# Game: spot the obscure movie/book/etc.. references in doper's nicks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544 "2004-12-01T19:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/181 "2004-12-03T13:27:14Z")
Anyone get mines? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/182 "2004-12-03T13:58:41Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > **Mudshark** is a Zappa/Mothers reference, if I’m not mistaken. > > That’s right, you heard right, the secret word for tonight is Mudshark! Whereupon I proceeded to take that mittenful of the deadly yellow snow crystals and rub it all into his beady little eyes with a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, _**but destined to take the place of the mudshark in your mythology**_here it goes,the circular motion, now Rub It! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/183 "2004-12-03T14:23:03Z")
**Why A Duck** is a Groucho Marx reference **a-ha** is an actual member of the band a-ha. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/184 "2004-12-03T14:26:13Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > **Fretful Porpentine** is a reference to Hamlet. It’s also a jibe used by Claire to Jamie in one of the Diana Gabaldon Outlander books. When I guessed, I guessed the latter, and of course it was the former. While I know it’s originally from _Hamlet_, “Fretful Porpentine” always makes me think of Bertie Wooster and Jeeves. From _Thank you, Jeeves_: > [@](#): > > "I’m sorely beset, Jeeves. Do you recall telling me once about someone who > told somebody he could tell him something which would make him think a > bit? Knitted socks and porcupines entered into it, I remember.’ > > ``` > 'I think you may be referring to the ghost of the father of Hamlet, > > ``` > > Prince of Denmark, sir. Addressing his son, he said “I could a tale > unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young > blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, thy > knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand on > end like quills upon the fretful porpentine.”’ > > ``` > 'That's right. Locks, of course, not socks. Odd that he should have > > ``` > > said porpentine when he meant porcupine. Slip of the tongue, no doubt, > as so often happens with ghosts." Oh, and I always thought that “Lonesome Polecat” was from the _Seven Brides…_ song too. > [@well he's back](#): > > Hi everyone - Isn’t Miss Mapp’s a reference to the Mapp & Lucia books which were turned into a quite successful BBC or PBS series? Yes, that’s right: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1559212756/103-4407141-4389406?v=glance](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1559212756/103-4407141-4389406?v=glance) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/185 "2004-12-03T14:46:55Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > I always get a mental picture of you in a helicopter. That’s close to the reason and therefore has nothing to do with the OP, thats why I didn’t mention it. I just didn’t want anyone to think I was Ken Loach. Or a fish. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/186 "2004-12-03T14:54:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Whereupon I proceeded to take that mittenful of the deadly yellow snow > crystals and rub it all into his beady little eyes with a vigorous > circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, _**but destined > to take the place of the mudshark in your mythology**_here it goes,the circular motion, now Rub It! Sweet, many thanks for getting that KC song out of my head. I’d forgotten that particular Mudshark reference from '. I was thinking more along the lines of: Muuud, sh- sh- shaaarrrrk… But am perfectly content to bemoan: I can’t see! No no no no no I can’t seeee! No no no no no Oh whoa is me! Cause I can’t see… Temporarily… Those damn pesky dog-doo sno-cones. They just don’t belong in your eyes, I tells ya. ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/187 "2004-12-03T15:49:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Anyone get mines? annie christmas was a larger than life keelboat pilot and bounty hunter in american folklore. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/188 "2004-12-03T16:49:52Z")
I don’t know how obscure this is, but **down by law** refers to the Jim Jarmusch [film](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090967/) of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/189 "2004-12-03T17:12:06Z")
Mine is actually based upon Crusading Chameleon, but for some reason we thought he was Kid Chameleon, and it’s just stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/190 "2004-12-03T18:32:17Z")
**John Carter of Mars** is an Edgar Rice Burroughs reference, as is **Tars Tarkas**. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/191 "2004-12-03T18:52:33Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > **John Carter of Mars** is an Edgar Rice Burroughs reference, as is **Tars Tarkas**. And of course, **Eonwë** is Manwë’s herald in Tolkien’s works. How did I get to be the first to mention that one?! ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/192 "2004-12-03T19:40:35Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > I don’t know how obscure this is, but **down by law** refers to the Jim Jarmusch [film](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090967/) of the same name. actually, when i registered for the website, i was listening to digable planet’s “borough check” from the criminally underrated album, “blowout comb.” the opening line is something like: brooklyn brooklyn, big borough of dreams(?) but everything in brooklyn, aint always what it seems. you might get heck if you come from out of town down by law and that’s word… but the movie is nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/193 "2004-12-03T20:40:37Z")
I would assume that new member [iggy popov](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=289885) is a Russianizaton of rocker Iggy Pop. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/194 "2004-12-03T20:45:07Z")
I assumed that, too **Annie X-mas**. Anyone know the reference for my username? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/195 "2004-12-03T20:50:44Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > **Why A Duck** is a Groucho Marx reference well, Chico actually. Groucho said Viaduct. And wire fence. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/196 "2004-12-03T20:56:07Z")
BTW, mine is **not** a Star Trek reference. It isn’t a cultural reference yet - not until I sell my book. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/197 "2004-12-03T21:06:27Z")
**Terminus Est** , or “the place of parting” is a reference to **Severian’s** trusty face-shaving, decapitating sword in Gene Wolfe’s _Book of the New Sun_. My old screen name (smilla) was a literary reference, but not an obscure one. I don’t think. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/198 "2004-12-03T21:18:08Z")
> [@faldureon](#): > > I can’t search the list of members so I am not sure, but if > **Bodhi** is a real username then she is the evil vampress from Baldur’s Gate 2 A search by partial username showed that **bodhi** made exactly one post: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3028354#post3028354](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3028354#post3028354) ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/199 "2004-12-03T21:57:31Z")
Mine is misspelled because some non-posting person has the correctly spelled version. Anybody? Pearlie Baker? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544/200 "2004-12-03T22:32:42Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Mine’s probably not that obscure–it has been recognized in at least one previous thread. I cam’t remember, Cam U? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-spot-the-obscure-movie-book-etc-references-in-dopers-nicks/277544.md?page=11)