# Middleman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294 "2008-06-18T02:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/41 "2008-07-30T12:46:29Z")
I love this show. The plots are ridiculous but fun. I’m especially fond of the dialogue. I can’t imagine how many takes they go through trying to say _all that_ _so fast_ without screwing up or cracking up. I liked the alternative middle-sidekick a lot. I’m glad to hear he will be making another appearance. Wasn’t a fan of Lacey’s antics but she’s growing on me. Also, despite the fantasy nature of the show and expectations of deus-ex-machina as par for the course, Dub’s sudden revelation of the ability to fly a jet _still_ was jarring. I’m a little disappointed that after being in a while episode, Master Ping is still around but _never seen_. I loved the Asian martial arts master with Mexican wrestling mask bit tho. It seems like Dozer and Dub are playing a game where they have a conversation using song lyrics. But only once or twice have I been able to recognize them. Oh, and the swearing is loverly… ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/42 "2008-08-02T00:11:04Z")
“Could you quit with the bromance?” Heh. I shouldn’t have laughed, but I did. Cute latest episode. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/43 "2008-08-26T23:24:31Z")
Although it wasn’t as good as last week’s Puppet Vampire/True Love adventure, this week’s John McClain tribute (“It’s like _Die Hard_ in a building”) was a lot of fun–plus, who can complain if Dub-Dub needs some thorough, underwear-shedding quarantine scrubbing? 😃 I wonder if the Nanobots will make another appearance, and if Wendy’s boyfriend’s new job forces him to cross paths with the Middlemen. One episode left! (I think) ---
**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:** [August 27, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/44 "2008-08-27T00:27:46Z")
Liked the episode, especially the Doctor Who references: 1. The head NASA guy was named Lethbridge-Stewart. 2. The containment devices was named after the Vygons. 3. The Periperpugilliam Agreement. I love that sort of obscure references to other shows. A few weeks ago, for instance, the Middleman introduced himself as Alexander Scott with Wendy as Kelly Robinson. 🙂 The plots are silly and fun, but there are so many subtle in-jokes that you need to pay attention to every line. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/45 "2008-09-03T03:33:53Z")
The show continues to impress me. This latest one, “The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome” was too cool. Matt Keeslar, the actor who plays The Middleman seems to enjoy acting all over the map. The mirror universe Middleman/Kurt Russell he played was hilarious. I guess that was the season one finale? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/46 "2008-09-03T06:00:50Z")
Anybody want to spoil this series for me? ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/47 "2008-09-03T12:20:32Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > The show continues to impress me. This latest one, “The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome” was too cool. Matt Keeslar, the actor who plays The Middleman seems to enjoy acting all over the map. The mirror universe Middleman/Kurt Russell he played was hilarious. > > I guess that was the season one finale? ☹ I’ve only seen the last few episodes (I hope they re-run them soon) so I’m still a bit shaky on the backstory. But I like the references that they throw in (1997 Plissken Rd!!) and will probably pick it up on DVD if it comes out. Especially if it has commentaries and a gag reel. ---
**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 3, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/48 "2008-09-03T16:03:51Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Anybody want to spoil this series for me? Sort of like **Men in Black** for the 21st century. Instead of just aliens, the Middleman fights just about ever comic book/science fiction menace you can name. There’s no story arc. Wendy does get involved in a romance, and there is romance between the Middleman and Wendy’s roommate Lacey. There are hints of things (Wendy’s father disappeared mysteriously when she was a child), but nothing more. Basically, it’s a monster-of-the-week with funny dialog and a real understanding of pop culture. There are plenty of references, but this isn’t a reference comedy – the references to culture are generally offhanded and never explained or commented on. If you get them, great. If not, it doesn’t matter – the show is still funny. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/49 "2008-09-04T12:06:42Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > The show continues to impress me. This latest one, “The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome” was too cool. Matt Keeslar, the actor who plays The Middleman seems to enjoy acting all over the map. The mirror universe Middleman/Kurt Russell he played was hilarious. > > I guess that was the season one finale? ☹ Just saw this - so the wormhold-opening device was made up of 3 things: - a Beryllium Sphere - what sci-fi story/movie uses that? - an Oscillation Overthruster - that’s from Buckaroo Bonzai, Across the 8th Dimension (which this TV show is probably the most like) - and some chemical - probably no reference Keesler’s Snake Plissken was hilarious - and jeez, that dude works out! I guess the mains are expected to offer a little cake of the beef and cheese varieties - no complaints for Natalie Morales, either… I have settled into really enjoying it - the light touch and Get Smart meta-humor approach work. I can do with out the Weekly Big Talk about Friendship and Love - a lot; but otherwise, doin’ nicely… ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/50 "2008-09-04T12:38:06Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Just saw this - so the wormhold-opening device was made up of 3 things: > > - a Beryllium Sphere - what sci-fi story/movie uses that? Galaxy Quest. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/51 "2008-09-04T12:46:44Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > - a Beryllium Sphere - what sci-fi story/movie uses that? > - an Oscillation Overthruster - that’s from Buckaroo Bonzai, Across the 8th Dimension (which this TV show is probably the most like) > - and some chemical - probably no reference You would be amazed at the [sheer number](http://themiddleblog.livejournal.com/37751.html) of SF references there are in a single episode of Middleman - I don’t usually notice 2/3 of them. [QUOTE=the middleblog] - all of the mcguffins in this episode are named after mcguffins from other films or television shows, the beryllium sphere was the mcguffin in “the shadow” (and was also the power source of the NSEA protector in “galaxy quest”) the oscillation overthruster was the mcguffin in “the adventures of buckaroo banzai across the 8th dimension,” “polydichloric euthymol” was the mcguffin in the film “outland” and a phased polaron cannon is the preferred weapon of the dominion in “star trek: deep space nine” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/52 "2008-09-04T13:33:53Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Galaxy Quest. That’s it. Thanks. ETA: and nice link, **Guanolad** ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/53 "2008-09-04T21:24:12Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > I’ve only seen the last few episodes (I hope they re-run them soon) so I’m still a bit shaky on the backstory. But I like the references that they throw in (1997 Plissken Rd!!) and will probably pick it up on DVD if it comes out. Especially if it has commentaries and a gag reel. What about their secret identities as Agent Van Cleef and Agent Russell? Also nice Escape from New York references. I also enjoyed the Star Trek references. I do have a little bit of a gripe though…I do not see any purpose for the Tyler character other than to irritate “ABC Family” because the two are “living in sin”, which I suppose is as good a reason (any time you can tweek the nose of a television network started by Jerry Falwell is fine by me) as any. All the rest are great. I love the non character of Noser and I swear I dated two or three incarnations of Lacy and at least one Dub Dub (actually, I think I may have married her) and as for the receptionist, I think I had a toaster oven with that same attitude. In case it isn’t clear, I am still loving the show. It is absolutely the only show I try to be home to watch. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294/54 "2008-09-04T22:01:10Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > I do have a little bit of a gripe though…I do not see any purpose for the Tyler character other than to irritate “ABC Family” because the two are “living in sin”, which I suppose is as good a reason (any time you can tweek the nose of a television network started by Jerry Falwell is fine by me) as any. Oh, I think they’re going somewhere with that. Tyler was supposed to be the next Middleman trainee, but now he’s taken his potential to Manservant Neville, who might be a sort of anti-Middleman. Also, there needs to be another man in Dubby’s life, to keep us guessing what Middleman meant when he said, “[Lacey] is not the only woman I love.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middleman/453294.md?page=2)