Annotated Hobgoblins - 907

Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Annotated Episodes: Annotated Hobgoblins - 907
By MikeC on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 9:39 am:

I had some free time, so I annotated Hobgoblins. I still didn't understand a few jokes and I may have missed some, so feel free to correct me or add to my list.

HOBGOBLINS

Opening
• “Ever since Robert Palmer introduced the concept of accidental turn-ons in his song ‘I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On…’”
o Robert Palmer (1949-2003) was a British singer, known for his soulful songs that mixed various styles, including jazz and blues. Some of his best known songs include “Addicted to Love” and “Simply Irresistible” “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” is actually a cover; the original was recorded in 1984 by soul singer Cherrelle. It made the Top Ten of that year, but Palmer’s version also did well on the charts.

Host Segment One
• “You couldn’t turn me on if you had a dozen naked Gerardos or Fabio in tight leather boots.”
o Gerardo (1965--) is an Ecuadorian rapper and singer, commonly referred to (at least by himself) as the “Latin Elvis.” The handsome Gerardo hit it big in 1991 with the song “Rico Suave”; his popularity marked him as one of the first Latin dance performers to use “Spanglish” (a mixture of Spanish and English).
o Fabio (1959--) is an Italian male fashion model, noted for his appearances on the covers of romance novels. With his long hair and sort of wooden way of talking, Fabio predictably was mocked in the media, but he good naturedly played on his image in a plethora of commercial and movie cameos.
• The chest with the movie in it looks like the Lost Ark of the Covenant from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), right down to the way that Bobo and Brain Guy carry it in on poles rather than directly holding it. This movie, of course, is about intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and his search for the Biblical Ark of the Covenant, which was said to be the resting place of the Ten Commandments and in the movie anyway, gives enormous power to whoever possesses it. Both in the Bible and in the movie people are not allowed to directly touch the Ark upon pain of death.

Movie Act One
• “Has he got Pringles in his shoes?”
o Pringles are a brand of potato chip invented by Alexander Liepa in 1968. The chips are distinctive for their wafer-thin shape as well as the tubular can with a resealable plastic lid (invented by Fred Baur). When you shake the can, it makes a scrunchy sound like McCreedy’s shoes.
• “The true story of Neil Peart!”
o Neil Peart (1952--) is the lyricist and drummer for the Canadian rock band Rush, which has been successful for over thirty years. Peart is famous for both his gigantic set of drums and his literary-inspired lyrics. His name is actually pronounced “Peert,” not “Pert” as Crow does here, in reference to Dennis getting down.
• “Is this Coach’s brother here?”
o Ernie “Coach” Pantusso was a character on the sitcom “Cheers” (1982-1993); he was played by character actor Nicholas Colasanto (1924-1985), who played the role until dying of a heart ailment while the show was still on the air. Coach was the goofy, somewhat clueless, assistant bartender at Cheers and bears a mild resemblance to Mr. McCreedy.
• “In here’s my secret stash of Cheetos, Dr Pepper, and back issues of Cosmo.”
o Cheetos are a cheese-flavored snack invented by Frito-Lay in 1948; the term has become a fairly generic word to refer to cheese snacks in general. The original Cheetos (the ones that make you fingers turn all orange) are very popular and even have a trademark, Chester Cheetah.
o Dr Pepper is a soft drink first created in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton, but fully developed and named by Wade Morrison. One of the oldest soft drinks being produced, Dr Pepper remains very popular to this day; in my opinion at least, it has a milder taste than Coke and Pepsi (I am capable of drinking Dr. Pepper at breakfast, for example).
o Cosmo is Cosmopolitan magazine. While originally founded back in 1886 as a “magazine for the whole family,” Cosmopolitan morphed into its current incarnation as a women’s magazine in 1965, under the guidance of Helen Gurley Brown. Today, the magazine remains mainly geared for females, touching on health and fashion issues; as the years went by, sexual topics became more and more prevalent as well, giving some men a desire to read issues as well.
• “Jimmy Stewart and Rex Smith in Breaking In.”
o Ah, a triple reference. Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997) was a beloved American movie actor, known for playing “Everyman” roles as well as for his familiar, stuttering voice. His movies include such classics as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940, for which a Best Actor Oscar), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Rear Window (1954), and Vertigo (1958). Another person that McCreedy is supposed to look like.
o Rex Smith (1955--), also known as “Sexy Rex,” was a young teen idol, earning fame in the world of music (with the Top-Ten hit “You Take My Breath Away” in 1979) and on stage (in such musicals as Grease and The Pirates of Penzance). Smith also hosted the musical television show “Solid Gold” from 1982 to 1983.
o Breaking In (1989) was a heist comedy starring Burt Reynolds and Casey Siemaszko as a professional thief and his green apprentice. The film picked up some nice reviews (and still gets some today from those who have actually seen the movie), but didn’t do that well at the box office.
• “Yup, I used to be Robert Frost, you know.”
o Robert Frost (1874-1963) was one of the greatest American poets of all time. Frost’s poems usually deal with simple themes on the surface (frequently involving nature) that are used to explore complex questions about life. They include such classics as “The Road Not Taken,” “Mending Wall,” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Even if you don’t know the name, it’s a good bet you’ve heard one of Frost’s poems before; their simple words lend themselves to be memorized.
• “Okay, so now he becomes a Jedi Knight?”
o As I’m sure you know, Jedi Knights are characters in the Star Wars series of films (beginning in 1977 and ending in 2005). These are intergalactic peacekeepers who are experts in mastering the Force which allows them to do all sorts of amazing stuff. In the movies, an older Jedi Knight always trains a new pupil in the ways of the Jedi, which I guess is where Tom is coming from in his reference.
• “Yoo-hoo! Mr. McCreedy?” “I need another Yoo-Hoo!”
o Yoo-Hoo is a chocolate-flavored soft drink, invented in the 1920s by Natale Olivieri, who wanted to make an all-natural chocolate drink. Yoo-Hoo is a popular drink sold in supermarkets with an extremely long shelf life; it is now sold in various flavors, including Strawberry and Cookies ‘n’ Cream.
• “Burgess Meredith’s in there reading.”
o This is a reference to one of the most famous episodes of the TV show “The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964), which presented tales of horror, fantasy, or science fiction in an anthology format. In the episode “Time Enough at Last,” which aired in 1959, Burgess Meredith (1907-1997) plays a meek bank teller who likes reading and is continually bossed around by his anti-reading boss and wife. One day, in goes into the bank vault during his lunch break in order to have time to read. While in the vault, though, the world is apparently destroyed by a hydrogen bomb, leaving Meredith the only survivor. He is at first devastated, but perks up when he realizes he finally has all the time in the world to read. As he begins to gather up books, he trips and breaks his glasses, shattering his dream. This is a truly great half hour of television, one that freaked me out as a child, since I liked to read and wore glasses.
• “Maybe the Great Carnac answers are stored in there.” “YES!”
o The Great Carnac was a popular bit on “The Tonight Show” during the Johnny Carson era (1962-1992). Carnac the Magnificent was a psychic, played by Carson, who would hold a sealed envelope containing a question up to his head and divine the answer without seeing the question. The answer would make little sense without the question, which when read, was always a corny joke. An example—Carnac would read the answer “Piggily Wiggly.” The question? “Describe Kermit’s wedding night.” The “YES!” interjection is an impression of Carson’s longtime sidekick Ed McMahon, who would frequently say “YES!” or other such exclamations on the show in response to whatever Carson was saying.
• “This poor guy was edged of every decent role by Grant Goodeve.”
o Grant Goodeve (1952--) was an actor best remembered for playing one of the kids, David, on the sitcom “Eight is Enough” (1977-1981). Goodeve didn’t exactly edge anyone out of any role after the show ended—he appeared on some soaps like “Dynasty” and “One Life to Life,” as well as some bad movies; he also had a drinking problem that he managed to kick. He was last seen doing a voice for a Star Fox video game, Star Fox Assault (2005).
• “Is anybody there?” “I mean, besides you, Cerebus.”
o I’m pretty sure Crow says “Cerebus,” not Cerberus…but I’m also pretty sure he meant to say Cerberus (a common mistake). Cerebus is a comic book aardvark created by Dave Sim who appeared in 300 issues of strange adventures, both fantastical and satirical. Cerberus is the three-headed dog that in Greek mythology was said to be the guard dog of the underworld. He insured that the dead could not leave and that the living could not enter; the noises are, I presume, something that the dog would make, not the aardvark.
• “Wow, David Crosby’s eating in there.”
o The portly David Crosby (1941--) is a singer, noted for his group work in such bands as The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash (and later Young). He is also an accomplished solo performer and currently leads his own band, CPR. Crosby is perhaps best known for his problems with the law—he has been arrested at least twice for drug-related offenses.
• “Leif Garrett in The Rose!”
o Leif Garrett (1961--) was a mildly successful as an young actor, appearing on television shows and in movies, including the Walking Tall trilogy of movies from 1973 to 1977. In the mid ‘70s, he became a teen singer, recording an album of oldies and a more disco-style album, peaking with his Top-Ten song “I Was Made for Dancin.’” He continues to both act and sing with limited success in both fields.
o The Rose (1979) is a movie about the tragic life of a rock singer (Bette Midler, in a part modeled after Janis Joplin) whose self-destructive behavior ultimately proves to be her downfall. The movie was Midler’s first major film role and she won an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for the part.
• “Well, he’s already got Loverboy beat as a live act.”
o Loverboy is a Canadian rock band that achieved its peak the 1980s with such popular songs as “Working for the Weekend” and “Hot Girls in Love.” The five-person band’s current state can best be summarized by their recent appearance on the reality show “Hit Me Baby, One More Time” (2005) which gave forgotten bands a chance to make a comeback.
• “This is a real cheap bio pic of Jim Morrison.”
o Jim Morrison (1943-1971) was a singer, the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors. A notorious partier, Morrison was one of the prototypical rock stars—handsome, fast living, and eclectic (he wrote poetry). In 1971, he moved to Paris, reportedly in an attempt to stop drinking; in July of that month, he was found dead in his bathtub. Officially, the cause of death was a heart attack, but draw your own conclusions…
• “We’re on a road to nowhere! Come on inside…”
o This is the chorus from the 1985 song “Road to Nowhere” by the new wave band Talking Heads, which in completeness, reads “We’re on a road to nowhere, come on inside! Takin’ that road to nowhere, we’ll take that ride!”
• “Oh, just sing the St. Elmo’s Fire theme song and get it over with!”
o The movie St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) was one of the “Brat Pack” movies of the ‘80s; this one is about a bunch of college graduates adjusting to life after graduating from Georgetown. The theme song (also known as “Man in Motion”) was written by David Foster and sung by John Parr.
• “Hey, it’s Carl Lewis!”
o Carl Lewis (1961--) is a track and field athlete, whose athleticism netted him 10 Olympic medals (nine of which are gold). A sprinter and long jumper, Lewis copped four consecutive gold medals in the Olympic long jumps, as well as picking up 9 medals (8 gold) in the World Championships in Athletics. If you can look around on the Internet, you can find a file of Lewis singing the National Anthem at a Chicago Bulls game, which is arguably as funny as any MST3K moment.
• “Member FDI-Murder!” “Death guaranteed for up to 50,000 DIE!”
o This is a reference to FDIC (the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), an institution created in 1933 in the wake of the Great Depression. With numerous banks closing, the government decided to create a corporation that would guarantee banks to make sure people wouldn’t lose their savings. Currently, the FDIC guarantees checking and saving deposits in member banks for up to $100,000 per depositor.
• TOM BARTLETT “Ah, the king of the Wisconsin Dells finally gets a movie!”
o Tommy Bartlett (1914-1998) was a broadcaster and showman, who in 1952, created the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski and Jumping Boat Thrill Show. The act took up a permanent residence in the town of Wisconsin Dells, where it has become a popular tourist attraction. It is currently the longest-running, live, outdoor entertainment act of its kind (whatever that means).
• BILLY FRANK “Ah, the cheap sequel to Billy Jack.”
o Billy Jack (1971) is a movie starring Tom Laughlin as the title character, a half-white, half-Indian, ex-Green Beret, karate expert/pacifist, who comes to the rescue of a free, peaceful school, by basically beating up a bunch of rednecks. The movie is frequently derided for espousing pacifist values while being extremely violent, but some see it as merely being complex. The movie did have some sequels, The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) and Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977); the title says all for the last one.
• TAMI BAKKE. “Is she related to Wacky T. Bakke?”
o Anybody help?
• “James Mayberry R.F.D.!”
o “Mayberry R.F.D.” (1968-1971) was the successor to the sitcom “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960-1968), taking place in the same town, Mayberry, and with basically the same cast of characters. The major difference was that the main character was no longer Andy Taylor, but rather Sam Jones (Ken Berry), a farmer that was on the town council. While this might strike modern audiences as something of a lame attempt to keep a popular show going, the sitcom was still popular in this new incarnation and was canceled in an attempt by CBS to reduce its “rural programming,” not because of low ratings. “R.F.D.” stands for rural free delivery, by the way (free postal delivery).
• “It’s not that complicated.” “JFK Junior could do it.”
o John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999) was the son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Not quite three years old when his father was tragically assassinated (the image of him saluting the casket is a familiar, heartbreaking one), Kennedy grew into a handsome adult. While he became a lawyer and an assistant district attorney in New York, he avoided politics; his celebrity persona seemed to present himself as a media gadfly, typified by his founding of the glossy George political magazine. Kennedy died in 1999 along with his wife and sister-in-law when he lost control of his plane and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
• “Yes, we paid for this wing with the profits from D.C. Cab.”
o D.C. Cab (1983) is a movie directed by famous shlockmeister Joel Schumacher and is about a hapless group of cabbies that have their lives changed when a guy named Albert (Adam Baldwin) shows up to try to motivate them. The cast is one of those once-in-a-lifetime groups, including Mr. T, Max Gail (Wojo from “Barney Miller”), Gary Busey, Marsha Warfield (the bailiff from “Night Court”), Bill Maher, Whitman Mayo (Grady from “Sanford and Son”), and Irene Cara as herself.
• “This is where we keep Clint Howard and Michael J. Pollard.”
o Clint Howard (1959--) is an actor that is the younger brother of director/actor Ron Howard; Clint usually has a small role in any production of Ron’s. On his own, Clint is best remembered for playing the boy, Mark, on the TV show “Gentle Ben” (1967-1969) about the friendly bear Ben. Modern audiences might remember him for playing the radar technician in all of the Austin Powers series of films from 1997 to 2002.
o Michael J. Pollard (1939--) is an actor whose career peaked early when he played C.W. Moss, the getaway driver for the gang in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). The Oscar nomination for this film allowed him to work more or less steadily ever since, but in nothing really sensational. He was most recently seen in House of 1000 Corpses (2003).
• “Sometimes Katharine Hepburn shows up. We have to chase her out of here.”
o Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) is one of the most famous film actresses of all time. A four-time Oscar winner for Best Actress (the most honored performer in history), Hepburn’s feisty persona and familiar New England accent can be spotted in countless classic films, including Alice Adams (1935), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The African Queen (1951), and On Golden Pond (1981), as well as her many films with off-screen lover Spencer Tracy.
• “This is what I was telling you about.” “Used it to kill Archduke Ferdinand.”
o Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) was the Archduke of Austria and the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Unfortunately for Franz, he lived in dangerous times—European powers were girding for war, and Serbian activists were clamoring for Bosnian independence from Austria. During a visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1914, Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated by Serbian Gavrilo Princip to strike a blow for Bosnian-Serbian unity. When Austria-Hungary moved against Serbia a few days later, the entangling military alliances in and out of Europe ultimately produced the “War to End all Wars,” World War I.
• “I had to wing Gloria Swanson once.”
o Gloria Swanson (1897-1983) was a famous movie actress. She was a popular silent star, noted for such movies as Male and Female (1919) and Sadie Thompson (1928). After a severe slump, partly because of her infamous bomb Queen Kelly (1928), Swanson sort of vanished from American screens. She made a comeback by playing the loony silent star Norma Desmond (disturbingly closely modeled on herself) in Sunset Boulevard (1950), but this failed to give her any further roles.
• (looking at the gun) “Smells like Jack Ruby.”
o Jack Ruby (1911-1967) was a Dallas nightclub owner who entered the history books by assassinating Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963, right in Dallas police headquarters and on live television. Ruby’s motives for killing the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy remain unclear to this day; was he in cahoots with Oswald? Did Ruby’s Mafia connections play a role? We’ll probably never know, since Ruby died in prison while awaiting a new trial, being very cryptic about the whole thing during his time in jail.
• “Ironically, no one in the band Wang Chung had sex that night.”
o Wang Chung was an English band formed in 1980 (the name apparently derives from the Chinese words “Huang Chung,” meaning perfect pitch). A new wave group, the band had success in both Britain and the United States; the reference is to their most popular song, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (1986), which hit number two on the American charts. The refrain of the song is “Everybody have fun tonight, everybody wang chung tonight!”—an obvious (and most would say, tacky) reference to sex, hence the comments.
• “Did Mark Rothko do this room?”
o Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was a painter (frequently classified as abstract even though he denied being an abstract painter). His works are supposed to represent basic emotions and are known for their lack of details; a Rothko painting was pretty much just one or two intense colors (for instance, a yellow and a gold rectangle). Rothko slashed his wrists in 1970. The reference is apparently due to the drabness of the house.
• “Their garden tools make little Casio sounds.”
o I think this is a reference to the synthesizer produced by the Japanese electronics company, Casio (the CZ synthesizer). Like all synthesizers, the Casio CZ made electronic-sounding noises, much like the lame sound effect given the gardening tools in the movie.
• “This movie is making me nostalgic for the film Gymkata.”
o Gymkata (1985) is an infamously bad movie about a champion gymnast (Kurt Thomas, a real-life champion gymnast) who must win a brutal “Game” in the country of Parmistan in order for the U.S. to obtain a defense site there. The one-sentence plot summary is probably proof enough of how bad this movie is; unfortunately, it’s not on DVD.
• “So does Hardware Hank have a major defense contract?”
o Hardware Hank is a chain of hardware stores, under the United Hardware Distributing Company, which seems to be restricted to the Midwest and the Great Plain states. I have never seen one.
• “There hasn’t been such a glorious battle since the Arnold Stang/Wally Cox fight of 1958.”
o Arnold Stang (1925--) and Wally Cox (1924-1973) are both actors best known for playing nebbish, nerdy types. Stang is probably most remembered for providing the voice of Hanna-Barbera’s Top Cat character; his most famous on-screen role could be as one of the gas station employees that attack Jonathan Winters in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
o Cox was best known for his TV role as “Mr. Peepers” (1952-1955), although he also provided the voice of the cartoon character Underdog and was frequently seen as a panelist on “Hollywood Squares” from 1967 to his death.
• “Pee-wee Herman casual wear.”
o Pee-wee Herman is a character created by comedian Paul Reubens (1952--). Reubens invented Pee-wee in the 1970s while working as an improv comic in Los Angeles. The hyperactive man-child character was popular enough to appear on comedy shows, movies, and his own children’s program, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1991). Pee-wee had inane catch phrases, double entendres, and wore a gray suit with a red bowtie. Reubens’ career imploded in 1991 after he was caught fondling himself in an X-rated theater. Pee-wee Herman vanished from the airwaves, but Reubens has managed to endure, picking up character roles in movies and on television.
• “They made love in a Chevy van and that’s NOT all right with me.”
o This is a parody of the 1975 song “Chevy Van” by one-hit wonder Sammy Johns. The song about a one-night stand in a Chevy van has the refrain “We made love in my Chevy van and that’s all right with me.”

Host Segment Two
• Tom is reading What Do People Do All Day?, a children’s book by Richard Scarry. It answers the title question by taking the reader through all the various jobs people do in Busytown. Mike is reading Bleak House, a novel by Charles Dickens about a long-running legal dispute (the novel is a satire of the British legal system).
• I need some help identifying Crow’s pictures of women.
o One is Lucille Ball (1911-1989), the famous comedienne. A journeyman (or journeywoman, I guess) actress in numerous B-pictures, Ball found a niche in situation comedy, starring on the radio show “My Favorite Husband.” This program was modified into the famous “I Love Lucy” in 1951, in which Lucy and her real-life husband Desi Arnaz starred. Now a big star, Lucy continued to star on television after the end of the show, appearing in “The Lucy Show,” “Here’s Lucy,” and the pathetic “Life with Lucy.”
o Crow also a picture of the Venus de Milo, a marble sculpture and one of the most famous in Greek art history. It is believed to depict Aphrodite and is noted for being “unarmed” (fragments were found nearby when the sculpture was unearthed on the island of Melos).
o There is also a picture of Lucy Van Pelt, a character from Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” comic strip. Lucy is a crabby “fussbudget,” known for her dominating personality, as well as for her occupation as a psychiatrist, providing advice to Charlie Brown (when she’s not pulling the football away from him as he tries to kick it).
• The “picture” of the cloaked woman is a reference to an infamous film of Bigfoot taken by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin in 1967, in the Six Rivers National Forest of California. The film shows a large ape-like figure, in roughly the same pose that the photo portrays. A lot of scientists maintain that this film is a hoax, but there are some ardent types who insist it is the genuine article.
• Note that the television set is a “Stony” brand, not a Sony.

Movie Act Two
• “What’s the matter, Kevin?” “I got a 3 on the GED.”
o The GED (or General Educational Development test) is a test that signifies the taker has achieved American or Canadian high school academic skills. Designed for people who have not completed high school, the GED is awarded to about 1/7 of Americans with high school credentials. The test has gotten harder over the years to raise educational standards. The maximum score is 800, so 3 would be pretty bad.
• “I’ve got all the time in the world.” “Okay, then, call me Ishmael.”
o “Call me Ishmael” is the first line in the classic Herman Melville novel Moby-Dick (1851), which, of course, is a very, very long novel about the search for the great white whale Moby-Dick; it spans 135 chapters in all.
• “We’ve got this friend who’s in the Army.” “Omar Bradley?”
o General Omar Bradley (1893-1981) was a field commander during World War II; he was a capable leader during the North Africa campaigns and also helped command three of the landings at Normandy, including the infamous Omaha Beach landing. Bradley participated in the Battle of the Bulge and was a key leader during the German surrender. In 1950, he was appointed General of the Army, the last man ever to have this rank. During the Korean War, Bradley coined the phrase “the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy” in reference to Douglas MacArthur’s plan to bring the war to China; this phrase was later used by John Kerry to refer to the Iraqi war.
• “Did I ever tell you what I did when I was in the Army?” “I was Tokyo Rose.”
o Tokyo Rose was an alias mainly applied to Iva Toguri D’Aquino (1916--), a Japanese-American who became trapped in Japan during the outbreak of World War II. Toguri worked for Radio Tokyo and was recruited to work on a radio show produced by American POWs called “The Zero Hour,” which interlaced music with supposedly demoralizing commentary for American soldiers. Tokyo Rose was the name that Americans gave Toguri; she called herself “Orphan Anne” on the air. While Toguri claimed to be an unwilling participant (and the program did little damage overall), she served more than six years in prison afterwards for treason. She was pardoned in 1977. The name “Tokyo Rose” was applied to other female Japanese announcers as well.
• BEEP! “That’ll be Kevorkian.”
o Dr. Jack Kevorkian (1928--) is a medical doctor infamous for his support of the “right to die” movement. Kevorkian assisted in the suicides of over 100 terminally ill people, mostly in Michigan and with carbon monoxide. After a series of legal battles, which attracted media attention and controversy, Kevorkian was ultimately sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison in 1999.
• “Looks like Dana Gould.”
o Dana Gould is a comedian, known for doing angst-ridden riffs about his childhood and family. He has done some cartoon voices and had some small roles in movies, but currently is a producer/writer on the “The Simpsons.” The punk does look a lot like Gould.
• “Hey, the Kirk Cameron show.”
o Kirk Cameron (1970--) is a movie and television actor, best known for playing the wisecracking ladies man Mike Seaver on the sitcom “Growing Pains” (1985-1992). While he had a brief bout as a teen idol, his film career seemed rooted to B-movies and TV-films. Becoming a devout Christian in the 1990’s, Cameron entered a new career path, working in Christian ministries and appearing in religious-oriented movies, most notably the (sadly, rather lame) film adaptations of the Left Behind movies (from 2000 to 2005).
• “It’s the same speed on the Ventura Freeway.”
o The Ventura Freeway runs from Ventura to Pasadena in California and is the principal east-west route in the county area. The reference is to the amazingly slow congestion on the freeway; during high-traffic events, it is said to resemble a parking lot more than a freeway.
• “Bullitt! Now for seniors!”
o Bullitt (1968) is a cop film starring Steve McQueen as the title character, Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, whose mission to protect a witness leads him on a complicated adventure. The movie is best remembered for a car chase involving McQueen’s Mustang and some bad guys in a Charger through the streets of San Francisco; the chase still looks great today, especially when compared against the dopily unrealistic smashfests in movies nowadays.
• “I’ll get that guy, but first I’ll just stop at the Bishop’s Buffet.”
o The Bishop’s Buffet chain was started in 1920 in Waterloo, Iowa. Known for the one-price, all-you-can-eat buffet and the famous Ambrosia Chocolate Pie, the Bishop’s chain was bought out by Kmart in 1986. In 2003, Dave Bailey managed to resurrect the fading chain, taking control of about the seven or so Bishop’s still out there.
• “Take on me…take me onnnnn!”
o These are lyrics from the refrain of the a-ha song “Take On Me,” one of the quintessential ‘80s songs. The debut song of the Norwegian pop band, “Take On Me” also became a very popular fantasy music video, which won the first MTV Music Award for Best Video in 1986.
• (the gun) “If found, please return to Hunter Thompson.”
o Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) was a journalist best known for his “Gonzo” style—vivid, visceral, and featuring himself. This was seen most clearly in his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971), where he describes his drug-addled trip to Vegas. He inspired the famous character “Duke” in Gary Trudeau’s comic strip “Doonesbury.” Thompson was fond of firearms and kept many of them around his compound in Colorado; he apparently shot himself to death in 2005.
• “I don’t like the way you greeted me at Wal-Mart.”
o The Wal-Mart chain was started in 1962 by Sam Walton as a retail department store; it has become the largest retailer in the world (and one of the most disliked). The specific reference is to the fact that Wal-Mart frequently uses older people to work as “greeters,” who welcome people to the store and provide assistance.
• “You Menendez brother wannabe!”
o The Menendez brothers, Lyle (1968--) and Erik (1971--), became infamous when they were put on trial for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1989. The 1993 trial attracted a swarm of media attention, as people became riveted to the case, with a defense alleging parental abuse and prosecutors painting the brothers as greedy predators. They were ultimately convicted and in 1996, they were sentenced to life without parole; they are still languishing in prison and probably will do for a long time to come.
• (fires) “Oh great, you just took out Air Force One, you dope.”
o Air Force One is the name given to the two Boeing 747 planes that serve as the presidential fleet to transport the president of the United States around (although the call sign technically refers to any plane carrying the President). The first flying president was Franklin Roosevelt; the term “Air Force One” came into existence in 1953 under Dwight Eisenhower.
• “This is Captain Kangaroo. Come in, Mr. Moose!”
o This is a reference to the popular children’s program, “Captain Kangaroo” (1955-1992), which was hosted by the kindly Captain (Bob Keeshan) who would entertain and educate kids through sketches, cartoons, and other features. Mr. Moose was a puppet (played by Cosmo “Gus” Allegretti) who would pop up to tell jokes or riddles to the Captain, usually ending with a bunch of ping-pong balls falling on the Captain’s head.
• “Serpico! Dirty Harry! Jake Gittes! Kevin!”
o Crow lists a group of famous movie detectives. Serpico is Frank Serpico, from the movie Serpico (1973). As played by Al Pacino, Serpico was a honest cop who bucked the corrupt system and faced persecution and was based on the true experiences of Frank Serpico in the N.Y.P.D.
o Dirty Harry is Harry Callahan, from the Dirty Harry film series starring Clint Eastwood that spanned from 1971 to 1988. Harry was a no-nonsense San Francisco cop that wasn’t afraid to blow away punks with his Magnum.
o Jake Gittes is the main character in the movies Chinatown (1974) and The Two Jakes (1990). Played by Jack Nicholson, Gittes is a private eye in 1940’s Los Angeles who gets involved with femme fatales and mysterious corruption scandals involving water and oil.
• “Carl Sandburg, P.I.”
o Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was a famous poet and author, known for his fondness for the common man in his work. His most famous poem is “Chicago,” where he describes the city as “Hog butcher of the world.” He also wrote some highly acclaimed biographies of Abraham Lincoln. McCreedy looks a lot like Sandburg.
• “The vault turned 21 in prison, doing life without parole…”
o This is a parody of the refrain of the song “Mama Tried” by country singer Merle Haggard. Haggard recorded the song for the 1968 movie Killers Three, written and produced by Dick Clark, and also featuring Haggard in a supporting role. The song is a ballad about a narrator who ends up in prison after having ignored his mother’s advice.
• “Sister Kevin Prejean.”
o Sister Helen Prejean (1938--) is a Louisiana nun, famous for her anti-death penalty crusades. She has served as National Chairperson of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and has served as a spiritual adviser for people on death row. Her experiences in working with condemned prisoners inspired the movie Dead Man Walking (1995), in which she is played by Susan Sarandon.
• “I’m gonna break into Jack Benny’s piggy bank.”
o Jack Benny (1894-1974) was one of the most famous comedians of all time, achieving success on vaudeville, movies (somewhat), radio, and television. His media persona was that of a stingy miser and one of his popular radio/television bits featured him going to his vault, which included a live-in security guard and numerous death traps/security devices. Arguably more than any other radio comedian, Benny holds up the best today.
• “Ah, he’s found Ben Stein’s money.”
o Ben Stein (1944--) is an actor and political speechwriter (having worked for the Nixon and Ford administrations) noted for his character roles as boring authority figures (most notably as the monotone government teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off [1986]). The reference is about Stein’s television program, “Win Ben Stein’s Money” (1997-2003). This was a game show in which Stein served as host/contestant, with three regular contestants competing against each other and Stein in an attempt to win the $5000 awarded directly from Stein’s paycheck for the show (hence, “winning Ben Stein’s money”).
• “The script to Billy Madison II is kept hidden in there.”
o Billy Madison (1995) is a movie featuring Adam Sandler as the title character, a dimwit whose father (Darren McGavin) is reluctant to give him the family business because the family money, not intelligence, was the only thing that got him through school. To prove that he and not the company vice president (Bradley Whitford) should be the new president, Billy goes back to his old school, promising to go through all twelve grades in two weeks. In short, typical Adam Sandler shenanigans—this and Happy Gilmore (1996) are arguably the most representative of Sandler’s early, wild period.
• “Buddy Ebsen, triathlete.”
o Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003) was a movie and television actor. In movies, he was best known for his dancing ability in such films as Broadway Melody of 1936 (he was the original choice for the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz [1939]). On television, he had three well-known roles: the sidekick to Davy Crockett in a series of television-movies starring Fess Parker, backwoods patriarch Jed Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1962-1971), and detective Barnaby Jones on “Barnaby Jones” (1973-1980). Mr. McCreedy looks somewhat like the elderly Ebsen.
• “Papillon? Hi, the door was open.”
o Papillon was the nickname of Henri Charriçre (1906-1973), a French safe-cracker who was imprisoned on various island prison camps, most notably Devil’s Island, but managed to escape each time. He obtained his nickname from the butterfly tattoo he sported (Papillon means butterfly in French). His story inspired both a book and a 1973 movie where he was played by Steve McQueen.
• “Taz got out!”
o The Tasmanian Devil (also known as “Taz”) was first introduced in the Warner Brothers cartoon “Devil May Hare” (1954), where he menaced Bugs Bunny. Voiced by Mel Blanc, Taz bears little resemblance to the actual Australian animal; the cartoon character spins around like a miniature tornado, speaks in guttural tones, and eats anything it can find. After appearing in several Warner Brothers cartoons, Taz eventually got his own television program, “Taz-Mania” during the 1990s, which portrayed him as a teenager in a surreal Australia. The noises made by the Hobgoblins sound kind of like the sputtering Taz would make.
• “Enough of the Count Chocula music!”
o Count Chocula is a kind of cereal produced by General Mills (one of their famous “monster brands,” which also consisted of Franken Berry and Yummy Mummy) and consisting of chocolate-flavored cereal and marshmallows. The rather harmless vampire Count Chocula was the mascot of the cereal and appeared in animated form in the cereal commercials.
• “What have they done with K.C. Martin?”
o Anybody help? I’m not sure if I’m hearing this right.
• “Oh-oh, Thunder Road!”
o This a lyric from the song “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen, a song from the Born to Run album in 1975. The song is an uplifting one about driving away and escaping from a “town full of losers.”
• “I went to Michael Spinks’ barber, okay?”
o Michael Spinks (1956--) is a former boxer; after a very successful amateur career, Spinks turned pro in 1977 and carefully rose through the ranks to become light heavyweight boxing champion in 1981. He successfully defended his crown and in 1985 became heavyweight champion as well. Spinks’ only defeat in his career came in 1988 when he was easily floored by Mike Tyson in the so-called “Superfight.” His brother Leon was also heavyweight champion, making them the first pair of brothers to both be champions. Spinks had long poofy hair, I guess explaining the joke.
• “Now I sound like Joseph Campbell.”
o Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was an author and expert in the field of mythology and religion. Campbell’s basic philosophy was that the myths and spiritual beliefs of mankind all were inherently the same. He described these archetypal myths in The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1948) and Masks of God (1967). Campbell achieved latter-day fame for a series of wildly seen PBS interviews with Bill Moyers called “The Power of Myth” (1988) in which he describes past and modern-day mythology (which I had the misfortune of watching a few episodes of last year in college). His deliberate, somewhat stuttering, style of talking sounds like McCreedy’s.
• “William Holden had just passed out.”
o William Holden (1918-1981) was a popular movie star, successful in both comedies and action films. His typical screen persona was that of the world-weary average man, a cynical version of “Everyman.” His major films include Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953, which he won an Oscar for Best Actor for), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and The Wild Bunch (1969). The reference is about Holden’s infamous hard-drinking habits, which sadly, helped cause his death, when he hit his head in a fall while drunk and bled to death.
• “I had the popular Jerry Orbach hairstyle back then.”
o Jerry Orbach (1935-2004) did indeed have a similar hairstyle as the young McCreedy. Orbach is noted for his Broadway roles, playing major parts in the original productions of Chicago, 42nd Street, and The Fantasticks. He also was a notable character actor, easily identifiable by his New York accent in many films, the most famous probably being as the dad in Dirty Dancing (1987). However, his most well-known role was that of tough-talking detective Lennie Briscoe on the television show “Law and Order,” which he played from 1992 to 2004 (and in several episodes of the spin-off “Law and Order: Trial by Jury” recorded before his death).
• The young Mr. McCreedy is reading the script The Visitants. This was a 1987 movie by “filmmaker” Rick Sloane, the auteur of Hobgoblins, and is about aliens chasing a teenager who stole one of their ray guns. Jeffrey Culver, who played the old McCreedy, is in this movie as well. Kelley Palmer, who was Daphne, also appeared in this movie.
• “Great, Gramps. I’m going to go see if the Colonel’s hiring.”
o This is an obvious reference to the Kentucky Fried Chicken series of restaurants, which are commonly called the “Colonel” after their founder Colonel Harlan Sanders (who was indeed a honorary colonel by order of the Kentucky governor). KFC restaurants serve chicken and all the fixin’s, like biscuits, potatoes, and cole slaw.
• “Hey! Don’t scratch the Quarterflash!”
o Quarterflash was a rock group that started in Oregon under the name Seafood Mama. They went national in 1981 with the platinum album Quarterflash and recorded three more with lesser success over their 15-year existence. The band broke up in 1996.
• “Why the Ross Perot doll?”
o H. Ross Perot (1930--) is a Texas billionaire who formed such successful corporations as Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems. He became famous in 1992 when he announced he would run for the presidency; reflecting the discontent shared by many voters of the period, he railed against the government’s failures, professing to represent the average person. Perot ultimately picked up 19% of the popular vote, one of the most successful showings by an independent candidate. Perot would later form the Reform Party and run again in 1996. He was frequently mocked for his Texas twang and his diminutive appearance (including big ears).
• “It’s the ‘80s! Do a lot of coke and vote for Ronald Reagan!”
o Do I need to explain this reference?
• “Larry Wilcox is gonna make a cameo, isn’t he?”
o I THINK this is what is being said. If so, I can only assume it is just a reference to the general ‘80s feel of the proceedings, as Larry Wilcox (1947--) was one of the stars of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s due to his role as Officer Jon Baker on the show “CHiPs” about the adventures of the California Highway Police (1977-1982). After the show finished, Wilcox turned to movie and television production, as well as business ventures.
• “Say, is that Haircut 100 they’re playing?”
o Haircut 100 is one of those ‘80s New Wave bands that hit it big with the album Pelican West and the song “Love Plus One.” The band’s success was short-lived, though, as member Nick Heyward left to pursue a solo career; the rest of the members kept going, but the band was basically dead by 1984.
• “Invest in (something)”
o I cannot, for the life of me, understand what Tom is saying.
• “I think we’ve stumbled onto Mel’s Rock Pile.”
o “Mel’s Rock Pile” was a fictional program featured on the sketch comedy show “SCTV” (1976-1984), which featured a host of fictional, often satirical, television programs. “Mel’s Rock Pile,” originally known as “SCTV Boogie” or “SCTV Disco,” was a music program hosted by the very unhip Mel Slirrup (Eugene Levy). It featured disco tunes, inane bands, and bad dancing.
• (honks) “Make that three hard-boiled eggs.”
o This is a reference to the movie A Night at the Opera (1935), starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, and Chico). In one of the funniest sequences in movie history, the Marxes (and Allan Jones) are on a ship heading for America; their stateroom is incredibly small, almost like a closet. Groucho orders eggs to eat; the mute Harpo honks his horn a few times to indicate his order. After he honks, Groucho says “Make that three hard-boiled eggs.” The scene is gut-bustingly funny as somehow a dozen or so people end up in the miniature stateroom.
• “See you guys later.” “Okay, Olive Oyl.”
o Olive Oyl is a character in the Popeye series of comics and cartoons. Voiced by Mae Questel, Olive is a tall, thin, and something of a flibbertigibbet. She is the girlfriend to Popeye and is frequently kidnapped by the villainous Bluto. Daphne looks mildly like Olive.
• “She looks like Michael Bolton.”
o Michael Bolton (1954--) is a popular singer-songwriter, one of the top easy listening recording artists. Bolton’s songs include “When I Fall in Love” and “A Kiss to Build a Dream On.” While a best-selling artist, his work is sometimes derided (most notably in the film Office Space [1999]) as bland and dull. Bolton, at least in one point in his career, has long frizzy hair, much like Daphne’s.
• “Don King!”
o Don King (1932--) is a flamboyant boxing promoter, known for his flashiness and hucksterism (including charges that he is tied to organized crime). King became famous for sponsoring the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila” matches and is even more famous for his white, spiky hair, much like the one sported by the Hobgoblin.
• “The historic first meeting of Luke and Laura!”
o Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) and Laura Webber (Genie Francis) are characters on the soap opera “General Hospital” (1963--). Luke was introduced in 1978 as a shady schemer, but he soon fell in love with one of the show’s regular characters, Laura. Things started out badly (to say the least) when in 1979, Luke drunkenly raped Laura, but they soon became a couple involved in a lot of the usual soap opera adventures. In 1981, they married in the highest-rated hour in soap history. The couple had two children, Lucas Lorenzo Jr. (“Lucky”) and Lesley Lu (“Lulu”); as typical in soaps, the two had marital problems and finally separated in 1998, then divorced in 2001. Genie Francis’ leaving the show in 2002 means they probably will not be back together any time soon.
• “Tell them Laraine Newman’s in town!”
o Daphne bears a resemblance to actress Laraine Newman (1952--). A comedienne, Newman is best known for being one of the original cast members on “Saturday Night Live,” appearing for the first five years (1975-1980). Disliking playing recurring characters, she lacked any easily identifiable screen persona (her best known role may be the daughter in “The Coneheads” sketches). After the show, she has made appearances on television in character roles and has contributed cartoon voices.
• “After my date with Prince, I went right home.”
o Prince (1958--) is a pop/funk music artist, known for such songs as “Delirious,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” Prince achieved his biggest level of superstardom in the 1980’s; in 1984, he had the number one song, album, and movie (Purple Rain) at the same time. Known for his erotic and explicit lyrics, Prince has also been mocked for his eccentric behavior, most notably changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993 (which he has since reversed). He has frequently been accused of being misogynistic, but I am unfamiliar of any details regarding date abuse.
• “Koala bears are attacking!” “We hate Qantas! Grrr!”
o Qantas is the national airline of Australia. Formed in 1920, it remains one of the most aggressive and profitable airlines in the world and, as fans of Rain Man will attest, it has never lost a jet plane. The specific reference is to a series of commercials produced by Qantas in which a koala bear would complain about the airline.
• “One of the towering heroes of Grenada.”
o The invasion of Grenada by the United States occurred in 1983 as part of Operation Urgent Fury. The U.S. invaded after Grenada fell victim to a coup by hardline Marxist forces that threatened, at least according to the U.S., to aid a Soviet-Cuban military buildup in the Caribbean. The official reason for invasion was to evacuate American medical students on the island; a new government was eventually appointed, but the invasion was criticized in the international community and also derided by some at home as an example of “big stick” diplomacy. Nineteen Americans were killed and about eighty members of the Grenadian and Cuban military as well.
• “I don’t like Shari Lewis’ new show.”
o Shari Lewis (1933-1998) was a puppeteer who became famous for hosting children’s television programs using such puppet alter egos as Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy, and the most famous, the sassy Lamb Chop. Shari worked from the 1960’s on in various public television shows, including “The Shari Lewis Show” and “Lamb Chop’s Play-Along.”
• “Okay, we’ll take your literature, but we’re trying to watch our program right now.”
o This is a reference to those pesky Jehovah’s Witnesses that go door to door, frequently delivering the magazines Watchtower and Awake! to spread their religious viewpoints, which are an offshoot of Christianity. The Witnesses take the Biblical command to spread the Word very seriously, as you can see.

Host Segment Three
• “Hey, what up there, Russell Crow?”
o Russell Crowe (1964--) is a popular movie actor from New Zealand. A physical actor, Crowe is an effective leading man, frequently in period pieces for some reason. His films include L.A. Confidential (1997), Gladiator (2000, which won him a Best Actor Oscar), A Beautiful Mind (2001), and the recent Cinderella Man (2005).
• “Butterball Turkey Hotline…”
o There really is a Butterball Turkey Hotline (although it’s called “Talk-Line”), run by the well-known turkey-producing company, which fields questions about turkey preparation. Nearly 50 Butterball Turkey Talk-Line supervisors and home economists are on hand (during November and December, anyway—it’s automated the rest of the year) to provide help at 1-800-BUTTERBALL.

Movie Act Three
• “This guy gets his kicks by calling about used Vegas.”
o The Chevrolet Vega was a compact coupe and station wagon produced during the 1970’s. Its poor reliability, overheating engine, and body rust contributed to disappointing sales. Forbes magazine has named it one of the worst cars ever, an impressive achievement.
• “It’s the hobgoblin with the laughing face.”
o This is a reference to the 1945 Frank Sinatra song “Nancy with the Laughing Face,” in which Frank sings a musical love song to a girl named Nancy “with the laughing face.” I presume the song is named after Frank’s young daughter at the time, Nancy Sinatra.
• “I’m right outside your doooor!” “Is Fran Drescher out there?”
o The woman’s scratchy voice is reminiscent of that of comedienne Fran Drescher (1957--). Drescher’s comic persona, that of a high-pitched, scratchily voiced Jewish woman, has been seen in several films (including smallish roles in This is Spinal Tap [1984] and UHF [1989]) as well as, most notably, on the television program, “The Nanny” (1993-1999). She has recently appeared in the TV show “Living with Fran” (2005).
• “Robert Plant!”
o Robert Plant (1948--) was the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, known for a well-read and esoteric lyrical style that produced such famous songs as “Stairway to Heaven” and “All My Love.” After the band’s breakup in 1980, Plant tried a solo career. His long hair makes him look somewhat like the dream girl.
• “You know, girls, I can think of a fantasy right now…involving the number three!” “Three hours of ‘C.P.O. Sharkey!’”
o “C.P.O. Sharkey” (1976-1978) was a sitcom starring Don Rickles as Chief Petty Officer Otto Sharkey, who worked at a naval recruitment center in California. Sharkey flung venom (a Rickles trademark) at his recruits, but, of course, he secretly was a good egg at heart.
• (sign) “Ah, painted by the cast of ‘Hee Haw’!”
o “Hee Haw” (1969-1992) was a very long-running variety show that presented silly cornpone comedy mixed with first-rate country music (with almost every big name in country music appearing at one time). Set in a cornfield, “Hee Haw” was hosted by country singers Roy Clark and Buck Owens. It’s tough to explain or describe the show to you younger folks.
• “Don’t park here!” “Why not?” “It’s reserved for Bob Packwood.”
o Former Senator Bob Packwood (1932--) of Oregon was a long-time Republican force in the Senate who was ultimately taken down in the 1990’s. In 1992, allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct and abuse perpetuated by Packwood dating back over the years. In 1995, after the Ethics Committee recommended expulsion, Packwood resigned in disgrace.
• “The ZZ Top version of sexuality!”
o ZZ Top is a rock band, known for its guitar stylings and rather racy lyrics; their popular songs include “La Grange” and “Gimme All Your Lovin.’” The reference is a nod to the distinctive look of the band: two of the members have sunglasses, trenchcoats, and waist-length beards, which I guess makes them about as attractive as the woman in the movie.
• “That is not a woman! That’s David Lee Roth!”
o David Lee Roth (1954--) was the first lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen; his eccentric showmanship, witty lyrics, and high-pitched screams helped to spark the band’s early popularity. He left the band in 1985 and has pursued various solo ventures, including work his replacement as lead vocalist, Sammy Hagar.
• “It’s an Agnes De Mille dream ballet!”
o Agnes De Mille (1905-1993) was a famous dancer and choreographer, working on such musicals as Rodeo (1942), Oklahoma! (1943, in which she first introduced the ultra-stylized dream ballet that became a staple of musicals), and Carousel (1945). She ultimately formed her own theater in 1953 and helped in the movie adaptations of many musicals.
• “It’s a bonsai Bigfoot!”
o Well, we already discussed Bigfoot. “Bonsai” is a Japanese practice (the word means “tray gardening” in Japanese) of growing trees and plants in a pot (to keep them small) and using pruning to make them look aesthetically beautiful. They require a great deal of care and pruning to keep them small.
• “The car turned into a Lincoln and crashed!”
o Lincoln automobiles are a brand of cars under the Ford company. Started in 1917 by Henry Leland, Lincolns are popular luxury cars—the most famous of their cars have been the various versions of the Lincoln Continental. Until the mid ‘90s, the Lincoln was the most popular American luxury car.
• “Drive us to Chuck E. Cheese!”
o Chuck E. Cheese’s is a restaurant chain founded in 1977 (by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari) as a fun place for kids to eat. Chuck E. Cheese’s provides pizza, arcade games of various kinds (in which kids can win prizes), and (sometimes) animatronic characters to represent Mr. Cheese (a giant mouse) and his companions. Kids seem to enjoy it, while it gives most adults a great big headache (as well as a serious dent in their wallet).
• “Marty Allen is attacking!”
o Marty Allen (1922--) was a popular comedian in the ‘60s and ‘70s; his partner was Steve Rossi—Allen even appeared in some bad films, like Cannonball Run II (1984). His bugged-out eyes and frizzy hair gives him the appearance of someone who has just been electrocuted, at least according to his bio in All-Movie Guide.
• “Gary Gaetti!”
o The punk has a mild resemblance to Gary Gaetti (1958--), a professional baseball player from 1981 to 2000. Gaetti, known as the “Rat,” was a productive third baseman for the Minnesota Twins (1981-90, winning a championship in 1987), California Angels (1991-93), Kansas City Royals (1993-95), St. Louis Cardinals (1996-98), Chicago Cubs (1998-99), and Boston Red Sox (2000). Gaetti was something of a hard-drinking partier until 1988 when he became a born-again Christian.
• “Hey, Marge Simpson!”
o Marge Simpson is the matriarch of the sitcom cartoon family “The Simpsons” (1989--). As voiced by Julie Kavner, Marge is generally the voice of reason in the family and is noted for her tall, blue, beehive-style hair, much like that worn by Pixie in the movie.
• “Ivan Lendl lookalike night!”
o Ivan Lendl (1960--) was a dominant tennis player in the ‘80s and ‘90s. A Czech, Lendl won eight Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked number one in the world for four straight years. One of the new breed of tennis players, Lendl helped pioneer scientific training and modern playing styles. I guess he looks like Kevin or the M.C., depending on which way the joke is supposed to be referring to.
• “Willkommen, Bienvenue!”
o These are the first lines of the song “Willkommen” from the musical and movie Cabaret (1972). The song is sung by the creepy master of ceremonies (Joel Grey) at the Kit Kat night club, welcoming people to the proceedings. Willkommen and bienvenue are German and French for “welcome,” respectively.
• “Calling out around the scum! Are you ready for a brand new filth?” “Scumming in the streets.”
o This is a parody of the Motown song “Dancing in the Street,” as sung by Martha & the Vandellas in 1964. An innocent song about having a good time, it became something of an anthem for civil change in the wake of civil protests and riots in the streets. The opening lyrics of the song are “Calling out around the world! Are you ready for a brand new beat?”
• “This makes me want to dig out my extensive Adam Ant collection!”
o Adam Ant (1954--) is a punk/pop singer who achieved fame in the 1980’s in the band Adam and the Ants. Gradually becoming less hard-core punk as he went on, Adam had such hit songs as “Stand and Deliver” and “Goody Two Shoes.” He tapered off in the ‘90s, preferring to focus his time on his movie and television acting career.
• “I think it’s Ron Reagan’s band.”
o Ron Reagan (1958--) is the son of former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy. A journalist, Reagan was very different politically from his father—he is liberal, free-spirited, and atheistic. An intense critic of President George W. Bush, he currently hosts a MSNBC talk show. As far as I know, he never had a band, at least a major one, so I guess the reference is just that the lead singer looks like him.
• “It looks like she’s dancing on ‘Laugh-In!” “Well, then, sock it to me, Mike!” “I find that very interesting!” “Say goodnight, Mike!”
o A bunch of references to “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” (1968-1973). This was a popular sketch comedy show of the period, although there is really no good equivalent show; “Laugh-In” was an hour of rapid-fire comedy. While there were traditional sketches, there were also a lot of quick blackouts, short one-liners, and weird, surrealistic transitions. Dancing on the show occurred in two segments: “The Cocktail Party,” in which the cast would dance around groovily and then whip out some one-liners, and “The Mod, Mod World,” where one female cast member would dance around with jokes painted on her body. In both segments, the dancing was similar to what Pixie is doing.
o “Sock it to me!” is probably the most famous catch phrase of the show. Usually said by cast member Judy Carne, it was always said with great enthusiasm and almost always resulted in water (or something) being thrown on her. Richard M. Nixon, during his 1968 campaign for the presidency, appeared on the show and said the phrase in a cameo (although, famously, Nixon said “Sock it to me?”, phrasing it like a question).
o “Veeeery interesting!” was said by cast member Arte Johnson in the guise of Wolfgang, a Nazi soldier, usually in response to a previous joke. Frequently, he would add something by saying “…but,” mostly, “but stupid!”
o “Say goodnight, Dick!” was said at the end of episodes by straight man host Dan Rowan to his partner Dick Martin. The clueless Martin would cheerfully reply “Goodnight, Dick!” This gag is admittedly a very old one and has been used by many previous comedians.
• “Basque Separatist rock! I’ve heard about this!”
o The Basque Separatist movement is a political movement in Spain; the Basque region is in the western Pyrenees mountains of Spain (and France). After traditional Basque sovereignty was repealed under the various governments of Spain, political action by the Basque Separatists (or nationalists) has intensified to try to separate the Basques from Spain. The most notorious group of Basque separatists is the ETA which uses violence to try to bring about an independent, socialist Basque state.
• “This is one of those movies that are famous for their great soundtrack.” “Hobgoblins is usually on a double bill with The Harder They Come.”
o The Harder They Come (1972) is a movie about a Jamaican reggae singer (Jimmy Cliff) who becomes a wanted man and a hero to the oppressed. The movie’s reggae soundtrack (recorded by Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, and others) helped to introduce reggae music to the United States; while influential, its sales were low (peaking at #140).
• “Jean-Paul Sartre and the Heartbreakers.”
o Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) was a French existentialist philosopher and author. Since I barely understand philosophy as is, it’s tough for me to explain it in a few words, but existentialism basically views the individual, self, and his/her experience as the way to understand human experience in general. Sartre explored the meaning of life in such famous surrealist plays as No Exit and The Flies.
o The Heartbreakers are the rock band that supports Tom Petty. A consistently popular (and sometimes underrated) soft-rock group, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have recorded such songs as “American Girl,” “Breakdown,” and my favorite, “Waiting.”
• “What’s weird is that Nanci Griffith was the opening act.”
o Nanci Griffith (1953--) is a singer/songwriter known for her country and folk stylings (referred to as “folkabilly”). She won a Grammy for the album Other Voices, Other Rooms (1994) and her best known song is “From a Distance,” made famous by Bette Midler. Her style is probably the antithesis of the weirdo band playing at Club Scum.
• “This is a Woody Guthrie song, right?”
o Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) was a folksinger and socialist that represented the common man in his songs, most notably in “This Land is Your Land,” which originally had very socially relevant lyrics. He penned songs for the Department of the Interior about the Columbia River as well as anti-fascist songs during World War II. His son is ‘60s activist Arlo Guthrie.
• “Okay, four Goofy Grapes.”
o Goofy Grape is a kind of drink produced by Pillsbury in 1964 as part of the Funny Face line. All the Funny Faces were non-caloric drink mixes of various fruity flavors, represented by a smiling face. The Funny Face line was successful, although Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry had to have their names quickly changed for obvious reasons.
• “Paula Poundstone!”
o Paula Poundstone (1959--) is a comedienne who became popular as a stand-up in the early ‘90s, winning two Cable ACE Awards for her comedy specials. Poundstone achieved a level of infamy in 2000 where she was arrested for child endangerment after driving while intoxicated with her kids in the car. At the time, there were also charges, later refuted, that she had committed lewd acts with children as well.
• “Oh my God!” “If this is your god, then you have a severe ontological crisis.”
o This is my favorite joke in the movie. Ontology addresses the question “what are the fundamental categories of being?” and as such examines the nature of God and if there is a God and etcetera, etcetera.
• “Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Squier!”
o Billy Squier (1950--) is a ‘80s rock musician who, after years of toiling as a solo and group artist, finally clicked with such hit songs as “The Stroke,” “My Kinda Lover,” “Everybody Wants You,” and the infamously silly “Rock Me Tonite.” Like most ‘80s musicians, his career petered out as the decade ended.
• “The lesser Kennedys on the town!”
o Ah, we know the Kennedy family, don’t we? This liberal political family has dominated American politics for many years, led by Ambassador Joseph Kennedy, and his sons President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and Senator Edward Kennedy. The Kennedys are noted for their high living and partying, which has gotten several of them into hot water with charges of rape, drug use, and manslaughter.
• “Red hot uncensored Jami Gertz!”
o Jami Gertz (1965--) is a movie and television actress, who appeared in such movies as The Lost Boys (1987) and Sixteen Candles (1984). She is well-known for her television roles, which include preppy Muffy on “Square Pegs” (1982-1983) and as the wife in the inane sitcom “Still Standing” (2002--).
• “Just as long as Demi Moore doesn’t come out and start shaking her saline bags.”
o Demi Moore (1962--) is an actress who achieved superstardom in the early ‘90s with movies like Ghost (1990), A Few Good Man (1992), and Indecent Proposal (1993). Her career took a slump in the mid ‘90s, but she has kept in the public eye by her relationship with Ashton Kutcher. The specific reference is probably to Moore’s movie Striptease(1996), about a mother who becomes a stripper to earn money; the film showed off Moore’s breast augmentation surgery and won her a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress.
• “I want you treat me like dirt!” “Like Phil Dirt?”
o Phil Dirt and the Dozers is a musical group formed in 1981 that performs vintage oldies in the original manner. The band consists of five people, none of which are named Phil Dirt—the name is supposed to apparently represent good memories conjured up by the oldies.
• “They brought in David Mamet to punch up the dialogue!”
o David Mamet (1947--) is a playwright, known for his witty (and frequently profane) dialogue. His most famous work is Glengarry Glen Ross (1984), an excellent look into the world of high-pressure real estate sales. He also writes movies from a similar style, such as Heist (2001) and Wag the Dog (1997).
• “This movie’s giving me Current Traumatic Stress Disorder!”
o This is a parody of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is a psychological condition developed by people after undergoing some trauma. Symptoms may include insomnia, depression, and disassociation with the world. It is frequently developed by soldiers coming home after war.

Host Segment Four
• “Pinky! Brain!”
o Pinky and the Brain are a pair of cartoon characters that have appeared in various ‘90s cartoon shows, including “Animaniacs” (1993-95), their self-titled show (1995-97), and the not-so-lamented “Pinky, Elmrya, and the Brain” (1997-98). As voiced by Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche respectively, Pinky and the Brain are a pair of genetically altered lab mice; as a result of experiments, the Brain is superintelligent (and talks like Orson Welles) and Pinky is insane. Each episode (mainly) revolves around the Brain’s attempts to take over the world with Pinky somewhat assisting. I may be in the minority that believes the “Pinky and the Brain” solo program was even better than “Animaniacs,” taking a one-note (but funny) sketch and adding (gasp!) character depth.

Movie Segment Four
• “They’re drinking too much Oval-brand beer!”
o Is it oval or opal? I have never heard of Oval beer before anyway. Help!
• “Still, you could make a case that this is a better film than Road House.”
o Road House (1989) is another infamously bad movie, frequently used by the MST3K guys as an example of awful filmmaking. Patrick Swayze takes beefcake to a new level by playing a handsome, intelligent, existential bouncer in a bar named the Double Douche, who runs afoul of a bad guy (Ben Gazzara) by hooking up with his former girl (Kelly Lynch). For a stinky film, the cast is oddly enough fairly well-known (Sam Elliott is also on hand). Unlike Gymkata, this movie is available on DVD.
• “Opa!”
o “Opa!” is a traditional Greek word that is used as a joyful exclamation. It really has no specific definition, but can be used as a greeting. I’ve heard one person say it is the Greek version of “Whassup?”
• “This is where bocce ball training comes in handy.”
o Bocce ball is an Italian game that is fairly popular around the world: it is much like lawn bowling, in that the goal is to precisely bowl the bocce balls so that they land close to another ball called the jack. You have to have a fairly large dirt court, as well as plenty of practice, in order to successfully play the game.
• “Pepe Le Pew came in the back door!”
o Pepe Lew Pew is a Warner Brothers cartoon character who first appeared in the short “Odor-able Kitty” (1945). As voiced by Mel Blanc with an intentionally campy French accent, Pepe is an amorous skunk who, in nearly every cartoon, pursues a female skunk (who is usually a black cat with paint on its tail or something like that); however, his terrible odor is always a big turn-off. A recurring joke in the cartoons was that people would run away from his odor, much like the people in Club Scum ar edoing.
• “Stallone! Scum! Opens Friday!”
o This is a parody of a movie advertisement for one of Sylvester Stallone’s films. Stallone (1946--) is a beefy Italian actor best known for playing action heroes Rocky Balboa and John Rambo in a series of ‘70s and ‘80s films. Sly is a decent performer within his own limitations, but has contributed his share of junk movies to the world.
• “Reuben Kincaid!”
o Reuben Kincaid was a character on the sitcom “The Partridge Family” (1970-1974), played by Dave Madden. Kincaid was the fast-talking agent of the Partridge Family; he hated kids, so he was frequently the foil of young Danny Partridge (Danny Bonaduce). Nick’s superior bears a mild resemblance to Madden/Kincaid.
• “Anyone want to stop at Carl’s Jr.?”
o Carl’s Jr. is a fast food chain, mainly on the west coast, formed by Carl Karcher back in 1945. I have never seen one (noticing a theme?). One of the first fast food joints, Carl’s Jr. continues to serve burgers at decent prices today. Recently, Carl’s Jr. attracted controversy for having Paris Hilton in a provocative advertisement for their Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger.
• “Oh, why did Hoover lose?”
o Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) was the 31st President of the United States (from 1929 to 1933). A capable administrator and respected humanitarian, Hoover’s work as the head of the Food Administration and as Secretary of Commerce propelled him to a landslide election to the presidency in 1928. However, the Great Depression hit with full force almost immediately after he took office; Hoover’s approach to handling the Depression has been wildly debated ever since, but the immediate results were nil, and the public blamed the President. Hoover was soundly trashed in 1932 by Democratic challenger Franklin D. Roosevelt, 472 electoral votes to 59.
• “Hey, it’s a common man with his common van.”
o This is a lyric from the 1983 song “Common Man” by country singer John Conlee. The song is a cheery anthem to the common man who has a regular dog and isn’t all high-brow.
• “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” “Sometimes when we touch, the honesty’s too much.”
o This is a lyric from the chorus of the song “Sometimes When We Touch” (written by Dan Hill and Barry Mann) about a man who is afraid about committing in a relationship (hence the chorus). I’m not sure who originally introduced the song, but the Rod Stewart 1996 version is the one I’m most familiar with.
• “I think he’s trying to tell us something! What is it, boy?”
o This is a reference to the long-running television program “Lassie” (1954-1974), which featured the adventures of the beautiful collie Lassie, who got into adventures with a succession of owners throughout the endlessly mutating run of the show. Lassie would always use barks to get her owners’ attention, leading towards a variation on the dialogue above. “What is it, girl? Timmy’s fallen down a well?” and so on…
• “Let’s go for a ride on a Clark-o-matic.”
o Anybody help? I’ve heard of Clark-o-matics, but don’t know exactly how they are or how to define them.
• “I’m gonna call the Sears and Roebuck and get some dried goods.”
o Sears, Roebuck, and Co. was founded in 1893, originally as a watch business. The company became famous for introducing the mail-order catalog system of ordering, where farmers could send in their orders and pickup supplies instead of paying high general store prices. The company began opening retail stores in 1925 and it remains a major player in retail; the Roebuck name was dropped in the 1970’s.

Host Segment Five
• The final segment is a loose parody of the movie The Terminator (1984), which also features a main character traveling back in time to prevent future events from happening. In the movie’s case, the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) journeys to the past to kill the mother of the man who will overthrow the computers ruling the world in the future.


By KAM on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 12:22 am:

Yoo-Hoo is a popular drink sold in supermarkets with an extremely long shelf life
Isn't it an East Coast only drink?

• “Maybe the Great Carnac answers are stored in there.” “YES!”
o The Great Carnac was a popular bit on “The Tonight Show” during the Johnny Carson era (1962-1992). Carnac the Magnificent was a psychic, played by Carson, who would hold a sealed envelope containing a question up to his head and divine the answer without seeing the question.

You left out Ed's comment about how the answers were hermetically sealed in a mayonaise jar on Funk & Wagnell's porch.

• “This poor guy was edged of every decent role by Grant Goodeve.”
o Grant Goodeve (1952--) was an actor best remembered for playing one of the kids, David, on the sitcom “Eight is Enough” (1977-1981). Goodeve didn’t exactly edge anyone out of any role after the show ended—he appeared on some soaps like “Dynasty” and “One Life to Life,” as well as some bad movies; he also had a drinking problem that he managed to kick. He was last seen doing a voice for a Star Fox video game, Star Fox Assault (2005).

IIRC Goodeve took over the role of David after Mark Hammill left to do some movie, Star something or other. ;-)
He moved to Washington (the state) where he occasionally filled in as guest host on Evening Magazine & has, or had, his own show, Northwest Backroads about little out of the way places to go.
As for the edged out comment I think that's a sarcastic comment on how bad the person they're referring to is.

• TAMI BAKKE. “Is she related to Wacky T. Bakke?”
o Anybody help?

Marajuana ref. Wacky tobaccy.

“Captain Kangaroo” (1955-1992), which was hosted by the kindly Captain (Bob Keeshan)
There was a second actor who played the captain after Keeshan, but I don't think it lasted too long.

Taz bears little resemblance to the actual Australian animal [snip] “Taz-Mania” during the 1990s, which portrayed him as a teenager in a surreal Australia.
Isn't Tasmania an actual country separate from Australia?

The specific reference is to a series of commercials produced by Qantas in which a koala bear would complain about the airline.
Complaining because Quantas was bringing so many people to Australia.


By Benn on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 12:53 am:

• “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” “Sometimes when we touch, the honesty’s too much.”
o This is a lyric from the chorus of the song “Sometimes When We Touch” (written by Dan Hill and Barry Mann) about a man who is afraid about committing in a relationship (hence the chorus). I’m not sure who originally introduced the song, but the Rod Stewart 1996 version is the one I’m most familiar with.
- MikeC

Dan Hill's was the original version of the song. It was released around 1977, 78. I really liked that song to be honest. Didn't know Hot Rod Stewart had covered it.


By MikeC on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 9:10 am:

Thanks guys. I'm not sure about Yoo Hoo; it definitely is a Midwest drink as well.

I feel dumb for not getting the marijuana joke. And Tasmania is indeed a separate entity (I thought the island was owned by Australia, though).


By R on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 10:48 am:

Yoo Hoo is here in the midwest. And I don't like the newer flavor of it. I thought it used to be chocliater tasting and thicker somehow when i was a kid. Now it seems weaker and thinner.


By KAM on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 12:27 am:

While I've heard of it I don't recall ever seeing it here in the northwest & I thought I'd read something saying it was a regional drink. *shrug* Not the first time I've been wrong.


By Blitz - Digimon Moderator (Sladd) on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 11:27 am:

I am astounded by this piece of work. Simply astounded... in a very good way.


By MikeC on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 1:34 pm:

Thanks. I'm working on Angels Revenge right now.


By Callie on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 6:14 am:

When a second annotated episode goes up, I'll set up a section specifically for Annotated Episodes, Mike.


By MikeC on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 7:20 am:

Cool. Thanks. Might be a while, though. :)


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