# Didn't expect to see THAT name in the credits! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107 "2017-03-01T15:27:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/1 "2017-03-01T15:27:06Z")
My wife and I were watching “Edge of Tomorrow” a while back when it was on TV, and as the end credits were rolling I saw something that made me go “Wait… what?” and roll the DVR back to confirm I really did see what I thought I saw. Executive Producer - Steven Mnuchin I assume that is the same Steven Mnuchin that is now (or soon will be) our new Treasury Secretary? Anybody else had a WTF moment while watching the credits roll? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/2 "2017-03-01T15:36:37Z")
There’s a mediocre sitcom on CBS called _Superior Donuts_. I was surprised to learn from the credits that it’s based on a play of the same name by Tracy Letts, better known for _August: Osage County_ (for which he won the Pulitzer Prize). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/3 "2017-03-01T15:37:21Z")
Not exactly “reading the credits”, but recently (thanks to MeTV) I’ve been watching episodes of shows that I watched 20 or 30 years ago but haven’t watched in 20 or 30 years, so I’ve forgotten pretty much everything about them. So a while back I watch an episode of _MacGyver_ that guest stars a ditsy trollop. A few days at most later, I watch an episode of _The Love Boat_ that also guest stars the same actress and a ditsy trollop. I think “hm, she must have been kind of well-known back in the day” and did some googling–to learn that the actress was Teri Hatcher. Never for a moment would have realized it was her if I hadn’t read that. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/4 "2017-03-01T15:38:32Z")
It was a little odd to see Elmore Leonard credited on _Justified_, even though the connection is about as obvious as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/5 "2017-03-01T15:42:43Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I assume that is the same Steven Mnuchin that is now (or soon will be) our new Treasury Secretary? It’s him. Mnuchin has invested in a number of movie projects. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/6 "2017-03-01T16:14:19Z")
I was watching and episode of the 50s TV show _[Topper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topper_(TV_series))_ and discover that it had been written Stephen Sondheim. Turns out he wrote 11 episodes several years before he was able to break in on Broadway. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/7 "2017-03-01T17:57:03Z")
There was a _Dallas_ reunion where Charlene Tilton had the title of Executive Producer. It turned out she was the one who talked Larry Hagman into participating – without which there would have been no reunion, so she actually WAS the person most responsible for the show being on the air. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/8 "2017-03-01T18:03:23Z")
I’ve noticed that some episodes of shows such as _Columbo_ have been directed by Nicholas Colosanto, who was most famous for playing coach Ernie Pantusso on _Cheers_. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/9 "2017-03-01T18:05:28Z")
I saw the name Hampton Fancher in the acting credits of a Mannix and an Adam-12 in quick succession. I only ever knew him as a screenwriter (Blade Runner) so it was a surprise to see him as an actor. According to imdb he had a lot of credits back in the day. In the credits of an episode of Barbary Coast I was surprised to see the name Les Moonves listed as playing the part of a bellhop. Yes, the President of CBS started out as a bit player! Talk about mail room to board room. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/10 "2017-03-01T18:16:22Z")
The “set dresser” for “Phantom of the Paradise” was Sissy Spacek. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/11 "2017-03-01T18:39:53Z")
Probably the most surprising one I’ve seen was on GSN reruns of the old CBS _Double Dare_ game show (this is not the show with the physical challenges and the slop, mind you): Associate Producer - Markie Post. This was before she became an actress. #2 is probably: Choreographer - Courtney Galiano. What’s so surprising about a _So You Think You Can Dance?_ finalist being a choreographer? It was for an episode of _The Simpsons_. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/12 "2017-03-01T18:48:42Z")
To be pedantic, it doesn’t count as “seeing,” since the credits were spoken aloud by the announcer, but anyway… On one of the “trip to Hollywood” episodes of _I Love Lucy_, they stop to ask directions in Tennessee. The stereotypical hayseed guy they get directions from was played by future mega-producer Aaron Spelling. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/13 "2017-03-01T19:13:12Z")
Not the production credits, but I’ve been startled to see Werner Herzog in a couple of places, especially in an episode of _Parks and Recreation_ ---
**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:** [March 1, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/14 "2017-03-01T19:17:04Z")
I was happily surprised to see Jonathan Frakes directed a number of episodes for the TV series _The Librarians_. I was very surprised to see Tom Cruise’s name in the end credits of _Tropic Thunder_. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/15 "2017-03-01T19:17:52Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > My wife and I were watching “Edge of Tomorrow” a while back when it was on TV, and as the end credits were rolling I saw something that made me go “Wait… what?” and roll the DVR back to confirm I really did see what I thought I saw. > > Executive Producer - Steven Mnuchin > > I assume that is the same Steven Mnuchin that is now (or soon will be) our new Treasury Secretary? > > Anybody else had a WTF moment while watching the credits roll? Not to spoil the move or anything, but go see the new Lego Batman movie. Guess who is right there in the end credits? Also, it is a fun clever movie. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/16 "2017-03-01T19:25:44Z")
Oliver North credited as a writer on an episode of The Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/17 "2017-03-01T19:34:29Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I was happily surprised to see Jonathan Frakes directed a number of episodes for the TV series _The Librarians_. He has a lot of directing credits: > **[Jonathan Frakes | Actor, Director, Producer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000408/?ref_=nv_sr_1)** > > Known for: Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek: Generations ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/18 "2017-03-01T19:36:55Z")
**Joseph Heller** , famous for the novel **Catch-22** , wrote an episode of the TV show _McHale’s Navy_. That seems appropriate, somehow He also wrote the screenplay for the oddball Frank Sinatra western **Dirty Dingus McGee** **James Clavell** , noted for _Shogun, Noble House, Tai-Pan, King Rat_, and other novels, contributed to the screenplays of the original movie **The Fly** and **The Great Escape**. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/19 "2017-03-01T19:40:12Z")
**Harlan Ellison** wrote TV scripts for other series besides science fiction. The most outrageous example being an episode of _the Flying Nun_. He also wrote for \*Burke’s Law, Route 66, Ripcord, \* and _Cimarron Strip_. If you read his _The Glass Teat_ you already know that he wrote for _The Young Lawyers_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107/20 "2017-03-01T19:43:38Z")
I’ve been watching old episodes of _Alfred Hitchcock Presents_ from the late 1950s and was surprised to see that Robert Altman directed several of them. Checking IMDB, it seems he directed a lot of TV episodes in the 1950s and 1960s including _Bonanza, Combat, Whirlybirds_, and others. Of course, everyone has to start somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-expect-to-see-that-name-in-the-credits/781107.md?page=2)