# Clever and Funny book, chapter, or episode titles based on other works **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392 "2022-09-28T14:29:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/21 "2022-09-28T19:51:50Z")
Ron Luciano was a flamboyant and eccentric American League baseball umpire in the 1960s and 1970s; after he retired as an umpire, he wrote several humorous books about his life in baseball, some of which had pun-based titles referring to other works: - The Umpire Strikes Back (The Empire Strikes Back) - The Fall of the Roman Umpire (The Fall of the Roman Empire) - Remembrance of Swings Past (Remembrance of Things Past Similarly, Bob Uecker, a former major league catcher, who became well-known as a baseball announcer and actor, and who was also known for telling funny stories about his career, wrote several books: - Catcher in the Wry (Catcher in the Rye) - Catch 222 (Catch-22; I’m not sure what the 222 is referring to, other than a poor batting average, but Uecker’s career batting average wasn’t even that good – he was only a .200 hitter) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/22 "2022-09-28T19:52:46Z")
Nobody’s mentioned Harvard Lampoon’s _Bored of the Rings_ yet? I’m surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/23 "2022-09-28T19:54:01Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > _The Good, the Bad, and the Emus_ > _Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon_ > _The Hen of the Baskervilles_ > _Gift of the Magpie_ > and a few other books in the Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. Almost all of the book titles (#32 will be out this fall) are bird-based puns, though most don’t fit the OP’s request. Good to hear the next one’s coming out (looks like Oct. 11th). I’m a big fan of the series. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/24 "2022-09-28T20:03:33Z")
Leslie Charteris used to have fun chapter titles in his Simon Templer (The Saint) books, although the only one i can remember is :- _“How Claude Eustace Teal opened his mouth and Hoppy Uniatz put his foot in it”_ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/25 "2022-09-28T20:14:36Z")
_The Tinkling Symbol_, an Asey Mayo mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor – a play on “a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/26 "2022-09-28T20:14:53Z")
Evan Hunter had a few books that fit, including Every Crook and Nanny Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/27 "2022-09-28T20:30:57Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Similarly, Bob Uecker, a former major league catcher, who became well-known as a baseball announcer and actor, and who was also known for telling funny stories about his career, wrote several books: > > - Catcher in the Wry (Catcher in the Rye) > - Catch 222 (Catch-22; I’m not sure what the 222 is referring to, other than a poor batting average, but Uecker’s career batting average wasn’t even that good – he was only a .200 hitter) Possibly _Room 222_, a TV show of the early 70s. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/28 "2022-09-28T20:36:27Z")
There is always the cookbook _Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist_ with cocktails such as: - The Pitcher of Dorian Grey Goose - The Last of the Mojitos - Love in the Time of Kahlua - Romeo and Julep - A Rum of One’s Own - Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margarita - Vermouth the Bell Tolls among others ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/29 "2022-09-28T20:49:43Z")
[Supernatural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Supernatural_episodes) had a fun mix of song titles, puns of other programs or movies, or cultural references in general for their episodes. Some of my favorites: Man’s Best Friend with Benefits Criss Angel Is a Douchebag ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/30 "2022-09-28T21:10:41Z")
Ben Aaronovitch’s latest Rivers Of London book. Title is “Amongst Our Weapons”, and some of the sections are “Surprise”, “Fear”, “Ruthless Efficiency” etc. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/31 "2022-09-28T21:32:31Z")
Porn flicks do this a lot. Do we want to go there? Sex Trek: The Next Penetration The Long Ranger Rides Again Splendor in the Ass Barbara the Barbarian (bad movie, but, oddly enough, not as bad as some of the mainstream sword-and-sorcery movies from the early 1980s) A Midsummer Night’s Cream (this one incorporates a surprising amount of dialog from Shakespeare’s play) ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/32 "2022-09-28T23:58:55Z")
Kim Harrison has a well known series of urban fantasy novels called the Hollows series. The titles are plays on (mostly?) Clint Eastwood movies: 1. [Dead Witch Walking](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/dead-witch-walking.htm) ([2004](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2004.htm)) 2. [The Good, the Bad, and the Undead](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/good-bad-and-undead.htm) ([2005](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2005.htm)) 3. [Every Which Way But Dead](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/every-which-way-but-dead.htm) ([2005](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2005.htm)) 4. [A Fistful of Charms](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/fistful-of-charms.htm) ([2006](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2006.htm)) 5. [For a Few Demons More](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/for-few-demons-more.htm) ([2007](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2007.htm)) 6. [The Outlaw Demon Wails](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/outlaw-demon-wails.htm) ([2008](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2008.htm)) 7. [White Witch, Black Curse](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/white-witch-black-curse.htm) ([2009](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2009.htm)) 8. [Black Magic Sanction](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/black-magic-sanction.htm) ([2010](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2010.htm)) 9. [Pale Demon](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/pale-demon.htm) ([2011](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2011.htm)) 10. [A Perfect Blood](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/perfect-blood.htm) ([2012](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2012.htm)) 11. [Ever After](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/ever-after.htm) ([2013](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2013.htm)) 12. [The Undead Pool](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/undead-pool.htm) ([2014](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2014.htm)) 13. [The Witch With No Name](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/witch-with-no-name.htm) ([2014](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2014.htm)) 14. [American Demon](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/american-demon.htm) ([2020](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2020.htm)) 15. [Million Dollar Demon](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/million-dollar-demon.htm) ([2021](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2021.htm)) 16. [Trouble with the Cursed](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/trouble-with-the-cursed.htm) ([2022](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/years/2022.htm)) 17. [Demons of Good and Evil](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/kim-harrison/demons-of-good-and-evil.htm) (2023) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/33 "2022-09-29T00:13:48Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Simpson’s season 1. > _The Crepes of Wrath._ > > [The Crepes of Wrath - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crepes_of_Wrath) > > I haven’t looked, but I bet there are dozens of Simpson episodes that qualify _I, (Annoyed Grunt) Bot_ with Homer’s “D’oh!” catchphrase spelled as “(Annoyed Grunt)” in the script. So it becomes _I, D’oh!-Bot_, referring to _I, Robot_. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/34 "2022-09-29T00:25:28Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The show “ **Frasier** ” was good for this: And Cheers had an episode called _The Crane Mutiny_. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/35 "2022-09-29T02:18:54Z")
Don’t forget the classic _Edward Penishands_!!! ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/36 "2022-09-29T03:20:12Z")
_Community_ had the magnificent episodes _A Fistful of Paintballs_ and _For a Few Paintballs More_ in their second season. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/37 "2022-09-29T03:25:40Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > [@Shoeless](#): > > > > _NewsRadio_ had a string of episodes in the (I think) second season that were all named after Led Zeppelin albums, for no apparent reason. > > So the first four episodes were called, I, II, III and IV? Or I, II, III and “What _is_ the name of this one? Fourth? Stairway? Four Symbols? Those Runes? The Hermit? Untitled? Zoso?” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/38 "2022-09-29T03:28:17Z")
I remember one called “In and Out In Beverly Hills” - a parody on a recent release called “Down And Out In Beverly Hills” and “Shaving Ryan’s Privates” needs no further explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/39 "2022-09-29T10:00:03Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Tequila Mockingbird Pretty sure an episode of Get Smart had the “Tequila Mockingbird” as a Maguffin. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392/40 "2022-09-29T10:44:26Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > No Chemo, Sabe? For the benefit of younger readers, this is a reference to the (B&W?) Radio/TV/Film series - “The Lone Ranger”. Always masked to preserve his anonymity, he fought bad guys in the American Old West with his Native American friend, Tonto. Tonto always called the Lone Ranger “_Kemosabe_”, which apparently translates as “_Friend_”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-and-funny-book-chapter-or-episode-titles-based-on-other-works/972392.md?page=3)