# 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:** 359
**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:** [July 31, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7167 "2026-07-31T15:08:57Z")
“Ballad buddies” ---
**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:** [July 31, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7168 "2026-07-31T15:09:36Z")
Even better; take a bow. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7169 "2026-07-31T15:11:05Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > They met at Bards College As long as we’re being pedantic, it’s **Bard** College. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7170 "2026-08-01T01:33:27Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Two can play at this: “Steely Dan” is/was a vibrator/dildo type of sex toy. I wonder what “Leather Canary” means. 😳 > > Chevy Chase is NOT named for the DC suburb (his real first name is Cornelius ::snicker::). Wasn’t Chevy Chase a drummer for Steely Dan before they assumed the name? ---
**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:** [August 1, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7171 "2026-08-01T03:00:21Z")
According to friend **Loach** in post 7154, Chase played drums for Leather Canary with Fagan/Becker. SD was years later. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2026, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7172 "2026-08-01T04:46:04Z")
I was trying to remember the name of the robot Ted Cassidy played on _Star Trek_. When I looked it up, I found he actually had three credits on the series. In addition to playing the robot Ruk in the episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” he did the voice of Balok in “The Corbomite Maneuver” and was the guy in the Gorn suit in “Arena”. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7173 "2026-08-01T21:03:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > the guy in the Gorn suit in “Arena” Correction: Cassidy wasn’t in the suit, but did the character’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7174 "2026-08-02T02:03:08Z")
Cut, CUT! Dammit, Ted, the line is “GOARRRRRRGH!” In the _next_ scene you yell “GRRRRRRAGH!” Ted, if you’re not going to read the damn script, we’ll get James Earl Jones! I can get him here on set tomorrow, and he’d “GOARRRRRRGH”! ---
**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:** [August 2, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7175 "2026-08-02T02:10:09Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > the guy in the Gorn suit in “Arena” > > Correction: Cassidy wasn’t in the suit, but did the character’s voice. What can I say? Sometimes a million times isn’t enough to pick up on these things. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7176 "2026-08-04T08:24:26Z")
Here’s one that I’m hoping someone will be able to provide context for. I didn’t feel it was important enough to starts its own thread, though. [Here’s a video](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=RDQt_yKPNORLM&playnext=1&si=myUKVoCtjkesMPvy) of The Cowsills singing “Hair,” from the musical. The video appears to be a revue-type, like _Solid Gold_ or _Top of the Pops_ or something similar. While he’s introducing it, the host is shirtless (it appears he has a [merkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkin?wprov=sfti1#) stapled to his chest, but I digress), and putting on what appears to be a fur coat. He’s wearing red tights/spandex and what look to me like a set of boots similar to what wrestlers wear in the ring. As he’s introducing The Cowsills, and talking about _Hair,_ someone in a gorilla costume approaches him. He notices her, calls her Gloria, and they walk off, his arm around her. Can _anyone please_ provide me some context for this? Who is he? Why was he shirtless? What show was this (there’s a watermark on the screen the whole time that says “Revolver TV,” but Google says that’s a British TV show, and this gentleman isn’t speaking in a British accent)? Is the gorilla of some significance, or is just one of those wacky 60s-70s shows where this like this randomly happen? This has been bugging me for years. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2026, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7177 "2026-08-04T08:31:01Z")
> **[Revolver (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver_(TV_series))** > > Revolver is a British music TV series on ITV that ran for one series of eight episodes in 1978. It was produced by ATV, and the series creator and producer was Mickie Most. The show featured live music performances most closely related to the then emergent punk rock and new wave music scenes – though it also included artists who were not from those genres, such as Dire Straits, Lindisfarne and > Kate Bush. Peter Cook played the manager of the fictional ballroom where the show was supposedly takin... This is the first I’ve heard of it, but it looks like they are parodying Top of the Pops while featuring actual bands. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7178 "2026-08-04T11:14:33Z")
[WONDERFUL WORLD OF PIZZAZZ NBC 03/18/1969](https://www.mendelsonproductions.com/productions.php?pageNum_ProductionsRecordset=18&totalRows_ProductionsRecordset=24) Produced for NBC TV, this special was designed to be a look at fashion and style trends around the world. The show’s emphasis was on the newfound “Freedom” in look and in living as seen in fourteen different countries. This one hour entertainment documentary special was hosted by Carl Reiner and Michele Lee; with related numbers by the Cowsills and Harper’s Bizarre. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7179 "2026-08-06T04:32:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Sometimes a million times isn’t enough to pick up on these things. Speaking of which, I was today years old when I learned that Ned Beatty did the voice of Lotso in _Toy Story 3_ and not John Goodman as I thought all these years. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7180 "2026-08-06T20:12:09Z")
Today I heard Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” on the radio. She’s down on her knees, and gonna take you there. Yeah, that really should have been obvious, especially coming from Madonna, but in my defense, I was prepubescent when the song came out. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7181 "2026-08-06T20:15:53Z")
Hehehe, I had that realization at about 30, so don’t feel so bad. In my defense I didn’t really understood the English in the lyrics until that age, but knowing my younger self even if I had understood each word I would probably not made the connection. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7182 "2026-08-14T14:25:11Z")
I’ve enjoyed a lot of the videos put out by the organization Playing For Change. They go around the world and record different musicians playing the same song then editing it together for some pretty interesting collaborations. They are playing to change the world through music. The organization is also a charity that builds music schools in many countries. Many of those they record are street musicians. People who are quite literally playing for change. It took me until this week to realize the double meaning. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ph1GU1qQ1zQ/maxresdefault.jpg "The Weight | Featuring Ringo Starr and Robbie Robertson | Playing For Change | Song Around The World") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ) ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7183 "2026-08-14T16:53:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > She’s down on her knees, and gonna take you there. Yeah, that really should have been obvious, especially coming from Madonna, but in my defense, I was prepubescent when the song came out. Ha! That was a really controversial song when it came out, what with the burning crosses and sexy Black Jesus. She could really feel his power in the midnight hour IYKWIM. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7184 "2026-08-15T05:52:35Z")
In TBBT, was Stuart (Bloom) supposed to be Jewish? I sort of thought so, but then I see the fairly late episode where Stuart is riding in a limousine to their prom recreation, with Howard, Bernadette, and his date is Howard’s 2nd cousin Jeannie. When he described how they met, he says > So I met Jeannie at your Aunt Gladys’s. She passed me the Manischewitz, I took one look at this punim and almost plotzed on the kugel. But the way he said it was so artificial, as if it was something he read up on so as to fit in with Jeanie’s family. This is the only time I can recall him ever using Yiddish or Hebrew words on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7185 "2026-08-16T05:06:53Z")
Remember the episode of WKRP where one of the sponsors was a funeral home, and the owner wanted a _singing_ commercial? The funeral home is called Ferryman’s. Like the ferryman who takes the newly dead across the river Styx. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/7186 "2026-08-16T13:48:58Z")
So did the commercial end up using a song from Styx? [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=358) [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=360)