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On Frasier, particularly seasons 8-10, there are a number of instances where a character will ask another 'Why'd you do it?' in an exaggerated fashion. Martin asks Niles when he leaves Eddie in a kennel, and asks Frasier when he throws dancing Santa off the balcony. Noel asks Frasier when he doesn't uphold a deal to get Scott Bakula's autograph. There are a couple others, and they all say it the same way! What is the origin and significance of this line and delivery?

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  • I'm pretty sure they're referencing something, but can't remember what... :( [And I think I saw it quoted in other shows]
    – Walt
    Nov 16, 2015 at 13:50
  • Possibly Rocky III; "Geez, Mick. Why'd ya do it?" or Warriors "Why'd you do it? Why'd you waste Cyrus?"
    – user7812
    Nov 16, 2015 at 15:08
  • It's about the inflection, though, not just the text. Don't remember how they said the line in Rocky III, but that's definitely not the way they said it in The Warriors, where it's uttered in a rather casual tone.
    – Walt
    Nov 17, 2015 at 6:01

1 Answer 1

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I'm pretty sure this is a reference to the song "Why'd You Do It?" by Marianne Faithfull. The inflection on "do" is exactly the same as Faithfull's.

Here's a link to the song on YouTube, but be aware the lyrics are NSFW.

Why'd You Do It?

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