# "Micro-Folded-Credit-Crawl" on TV Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493 "2004-06-21T18:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/21 "2004-06-22T06:42:59Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > If you listen to the DVD commentary for The Simpsons and Futurama, you can hear Matt Groening ‘n’ crew mentioning this type of thing. They mention several times how nice it is that you can actually see all their names at the end of the show without interference. And of course they spoofed it in a Simpsons episode, when Bart went to work as Krusty’s assistant. “It’s Betty! Betty…Simington!” ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/22 "2004-06-22T19:56:35Z")
Well, you’d better get used to the on-screen ads, folks. I remember a news story a month or so ago about how ad revenues are gonna drop BIG TIME in the next few years due to DVRs like Tivo and the ones that cable companies are offering. And I can see their point - now that I have the Time Warner DVR, I rarely - if ever - watch a show “live” anymore and bitch when I do because you can’t fast-forward through the commercials. Even for our “can’t miss” shows like _24_, my missus and I will wait until 15 minutes into the show to start watching, so we can skip all the commercials. Of course, you read and hear things all the time that will never happen - remember “microwave clothes dryers” anyone? - so the article could be full of it. But I can’t see where they’re wrong either. Don’t get me wrong - I hate it too! Especially when the “bug” or “promo” covers up the name of someone they’re interviewing! But alas - what 'cha gonna do? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/23 "2004-06-22T20:22:41Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > And of course they spoofed it in a Simpsons episode, when Bart went to work as Krusty’s assistant. > > “It’s Betty! Betty…Simington!” And in another where the family is watching a Noah’s Ark movie (starring Troy McClure). God is about to give Noah a final message when Kent Brockman inturupts. Then the credits are smashed to the very left and scrolling at a fast speed. “Meet a real life Noah. Instead of saving two of every animal, he kills two of every animal!” ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/24 "2004-06-22T21:25:02Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Don’t forget the little trick f/X has come up with. Coming back into a movie they flash a promo on the bottom right of the screen. Not a big deal, but they have to also use the “flash” sound effect to get you attention. Often it comes in during the dialog so you miss what someone says. Hate, hate, HATE that. I’m watching a Buffy rerun or something, and then suddenly: gunshots! What? Who’s getting shot? Is it season six already? No, it’s a promo for “The Shield”. Grr… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/25 "2004-06-22T21:56:45Z")
I love it when the feature ends on Turner Classic Movies, and instead of showing you the credits they cut to Robert Osborne, the personification of Smarmy Twit, revealing fascinating factoids that you don’t want to know. For that matter, does anyone really need “hosts” who appear at station breaks to share their recipes, gossip and opinions about the movie? Is this a secret plot to drive up video rentals? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/26 "2004-06-22T22:05:34Z")
Just tried Googling to answer your question about the Doctor, **Master Wang-Ka** , but the website apparently operates on the principle that “only pretty people count”. :rolleyes: That is, the big names only were listed. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/27 "2004-06-23T07:46:44Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I love it when the feature ends on Turner Classic Movies, and instead of showing you the credits they cut to Robert Osborne, the personification of Smarmy Twit, revealing fascinating factoids that you don’t want to know. Are you sure about that? In the old days ('60s) credits were short enough to show at the start of the movie only. When did credits become 5 minute affairs? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/28 "2004-06-23T08:27:15Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > Wanted to check the list of actors, you see. Wanted to see who played the doctor; he looked familiar. 26 responses and no one thought to look it up for the great **Master**?! Dr. James Cody was played by [Robert Mammone](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0541120/). [Cite.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355987/) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/29 "2004-06-23T09:43:35Z")
> [@Jeff Lodoen](#): > > Are you sure about that? In the old days ('60s) credits were short enough to show at the start of the movie only. > > When did credits become 5 minute affairs? I think we can safely blame George Lucas for this. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/30 "2004-06-23T12:01:38Z")
Credits appear at the end of lots of old movies. I don’t care too much about who the wardrobe assistant was, but it would be nice to know the names of some of the supporting actors. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/31 "2004-06-23T12:37:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, you’d better get used to the on-screen ads, folks. I remember a news story a month or so ago about how ad revenues are gonna drop BIG TIME in the next few years due to DVRs like Tivo and the ones that cable companies are offering. People F-FWD through commercials on VCRs too, so this isn’t new. I don’t get the logic of these stations. “Boss, people are watching movies on DVDs because they don’t like commercials.” “Hm, that’s not good! People don’t like commercials, so they don’t watch our station. We’d better make up the shortfall by selling more commercial time!” “Brilliant!” I was _positive_ an old friend of mine appeared in a SciFi Channel show about UFOs in Kecksberg, but I haven’t talked to him in a couple of years and wanted to be sure. “Squish!” went the credits! I taped the show when it was on, and tried to read the credits on replay. No joy. I e-mailed SciFi Channel to ask them who played the reporter. I got a form-mail mail that said, in effect, “Thank you for writing SciFi Channel. We get a lot of mail, so we don’t read any of it.” :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Are you sure about that? In the old days ('60s) credits were short enough to show at the start of the movie only. > > When did credits become 5 minute affairs? Only five minutes? IIRC _Pirates of the Caribbean_, for example, had 20 minutes of credits. I think the extra-long credits come from unions. Unions require more people on the crew, and they expect their members to be recognised for their work. More people + recognition = longer credits. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/32 "2004-06-23T16:59:17Z")
So once again, unions are mucking up things for the rest of us. Why else, would we be seeing the name of the guy who puts the donuts out in the morning and the third assistant standby costume mender? But seriously, can someone compile a list of names, phone numbers and addresses of people we can harrangue about the credit-crunching and those noisy, animated, screen-filling bugs and promos? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/33 "2004-06-23T17:07:34Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I think the extra-long credits come from unions. Unions require more people on the crew, and they expect their members to be recognised for their work. More people + recognition = longer credits. That was exactly what I was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/34 "2004-06-23T17:09:19Z")
I guess I just take IMDB for granted. It rarely occurs to me that other people don’t know about it, or how useful it is. As indicated by **TJDude’s** cite, IMDB is \*the \* place to go for any credit you could possibly want. It’s settled more than a few arguments for me, and alleviated the nagging “What else has that guy been in?” questions, along with all kinds of interesting facts, trivia, movie goofs, etc. TV shows, video games, foreign films… It’s got everything. So, **Johnny L.A.** if you go to IMDB and type your friend’s name in, it would tell you whether he was in that episode you saw. And it would tell \*\*Master Wang-Ka \*\* if he went to high school with anyone. Although, if it was a Stephen King made-for-TV movie, I’m not sure you’d want to admit that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/35 "2004-06-23T17:43:21Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > So, **Johnny L.A.** if you go to IMDB and type your friend’s name in, it would tell you whether he was in that episode you saw. [Only if his friend is Jonathan Emrys](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385120/combined) (aka Jonathan Hufnagel-Giba). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/36 "2004-06-23T19:03:31Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I love it when the feature ends on Turner Classic Movies, and instead of showing you the credits they cut to Robert Osborne, the personification of Smarmy Twit, revealing fascinating factoids that you don’t want to know. TCM does _not_ cut off credits. Robert Osborne, certified Fountain of Knowledge, appears before the movies start and reappears only after the final credits have rolled. > [@Jackmanni](#): > > For that matter, does anyone really need “hosts” who appear at station breaks to share their recipes, gossip and opinions about the movie? Is this a secret plot to drive up video rentals? I don’t watch movies that have been edited for television (with the exception of MST3K) but if someone wants to watch hosts jabber at each other it doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/37 "2004-06-23T19:19:34Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > [Only if his friend is Jonathan Emrys](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385120/combined) (aka Jonathan Hufnagel-Giba). Hmmm… He says his friend played a reporter, and a quick googling says that a reporter named John Murphy (who was played by Jonathan Emrys) took pictures of the Kecksburg incident so… We just may have a hit. If, of course, his friend is indeed Jonathan Emrys. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/38 "2004-06-23T20:00:52Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > 26 responses and no one thought to look it up for the great **Master**?! > > Dr. James Cody was played by [Robert Mammone](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0541120/). > > [Cite.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355987/) Thanks, TJ. He _looked_ familiar as all hell, but durned if I’ve ever heard the name. Powers Boothe and I nearly went to college together, and among my professors was one of the chaps from TV’s _Hogan’s Heroes_, so, yeah, I compulsively read credits… ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/39 "2004-06-23T20:19:00Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Only five minutes? IIRC _Pirates of the Caribbean_, for example, had 20 minutes of credits. Well, we’re not quite there yet. PotC has about 10 minutes of credits. Well, at least the DVD version does, anyway. Don’t worry, they’ll soon be longer even if they have to put in people who had absolutely nothing to do with the movie. “Director’s father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate (which makes them absolutely nothing) - Turd Ferguson” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493/40 "2004-06-23T21:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > So, **Johnny L.A.** if you go to IMDB and type your friend’s name in, it would tell you whether he was in that episode you saw. I did that after seeing the show. IMDB did not have that on the credits at the time. I did go back several weeks later and it had been updated. But it was no help the day after the show. > [@](#): > > [url="[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385120/combined](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385120/combined)"Only if his friend is Jonathan Emrys (aka Jonathan Hufnagel-Giba). It is, indeed! 😃 > [@](#): > > PotC has about 10 minutes of credits. Hey, I just noticed that _Pirates of the Caribbean_ and _Passion of the Christ_ are both abbreviated “Potsie”. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-folded-credit-crawl-on-tv-movies/251493.md?page=3)