catchphrase / said by James and Jimmie
That's grim, Karen
What does "That's grim, Karen" mean on Small Town Murder?
James's appalled reply when a woman called Karen says something especially bleak: "that's grim, Karen". It turned into the nickname Grim Karen, a stock way of answering any Karen, and eventually a running joke and a t-shirt.
- Kind
- catchphrase
- Usually said by
- James and Jimmie
- First heard
- Episode 109, 7 March 2019
The story behind the phrase
Where did "That's grim, Karen" come from?
It starts in episode 109. James reads out a daughter called Karen, whose parents are missing, saying you almost hope "selfishly" that they are in heaven. He reacts as if talking to her: "that's grim, Karen". Within seconds she is Grim Karen.
It was an instant reaction to how bleak the line was, with Jimmie joining in at once. James jokes that people probably say it to her all the time.
How is "That's grim, Karen" used now?
It spread to a stock reply for anything bleak, and in episode 112 James calls a harsh review of a town "Grim Karen's resonant review". There were "grim Karen" T-shirts by episode 110, and by episode 117 she has a counterpart in "put upon Kathy". In episode 205 James uses it on a different Karen, and in episode 669 he suggests "grim Betty" as the name from then on.
When was "That's grim, Karen" first said?
It was first heard in episode 109, "A Grim & Deadly Plot", on 7 March 2019, at about 1:00:10.
"That's grim, Karen."
At 1:00:10 James reacts to Karen, the daughter in the story, saying she almost hopes her injured parents are in heaven: "thats grim karen", as if speaking to her. He repeats it, Jimmie joins in, and within seconds they are calling her Grim Karen, so it is coined on the spot rather than an established joke.
Heard in these episodes
Found by searching the transcripts; speech recognition can miss a use.
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