# 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:** 309
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6167 "2025-02-23T21:04:42Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > For some reason, I was thinking about the characters - Otter, Pinto, Boon (baboon), Flounder, Stork and I realized “Hey - they’re all animals!” I had never put 2+2 together. Those are their Delta names of course. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6168 "2025-02-23T21:47:55Z")
A trivia note on _Animal House_ names. In the movie, the characters went to see a band Otis Day and the Knights. The lead singer, Otis Day, was played by DeWayne Jessie. Jessie didn’t actually sing in the movie; Lloyd Williams sang the songs and Jessie lip-synched. Despite this, the success of the movie kickstarted Jessie on a singing career. To capitalize on his association with the movie, he bought the rights to the name Otis Day and toured under that name. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6169 "2025-02-23T22:21:26Z")
I’ve been watching the reboot of _Animaniacs_ on Hulu. The reboot’s theme song includes the lines: _Gender-balanced, pronoun-neutral, and ethnically diverse_ _The trolls will say we’re so passé, but we did meta first_ When they say “gender balanced” the image on the screen is a balance scale with Yakko and Wakko on one side and Dot on the other. It took me until some time in season 2 before I realized the scale is clearly **not** balanced. They’re presumably poking fun at Hollywood producers who add a single token female or minority character to a show and think that makes it balanced. It took me about as long to get “we did meta first”. The whole concept of Animaniacs is what the kids would call “meta” now: Warner Brothers animated characters who acknowledge that they are Warner Brothers characters, and the show takes place at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6170 "2025-02-24T01:04:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > To capitalize on his association with the movie, he bought the rights to the name Otis Day and toured under that name. Johnny Carson- “I did not know that.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6171 "2025-02-24T02:45:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > A trivia note on _Animal House_ names. In the movie, the characters went to see a band Otis Day and the Knights. The lead singer, Otis Day, was played by DeWayne Jessie. Jessie didn’t actually sing in the movie; Lloyd Williams sang the songs and Jessie lip-synched. > > Despite this, the success of the movie kickstarted Jessie on a singing career. To capitalize on his association with the movie, he bought the rights to the name Otis Day and toured under that name. And in the movie band the guitar player was Robert Cray. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6172 "2025-02-24T03:48:42Z")
Correction: Robert Cray was the bass player in Otis’s band. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6173 "2025-02-24T13:31:03Z")
To be fair, there were other Delta frat brothers who were NOT named after animals, including Hoov, D-Day, and Bluto. It’s not surprising there are animal names when one picks out the animal names only. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6174 "2025-02-24T14:47:25Z")
Bluto, D-Day, Hoov, and Stork all have their Delta names based on their character names. Boon and Hardbar have non-animal names, unless you consider “Boon” to be based on baboon. Is that mentioned in the movie? Incidently, Hardbar is played by Chris Miller, one of the writers. He based the story on his experiences at college, where his frat name was Pinto. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6175 "2025-02-24T15:10:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Bluto, D-Day, Hoov, and Stork all have their Delta names based on their character names. What was Stork’s character’s name? I only remember him being called Stork. Also, Stork was played by Doug Kenney, another co-writer of the movie and long-time National Lampoon contributor. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6176 "2025-02-24T15:22:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Author\_Balk](#): > > > > An obvious thing I realized a couple of days ago… > > I know what muses are, I know what music is. But, I never correlated muse and music. If I was told I forgot it. > > Also [museum](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=museum), and [mosaic](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=mosaic). > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > …mussels, Muscatel, Stan Musial… These posts amuse me. ---
**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 24, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6177 "2025-02-24T15:35:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > What was Stork’s character’s name? I only remember him being called Stork. The book they sold along with the release of the movie (actually a worthwhile thing, unlike many tie-ins – it gives more background) gives his last name as Stark. His name was something like John Charles Stark, and the “Stark” obviously influenced his nickname “Stork”. He had a “quasi girlfriend” code-named “Flamingo”, although she didn’t appear or was even named in the film. “D-Day” was really Dennis Day. The Animal names fit in with the “Animal House” tttle of the film. I’ve been told that raunchy frats used to be called things like “The Zoo” So “Animal House” fits. When I was an undergrad our floor liked to pretend it was a frat, and our floor members had nicknames/floor names like Old Man, Wino, Dead Bear, Toad, etc. Some were derived from their actual names, others from some feature or action or predeliction. This was before Animal House came out. When I did see the film, the names and other features caried a nostalgic buzz that appealed to me, so I overlook the films many problems. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6178 "2025-02-24T16:31:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This was before Animal House came out. Although _Animal House_ was shot in 1977 and released in 1978, it was set in 1962, so for it to be realistic about the events in the movie, it would have to be similar to what had happened at a university in 1962. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6179 "2025-02-24T16:49:29Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > it would have to be similar to what had happened at a university in 1962. And retrofuturactively, it pretty much defined the university experience for a lot of Gen X in the 80s. We all did toga parties, and danced to “Shout” and stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6180 "2025-02-24T17:09:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “D-Day” was really Dennis Day. Nitpick: Daniel Simpson Day. ---
**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 24, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6181 "2025-02-24T17:12:15Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Although _Animal House_ was shot in 1977 and released in 1978, it was set in 1962, so for it to be realistic about the events in the movie, it would have to be similar to what had happened at a university in 1962. I know. My point was simply that our floor’s practice wasn’t done in imitation of the movie, but was characteristic of the times. On the other hand, I never heard of a “Toga Party” before Animal House came out. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6182 "2025-02-24T17:14:12Z")
Dwayne “Stork” Storkman - not very imaginative Miller was in the Alpha Delta Phi frat at Dartmouth (class of 1962, the year the movie is set) and a lot of the movie is based on those experiences. Toga parties were a thing in the 1950s and 60s, but faded out until the movie repopularized them. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6183 "2025-02-24T18:58:11Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Nitpick: Daniel Simpson Day. Dammit I wanted to nitpick. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6184 "2025-02-24T20:27:11Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > > [@CalMeacham](#): > > > > This was before Animal House came out. > > Although _Animal House_ was shot in 1977 and released in 1978, it was set in 1962, so for it to be realistic about the events in the movie, it would have to be similar to what had happened at a university in 1962. John Landis is on the record as saying it’s set in 1963. The Homecoming parade is 22 November. He called it the last day of innocence. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6185 "2025-02-24T21:56:34Z")
They storyboarded but never filmed a scene where a parade float shaped like JFK’s head explodes reminiscent of a bullet exit wound. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6186 "2025-02-24T22:10:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > On the other hand, I never heard of a “Toga Party” before Animal House came out. Somewhere in the 1952-4 archives of the Wisconsin State Journal is a photo of my mom attending one. [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=308) [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=310)