# The limbo and "Next Action Star"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 9, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414 "2004-06-09T05:05:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414/1 "2004-06-09T05:05:32Z")

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For the past few weeks, every commercial break on NBC is accompanied by at least two promotions for “Next Action Star.”

There’s several different promos, but they all show a different participant standing up but arched waaaaaaay back, as if they’re attempting the limbo without a pole. What’s the deal with that? Is a limbo pose some useless talent that action heroes supposedly need to perform, much like holding a gun gangsta style?

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**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414/2 "2004-06-09T05:34:41Z")

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It has to do with The Matrix, the first film in the trilogy, from 1999. Keanu Reeves, playing the character Neo, had to do the “backwards limbo” like that in order to dodge bullets, and it became a cool new move. I’ve seen several wrestlers in the WWE attempt it since then, especially in the women’s division.

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**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414/3 "2004-06-09T06:40:35Z")

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I don’t get it – in the Matrix he basically fell over backward while windmilling his arms. It looked cool because it was in slow motion with the camera swirling around him. How’s that an action move?

“Ha HA! You tried to hit me but I fell over! I’m so cool!”

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**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limbo-and-next-action-star/249414/4 "2004-06-10T00:04:03Z")

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> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#):
>
> It has to do with The Matrix, the first film in the trilogy, from 1999. Keanu Reeves, playing the character Neo, had to do the “backwards limbo” like that in order to dodge bullets, and it became a cool new move.

Aah. I guess it’s a prerequisite to being an action star now, since it looks like a poleless limbo contest will be part of Next Action Star.

Anyone else as tired of the commercials as I am?