# Stump the dope with your most obscure reference **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904 "2005-11-13T22:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/81 "2005-11-14T19:50:27Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > “This whole town is infested with killer cockroaches. Repeat: Killer cockroaches.” **Bug** > [@](#): > > “Marriage is like a horse with a broken leg; you can shoot it, but that don’t fix the leg.” Andy Renko in **Hill Street Blues**? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/82 "2005-11-14T20:01:57Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Yes. **Severian** is also the name of a Doper who has the same taste in literature as I. I love the _New Sun_ tetralogy, but I never made the connection until you brought it up here. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/83 "2005-11-14T20:02:11Z")
> [@Corii](#): > > “This is ponderous, man. Really ponderous.” Opening line of “This is Ponderous,” a novelty record/song. Frequently played on the Dr. Demento show, but I admit to blanking out on the artist’s name. My own contribution – not particularly obscure, but I like it because it works well in many situations: “Remind me to talk about your definition of ‘fun’ sometime.” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/84 "2005-11-14T20:03:01Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > “This whole town is infested with killer cockroaches. Repeat: Killer cockroaches.” > > TV: > “Crazy like a doorknob.” The first quote is definitely from “Damnation Alley”, the unforgettable Jan-Michael Vincent epic (ahahahahahahahaha!) I have a hunch the TV quote was from “Cheers” and spoken by the Coach. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/85 "2005-11-14T20:07:56Z")
OK, here’s another one. “Jumble Jim, who shall remain nameless, was slowly asking his way through the underpants, when he spotted Whit Monday and the Barking Doctrine…” ---
**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:** [November 14, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/86 "2005-11-14T20:22:52Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > _The World According to Garp?_ Sorry, no. [quote=Evil Captor] From a Simpson’s episode. It’s part of a school film about why it’s good to eat beef. Troy McClure explains to little Bill why it’s OK to eat meat. The “he” in the quote is a cow. [quote] No – the Simpsons are merely refering to the actual movie – see Art Vandelay, who got it right. > [@Corii](#): > > Oh man, I just heard this the other day, but the context won’t come to me. Really? I’d be very interested if you came up with where. (It’s a bit of a cheat, but is clearly allowable under the conditions of the OP.) More to the mix: “If Jesus can do anything, he could make a robot with a soul.” Characters: Go-Captain Alvarez Willy McGilly ---
**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:** [November 14, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/87 "2005-11-14T20:27:26Z")
Quoth **Terminus Est** : > [@](#): > > My username is somewhat obscure, although a few Dopers will know what it is. I wouldn’t exactly call the Bible obscure. “Terminus Est” is the Latin translation of “Tetelestai” (English “It is finished”), which is by some accounts the last word Jesus said while hanging on the Cross. If there happens to be a video game which uses the phrase as a name of a sword, that’s a reference back to the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/88 "2005-11-14T20:29:13Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > OK, here’s another one. > > “Jumble Jim, who shall remain nameless, was slowly asking his way through the underpants, when he spotted Whit Monday and the Barking Doctrine…” I don’t recognize the quote, per se, but the style is straight outof John Lennon’s books rom the mid-sixties. Am I close? ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/89 "2005-11-14T20:34:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **Terminus Est** :I wouldn’t exactly call the Bible obscure. “Terminus Est” is the Latin translation of “Tetelestai” (English “It is finished”), which is by some accounts the last word Jesus said while hanging on the Cross. > > If there happens to be a video game which uses the phrase as a name of a sword, that’s a reference back to the Bible. **Terminus Est** has already told us where the reference to his name came from, and your guess is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/90 "2005-11-14T20:35:02Z")
OK, I’ll give that one to you. It’s from _In His Own Write._ That was quick! ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/91 "2005-11-14T20:35:35Z")
“They’re chewing the hair, chewing it…” “What?” “You know, the hair, they’re chewing it…” “They what?” “The hair. They chew it…chew it…chew it…” ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/92 "2005-11-14T20:39:33Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Opening line of “This is Ponderous,” a novelty record/song. Frequently played on the Dr. Demento show, but I admit to blanking out on the artist’s name. It’s by 2nu, which made pretty much just that one song. Big hit with me and my friends when it was new. _Oom chaka nala onna wanna sing pow_… (no, that’s not a new one, it’s from the song) No one has gotten mine yet! ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/93 "2005-11-14T20:39:36Z")
Ah, yes. I am also aware of the biblical reference, but that’s not the immediate derivation of my name. Neither is _Castlevania_. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/94 "2005-11-14T20:57:45Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Close Encounters maybe? Understandable guess, but wrong. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/95 "2005-11-14T21:16:33Z")
This one has been bouncing around in my head for days, because **ValleyGirl** has it on DVD: “Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom å vad det låter bra det är o:et i ordet som gör det!” If anyone knows this earworm, please take it from me. I’m begging you. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/96 "2005-11-14T21:17:12Z")
> [@](#): > > “This whole town is infested with killer cockroaches. Repeat: Killer cockroaches.” Damnation Alley!! TV (Bonus Find the conections) “If you don’t stop I’ll get out my pitchfork and stab you” Movie “I’ll Crush your head like a nut… but I won’t because I need you!” Movie: “Oh, by the way, give my regards to your grandson. Bob will be his name, International Trade his game. I’ll see him in Jakarta, 2053. August 14th. 10a.m. A nice, sunny day. We’ll make headlines.” ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/97 "2005-11-14T21:19:18Z")
Um…typo. Make that “O vad det låter bra”. (Not like anyone will notice, I fear…) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/98 "2005-11-14T21:40:18Z")
I didn’t mean to kill the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/99 "2005-11-14T21:49:17Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > **Bug** Incorrect. > [@want2know](#): > > Andy Renko in **Hill Street Blues**? Right show, wrong character. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904/100 "2005-11-14T21:51:09Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > The first quote is definitely from “Damnation Alley”, the unforgettable Jan-Michael Vincent epic (ahahahahahahahaha!) Correct, although it was George Peppard who said that line. > [@Art Vandelay](#): > > I have a hunch the TV quote was from “Cheers” and spoken by the Coach. Correct! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-the-dope-with-your-most-obscure-reference/330904.md?page=6)