# Name that entertainment thingy from this vague reference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426 "2008-10-31T14:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/1 "2008-10-31T14:14:09Z")
A co-worker asks, “Whose the guy? The black guy-- with the freckly face. . . with Brad Pitt’s wife’s head.” Three people instantaneously shout “Morgan Freeman!” That had to be the one of the vaguest descriptions of Morgan Freeman ever, yet three people knew exactly what she was talking about. Vague descriptions work better at home, where everyone knows each other better and vague references make more sense. Like when my husband tells me one day, “Who’da thought she’d be the first to go? The old girl with the ‘hide the salami’? She was the second youngest.” Me: Estelle Geddes died? Once I asked about a book I read in which bodies were switched and a poisoned character ate charcoal. Within minutes more than one person chimed in with Anubis Gates. There’s a game in there some where. The most undescriptive and vague question answered by the most people-- perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/2 "2008-10-31T14:42:12Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Me: Estelle Geddes died? Nitpick: Getty. The most amazing example was when I said to my officemate, apropos of absolutely nothing, “Who was that Japanese guy …?” and he said “Mishima?,” who was, indeed, who I was thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![Mitijea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mitijea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mitijea)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/3 "2008-10-31T14:56:08Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The most amazing example was when I said to my officemate, apropos of absolutely nothing, “Who was that Japanese guy …?” and he said “Mishima?,” who was, indeed, who I was thinking of. Perhaps whatever had triggered you to wonder aloud the question, also brought the correct name to your coworker? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/4 "2008-10-31T14:56:40Z")
Who was that guy, you know, Donny? As in “Shut the fuck up, Donny?” ---
**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:** [October 31, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/5 "2008-10-31T15:03:40Z")
Somebody on this board once posted that they had seen a movie on an airplane about six months ago and they didn’t remember what it was about or who was in it but could anyone figure out what movie it was? I was able to. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/6 "2008-10-31T15:05:08Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Who was that guy, you know, Donny? As in “Shut the fuck up, Donny?” Steve Buscemi. The Big Lebowski. What was that book with the machine that let people fight psyically? And one guy could actually kill people? ---
**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:** [October 31, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/7 "2008-10-31T15:13:14Z")
Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot…piiiiieeee. And the classic “As God is my witness…” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/8 "2008-10-31T15:17:13Z")
A few weeks ago, a co-worker asked “I was watching the sequel to American Graffiti and there was this guy…” and I immediately answered “Charles Martin Smith”. He kept on describing him & I kept answering “Charles Martin Smith”. I was right, too, and I’VE NEVER EVEN SEEN EITHER AMERICAN GRAFFITI MOVIE ALL THE WAY THROUGH! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/9 "2008-10-31T15:19:23Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > A co-worker asks, “Whose the guy? The black guy-- with the freckly face. . . with Brad Pitt’s wife’s head.” > > Three people instantaneously shout “Morgan Freeman!” I finally figured that out as a SEVEN reference. I was thinking “Angelina Joilie and Jennifer Aniston look nothing like Morgan Freeman!” ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/10 "2008-10-31T15:20:37Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > I finally figured that out as a SEVEN reference. I was thinking “Angelina Joilie and Jennifer Aniston look nothing like Morgan Freeman!” Thank you, thank you, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/11 "2008-10-31T15:20:53Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Steve Buscemi. The Big Lebowski. > > What was that book with the machine that let people fight psyically? And one guy could actually kill people? DUNE? (Moreso the Lynch movie if you mean the Weirding module.) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/12 "2008-10-31T15:25:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > And the classic “As God is my witness…” Gone with the Wind. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/13 "2008-10-31T15:26:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot…piiiiieeee. > > And the classic “As God is my witness…” The latter is GONE WITH THE WIND. Is the first one also? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/14 "2008-10-31T15:27:24Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Gone with the Wind. MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH! (Both a statement to that and a not-too-tough challenge to the Board.) ---
**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:** [October 31, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/15 "2008-10-31T15:29:35Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Gone with the Wind. Shit. I was thinking “…I thought turkeys could fly.” Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot…piiieee" was from an Episode of “Don’t Shot Me,” the only funny episode they ever aired. It was a riot. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/16 "2008-10-31T15:31:33Z")
I think you people are all missing it. **Annie Xmas** ’s reference, I’m willing to bet, isn’t to Scarlett O’Hara’s line “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again!” On this Board, it’s MUCH more likely to be a reference to Les Nessman’s line from **WKRP in Cincinatti** “As God is my Witness, I thought turkeys could fly!” edited to add – Ahhhh! she posted as I was typing it! My own favorite, of course, is my old sig “As Iluvatar is my witness, I thought Balrogs could fly!” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/17 "2008-10-31T15:36:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Shit. I was thinking “…I thought turkeys could fly.” > > Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot…piiieee" was from an Episode of “Don’t Shot Me,” the only funny episode they ever aired. It was a riot. I was just about to answer this. I loooove that episode. It’s A VACUUM! Oh and there were other funny episodes. Like the one where the guy goes to the book club to please the girl and they read the book that he reviews thusly: We’re hungry! Dad’s drunk! We’re hungry! Dad’s drunk! ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/18 "2008-10-31T15:37:23Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > > [@Homebrew](#): > > > > What was that book with the machine that let people fight psyically? And one guy could actually kill people? > > DUNE? (Moreso the Lynch movie if you mean the Weirding module.) Hmmm, I thought he was talking about The Dueling Machine, by Ben Bova? ---
**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:** [October 31, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/19 "2008-10-31T15:37:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > On this Board, it’s MUCH more likely to be a reference to Les Nessman’s line from **WKRP in Cincinatti** > “As God is my Witness, I thought turkeys could fly!” That wasn’t Les, it was Mr. Carlson. Les was the one reporting it as it happened. “Oh, the humanity!” ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426/20 "2008-10-31T15:40:56Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > On this Board, it’s MUCH more likely to be a reference to Les Nessman’s line from **WKRP in Cincinatti** > “As God is my Witness, I thought turkeys could fly!” It was actually Mr. Carlson who said that as he was the one who set up the promotion. You know, the guy who rubbed cocaine on himself thinking it was foot powder and exclaiming ‘I have a monkey on my foot!’. As for mine, that movie with the dinosaur that crumbles, and they have to keep singing ‘I can’t give you anything but love, baby’, oh, and I think there were a couple of subtle allusions to being gay in there too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-entertainment-thingy-from-this-vague-reference/470426.md?page=2)