# 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:** 28
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/541 "2009-10-19T22:06:38Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I was just noting that, like spaghetti westerns (so named for a dish in Italy, where they were filmed), westerns made in Japan are being called ramen westerns (named for a dish in Japan). A noodle dish, no less. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/542 "2009-10-19T22:23:34Z")
Some of my best friends are noodledish. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/543 "2009-10-20T14:27:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > A noodle dish, no less. Fun Japanese noodle dish trivia: the word \*ramen \*in Japanese is borrowed from the Chinese _lo mein_. ---
**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 29, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/544 "2009-10-29T13:13:51Z")
I saw “Dancing Homer” last night for the upteenth time, which includes the following exchange: Bart: We need a pitcher, not a belly itcher. Lisa: We need a catcher, not a belly scratcher. Let’s see; Itcher & Scratcher. Itcher & Scratcher…_Itchy & Scrachy_:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/545 "2009-10-29T14:08:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Bart: We need a pitcher, not a belly itcher. > Lisa: We need a catcher, not a belly scratcher. > > Let’s see; Itcher & Scratcher. Itcher & Scratcher…_Itchy & Scrachy_:smack: Great coincidence, but “belly itcher” and “belly scratcher” as baseball taunts go back a long time. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/546 "2009-11-20T15:26:08Z")
I just saw a rerun of Family Fuy where Stewie and Brian go back in time to 1930 and Stewie dresses up like Hitler. He then runs into the real Hitler, and they imitate the famous mirror scene of Lucille Ball and Harpo Marx. Later I remembered that Harpo’s first name was _Adolph_. (He later changed it to Arthur). ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/547 "2009-11-20T15:31:17Z")
That doesn’t count as obvious. In fact, unless you provide more evidence they had ‘Harpo’s name was Adolph’ in mind when they came up with the joke, I’m going to say that’s coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/548 "2009-11-20T22:41:08Z")
I had to look up the Lucy/Harpo thing on YouTube, cuz I’d never seen it. [Brilliant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Th2dnSsXw)! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/549 "2009-11-20T23:24:46Z")
A couple from **Newsies** : The very beginning of the movie (after the opening monologue) is shot in sepia tones, and slowly changes to color. Took me YEARS to realize this (though I suspect this was due to my switching from watching fullscreen to widescreen). When Joseph Pulitzer (played by Robert Duvall) says “when I created the world…” he means his newspaper (_The World_), and is not intentionally being tongue-in-cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/550 "2009-11-22T23:15:42Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I had to look up the Lucy/Harpo thing on YouTube, cuz I’d never seen it. [Brilliant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Th2dnSsXw)! And the [original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5lU52aWTJo). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/551 "2009-11-23T05:31:39Z")
OK, I think in this case the homage was better than the original. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/552 "2009-11-23T14:57:26Z")
Hereis the Family Guy [homage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN5n_7zAEVw) ---
**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:** [November 23, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/553 "2009-11-23T15:05:35Z")
Post #11 in this thread "Athletes with the most appropriate names: [If only there were a famous golfer called Woods](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=480403) ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/554 "2009-11-24T23:40:31Z")
I can’t actually take credit for having \*realized \*this, but… We were dancing to EMF’s “Unbelievable” at a Halloween party a few weeks back and Mr. Smaje told me that Andrew Dice Clay provided the "Oh!"s and "You’re unbelievable"s sampled within the song. I had NO idea about that. Now when I hear the song, I can’t believe I ever missed it! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/555 "2009-11-25T01:08:50Z")
I just realized after watching Lemon of Troy for the dozenth time why Milhouse’s parents look so much alike: Luann is the Shelbyville version of Kirk. She mentions in that episode that she’s from Shelbyville, and later when the kids go to that town, we see dopplegangers of various Springfield citizens. So Milhouse isn’t a product if incest after all. Although they probably are distant cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/556 "2009-11-27T06:24:48Z")
After watching \*\*Back to the Future \*\*I wondered for years what a “jigowatt” was, and then a few weeks ago I read in Wikipedia (bolding mine): > [@Wikipedia](#): > > Lloyd originally turned down the role, but changed his mind after reading the script and at the persistence of his wife. He improvised some of his scenes,[10] taking inspiration from Albert Einstein and conductor Leopold Stokowski.[11] **Brown pronounces gigawatts as “jigowatts”** , which was the manner a physicist said the word when he met with Zemeckis and Gale as they researched the script.[9] :smack: ---
**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:** [December 4, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/557 "2009-12-04T14:32:58Z")
I’ve both read Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked” and seen the musical. It’s a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. I just learned that the Wicked Witch’s name “Elphaba” is a tribute to author L. Frank Baum–L.F.B. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/558 "2009-12-09T15:04:21Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > So how many times did you watch the three Star Wars movies before finding out that Vader is Dutch for “father”? I’m pretty sure it’s a coincidence. Early scripts had a completely different character named Darth Vader who was relatively minor. Lucas just liked to reuse names and it became the primary villain’s name. “Vader” think _In_Vader. Just like _In_Sidious. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/559 "2009-12-09T15:10:40Z")
I couldn’t tell you how many times I watched Ghostbusters before I figured out Louis and Dana had to have sex to open the portal. Keymaster = penis, Gatekeeper = vagina. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/560 "2009-12-09T15:12:23Z")
We recently acquired a copy of Live Aid, and I enjoy it a lot. Especially the part where Sting “guest sings” with Dire Straits on Money for Nothing. I never knew Sting was on the radio version of the song until listening to the song again after watching that. :smack: [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=27) [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=29)