# Real life '"I didn't do it!" boys' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2023, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950 "2023-10-23T10:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/21 "2023-10-23T16:25:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Frank Nelson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA_r1Ynl4Ls) was one of the performers on Benny’s show but his catchphrase was a drawn-out “yesssssss”. Well, tbf, it’s because he had a strooooke. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/22 "2023-10-23T16:43:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Relatively famously, Vaughn Meader made a big album imitating John Kennedy. Once Kennedy died, it was no longer funny to people and he struggled to find another schtick that could draw an audience. Reportedly, at his first gig following the JFK assassination, Lenny Bruce started the set with a long pause, and then annihilated with “Well, Vaughn Meader’s f\*\*\*ed!” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/23 "2023-10-23T17:13:02Z")
How about that Cubs fan who interfered with a fly ball in the postseason? I don’t want to even mention his name because he is probably still harassed about the incident. But his name is definitely appropriate for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/24 "2023-10-23T17:26:13Z")
> strooooke [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DrKmo0YAZEo/hqdefault.jpg "The Simpsons Yes Guy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrKmo0YAZEo) > [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > How about that Cubs fan who interfered with a fly ball in the postseason? I though of him but thought he was local? The whole thing has staying power, I saw his name printed in a letter to the editors of the Trib this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/25 "2023-10-23T22:00:26Z")
Ventriloquism is mostly a joke now, but in ye olde days a ventriloquist could have a long career with good material. Unfortunately, Jimmy Nelson’s career came down to one of his puppets beating one word to death in a TV commercial. [[https://youtu.be/ZhRxv0\_U7tQ?t=21](https://youtu.be/ZhRxv0_U7tQ?t=21) ] ---
**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:** [October 23, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/26 "2023-10-23T22:05:40Z")
Joe Penner made a career in the 30s with the catchphrases “Wanna buy a duck?” and “You naasty boy.” Few people had even heard of him by 1950. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/27 "2023-10-23T23:09:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Relatively famously, Vaughn Meader made a big album imitating John Kennedy. Once Kennedy died, it was no longer funny to people and he struggled to find another schtick that could draw an audience. We had that LP when I was a kid. I was a little too young to understand most of the politics, but I can still remember some of the bits. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/28 "2023-10-23T23:24:43Z")
[Edgar Smith](https://nypost.com/2022/02/19/how-a-murderer-duped-william-f-buckley-jr-into-fighting-for-release/) is a real-life example of someone who became a celebrity on the strength of “I didn’t do it”, parlaying his denials into a successful book-writing career, release from prison and talk-show appearances, until it ultimately became clear (with a belated confession) that he _had_ done it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/29 "2023-10-24T00:27:24Z")
That Chris Crocker guy who said “Leave Britney Alone!!!” tried to make a go of it a bit, but faded into obscurity and, I think, pornography or something. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/30 "2023-10-24T01:58:40Z")
Red Skelton played a child character, the “Mean Widdle Kid,” whose catchphrase was, “I dood it.” Fortunately, Skelton played enough other characters that his career didn’t live or die by that one. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/31 "2023-10-24T02:05:36Z")
This reminds of the Andy Warhol “In the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.” Example: Kato Kaelin. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/32 "2023-10-24T02:51:31Z")
Andrew Dice Clay rocketed to fame with his “Diceman” character but after the pushback to his misogynist and homophobic schtick grew and grew his career pretty much crashed. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/33 "2023-10-24T04:32:45Z")
There was a brief moment a few years ago when a bunch of the 15 minutes of fame memers minted a bunch of NFTs of themselves. I think they were selling in the 10s of thousands range (For example, the Overly Attached Girlfriend NFT sold for [$400K](https://decrypt.co/63891/overly-attached-girlfriend-nft-sells-for-411000))and it’s the only time I’ve ever been wholly supportive of NFTs. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/34 "2023-10-24T11:45:46Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Andrew Dice Clay rocketed to fame with his “Diceman” character but after the pushback to his misogynist and homophobic schtick grew and grew his career pretty much crashed. My understanding is that he still does shows in Vegas or something and he draws enough crowd to earn a big amount of money. His acting and TV appearances are very minimal, but I think he kept going and makes a big living of comedy. Still “Dickory Dickory Dock…” type jokes. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/35 "2023-10-24T14:19:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Hampshire](#): > > > > Andrew Dice Clay rocketed to fame with his “Diceman” character but after the pushback to his misogynist and homophobic schtick grew and grew his career pretty much crashed . > > My understanding is that he still does shows in Vegas or something and he draws enough crowd to earn a big amount of money. His acting and TV appearances are very minimal, but I think he kept going and makes a big living of comedy. Still “Dickory Dickory Dock…” type jokes . I need to go look it up … but I could have sworn I’ve seen Clay in a dramatic role recently-ish (past 5 or so years). Something on streaming television. A supporting character – far more than a cameo. I wonder if Clay’s been getting steady acting work like that or if that was kind of a one-off? EDIT: Went and looked it up – he played Butchie in the biopic _Pam and Tommy_ (2022). I did not recognize him at all. [![](https://www.looper.com/img/gallery/who-plays-butchie-in-pam-tommy/intro-1643152533.webp) ](https://www.looper.com/img/gallery/who-plays-butchie-in-pam-tommy/intro-1643152533.webp) I didn’t see this film, but he was also in _A Star Is Born_ (2018) with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. I wouldn’t have recognized him in that, either. [![](https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/10/lady-gaga-a-star-is-born-andrew-dice-clay.jpg?resize=878,585&quality=75&strip=all) ](https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/10/lady-gaga-a-star-is-born-andrew-dice-clay.jpg?resize=878,585&quality=75&strip=all) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/36 "2023-10-24T14:30:51Z")
[Billy Carter?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Beer) ---
**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:** [October 24, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/37 "2023-10-24T15:27:00Z")
I’ll see you and raise you [Roger Clinton.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clinton_Jr.) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/38 "2023-10-24T16:49:44Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I know this isn’t Saluga … but I had no idea that this “_you can call me Ray_ …” was a national bit. **[This ad was all over New Orleans television](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmGYsne_T6w)** for a spell in the early- to mid-1980s. He was the star of an even larger national ad campaign that I still remember…it’s seared in my brain. > **["You Can Call Me Ray" Beer Commercial - 1978!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqwUCiAjxTw%2F)** > > Here is a commercial that drove me crazy for awhile! It stars one Bill Saluga, who portrays "Ray J. Johnson" in this Bud commercial, it ran for years beginni... ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/39 "2023-10-25T02:38:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > There was also Rod Hull, a comedian who would appear with his stuffed emu under his arm and cause general mayhem. Rod Hull and Emu had a decades-long career. He was an institution on British TV with several successive generations growing up watching him. They starred in at least 5 different TV series, and a huge number of guest appearances on other shows. Absolutely not a good example for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950/40 "2023-10-25T02:45:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Rod Hull and Emu had a decades-long career. He was an institution on British TV with several successive generations growing up watching him. They starred in at least 5 different TV series, and a huge number of guest appearances on other shows. In the U.S., he was everywhere for a little while, including attacking Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, and then never heard from again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-i-didnt-do-it-boys/991950.md?page=3)