# 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:** 179
**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:** [April 23, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3562 "2020-04-23T03:08:43Z")
Okay, I just found out that the Chris Miller who made Clone High, The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is not the same person as the Chris Miller who made Antz, Shrek, Madagascar, and Monsters vs. Aliens. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3563 "2020-04-23T11:51:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, I just found out that the Chris Miller who made Clone High, The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is not the same person as the Chris Miller who made Antz, Shrek, Madagascar, and Monsters vs. Aliens. And neither of them is the Chris Miller who was at National Lampoon and co-wrote _Animal House_ Or the Chris Miller that wrote the indispensable and encyclopedic _American Cornball_. Seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is named “Chris Miller” ---
**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:** [April 23, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3564 "2020-04-23T13:27:54Z")
Maybe “Chris Miller” is the inverse of “Alan Smithee”. [https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=alan+smithee](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=alan+smithee) ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3565 "2020-04-23T14:01:20Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And neither of them is the Chris Miller who was at National Lampoon and co-wrote _Animal House_ > > Or the Chris Miller that wrote the indispensable and encyclopedic _American Cornball_. > > Seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is named “Chris Miller” Or the Chris Miller who would not let Freddie Mercury go. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3566 "2020-04-23T14:34:49Z")
I just realized from the Trading Places thread that Trading probably has to do with stocks as well… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3567 "2020-04-23T14:42:22Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I just realized from the Trading Places thread that Trading probably has to do with stocks as well… Not stocks, but commodities. The Commodity Exchange is literally a trading place. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3568 "2020-04-23T14:51:35Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I just realized from the Trading Places thread that Trading probably has to do with stocks as well… :smack: Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3569 "2020-04-23T15:03:21Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > I just realized from the Trading Places thread that Trading probably has to do with stocks as well… I’m not sure what you mean by this. Is it a comment on the double meaning in the title? ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3570 "2020-04-23T18:28:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean by this. Is it a comment on the double meaning in the title? Yes. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3571 "2020-04-25T04:26:30Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And neither of them is the Chris Miller who was at National Lampoon and co-wrote _Animal House_ I was looking up information about this Chris Miller when I found out about the other Chris Millers. I realize that Chris Miller isn’t all that uncommon a name. But I didn’t realize there were two of them in the relatively small field of animation. If I heard about Chris Miller playing for the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Miller being in the Illinois House of Representatives, I wouldn’t assume they were the same person. But when I heard that Chris Miller was an animator who directed _The Lego Movie_ and Chris Miller was an animator who directed _Shrek 3_, I’ll admit I assumed it was the same person. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3572 "2020-04-25T04:35:41Z")
I’m not sure if ‘noticed’ is the right word or if should be ‘learned’, but just the other day I found out Gunny from Major Dad was Iola from Mama’s Family. In my defense, if I wasn’t 10 when Major Dad was on and only watched Mama’s Family in reruns, I probably would have picked up on it. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3573 "2020-04-25T16:44:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was looking up information about this Chris Miller when I found out about the other Chris Millers. > > I realize that Chris Miller isn’t all that uncommon a name. But I didn’t realize there were two of them in the relatively small field of animation. If I heard about Chris Miller playing for the Atlanta Falcons and Chris Miller being in the Illinois House of Representatives, I wouldn’t assume they were the same person. But when I heard that Chris Miller was an animator who directed _The Lego Movie_ and Chris Miller was an animator who directed _Shrek 3_, I’ll admit I assumed it was the same person. Well, the others are in the entertainment field. The reason I wrote in was because I’d confused the other two Chris Millers myself (and wasn’t even aware of the animators) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3574 "2020-05-05T19:50:04Z")
Starbuck’s “Moonlight Feels Right” came up on rotation of Sirius today. I’ve always liked the song, perfect smooth, catchy 70s rock. And a marimba solo! But some of the lyrics are smooshed so I looked them up for the first time. Turns out it’s not just a sex song, it’s also a drug song. > [@](#): > > The wind blew some luck in my direction > I caught it in my hands today > I finally made a tricky French connection > You winked and gave me your O.K. > I’ll take you on a trip beside the ocean > And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay > Ain’t nothing like the sky to dose a potion > The moon’ll send you on your way They’re looking at the stars after dropping acid. Never would have guessed it. There’s also a great story behind the song. > [@](#): > > “My inspiration for writing the song came from a beautiful girl from Greenville, Mississippi. I was playing poker in a dorm room at Delta State and noticed a newspaper photo hanging on the wall of young women in a beauty pageant. One of the girls was so beautiful I didn’t even believe it could be possible. I found out what college she was attending and I registered there for the sole purpose of trying to meet her. I did meet her and asked her out 3 times. The third time she accepted and that’s when ‘the wind blew some luck in my direction’.” Reader, he married her. They’re still together. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3575 "2020-05-06T01:35:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Yes, I was aware that the White House had extended wings off of the central part. But I always assumed the Oval Office was considered to be one of the most important rooms in the building and would therefore be located in the main part of the building. I figured it was staff offices that got placed out in the wings. > > It seems strange to me that the White House doctor and the White House curator have their offices in the main building but the President got sent off to the West Wing. I kinda assumed (even when I knew better) that the oval office was one of the oval rooms in the central part 🙂 Bottom floor = reception, Top floor = Private… middle floor = an oval office. And when you read about Lincoln (surely the most famous person ever to occupy the White House), his office is there, on the middle floor, so … oval office, right? Well, not so much 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3576 "2020-05-06T14:34:36Z")
See last two posts of this thread: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=894777](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=894777) :smack:☹ ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3577 "2020-05-06T15:39:50Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Turns out it’s not just a sex song, it’s also a drug song. > > They’re looking at the stars after dropping acid. Never would have guessed it. Not sure if I’m being whooshed here. Other than a passing mention of a French connection, which I don’t think was intended as a literal drug reference, I not seeing it. The guy asked a girl out for a date several times and she finally said yes. This is confirmed by the story behind the song. So he took her for a drive (_I’ll take you on a trip beside the ocean_). He parked at some make out point and opened the roof of his convertible (_And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay_). And the romantic view of the sky above them won the girl over (_Ain’t nothing like the sky to dose a potion/The moon’ll send you on your way_). The rest of the lyrics confirms that this is a song about the romantic effects of watching the night sky. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3578 "2020-05-06T15:56:19Z")
What does ‘dose a potion’ mean? I literally do not know what it means. It could plausibly mean take an illegal chemical. I’d be happy to accept another interpretation, if you have one. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3579 "2020-05-06T16:24:38Z")
\*The French Connection \*was a 70s movie about busting a heroin ring. In context I don’t see how it can have any other connotation than scoring some drugs. (Urban Dictionary says that a french connection is a position in a menage a trois or a drink but that has no application here.) LSD was taken in doses. I also have to assume that dosing a potion is a reference to taking the drug that the singer just acquired. Moreover, he’s taking her “on a trip beside the ocean,” not a trip \*to \*the ocean. A trip is of course what one takes on LSD. Watching the moon and the stars while parked on acid is the only logical outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3580 "2020-05-06T17:33:19Z")
I wasn’t buying it at first, **Exapno** , but you’ve convinced me. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3581 "2020-05-06T21:22:54Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > \*The French Connection \*was a 70s movie about busting a heroin ring. In context I don’t see how it can have any other connotation than scoring some drugs. When he says _“I finally made a tricky French connection/You winked and gave me your O.K.”_ what does that mean? He had just made a drug deal with the girl and asked her out on a date? [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=178) [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=180)