# send in the clones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527 "2001-08-09T00:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/1 "2001-08-09T00:50:06Z")
I’ve heard this phrase recently in reference to the new Star Wars movie title, but I’d like to know where it comes from. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/2 "2001-08-09T00:53:04Z")
Judy Collins had a big hit, IIRC in the sixties, with a song called “Send in the Clowns”. This is a pun based on the song title. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/3 "2001-08-09T00:57:52Z")
Han Solo talks about fighting in the clone wars at some point in star wars. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/4 "2001-08-09T01:03:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gazpacho \* > \*\*Han Solo talks about fighting in the clone wars at some point in star wars. \*\* I think you mean Obi Wan. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/5 "2001-08-09T01:05:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Send in the Clowns > Written by: Stephen Sondheim > … > This song comes from the musical “A Little Night Music”. > The first version recorded is from Glynn Johns from 1973, also done by Judy Collins . . . > [http://users.bart.nl/~ljmeijer/oldham/covers.htm](http://users.bart.nl/~ljmeijer/oldham/covers.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/6 "2001-08-09T01:07:02Z")
As there are at least 18,000,000 threads on the Dope right now regarding the new movie, and another 248,000,000,000,000 across the net, I’ve chosen this one because it has most openly stated the best title, which is, of course, “Send in the Clones.” When the movie includes the line “Don’t bother, they’re here”, we will have only ourselves to blame. Umm. I don’t really have much to say. Except that Harrison Ford had better work out and show up pronto, or he may lose his cool. The belly in _Bladerunner_ was cool. In _Seven Days, Seven Nights,_ it was barely excusable. In any further movie it may be the end of a career. I am Mr Public. Hear me roar. ---
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/7 "2001-08-09T01:12:54Z")
Thanks for the info on the original song. I’m pretty familiar with Star Wars, but I didn’t recognize the pun. Does anyone know where the original clowns/clones pun came from? ---
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/8 "2001-08-09T01:15:06Z")
Oh yeah, IIRC it was the hologram of Leia that mentioned the Clone Wars in reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi (who was a General at the time). ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/9 "2001-08-09T01:18:47Z")
Han Solo, Obi Wan same difference. And now we find out it was Leia that mentioned it. Send in the clowns to send in the clones. I think to anyone who need mention more than one clone the pun would be obvious. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/10 "2001-08-09T03:41:37Z")
The “Send in the Clones” pun is probably as old as the song. I can’t think of where it might have first popped up. If I find it, I will post again. For your amusement, I present the lyrics to “Send in the Clones” as proposed by one netizen: > [@](#): > > The Sequencers Lament > To the tune of “Send in the Clowns” > > So this is it, > A few bases to go, > I’ve tried and I’ve tried but the techniques’s so slow. > I’ve poured my gels, > I’ve run quite a few. > Full of bubbles, they leaked and why I never knew. > But where are the clones? > I’ve got to have clones, > The end is so near. > > Is my broth rich? > Does it look clear? > Contamination is something I always fear. > Are my plaques blue? > They shouldnt be, > No DNA left I’m down on my knees, > So give me some clones? > I’ve got to have clones, > The end is so near. > > I’ve had bad preps, > There’ve been quite a few, > Ive tried all brands of PEG, fresh buffers, but nothing would do. > And though they say, > Solutions will keep, > In my hands they last no more than a week. > So send me some clones? > I’ve got to have clones, > The end is so near. > > I’ve read my gels, > My eyes are quite sore, > There’s still sequence missing, of this I am sure. > But there it is!! > Finally done. > I’ve conquered this fragment and now I have won. > Whats’s this I hear? > A voice from the door. > My supervisor wants 10kb more! > So give me some clones, > I’ve got to have clones, > Or I’ll be here all year! > > Bill Kalionis ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/11 "2001-08-09T04:03:00Z")
The Send in the Clones parody in relation to Star Wars goes back at least to April, 1982 with MAD Magazine in which they attempt to clear up all the confusion with the plot and characters and sequence of the films. You can view the full text at [http://www.rpi.edu/~wysmuj/files/madmag.txt](http://www.rpi.edu/~wysmuj/files/madmag.txt). I’ve excerpted the interesting parapgraph (remember, this is before ROTJ): > [@](#): > > Our third picture (really No. 2 in the series) will be **“Send in the Clones”** , in which we find out that both Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi were cloned by the same donor, who happens to be a long-lost grandfather of Chewbacca’s. This sets up a conflict between the Wookies and the Empire, which becomes the plot for our fourth film (No. 3 in the series) **"Makin’ Wookie."** ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/12 "2001-08-09T16:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Our third picture (really No. 2 in the series) will be **“Send in the Clones”** , in which we find out that both Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi were cloned by the same donor, who happens to be a long-lost grandfather of Chewbacca’s. This sets up a conflict between the Wookies and the Empire, which becomes the plot for our fourth film (No. 3 in the series) **"Makin’ Wookie."** \*\* [/QUOTE] God, I wish that Episode III will be called “Makin’ Wookiee.” It’s surely better than whatever Lucas has in mind now. ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/13 "2001-08-09T19:50:42Z")
I saw a comic (Rich Little?) on the ‘Tonight Show’ (SJC) do a bit on it around '78/'79. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/send-in-the-clones/75527/14 "2001-08-09T20:51:04Z")
It’s such an obvious pun that I belive the pun was invented mere hours after the word ‘clone’ was coined.