What Does Clark Call His Boss in Christmas Vacation?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday movie “Christmas Vacation,” you might remember a recurring joke about Clark Griswold’s boss, Frank Shirley. Throughout the movie, Clark refers to his boss with a funny nickname that has become iconic in pop culture.

So, what does Clark call his boss in “Christmas Vacation”? Let’s take a closer look.

The Set-Up

Before we get to Clark’s nickname for his boss, let’s set the scene. In “Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase plays Clark Griswold, a well-meaning but hapless family man who is determined to have the perfect Christmas with his wife and kids. However, everything goes wrong when his boss, Frank Shirley (played by Brian Doyle-Murray), cancels his Christmas bonus and sends him a subscription to the Jelly of the Month Club instead.

Clark is understandably upset by this turn of events and decides to confront his boss at home on Christmas Eve. When he arrives at Frank’s house, he is greeted by Frank’s wife and discovers that Frank has gone on vacation and left his staff in the lurch.

The Nickname

As Clark tries to figure out what to do next, he starts referring to Frank by a funny nickname: “The Jolliest Bunch of Assholes This Side of the Nuthouse.” He repeats this phrase several times throughout the movie, usually when he is venting his frustrations about his boss.

The nickname itself is both funny and irreverent. It implies that Frank and his associates are both jolly (i.e., happy) and assholes (i., mean or unpleasant). It also suggests that they are crazy or unstable (hence the reference to a nuthouse).

The Legacy

Since its release in 1989, “Christmas Vacation” has become a beloved holiday classic. The movie’s humor and heart have made it a staple of many families’ holiday traditions. And, of course, Clark’s nickname for his boss has become one of the most memorable lines in the film.

Over the years, fans of “Christmas Vacation” have used Clark’s nickname to create everything from t-shirts to Christmas cards. The phrase has also become a popular meme on social media, with people using it to describe everything from their coworkers to their families.

Conclusion

So there you have it: what Clark calls his boss in “Christmas Vacation.” While the nickname itself is funny and irreverent, it also speaks to the frustrations that many people feel around the holidays. Whether you’re dealing with a difficult boss or just trying to make it through another family gathering, sometimes all you can do is laugh and call them “The Jolliest Bunch of Assholes This Side of the Nuthouse.”