# 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:** 344
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6867 "2026-02-25T21:04:58Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > If the background image on the Roku home screen counts as a creative work… > > That background image is a cityscape, which includes a clock tower among the other buildings. And I just noticed the other day that the clock on that clock tower is displaying the correct current time. The Roku shows the current time in digital format in the upper right corner of the screen, but the clock tower in the background image also shows the current time in analog format. I’d never paid that much attention to it before and just assumed it was a static image with the clock hands showing some random time, but it actually shows the current time, and updates along with the digital time in the corner. I just saw ET and Elliot fly over the cityscape yesterday. Now I have to keep an eye on it to see what else they put in there. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6868 "2026-02-26T01:23:29Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Well, yes, that too. But that was the whole point of the experiment, and he just blew it off, without even trying to see if the results were significant or not. Also, the film had to show that Venkman was shocking the guy even if he guessed right. Pete was determined to get rid of the guy and didn’t care about any data. But yeah, Dr. Hornypants was ruining a potentially solid experiment. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6869 "2026-02-26T01:35:27Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > But yeah, Dr. Hornypants was ruining a potentially solid experiment. You’re assuming the experiment had any purpose other than luring in attractive women. Until the ghosts actually showed up I doubt Venkman was any kind of believer in psychic phenomenons. ---
**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 26, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6870 "2026-02-26T01:50:57Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > He really was quite a bad scientist. In his defense, it was Jennifer Runyon. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6871 "2026-02-26T04:23:51Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Also, the film had to show that Venkman was shocking the guy even if he guessed right. Pete was determined to get rid of the guy and didn’t care about any data. But yeah, Dr. Hornypants was ruining a potentially solid experiment. What’s amazing to me is that this guy somehow carried the movie. I mean he’s arguably the central protagonist, and whereas most movies try to endear the audience to the protagonist right away, _Ghostbusters_ is like, “get a load of this asshole” - and it works! I wonder if it had anything to do with tapping into American anti-intellectualism and the feeling that scientists might be full of shit. There are a lot of libertarian messages in there too. I should hate this movie. But I don’t. It’s one of my favorites. ---
**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 26, 2026, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6872 "2026-02-26T07:16:49Z")
It’s most because of Murray’s bad boy charm. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6873 "2026-02-26T14:06:03Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > What’s amazing to me is that this guy somehow carried the movie. I mean he’s arguably the central protagonist, and whereas most movies try to endear the audience to the protagonist right away, _Ghostbusters_ is like, “get a load of this asshole” - and it works! And don’t forget he brought Thorazine along on a date. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6874 "2026-02-26T14:20:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It’s most because of Murray’s bad boy charm. Bill Murray was, not gonna lie, one of my first ever girlhood crushes. I think I discovered _Ghostbusters_ at about six years old and I remember loving Bill Murray. Him and Eugene Tackleberry from Police Academy. I watched both of those movies on repeat at that age. But I’ve only appreciated _Ghostbusters_ more with time. I’m guessing Police Academy hasn’t really held up… ---
**Author:** ![Awb78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Awb78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Awb78)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6875 "2026-02-26T14:27:34Z")
I’m a huge Back to the Future fan. While I never saw it in the theater when it was released, I watched it on vhs a million times on my 13” CRT tv, from a EP recording off of Showtime. I finally saw it on the big screen in 2015, and only then realized: Goldie Wilson is called “Goldie” because he has a gold tooth. 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6876 "2026-02-26T17:42:42Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I wonder if it had anything to do with tapping into American anti-intellectualism and the feeling that scientists might be full of shit. There are a lot of libertarian messages in there too. I should hate this movie. I think his purpose in the movie was to provide the skepticism and be the foil for the others and the audience identifies with him because of it. Yeah, he didn’t have to be a jerk. But he was a very funny jerk. And he was the guy that Ray and Egon explained everything to. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6877 "2026-02-26T17:49:40Z")
IMHO it works because when the weird shit hits the fan, Venkman goes along with what the intellectuals recommend instead of doubling down on the “everyman common sense” approach. Sure, he gives Ray a hard time every now and then, but he never thinks that he actually knows better than Ray or Egon\*. He comes across as likable due to his willingness to change course rather than being a bullheaded jerk when it’s obvious he’s in over his head. \*At least not when it comes to the technical stuff. He probably thinks he knows better with things like how to deal with the university dean that kicked them off campus. ---
**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 26, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6878 "2026-02-26T18:49:21Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > \*At least not when it comes to the technical stuff. He probably thinks he knows better with things like how to deal with the university dean that kicked them off campus. And when someone asks if you are a god… ---
**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 26, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6879 "2026-02-26T19:30:39Z")
This is a very minor one. With the death today of Rob Grant I was reminded that for a while I thought that _Red Dwarf_ was created by a guy named Grant Naylor. Thats what the production company was called. I didn’t pay attention to the credits where it named Rob Grant and Doug Naylor as the writers. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6880 "2026-02-26T19:44:10Z")
Similar to this on the 1970s TV show _Little House on the Prairie_ the “actress” who plays Carrie Ingalls is credited as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush. Despite watching it multiple times over past decades it was only this past year I learned the it was twins LIndsay and Sidney Greenbush who played the character and not one actress. ---
**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 26, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6881 "2026-02-26T19:50:24Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > With the death today of Rob Grant I was reminded that for a while I thought that _Red Dwarf_ was created by a guy named Grant Naylor. Well, that’s partly on them, because they published their original novels under that as a _nom de plume_. ---
**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 26, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6882 "2026-02-26T19:54:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > With the death today of Rob Grant I was reminded that for a while I thought that _Red Dwarf_ was created by a guy named Grant Naylor. You might want to sit down while I tell you about _The Expanse_ and James S.A. Corey… ---
**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 26, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6883 "2026-02-26T19:55:15Z")
I thought about mentioning that one too! ---
**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:** [February 26, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6884 "2026-02-26T19:57:03Z")
For god’s sake, nobody tell him about Monty Python! ---
**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:** [February 27, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6885 "2026-02-27T02:43:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > This is a very minor one. With the death today of Rob Grant I was reminded that for a while I thought that _Red Dwarf_ was created by a guy named Grant Naylor. Thats what the production company was called. I didn’t pay attention to the credits where it named Rob Grant and Doug Naylor as the writers. Huh, a game I play has an NPC named “Grant Naylor”. I didn’t realize it was meant as a reference. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6886 "2026-02-27T03:27:43Z")
They did the same thing on Full House for the character of Michelle. She was credited as “Mary-Kate Ashley Olsen” to obfuscate her being played by twins. [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=343) [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=345)