# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 161
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3202 "2019-02-01T04:07:08Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > I was indulging in some free association that went something like this… > > Someone called me “Red” tonight (because of my hair color). I think I prefer the English “ginger” to the American “red”. How would I like to be called “Ginger”?. There aren’t too many characters I can think of called Ginger. There was Ginger from Gilligan’s Island, who had … red … hair… DUH! There’s an Aussie comic strip called _Ginger Meggs_, the eponymous hero being a small boy with red hair. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3203 "2019-02-01T04:25:54Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Um, is today the first time you’re hearing about about Chuck Berry’s “Back in the U.S.A.”? (youtube has plenty of examples) > > (For the record, I was probably an adult before I heard about it too, well after “Back in the U.S.S.R” was familiar to me) Ah, but “Back in the U.S.S.R.” is done in a style much more like the Beach Boys than Chuck Berry. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3204 "2019-02-01T14:29:58Z")
2001: A Space Odyssey Dave Bowman transforms into the Starchild. I always thought that was a static prop…something that just sat there being photographed…THE EYES MOVE! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lj-OlW83b6U/hqdefault.jpg "2001:Analysis of the Last 10 Minutes.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-OlW83b6U) time index 7:15 ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3205 "2019-02-01T15:36:29Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > 2001: A Space Odyssey > > Dave Bowman transforms into the Starchild. > > I always thought that was a static prop…something that just sat there being photographed…THE EYES MOVE! > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-OlW83b6U&t=443s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-OlW83b6U&t=443s) > > time index 7:15 **“Oh my God, what a boring movie!”** - repeated by a friend with increasing frequency and intensity as we watched the VHS with a group of friends in our 20’s. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3206 "2019-02-01T16:02:23Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I was listening to Abbey Road for the 1,435,277th time, and while the song “Mean Mister Mustard” played, I was thinking of our **Mean Mister Mustard** , and heard the line, “his sister Pam works in a shop…” I was idly wondering if the Doped MMM has a sister named Pam, when the album sequed to the next song, “Polythene Pam.” And for the first time I realized that Polythene Pam is Mean Mister Mustard’s sister. Never made the connection before! A few years ago, I realized what was meant by the line “She’s the kind of a girl/who makes the news of the world” in “Polythene Pam.” Turns out _The News of the World_ was a British tabloid famous for writing about sensational sex scandals. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3207 "2019-02-01T19:08:36Z")
On _Happy Days_ The Fonz was supposed to be something of an outsider (his ethnicity, clothing, motorcycle). When I watched it as a kid, I just thought of him as the cool guy who could get the pinball machine to work without paying. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3208 "2019-02-01T19:31:02Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Also Stevie Wonder’s “Fingertips” > [@Irishman](#): > > Stevie Wonder has fingertips? Stevie Wonder _relies_ on his fingertips considerably more than you and I do. Back in the 70s when I was courting the girl who would later become **kaylasmom** , she had all of Stevie’s albums on LP. The one titled _Talking Book_ had the artist and title on the album cover in Braille. Most of her other albums, she had to label with Dymo Tape… ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3209 "2019-02-06T20:51:45Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > On _Happy Days_ The Fonz was supposed to be something of an outsider (his ethnicity, clothing, motorcycle). When I watched it as a kid, I just thought of him as the cool guy who could get the pinball machine to work without paying. Don’t beat yourself up for not noticing. The Fonz was such an odd figure. He was clearly INTENDED to represent an outsider deliquent, but Winkler’s charisma and the flat cheeriness of the writing meant that he was pretty much portrayed as a magical, chivalric, lovable rock-and-roll elf pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3210 "2019-02-06T21:38:55Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Ah, but “Back in the U.S.S.R.” is done in a style much more like the Beach Boys than Chuck Berry. I don’t think I’ve heard that song since I was a kid. And speaking of obvious things, I never noticed the shout out to Ray Charles.\* _That Georgia’s always on my mind._ - Yes, he didn’t write it. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3211 "2019-02-07T15:09:45Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Don’t beat yourself up for not noticing. The Fonz was such an odd figure. He was clearly INTENDED to represent an outsider deliquent, but Winkler’s charisma and the flat cheeriness of the writing meant that he was pretty much portrayed as a magical, chivalric, lovable rock-and-roll elf pretty quickly. LOL at rock-and-roll elf ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3212 "2019-02-08T19:21:21Z")
_She Loves You_ by the Beatles was released in 1963, a month before my eighth birthday. It’s one of the Fab Four’s iconic early songs, and I don’t know about you, but I have undoubtedly heard it hundreds of times. I was listening to it again today, and realized I couldn’t figure out the third line of the third verse. It goes: You know it’s up to you I think it’s only fair ??? Apologize to her Do you know the missing line? I had to look it up. Pride can hurt you too I had never heard that line! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3213 "2019-02-08T21:08:59Z")
Okay, this MIGHT be stretching the definition of “creative work,” but: Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. I’ve heard people wax rhapsodic about it and bemoan its lack of availability on the west coast. I’ve had it dozens of times because, hey, it’s around and it’s cheap, but I never got it. Tastes like cheap coffee, one step up from a gas station but a big step down from a decent coffee shop. But I always got it black. I just recently found out that DD coffee’s default is with cream & sugar, and…darn, they changed my mind. Sweet coffee isn’t my usual preference, but I’ll be darned if DD doesn’t have that blend dialed-in perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3214 "2019-02-10T16:30:14Z")
I don’t know if this is or isn’t obvious, but in the famous long shot at the beginning of Goodfellas when Henry Hill takes his date into the Copacabana through the kitchen, most of the scene was unnecessary- if you pay attention, they enter and leave the kitchen by the same door. The nightclub entrance was opposite that door, making the loop through the kitchen a pointless detour. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3215 "2019-02-10T21:20:03Z")
Garrett PI, by Glen Cook. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett\_P.I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_P.I). Took me a couple books to figure out that: Garret is Archie. The Dead Man is Nero. Dean is Fritz. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3216 "2019-02-11T00:01:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Garrett PI, by Glen Cook. > > [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett\_P.I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_P.I). > Took me a couple books to figure out that: Garret is Archie. The Dead Man is Nero. Dean is Fritz. Your URL is wrong (missing last period). Should be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett\_P.I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_P.I). I’ve never heard of them. I might have to have a look. Here’s my own unusual take on Nero Wolfe, _Murder with Trimalchio_: [http://mystericale.com/article/murder-with-trimalchio/](http://mystericale.com/article/murder-with-trimalchio/) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3217 "2019-02-11T02:34:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ecks](#): > > I don’t know if this is or isn’t obvious, but in the famous long shot at the beginning of Goodfellas when Henry Hill takes his date into the Copacabana through the kitchen, most of the scene was unnecessary- if you pay attention, they enter and leave the kitchen by the same door. The nightclub entrance was opposite that door, making the loop through the kitchen a pointless detour. IIRC that shot was meant to portray the figurative labyrinthine nature of the life of organized crime. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3218 "2019-02-11T03:30:27Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Your URL is wrong (missing last period). Should be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett\_P.I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_P.I). You ended up with the same problem, because you can’t just paste a raw URL that ends in anything but a number, letter, or slash and expect vBulletin to parse it correctly. You **need** to use the URL tag. [Like so.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_P.I.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3219 "2019-02-13T18:07:44Z")
**Godfather** fans! How many times have you seen this movie and missed the Oscar statuette on [Jack Woltz’s nightstand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSjBiYLVwKU&t=0m17s)? ---
**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:** [February 16, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3220 "2019-02-16T07:42:10Z")
At the start of the Season 8 \*\*\*Seinfeld \*\*\*episode “The Little Jerry,” Jerry and Elaine are waiting for George in front of a Chinese restaurant called “Madame Chang’s.” This is probably a callback to the Season 6 episode “The Chinese Woman” with “Donna Chang” (who wasn’t Chinese). ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3221 "2019-02-16T20:30:24Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > I was indulging in some free association that went something like this… > > Someone called me “Red” tonight (because of my hair color). I think I prefer the English “ginger” to the American “red”. How would I like to be called “Ginger”?. There aren’t too many characters I can think of called Ginger. There was Ginger from Gilligan’s Island, who had … red … hair… DUH! It’s a pretty common name for English sidekicks; I can think of [two](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggles#Ginger_Hebblethwaite) [off the top of my head.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William_(book_series)#Characters_and_setting) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=160) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=162)