# Why John Lithgow Why??!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732 "2006-01-12T23:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/41 "2006-01-13T15:43:40Z")
Can I say it too? Maybe he just likes soup. Ahhhhh. That was good. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/42 "2006-01-13T16:01:07Z")
Where was the outrage when he was hawking the Discover card, playing the banjo in the ad? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/43 "2006-01-13T16:37:40Z")
Speaking of Michael Caine… I saw an interview with him that might explaing why the likes of Caine (who is a superb actor) and Lithgow does these sorts of things. Caine was asked why he would do a movie like Jaws IV. He responded that he basically had a fairly lavish lifestyle with several houses and several children. He works in an industry where nothing is certain. In order to maintain his lifestyle, which includes his swimming pools, he’ll take movies that pay him the most. He described Jaws IV as his swimming pool movie as in it paid for one of his swimming pools. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/44 "2006-01-13T16:48:09Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I would like to state for the record that I saw Mr. Lithgow in _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_ on Broadway and he was superb. Definitely. He’s outstanding in it. (Of course, how could he not be, when he’s acting alongside my other husband, Norbert Leo Butz? 😃 ) Just a bit of trivia - apparently, the composer who wrote the music and lyrics for _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_, David Yazbek, also did the music and lyrics for these soup commercials. So it looks like they’re both laughing all the way to the bank. E. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/45 "2006-01-13T18:18:15Z")
I’m convinced that [John Lithgow](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001475/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9am9obiBsaXRoZ293fGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=1;ft=20) and [Lars Ulrich](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005515/) are in fact the same person. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/46 "2006-01-13T18:19:08Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I would like to state for the record that I saw Mr. Lithgow in _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_ on Broadway and he was superb. I’m maybe going for my ninth time this weekend. He’s spectacular. More power to him if he doesn’t find a soup commercial beneath him. The world would maybe be a better place if people like Maggie Smith sold Tic-Tacs. Robert Redford could sell EasyMacNCheese. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/47 "2006-01-13T18:29:06Z")
Soup is a contemptible product foisted upon a unknowing, lemming-like population. The fact that Mr. Lithgow has allied himself with these (must I?) soup nazis is just another step along the road the destruction of a civilized, cultured society. Soon we will all be consumers, suckling at the teat of those who would have us believe that beef and vegetable, potatoes and clams, noodles and chicken simmered and steeped in a brothy or creamy base is somehow acceptable to the enlightened soul. I say “No more!” Fie on you soup companies! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/48 "2006-01-13T18:43:20Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > It seems many more celebrities are doing commercials. > > Russell Crowe thinks it is disgraceful. If Russell Crowe thinks something is disgraceful, then it’s probably perfectly all right. It’s when Russell Crowe APPROVES of what you’re doing that you have to go home and rethink your life. Except for doing Meg Ryan. That’s always a good idea if you can. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/49 "2006-01-13T18:55:42Z")
> [@Surbey](#): > > I always liked John. I thought he was funny in Third Rock From the Sun and I also liked him in (not admiting I watched it ) Footloose. As far as I am concerned, Lithgow is a great actor. > > So why on earth has John Lithgow whored himself out to a soup company?? > Is he really so desperate that he needs to do soup commercials? Or is this some kind of pro-bono that I’m not aware of. [shrug] Lots of big-name actors (and a great many more unknowns) do commercials. If you want to argue that’s beneath the dignity of a serious artist – that should probably be a GD thread. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/50 "2006-01-13T19:14:22Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Soup is a contemptible product foisted upon a unknowing, lemming-like population. The fact that Mr. Lithgow has allied himself with these (must I?) soup nazis is just another step along the road the destruction of a civilized, cultured society. Soon we will all be consumers, suckling at the teat of those who would have us believe that beef and vegetable, potatoes and clams, noodles and chicken simmered and steeped in a brothy or creamy base is somehow acceptable to the enlightened soul. I say “No more!” Fie on you soup companies! Next time you’re in Orlando(ish), I will make you some of my Baked Potato Soup. It has cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream, and is guaranteed not to be diet-friendly. ---
**Author:** ![\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7cd45c/32.png) [@\_Deep\_F\_ied](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Deep_F_ied)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/51 "2006-01-13T19:19:47Z")
> [@Subterraneanus](#): > > I’m convinced that [John Lithgow](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001475/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9am9obiBsaXRoZ293fGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=1;ft=20) and [Lars Ulrich](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005515/) are in fact the same person. Except John probably craps turds larger than Lars… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/52 "2006-01-13T20:05:04Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > I was personally hoping a few years back he would be either Humbert or Quilty in the remake of LOLITA and Dr. Zachary Smith in the movie LOST IN SPACE. BION, I actually pictured him as Atticus Finch when I was reading the book _To Kill a Mockingbird_ and he worked beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/53 "2006-01-13T20:10:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [shrug] Lots of big-name actors (and a great many more unknowns) do commercials. If you want to argue that’s beneath the dignity of a serious artist – that should probably be a GD thread. So I started one: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=354006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=354006) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/54 "2006-01-13T20:39:53Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Next time you’re in Orlando(ish), I will make you some of my Baked Potato Soup. It has cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream, and is guaranteed not to be diet-friendly. I just booked my flight. If you don’t have an extra bed I am more than happy to have someone else sleep on the floor so I can have a bed. Or if it is more convenient you could just give me the recipe. GIVE ME THE RECIPE!! P.S. I love soup, I just thought it was funny that the OP made soup sound like crack or something. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/55 "2006-01-13T20:55:40Z")
> [@«Ðëëp¤F®ïêd»™](#): > > Except John probably craps turds larger than Lars… Oh, be reasonable. There _are_ no turds larger than Lars Ulrich. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/56 "2006-01-14T00:16:14Z")
Heck, I remember Laurence Olivier - great Shakespearean actor - doing freaking Polaroid camera commercials in the 60s. His contract stated they were never to be shown in the UK. What’s interesting is that the first of the Lithgow soup ads with the dancing girls was a scaled-down ripoff of Stan Freberg’s 1970 ad for Heinz’s Great American Soup with Ann Miller tapdancing. Incidentally, that Heinz ad was one of the most expensive commercials recorded up to that date. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/57 "2006-01-14T00:38:45Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] Ecxept that he uses the word “creamery” as an adjective :smack: I would have done the commercial, as long as the writers allowed me to say “creamy butter” instead of _creamery butter_./QUOTE] Actually, “creamery” is a valid adjective for butter, describing butter that’s made at a creamery, as opposed to, well, I don’t know where else you could make butter. “Creamery butter” is part of quite a few brand names for the stuff, not to mention a NAIC (North American Industry Code) used by the US Govenment. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/58 "2006-01-14T02:17:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, “creamery” is a valid adjective for butter, describing butter that’s made at a creamery No it’s not. It just sounds silly and pretentious. It’s a word that Charles Emerson Winchester III might use. But suppose we grant usability in that sense. Then why don’t we hear: creamery cheddar cheese creamery milk creamery ice cream I think they were aiming for cream, but mutated the word into creamery just for sparkle effect and to put the image of something “creamy” into our heads. If they wanted to imply creamy they should have just said creamy, dammit. Now let me hop over the fence and say that creamy isn’t the right word to describe butter. Butter is yellow, it’s greasy, it’s salty, it’s… well, it’s buttery. But one thing it’s NOT is creamy. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/59 "2006-01-14T03:49:19Z")
Believe it or not, I walked into English 102 today and my assignment was “Write an in class essay on a commercial you dislike” Take a guess which I picked. I guess how he makes his money is his own business. It would be like Liam Neeson doing a Pringles commercial. Just outta place. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732/60 "2006-01-14T04:02:14Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > No it’s not. Well, a Google search produced several references that suggest it’s a valid term. [Here’s one of them](http://webexhibits.org/butter/history-creamery.html), and [here’s another](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/def/ND311512.HTM). > [@](#): > > It just sounds silly and pretentious. It’s a word that Charles Emerson Winchester III might use. But suppose we grant usability in that sense. Then why don’t we hear: > > creamery cheddar cheese > creamery milk > creamery ice cream Well, I found a reference to [creamery cheddar](http://www.campbeltowncourier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/3566/Creamery_cheddar_wins_top_award.html), as well as some for [creamery milk](http://www.cso.ie/surveysandmethodologies/surveyforms/ag_form_creamerymilk.htm). I don’t know about “creamery ice cream,” but since this term sounds awkward and redundant, I doubt that it would gain much acceptance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-john-lithgow-why/339732.md?page=4)