# 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:** 348
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6947 "2026-03-16T01:26:20Z")
You may not know the name of W.G. Grace in the US, but it’s a sure bet that, if you’re on this board, you’ve seen his face. [W. G. Grace](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/ahjqgs/wg_grace_is_god_in_monty_python_and_the_holy_grail/#lightbox) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6948 "2026-03-16T01:43:55Z")
Looks about as feminine as Hugh Laurie. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6949 "2026-03-16T01:56:54Z")
> [@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. I was just visiting some friends who have Roku TVs, and I paid attention. I found three different clock towers in the panorama (two in the front layer, one in the back), and all three were showing different times, none of them right. I think one of them was the one from Back to the Future, so it makes sense that that one would show the time from the movie, but that doesn’t explain the other two. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6950 "2026-03-16T02:09:01Z")
Does the Roku background still have King Kong on a building and Mary Poppins floating around? ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6951 "2026-03-16T15:57:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I was just visiting some friends who have Roku TVs, and I paid attention. I found three different clock towers in the panorama (two in the front layer, one in the back), and all three were showing different times, none of them right. Are you talking about the “screen saver” that plays when you’re idle for a while, or the image at the top of the home screen? I never paid attention to the clocks in the former (if it’s playing, I’m probably not in the room), but the one in the latter is definitely showing the correct time for me. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6952 "2026-03-16T16:55:25Z")
I recently rewatched _Crimson Tide_. There’s a scene were Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is demanding the aptly-named Weps (Viggo Mortensen) to open the safe that contains a launch key (I think). Weps refuses, and Ramsey aims his sidearm at Weps’ head, then realizes it’s not going to do any good to threaten to shoot Weps. So he graps a nearby sailor and presses the barrel into his face, and tells Weps again to open the safe. I never noticed before, but the sailor is Scott Grimes (_Party of Five_, _ER_, _Band of Brothers_, _The Orville_). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6953 "2026-03-16T17:07:43Z")
Staubach had previously used “Hail Mary” describing a against Michigan on (Oct. 5, 1963). Although it did result in a completion, it didn’t go for much–let alone a game-winning TD–so it didn’t catch on. Didn’t matter as Navy won rather handily 26-13. > He retreated, dodged, and raced from one side of the field to the other. Finally 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, the Navy quarterback sighted fullback Pat Donnelly upfield and released a pass as he disappeared in a mob of tacklers. > > Donnelly caught it 21 yards from where Staubach fell, and Navy had a one-yard gain to show for all that excitement. > > “That,” Staubach told the TV announcer, “was a Hail Mary play.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6954 "2026-03-16T18:13:06Z")
He’s also the voice of Steve Smith on _American Dad_. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6955 "2026-03-16T18:17:59Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > There’s a scene were Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is demanding the aptly-named Weps (Viggo Mortensen) to open the safe that contains a launch key (I think). I wasn’t in the Navy but I’m pretty sure “Weps” isn’t a name it’s a title. Short for Weapons Officer. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6956 "2026-03-16T18:23:28Z")
Or “Grimey,” as he likes to be called. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6957 "2026-03-16T18:36:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I wasn’t in the Navy but I’m pretty sure “Weps” isn’t a name it’s a title. Short for Weapons Officer. According to IMDB, the character is Peter “Weps” Ince. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6958 "2026-03-16T21:57:10Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Are you talking about the “screen saver” that plays when you’re idle for a while, or the image at the top of the home screen? I was talking about the screen saver. I’ve never paid attention to the home screen, and didn’t notice that it also showed a cityscape. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6959 "2026-03-17T00:19:46Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > I wasn’t in the Navy but I’m pretty sure “Weps” isn’t a name it’s a title. Short for Weapons Officer. > > According to IMDB, the character is Peter “Weps” Ince. The screenplay introduces him as > …the WEAPONS OFFICER (known on board as WEPS) – LT. PETER INCE, in charge of the Trident Nuclear Missiles. WEPS is a classic American kid – cocky. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6960 "2026-03-17T00:39:55Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > He’s also the voice of Steve Smith on _American Dad_. A few days ago, watching an episode that involved Steve singing. I realized most of his songs are 90’s-ish R&B type songs, but more importantly Scott Grimes is a really good singer. There’s quite a few youtube videos of him singing, going all the way back to when he was a kid. A few days ago, I was watching some 30 Rock clips and ran across the one where Liz realizes she looks just like her (too young) boyfriend’s mom. [![](https://i.imgur.com/8FMprJ7.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/8FMprJ7.png) I was curious who was playing the mom and it turns out she’s in over a hundred episodes of 30 Rock, as Tina Fey’s stand in. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6961 "2026-03-17T08:21:25Z")
In the **Kill Bill** movies, Beatrix Kiddo had an almost perfect record in hand fighting and blade fighting — killing or maiming over 50 people. (She “lost” to her Master.) However she was successfully shot on three occasions, and very nearly shot two other times (in a suburban kitchen and through a door.) The moral is that when fighting a super assassin, use a gun. (And don’t just shoot to incapacitate.) ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6962 "2026-03-17T11:28:17Z")
Quote from a video game I play, “He who lives by the sword gets shot by he who doesn’t”. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6963 "2026-03-17T12:05:57Z")
Have I mentioned how _Kill Bill_, including some deleted scenes, was obviously inspired by Tarantino playing a lot of _Bushido Blade_? But that you realize not after the millionth time, but the first time. (Now, on second (or millionth) thought, what influenced Bushido Blade? More likely, he was familiar with the OG stuff) ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6964 "2026-03-17T13:18:46Z")
It’s significant that in Akira Kurasawa’s classic _The Seven Samurai_ it’s the Master Swordsman Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi) who dies by being shot with one of the few rifles the bandits have. Interestingly, his counterpart in the Western remake, _The Magnificent Seven_ is played by James Coburn, who looks surprisingly similar to Miyaguchi. They didn’t have swordsmen in the Old West, but Britt, Coburn’s character, is a knife thrower as well as a gun slinger. And, although he significantly outdraws his gun-wielding opponent in his first encounter onscreen, he gets killed by being shot by bandits, too, his last knife throw going uselessly astray. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6965 "2026-03-17T13:44:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quote from a video game I play, “He who lives by the sword gets shot by he who doesn’t”. Well… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kQKrmDLvijo/maxresdefault.jpg "Indiana Jones - Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981) - Sword Fight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQKrmDLvijo) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6966 "2026-03-17T18:03:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s significant that in Akira Kurasawa’s classic _The Seven Samurai_ it’s the Master Swordsman Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi) who dies by being shot with one of the few rifles the bandits have. Nitpick: Musket, and a matchlock musket at that. IIRC there were only two and Kikuchyo (Mifuni’s samurai wannabe) stole one when he visited the bandit camp. > [@Gyrate](#): > > Well… From what I’ve read, it _was_ supposed to be a bullwhip vs. scimitar fight but Ford was sick with the flu that day and didn’t feel up to it. He told Spielberg, “Look, he’s not that stupid, he’s rescuing his girlfriend, and he’s yet to use the pistol he carries.” [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=347) [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=349)