# Do you know who Al Jean is? Do you know who Leonard Stern is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395 "2017-11-12T02:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/21 "2017-11-12T17:29:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I did not know who either person was. Never heard of them to the best of my knowledge. For what it’s worth, I’m late 50s and lived outside the US for most of my adult life. Me too. Except always lived inside the US. And I’m a fan of the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/22 "2017-11-12T19:36:18Z")
I’ve never heard of Al Jean. But I know Leonard Stern’s name very well from decades of watching Get Smart. I know Irving Szathmary, too! (he wrote the theme song) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/23 "2017-11-12T19:51:01Z")
My first thought was “Stern, OBVIOUSLY Stern.” But I was picturing Howard Stern. As for Leonard Stern and Al Jean, I have no idea who either of these men is. Did either of them ever vacation at a small lake in New Hampshire? ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/24 "2017-11-12T19:57:24Z")
Al Jean, sure, from Simpsons credits. Leonard Stern, I thought first of Sheldon Leonard. But now I recognize it. You might want to wait a few months before you start a book about anybody. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/25 "2017-11-12T20:05:43Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’ve never heard of Al Jean. But I know Leonard Stern’s name very well from decades of watching Get Smart. I know Irving Szathmary, too! (he wrote the theme song) Did you know that Bill Dana is Irvings brother? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/26 "2017-11-12T20:15:23Z")
I know of both of them, plus Sheldon Leonard. But hey, I was born in 1955 and grew up in front of a television set. Do you know who Paul Henning was? (FYI, he had nothing to do with prestidigitation.) I can name lots of other obscure TV legends, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/27 "2017-11-12T20:16:40Z")
Never heard of either. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/28 "2017-11-12T20:28:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Do you know who Paul Henning was? (FYI, he had nothing to do with prestidigitation.) Sure do. I used to watch _The Beverly Hillbillies_, _Petticoat Junction_, and _Green Acres_ all the time when I was a kid. Still do, from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/29 "2017-11-12T20:33:28Z")
> [@johnny l.a.](#): > > nm. I thought you said _lincoln_ sternn. > > 😛 > > . lowercaseplaceholder “STERRRRRRNNNN!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/30 "2017-11-12T23:50:44Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Did you know that Bill Dana is Irvings brother? Of course. Did you know that Robert Karvelas (Larabee) was Don Adams’ cousin? ---
**Author:** ![Clothes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Clothes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothes)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/31 "2017-11-13T00:18:46Z")
Roger Price was actually more interesting than Stern, and _Mad Libs_ was one of his lesser creations. Who else could have conceived of Cap’n Squish (the pirate with a plunger for a hand), or the F.S.S.T. (Flying Saucer Spotters of Terra)? ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/32 "2017-11-13T07:01:13Z")
Thanks again for such an interesting variety of responses! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/33 "2017-11-13T07:50:50Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Do you know who Paul Henning was? (FYI, he had nothing to do with prestidigitation.) > > I can name lots of other obscure TV legends, too. Played the boyfriend/husband of one of the three hot sisters on _Petticoat Junction_. IIRC, he was also married to the actress. And he was a producer on the show (possibly also _Green Acres_). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/34 "2017-11-13T08:13:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Played the boyfriend/husband of one of the three hot sisters on _Petticoat Junction_. IIRC, he was also married to the actress. And he was a producer on the show (possibly also _Green Acres_). Well, you’re half right. Paul was the creator/producer of _ **Petticoat Junction** _, _ **Green Acres** _, and _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _. He was also a screenwriter for _ **Bedtime Story** _ (1964), which was later remade as _ **Dirty Rotten Scoundrels** _ (1988). The actor who played cropduster Steve Elliot on \*\*\*PJ \*\*\* was Mike Minor, the son of producer Don Fedderson (_ **My Three Sons** _). Mike married Betty Jo, the redhead, both on the series and in real life. She (Linda Kaye Henning) was the daughter of Paul. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/35 "2017-11-13T08:22:57Z")
Here’s one for you. If you can identify him/her **WITHOUT GOOGLING** , I’ll buy you dinner at Scott’s in London sometime: **M. Leigh Hudec** Trust me: This is someone you would probably recognize instantly if you saw a photo. Remember, you’re on your honor with this one! 😉 ---
**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:** [November 13, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/36 "2017-11-13T10:13:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Here’s one for you. If you can identify him/her **WITHOUT GOOGLING** , I’ll buy you dinner at Scott’s in London sometime: > > **M. Leigh Hudec** > > Trust me: This is someone you would probably recognize instantly if you saw a photo. > > Remember, you’re on your honor with this one! 😉 [spoiler]Majel Barrett Roddenberry Wasn’t she credited under that name in “The Cage”? And no, I swear I didn’t Google it.[/spoiler] See you in London. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/37 "2017-11-13T10:22:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > See you in London. 😃 I travel to Europe twice a year. We’ll work something out. 🆒 And yes, you are right about the credit. That’s where I knew the name from. If I had the time right now, I would look to see if it turns up anywhere else (like the credits for _ **The Untouchables** _ (1959), f’rinstance). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/38 "2017-11-13T10:43:41Z")
I didn’t know either of these names, but vaguely thought that _Al Jean_ was one of the cartoonists for Mad Magazine. Looking at Wikipedia, I don’t see anyone of that name or even the same _length_ of name listed for Mad. Can someone think of who I might be mistaking him for? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/39 "2017-11-13T11:28:05Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I didn’t know either of these names, but vaguely thought that _Al Jean_ was one of the cartoonists for Mad Magazine. Looking at Wikipedia, I don’t see anyone of that name or even the same _length_ of name listed for Mad. Can someone think of who I might be mistaking him for? Al Jaffee. He did many, many features for _ **MAD** _, including “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions,” “The Hate Book,” and (later on) “The Love Book.” _“Don’t you just hate/love it when [X] happens?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-who-al-jean-is-do-you-know-who-leonard-stern-is/801395/40 "2017-11-13T12:14:49Z")
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