catchphrase / said by James and Jimmie
Not Small Town Murder approved
What does "Not Small Town Murder approved" mean on Small Town Murder?
James's all-purpose verdict on anything dumb, sleazy or dangerous in a case: behaviour the show would never sign off on, delivered as a mock official ruling. He usually drops it straight after describing the offence, often adds 'right there', then tells listeners not to do it; Jimmie occasionally throws it in too.
- Kind
- catchphrase
- Usually said by
- James and Jimmie
- First heard
- Episode 36, 20 September 2017
The story behind the phrase
Where did "Not Small Town Murder approved" come from?
In episode 36 James is describing a shocking crime committed by a teenager, and says "this is not cra, uh, Small Town Murder approved this behavior". The stumble suggests he is making it up as he goes. By episode 40 it comes out smoothly as "not Small Town Murder approved behavior right there", followed by "please don't do that, folks".
It is a mock official ruling on anything dumb, sleazy or dangerous in a case. James says it straight after the offence, often adding a plea to listeners not to try it themselves.
How is "Not Small Town Murder approved" used now?
It has stretched to cover everything, from a creepy stare through a window in episode 40 to hiding your phone's pings in episode 56, an age gap in episode 302 ("we don't condone that") and even overcooked risotto in episode 65. Jimmie sometimes joins in, as in episode 302 with "we do not accept that".
When was "Not Small Town Murder approved" first said?
It was first heard in episode 36, "The Man With Two Last Meals", on 20 September 2017, at about 0:24:24.
"uh the I would definitely call this deviant behavior, let's just say here, uh this is not cra uh small town murder-approved this behavior."
James is summing up a 17-year-old who raped his 14-year-old sister at knifepoint: 'this is not cra uh small town murder approved this behavior'. The stumble ('not cra uh') makes it sound coined on the spot; a month later in 040 it arrives as a fluent aside, 'not small town murder approved behavior right there... please dont do that folks', as if the audience already knows it.
Heard in these episodes
Found by searching the transcripts; speech recognition can miss a use.
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