# Self-Referential Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403 "2007-08-21T18:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/41 "2007-08-22T02:58:31Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] The absolutely best television reference was on _3rd Rock from the sun_, a scene between William Shatner as The Big Giant Head and John Lithgow as Dick Solomon: Dick: So how was your flight? TBGH: Terrible. I kept seeing something on the wing of the plane. Dick, in a Lithgow squeal: The same thing happened to meeeeeeeeeee. Shatner played the role in the Twlight Zone TV episode, Lithgow in the movie remake. [/QUOTE] In one episode, Mary (Jane Curtin) is watching TV when we hear that, coming up next, is the Susan Saint James story on _Biography_. Mary gives a dismissive “Pffftt… who cares about _her?_” and changes the channel. Jane Curtin & Susan Saint James, of course, having been co-stars in the 1980’s sitcom “Kate & Allie”. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/42 "2007-08-22T02:58:51Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] A scene from the screwball comedy _Hi Diddle Diddle_ (1943); [Looking at hat check girl] Senator Simpson: You know, I’ve seen that girl somewhere before. Liza Prescott: She’s a very particular friend of the director who’s making this picture. He sticks her in every scene he can. Janie Prescott: Mother, shh! Somebody might hear you. [/QUOTE] Similarly, in **I’m Gonna Git You Sucka** , two of the characters are in a club and comment on the absolutely terrible lounge singer mutilating some song. “How did she end up here?” “She’s the director’s sister.” Which she was. Altogether, there were five Wayans in the film besides Keenan Ivory. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/43 "2007-08-22T03:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Also in **Ocean’s Thirteen** , when Matt Damon wears a fake nose it is an inside joke/reference to his role in _The Brothers Grimm_, in which director Terry Gilliam wanted Damon to wear a fake nose, but the studio nixed the idea. [/QUOTE] Ahh…I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I think that the true inspiration of the nose is more [self-referential](http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2003/02/21/soderbergh23df6.jpg) [than you might think](http://www.arts.arizona.edu/mar453/soderbergh1.jpg)… The nose plays. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/44 "2007-08-22T03:41:48Z")
In **The Muppet Movie** , when Fozzie and Kermit meet Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Kermit starts explaining everything that’s happened in the film so far, and Fozzie cuts him off, saying, “We don’t have time for this. Here, read the script instead” and hands the script of “The Muppet Movie” to Dr. Teeth. There’s also a bit where someone makes the same “Hare Krishna” joke that was made earlier in the movie, and Kermit says, “Oh, a recurring gag.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/45 "2007-08-22T04:40:58Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] I In **Horse Feathers** , as Chico plays the piano, Goucho turns to the audience and says, “I’ve got to stay here, but there’s no reason why you folks shouldn’t go out into the lobby until this thing to blows over.” Similarly, in **Animal Crackers** , someone asks Chico, “How did you get to be Italian?” [/QUOTE] In At the Circus, the villainess puts the McGuffin (I think the deed to the circus) down her cleavage, and Groucho turns to the audience and says “How am I going to get that out without getting the Hays Office mad” or words to that effect. The Hays Office was in charge of censorship at the time. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/46 "2007-08-22T05:01:31Z")
Adaptation. The movie (you come to realize as you watch it) is about writing the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/47 "2007-08-22T12:48:14Z")
Another 3rd Rock moment: Dick & Mary attend a fantasy convention where Mary sees a couple dressed as Coneheads and gives them the Jane Cutain patented look of disdain. Jane Curtain was on the original Conehead slots on Saturday Night Live. When Senior Welches and his puppets were on the Muppets, Fonzie Bear gave a two minute speech to Kermit about how puppets were stupid and who would want to watch them. After he finished and ran off the stage, Kermit looked out, gave a Kermit look and said “I didn’t have the heart to tell him.” ---
**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:** [August 22, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/48 "2007-08-22T14:25:49Z")
**The Muppet Christmas Carol** has several references to it being a movie: > [@](#): > > Rizzo the Rat: I don’t think I can watch any more! > Gonzo: When you’re right, you’re right > [turning to face the audience] > Gonzo: You’re on your own, folks. We’ll meet you at the finale! > [@](#): > > Rizzo the Rat: This is scary stuff! Shouldn’t we be worried about the kids in the audience? > [@](#): > > Rizzo the Rat: Why are you whispering? > Gonzo: It’s for dramatic emphasis. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/49 "2007-08-22T14:44:07Z")
A couple of German movies have “yeah, we know this is a movie” moments: _Run Lola Run_ and _Funny Games_ ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/50 "2007-08-22T14:54:10Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] The last lines of _Biloxi Blues_, something like "If I ever make a movie out of this maybe I’ll leave out getting the second one for free."You mean [Duck Amuck](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4397321755302222252&q=duck+amuck&total=43&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1)? [/QUOTE] I wasn’t able to connect to the video, but the title sounds right. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/51 "2007-08-22T14:58:19Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] In the animated movie **Meet the Robinsons** Wilbur is describing his family to Lewis. When Lewis asks what his father looks like Wilbur says “Tom Selleck” (since the true answer is a plot point), and they even put up a picture of Tom Selleck on the screen. When Wilbur’s father show up at the end of the movie, he’s voiced by (but bears no visual resemblance to) Tom Selleck. [/QUOTE] A distant cousin\* of mine voiced Wilbur for this movie. I didn’t find this out while it was still in the theaters, so we’ve been dying for it come out on DVD so we can watch it (buy it?) at Chez Shibb. He also did the voice of Charlie Brown in some more recent things. \*My dad’s cousin’s kid. Second cousin, once removed? I can never figure that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/52 "2007-08-22T15:08:20Z")
In a recent episode of _The Suite Life of Zack and Cody_, their kid’s audition for their school’s version of “High School Musical”. Ashley Tisdale played Sharpay, the antagonist in HSM. Maddie, her character in TSLoZaC auditions for the role of Sharpay, and remarks throughout the episode that people tell her all the time she looks just like Sharpay. The running gag is that everyone just shakes their head and says “I don’t see it”. Yes, I have pre-teen kids, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/53 "2007-08-22T15:36:21Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] My dad’s cousin’s kid. Second cousin, once removed? I can never figure that stuff. [/QUOTE] Second cousins exactly. Children of first cousins are second cousins. In _Spaceballs_, not only do they watch the video tape of the movie, as they fast forward through it, they end up watching the exact moment they’re in. An infinite regression of themselves watching themselves watching the movie. One character tries to sell _Spaceballs_ movie merchandise to the other characters. And some of the film crew gets accidentally killed during the light-saber fight. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/54 "2007-08-23T14:44:44Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] In **The Muppet Movie** , when Fozzie and Kermit meet Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Kermit starts explaining everything that’s happened in the film so far, and Fozzie cuts him off, saying, “We don’t have time for this. Here, read the script instead” and hands the script of “The Muppet Movie” to Dr. Teeth. There’s also a bit where someone makes the same “Hare Krishna” joke that was made earlier in the movie, and Kermit says, “Oh, a recurring gag.” [/QUOTE] And “Jack” crashes through the screen at the end, having run all the way from Ohio(?) trying to catch up with the Frog & Bear. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/55 "2007-08-24T11:59:49Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] **The Muppet Christmas Carol** has several references to it being a movie: [/QUOTE] As does **Muppet Treasure Island** : Rizzo: He died? And this is supposed to be a kids’ movie. Long John Silver: Up stage, lads. This is my only number. Statler: Waldorf, you old fool! We’re heroes! We saved the pig and the frog. Waldorf: Well, it was too late to save the movie. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/56 "2007-08-24T12:14:40Z")
The various Muppet movies spent a lot of time breaking their fourth walls. In _The Great Muppet Caper_ there is a scene where Diana Rigg’s character has just finished explaining some things to Kermit and company. Kermit asks “Why are you telling us all of this?” Riggs replies “It’s all plot exposition and character development; it has to go somewhere!” ---
**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:** [August 24, 2007, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/57 "2007-08-24T12:27:44Z")
Also, in **The Great Muppet Caper** , you have Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo reacting to the opening credits. Gonzo: Does anybody read these? Kermit: Sure. They all have families. There was a similar gag in a **Green Acres** episode where Lisa is looking toward the credits and Oliver asks what she’s doing. She says she’s waiting for Richard L. Bare (who directed all the episodes). ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/58 "2007-08-24T14:36:59Z")
Rats. While I recognize several of the examples already cited (even the Boris Karloff thing - man, I’m getting old), I can’t think of anything myself. The best I can do is this instance of self-promotion: In Stanley Kubrick’s _A Clockwork Orange_ there is a scene in a record shop. On prominant display are soundtrack albums from Kubrick’s _2001: A Space Odyssey_. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/59 "2007-08-24T18:22:12Z")
In _Go West_, one of the lesser Marx Brothers movies, there’s a scene where they have a train’s engineer bound and gagged, and Groucho turns to the camera and says “Didya know this is the best gag in the picture?” And in _Horse Feathers_ at one point Groucho says to the audience, “I’ve got to stay here, but there’s no reason why you folks shouldn’t go out into the lobby until this thing to blows over.” ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403/60 "2007-08-24T18:42:50Z")
In Mr. 3000 there are two players who constantly ask each other trivia questions. One asks the other some soap opera trivia where the answer is the guy being quizzed. He didn’t know the question was coming up, and had to fake not knowing the answer. Great bit of extra on the DVD . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-referential-movies/416403.md?page=4)