Homer's Triple Bypass - S4-E11
Question: Bart and Lisa say they don't feel highs and lows because their generation watches MTV. Can someone explain more?
raywest
19th Oct 2023
The Simpsons (1989)
Answer: They probably mean that MTV has little to do with real life, and viewers became numbed and emotionally detached from reality by watching the contrived idealized images almost non-stop. It prevents them developing empathetic feelings toward others in their lives.
This episode aired Dec 1992, and given that it took 6-9 months to produce an episode, the writing took place early or mid 1992. MTV's first reality show, "The Real World", didn't air until May 1992. "Road Rules", MTV's 2nd reality TV show didn't air until 1995.
But that's all equally applicable to watching endless music videos, shortening attention spans. The fear is/was that constant "input" like that would slightly numb people to the real world, with exciting music/images being the only thing that generates an emotional response, in comparison to the more "boring" real world.
19th Oct 2023
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
Question: Why would Martin risk putting Laura in danger by sailing for the first time (which backfires on him anyway), especially at night, when he knows full well (believes) that she can't swim? He could have had her practice a few times to make sure she was comfortable and ready, then it would be easier to convince her to come along.
Answer: Considering Martin's controlling, sadistic nature, his driving motive most likely was to further torment Laura by forcing her into something he knows she fears. Though he was not intending to deliberately put her in danger by the unexpected storm, he had no concern about her emotional comfort and security. Also, I don't believe it was the first time Laura went sailing. As I recall, Martin said he tried to get her out on the water at least once a year.
18th Oct 2023
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)
Question: When Stacy is giving a speech at her bat mitzvah, she tells Andy Goldfarb that he's basic and not nice to people. What does she mean he's "basic"? And what parts of the film prove that he's not nice?
Answer: She's saying that even though he may be good-looking and popular, there is really nothing special or notable about him. His bad behavior was his meanness in driving a wedge between Stacy and Lydia, threatening their friendship.
Well, she told Andy that she destroyed her friendship with Lydia because of him. So, what other evidence is there in the film that he isn't nice?
18th Oct 2023
The A-Team (1983)
Question: How could Baracus have been in Vietnam, as flying is the only way to get there and he hates it?
Answer: It was actually hinted early in the show's run that he wasn't afraid to fly until he was in Vietnam. Something that happened there made him afraid of flying. They revisited that again in the 2010 film, where it was Murdoc's insane flying of a helicopter that scared him.
That was my first thought - unless it's explicitly stated he's been afraid of flying all his life, it makes perfect sense that it was a fear triggered by a wartime experience.
Answer: Vietnam is accessible by sea. Also, just because someone hates flying doesn't mean they can't just "suck it up" and do it, if it's important enough. If he was in the military, then he would not have a choice. His fear may have grown over the years. His A-Team members often sedated him and would even knock him out to get him on a plane.
18th Oct 2023
Double Jeopardy (1999)
Question: How did Nick get off the boat? Did he swim 3+ miles across open sea in the middle of the night, or did Angie pick him up?
Answer: They were sailing on Puget Sound, not the open sea. This is a relatively narrow inlet that cuts into Washington state from the Pacific Ocean. Land is on either side and there're many islands. However, it's unlikely Nick just swam ashore as the water's year-round temperature is too cold for any long-term survival. Most people die from hypothermia within 30 minutes. It's possible Angie had a small boat and picked him up, but I'd guess that Nick hid a small, self-inflatable raft on the boat and paddled ashore. He likely positioned the sailboat close to land before staging his disappearance.
18th Oct 2023
The Core (2003)
Question: The scientists decided to launch their ship into the Marianas Trench. What is the advantage of launching there?
16th Oct 2023
Frasier (1993)
Frasier Gotta Have It - S5-E19
Question: What does Martin mean when he says Caitlin is a flake?
9th Oct 2023
The One (2001)
Question: Whatever happened to the "evil" TK? The one that used the mice bomb to help Gabriel Yulaw escape. Was she arrested or did she escape?
Answer: Just looked it up, the character's name is Massie Walsh, apparently. But yeah, she's basically the "evil TK" version. Anyways, I was trying to ask what happened to her.
Wrong, T.K. I'm talking about the OTHER one. I don't know what her name is, but the one who put a bomb in the mouse to help Yulaw escape early in the movie. The scene in the multiverse area.
Since we never see her again, there's the possibility that she managed to escape during the confusion. Especially since she was wearing a disguise.
12th Oct 2023
Meet the Fockers (2004)
Question: What is the meaning of the symbols on Little Jack's blue T-shirt when he first appears in Jack's learning lab?
Answer: They are the mathematical symbols of pi, infinity, and square root. I'm not a math person, and this is only what I read regarding calculating the square root of pi: "Pi is the constant equal to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The number (3.14) has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. Calculations can continue infinitely without repetition or pattern, because Pi is an irrational number." I'm sure the more scientifically-minded members here can provide a better explanation. I interpreted the symbols on Little Jack's T-shirt as meaning his future has infinite possibilities.
11th Oct 2023
Scream (1996)
Question: Sharon Stone is mentioned a couple of times. Is it simply coincidence, or is there a joke behind it?
Answer: Apparently not coincidence. Sharon Stone starred in an early Wes Craven film called "Deadly Blessing". She is also a close friend of Craven's former wife, Mimi.
Answer: Probably a coincidence, Sharon Stone was a major star at the time. Years later, at a Q&A after a special screening of the film, writer Kevin Williamson remarked that he hadn't realized just how many Sharon Stone references were in the film, and they all stuck out to him while watching.
4th Jan 2009
Twilight (2008)
Question: I wanted to ask that, when James had bitten Bella, then the venom/poison was left in Bella's arm and Edward had to suck it out later, but why didn't Edward leave the venom in Bella's arm? They both (James and Edward) sucked Bella's blood and James left venom, but Edward did not. How is that possible?
10th Oct 2023
A Perfect Murder (1998)
Question: How would killing Emily have helped Steven right away? He needed money quickly, and her hundreds of millions were in a trust fund. Could he even receive all the money right after she died?
Answer: He wouldn't be able to access it immediately, but if his creditors knew he was inheriting a large fortune, they'd likely be willing to work out a deal. Also, as Steven said, he would just go onto to something else to make more money.
Another thing, there was probably a life insurance policy on Emily.
10th Oct 2023
A Perfect Murder (1998)
Question: Near the beginning of the movie, why does Steven call the museum event an "inbred" soiree?
Answer: The way I always thought that it was Steven's way of putting David at ease, by making a joke.
I was curious about the meaning/definition of his wording, though. What did he mean by calling the event an "inbred soiree"?
This was Steven's way of being incredibly rude and offensive whilst knowing that he'd be sure to get away with it. Likely, he didn't much care for the attendees and he wasn't being shy about expressing this.
9th Oct 2023
The Martian (2015)
Question: After 400 days, the stranded astronaut's original, on-board, food ran out. After that, he lived on just potatoes for two or three more years (or something like that). He says, himself, "I have to grow three years' worth of food." The only food he grew was potatoes. Starch only - no lipids and no protein. For two or three years, to live on just potatoes? Is that even physically possible?
Answer: I've seen the movie a few times, but did some additional Internet research. Watney was spreading out his 400 days of rations with the potatoes. I seem to recall him opening a small packet of a powdery substance and putting it on his food. Presumably it was vitamins, minerals, or other supplements. Of course, he was still severely malnourished when rescued.
9th Oct 2023
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Question: For the memories that show young Lily, why did the filmmakers not use an actress with the same eye color as Harry, nor edit the eye color afterward? Multiple people note that his eyes are like his mother's.
Answer: In the movie, it was never mentioned that Lily and Harry had the same eye colour. It was instead implied that Harry's eyes had a similar shape and look to Lily's. Ultimately, it's more important to cast an actor who best suits the part, rather than matching the eye colour.
Also, they tried using green contacts, but Daniel was allergic to them.
2nd Oct 2023
House, M.D. (2004)
Question: Why can't House be a doctor again after faking his death? I always assumed you can't be a doctor with a criminal record. And maybe you can't in real life, I'm not entirely sure. But in the House universe, it seems like you can, because House and Thirteen were still doctors after going to prison. So after Wilson dies, why can't House just go back to jail and then be a doctor again?
13th Nov 2018
General questions
I remember seeing a movie on Hallmark that had three brothers, a little girl and a lighthouse. I can't remember the title.
Answer: Possibly "Three Wise Men and a Baby" (not the 1987 film "Three Men and a Baby") but more likely, "Christmas With Holly." Both are Hallmark movies. The latter involves three adult brothers caring for their deceased sister's young daughter. It is set in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington state. San Juan Island has two lighthouses. (The movie was actually filmed in Nova Scotia.)
29th Sep 2023
Moonstruck (1987)
Question: When Grandpa is walking his dogs, you can hear a boy say, "Keep your dogs off my lawn," then laughs. You hear his laugh again in the beauty salon. What was that about?
Answer: The laugh does seem out of place because it sounds more like kids than the ladies at the salon. But it didn't sound like the same laugh to me. But it does sound like the same person recorded both laughs. It also seems like the kid's line was added after filming the shot. So it wouldn't surprise me if an adult (perhaps one of the production sound mixers) recorded a couple different lines and laughs in a pretend kid's voice. Then one of those laughs was added.
Answer: I tried to find a clip of these scenes but didn't find exactly what you're referring to. If it was the exact same laugh that was heard, it may be a sound effect added to the film during the post-production editing. Foley artists add all types of sound effects to movies, including laughs, groans, coughs, etc. Sometimes one particular sound gets used more than once. One famous example of a repeated sound is the "Wilhelm" scream. This particular scream has become a tradition that many editors add to movies.
19th May 2023
General questions
Are there any TV series that were cancelled before a complete first season was even aired? I am mostly curious about sitcoms and dramas/thrillers, not reality shows.
Answer: Honestly, there have been numerous TV shows cancelled before a complete first season was aired. Another great example is cult-favorite sci-fi series "Firefly," which was cancelled before the 14 produced episodes finished airing. "Emily's Reasons Why Not" is another good example. It's a romantic comedy series that was cancelled after only one of the six produced episodes aired. (The remaining five episodes never aired on TV, but were quietly released on a DVD set.) "Viva Laughlin," a musical comedy-drama series produced by Hugh Jackman was cancelled after only two episodes, and none of the remaining episodes have aired or been given a DVD release. "Mockingbird Lane," a re-imagining of "The Munsters," was cancelled after it's pilot was aired as a TV-special, so the remainder of the first season was never produced. There's honestly probably hundreds of shows that were cancelled before a complete first season was aired.
I was wondering if there are contracts that require the entire first season to be shown, before a network can decide not to show another season. I guess not, based on the answers here.
Shows being pulled mid-season isn't indicative of what other shows' contracts consist of. Some shows may have had it in their contracts that the entire season be aired (there are shows that get pulled mid-season beyond season 1). I don't have personal knowledge because that would be a lot of contracts to read to find out. So maybe someone does. But there's plenty of shows that don't produce an entire season prior to being picked up, so it's possible all the episodes produced were aired.
Answer: So, so many. Drive comes to mind - Nathan Fillion thriller about an illegal road race, only had a few episodes before being pulled off air. "Selfie" (2014) with Karen Gillan and John Cho was cancelled by ABC after only 7 episodes. "Do No Harm" (2013) cancelled after 2 episodes. The Dictator (2012) starring Christopher Lloyd only had one episode.
Answer: One of the shortest TV shows ever was the 1997 series "Lawless," starring former NFL player Brian Bosworth. It was cancelled after the first episode. Also, "Cop Rock," a TV show in the 90s, was cancelled after only 11 episodes. "When The Whistle Blows," a TV sitcom in the 80s, also only lasted 11 episodes.
Answer: There was a police drama roughly 10 years ago called Golden Boy. It was about the youngest police Commissioner in NYPD history and kept hinting at a department-wide shootout that led to the man's promotion. It lasted 13 episodes.
Answer: Another show was called "Brimstone" and had actors Peter Horton and John Glover. The show only had 13 episodes.
The 1963 ABC "The Jerry Lewis Show" was originally planned for 40 episodes in the first season. It went off after 13 shows.
Answer: Outlaws 1986, was cancelled after a few episodes. Sitcom In Case of Emergency, with Kelly Hu, was cancelled after only a couple of episodes.
29th Sep 2023
Sesame Street (1969)
Question: Why are so many episodes and segments on Sesame Street lost?
Answer: Over 4500 episodes of Sesame Street have been produced since its debut in 1969. Some of the earliest episodes have been lost for a variety of reasons, such as copies being misplaced or from some type of physical damage, though the amount is relatively small. Some segments were recycled into new episodes, while others were archived and are no longer available. HBO airs later Sesame Street episodes, though they recently decreased the number now shown by over 200. They needed to reduce the amount to free up space for other streaming programs.
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Answer: I think Lisa and Bart are actually referring to Generation X and early Millennials. People of these ages are also known as "the MTV Generation." They dealt with the political, social, and economic issues that were happening in the '80s and '90s. Many were also "latchkey kids" who had to be independent from an early age. They are known for being apathetic or even cynical, after growing up the way they did.