# Silly, weird, perhaps unanswerable questions about movies and TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401 "2013-03-31T03:09:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/281 "2017-08-07T15:14:58Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Same reason I can’t become an MMA champion by eating spinach. > > Popeye was a super being, a genetic anomaly, (or an alien) whose body was uniquely able to process spinach into super powers. He thought he was a normal human, but that’s only because there was no testing at the time that could have found out the truth. Hell, all you have to do is look at his anatomy to see he was a hybrid. I mean, those enlarged calves and forearms—holy crap! :eek: ---
**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 7, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/282 "2017-08-07T16:33:09Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Stupid question: Why didn’t Bluto eat spinach and beat the hell out of Popeye? Because it tastes so horrible? Even Popeye, who has a freakish craving for it, will take being beaten to a pulp first before resorting to it. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/283 "2017-08-07T18:52:14Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > She’s respecting his privacy. And I don’t think they had DNA identification when the show was on air. IIRC, in one episode he tells her that he doesn’t know what his real name is. He was shunted from one family member to another frequently, with his name changed every time, possibly to scam the government. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/284 "2017-08-07T18:59:23Z")
I just re-watched The Big Lebowski, and I know it is a bit silly to over-analyze absurdist humor, but: why didn’t The Dude and Walter even think of opening/examining the briefcase? Weren’t they even a little bit interested in what a $million in 20s looks like? And if it was locked, wouldn’t they have been suspicious of that - since it was supposed to be transferred to the kidnappers and supposedly checked by them without having to go through breaking it open, I guess? Also - does the Big Lebowski get away in the end with his embezzling the $1M? ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/285 "2017-08-08T02:37:46Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I think an[online reviewer who I follow](http://sfdebris.com/) put it the best: “_Voyager_ is where potential goes to die.” :D:D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/286 "2017-08-08T02:51:47Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > And how would he do in places like rural Kansas or Oklahoma with no tall building’s to swing from? He can’t, actually. There was a hilarious story called “When Comes…The Commuter!” about him going after a thief who lived in the suburbs. No place to web-swing. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/287 "2017-08-08T05:31:18Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > If Laura Holt is such a hot shot detective, why can’t she figure out who Remington Steele really is? Fingerprints, DNA, something? > > Like I’m going to hire her to do detective work. If his prints aren’t on file, what is she going to compare them to? At best, she gets 5, 10 returns from Europe, all with different names. Even his “father”/mentor (Mr Stephanie Zimbalist Sr.) didn’t know who he was. Same with DNA - especially in the early 80s. There was no database. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/288 "2017-08-08T05:45:02Z")
What if Mrs Howell had a stash of ru480 and told Gilligan but made him “earn” it. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/289 "2017-08-08T05:53:53Z")
nevermind, Gilligan wasn’t into the girls, but he sure loved the (coconut) cream pies they seem to have had always. Mrs Howell and the professor were in cahoots! ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/290 "2017-08-08T07:14:28Z")
James Bond’s PPK Apparently depending on the actor, it was either a .380 ACP or a .32 ACP variant. My question is, why does Bond keep changing it? Why not just standardize on one PPK? Does MI6 have to stock both versions and their ammo depending on Bond’s fancy? Does Bond ever get into a situation where he fires at a target with what he thinks is the .380 version and turns out it’s the .32 version so it’s not as powerful as he’s expecting? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/291 "2017-08-08T11:26:14Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > James Bond’s PPK > > Apparently depending on the actor, it was either a .380 ACP or a .32 ACP variant. My question is, why does Bond keep changing it? Why not just standardize on one PPK? Does MI6 have to stock both versions and their ammo depending on Bond’s fancy? Does Bond ever get into a situation where he fires at a target with what he thinks is the .380 version and turns out it’s the .32 version so it’s not as powerful as he’s expecting? He originally carried a Beretta (at least in the movies), but M ordered him to start using a PPK, calling the former a “popgun,” or something like that. So the PPKs were likely funished by MI6 and changed, depending on which models were in their inventory at any one moment. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/292 "2017-08-10T00:07:09Z")
Bond likes to change his hair and how stocky he is and his sense of humor, and whether or not he was a Cold Warrior, why not change his gun around? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/293 "2017-08-10T00:14:31Z")
How close did Don Adams get to having his nose squished between those huge doors during the _Get Smart_ credits? Were the doors hopefully made of styrofoam? (sorry, Chief) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/294 "2017-08-10T00:25:36Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > How close did Don Adams get to having his nose squished between those huge doors during the _Get Smart_ credits? Were the doors hopefully made of styrofoam? > > (sorry, Chief) I thought he accidentally walked into the doors (which shut at a time he wasn’t expecting). ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/295 "2017-08-10T00:40:16Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I thought he accidentally walked into the doors (which shut at a time he wasn’t expecting). I mean IRL. Or were there small little pieces of black foam (that looked like part of the doors) on either side of the doors’ edges, at nose height, thus sparing DA of that totally embarrassing angel-fish-nose setback? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/296 "2017-08-10T01:43:26Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Would Magnum have received any sort of pension from his years in the navy? Doubt it. He wasn’t in that long. I guess maybe 3 hitches _at most_. So he wouldn’t have gotten anything from Uncle Sam. But really, with no rent, auto, gas, upkeep or clothes to worry about, if Robin pays him anything at all he’s ahead big-time. The money from his cases is gravy. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/297 "2017-08-10T02:37:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Doubt it. He wasn’t in that long. I guess maybe 3 hitches _at most_. So he wouldn’t have gotten anything from Uncle Sam. My brother was a SSGT in the USAF, 1968–72, and I remember him getting checks from the government after he got out. What would they have been for? 😕 ---
**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 10, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/298 "2017-08-10T03:04:32Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Die Hard II: …The communications expert that arrived at Duilles with the CT team was a last-minute replacement: the usual guy was in the hospital with an emergency appendectomy. The replacement gets killed by John Amos on the way to join up with the terrorists. Naturally, the terrorists all get blown up by Bruce Willis right before the end credits. > > My question: what happened to the guy with appendicitis? :dubious: He got better. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/299 "2017-08-10T04:21:36Z")
So what if the terrorists in Die Hard 2 accidentally get Delta Force or SEAL Team Six on their ass instead of Army Special Forces like they planned? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/300 "2017-08-10T04:43:55Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > My brother was a SSGT in the USAF, 1968–72, and I remember him getting checks from the government after he got out. What would they have been for? 😕 Just a WAG, mind you, but maybe some form of Disability due to a Service-related injury. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401.md?page=16)