, immediately prior to the disaster, he'd used the word to refer to the "mass of humanity" awaiting the blimp's arrival, and was expressing concern that they could be injured rather than appealing to humanity as an abstract concept.)

* The TropeMaker: Famously spoken by Herbert Morrison, a WLS Radio announcer witnessing UsefulNotes/TheHindenburg disaster. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F54rqDh2mWA Warning, extremely sobering moment.]]
** Also possibly a {{Mondegreen}}: it's entirely possible he ''really'' said "''All'' the humanities, all the passengers."
** And before you start snickering, the recorder was running slow that day, making him sound like a chipmunk. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUVDmXvXcbk&feature=related This is what he actually sounded like.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Fc8kIyMCo&feature=related And this is what he saw.]]
*** A researcher who studied the recording with a microscope concluded that the force of the explosion was enough to affect the speed of the recording, which is why the recording sounds relatively normal and then suddenly changes on the exclamation "It's burst into flames!"
** Morrison and his assistant Charlie Nehlsen were making an experimental audio recording, not a newsreel. It was played on WLS that night and on the NBC Radio Network the following day, but not dubbed onto newsreel footage until some time later. Today, the discs reside in the National Archives.
** Also, Morrison was not fired. In fact he was commended for being a heroic IntrepidReporter. He left WLS for a higher-paying job at WOR in New York the following year.
*** Isn't it weird that a quote from a very terrifying, traumatic event in which dozens died has become a comedic pop-culture RunningGag?
*** HumansAreBastards.
*** Perhaps helped by the fact that most people only know the fast recording with Morrison The Chipmunk and the wording and delivery sounds like {{Narm}} to modern ears. Similar things have happened to the phrase "Houston; We have/had a problem". Also; It happened a very long time ago, it surprisingly had less casualties than one would've expected, was an accident and the ship was associated with Nazi Germany. It's probably less HumansAreBastards and more like dark humor.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

[[folder:{{Film}}]]
* A RunningGag line in ''Film/{{Heathers}}'' (mostly by one of the cops).
* From ''Film/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas'': "Oh the Who-Manity!"

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]
* Although it's not used ''in'' it, there's a spoof self-help book out there bearing this name.

[[folder:LiveActionTelevision]]

* ''Series/TheDailyShow'' used a variation when a scandal was busted by UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter 's grandson: "Oh, the Habitat for Humanity!"

[[folder:VideoGames]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' uses it verbatim:
-->'''Tristan:''' My voice gives me super-strength!\\
'''Kemo:''' Yes, but [[CatchPhrase my hair]] allows me to defy gravity!\\
'''Tristan:''' *Falling after getting hit by Kemo's flying kick* Oh, the ''humanity''!

[[folder:WebVideo]]
* In the ''WebVideo/JonTron'' review of the terrible ''Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis'' video game:
--> '''Jontron''': (SarcasmMode) Oh no, Atlantis is under attack. OH THE HU-[[{{Pun}} MANATEE]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* On ''{{Disney/Hercules}}'', a balloon crashes into the cloud where the gods have gathered to witness a festival, causing Homer to shout, "Oh, the divinity!"

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', Jay's parents are about to go on their second honeymoon to celebrate their 40th anniversary, but when they get to the airport, they discover that the airline is on strike. The only airline that will honor their tickets is [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Hindenburg Airways,]] which has the Hindenburg crashing for their logo with the quote "Oh, the humanity!"

[[/folder]][[folder:RealLife]]

--> '''Jontron''': Oh no, Atlantis is under attack. OH THE HU-[[{{Pun}} MANATEE]]. (SarcasmMode)

* Newman tops off a CrowningMomentOfFunny in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' by yelling it as his mail-truck catches on fire.

* Used so often it's almost a running gag on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. In the ''PrinceOfSpace'' episode, they pun over it: