Quotes - What You Talkin' 'bout, Willis? - Shmoop

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Source: Diff'rent Strokes

Speaker: Arnold Jackson

What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?

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Context

This line was often spoken by Arnold Jackson, played by Gary Coleman, to his brother Willis (Todd Bridges) on the show Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1985).

In 1978, two brothers from Harlem were orphaned and taken in by a wealthy millionaire. No, it's not the plot of the new Annie; it's the concept of the TV show Diff'rent Strokes.

Those two bros were Arnold and Willis Jackson. When Arnold, played by Gary Coleman, expressed disbelief or befuddlement (or the writers just needed a laugh), Coleman would scrunch his face up and deliver his iconic catchphrase, "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

LOL...?

Where you've heard it

You've heard this quote any time someone wanted to know what someone else was talkin' 'bout, whether that person be Willis, Bruce Willis, Rumer Willis...or even people not named Willis.

Also: So. Many. Memes.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

There are times when you desperately need a modicum of definitive clarification as to what monumental ideas Willis is attempting to communicate. (In short: "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?")

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