Factual error: Eugene says he was a bit of a geek in high school. 'Geek' as a term for a socially awkward person wasn't used until the 1970s. In 1962 'geek' still meant a carnival performer who bit the heads off live animals.
Brian Katcher
3rd May 2023
Quantum Leap (2022)
18th Mar 2023
Night Court (1984)
Question: In nearly every episode there are two bailiffs standing in the back of the courtroom, a blonde white guy and a black man with glasses. They also appear hanging out in the cafeteria, walking in the halls, etc. However, I don't think they ever had a single line during the entire series run, even in episodes that prominently featured the building's entire bailiff staff. Any reason they made an effort to keep these two extras for the entire run, but never had them say anything?
Answer: Most likely it was about money. Actors who have speaking parts, even if it's only one word, are paid more than "extras", who do not have any dialogue. As the two characters played no part in any of the plots, there was no reason to have them speak lines. Therefore, they were paid less money.
So why hire an extra to play a messenger or bailiff from another courtroom when that pair was already on the set and could have easily said the lines?
What lines? Your question specified that they never spoke any lines and you wanted to know why.
Lines that other extras playing bailiffs said.
If an actor speaks any dialogue, they are billed as "co-stars" and paid at a higher rate than "extras" (also known as Background Actors), who are uncredited. The two you mentioned were regulars who were merely silent background characters used to "dress the set", making the courthouse look more realistically populated. Extras often have no acting ability and are unsuitable for speaking lines. Some people work exclusively as extras in various TV shows and movies and do not actually act or have dialogue.
26th Feb 2023
General questions
What is the name of this point and click video game I played in 1986 or 87? You follow your dog through a portal in your uncle's (?) lab and wind up in a world where everyone (including the dog) is super cool. It being the 80s, that meant they dressed like martians. I could never get very far, because after a couple of minutes of game time, the bad guy would feed you to a carnivorous zoo animal.
Answer: Some of this description sounds a lot like "Pepper's Adventures in Time" but that came out in the early 90s. Also the game didn't have any Martians in it.
If it came out in the 90s, I didn't play it in the 80s.
10th Feb 2023
Cheers (1982)
One for the Road (3) - S11-E28
Question: When I streamed this episode, there were a couple of small scenes missing (Sam explaining that his cigars were a gift from Fidel Castro via Reggie Jackson; Sam kissing Rebecca goodbye). I know they used to cut scenes to cram in more commercials after the initial broadcast, but with a streaming service, you're not limited to a time slot. Why not air the whole thing?
Answer: They sometimes acquire episodes from syndicated reruns. The ones with the cut scenes. Sundance channel have some episodes of M.A.S.H. uncut.
25th Jan 2023
Night Court (1984)
Undressed For Success - S9-E14
Continuity mistake: In this episode, Harry is putting together an unpainted plastic model of Frankenstein's monster. In the previous episode, 'A New York Story,' the model is put together and he's almost finished painting it.
Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.
Suggested correction: That's because the episodes were aired out of order and not a mistake in the show. Episode 14 (production code 18741) was produced before episode 13 (production code 18744).
23rd Jan 2023
General questions
Looking for a cabinet game I played in an arcade in the early 1990s. It was a first person shooter, where you used a plastic gun to shoot the screen. The premise is you are in a city that's been taken over by ghosts and demons and you fight possessed items rather than monsters. The final boss on the first level is a movie poster where a actor and actress' face jump out of the poster and attack you. The second level is a restaurant where you fight flying plates and coats.
Answer: Maybe "Laser Ghost" (1990)?
That's it! Thanks.
8th Jan 2023
Night Court (1984)
Continuity mistake: Mac says he went through Marine Corps boot camp, but in the flashback in 'Crossroads', he's in the army.
1st Jan 2023
Night Court (1984)
Ladies Night - S5-E4
Question: Christine asks Roz if she ever hangs out at a tavern or café or a 'bwot' (I am absolutely misspelling that). Then Roz starts calling the strip club she frequents 'a bwot' as a running joke. I've heard the term on Frasier as well, but I can't google it because I have no idea how to spell it. What is it?
Answer: The word is "boîte." It's a French word and just means a small restaurant or cafe. "Boîte de nuit" would be a nightclub.
15th Dec 2022
Night Court (1984)
Question: I swear when this episode first aired, Bull broke Roz's Mr. T coffee mug. I remember seeing it with gold chains hanging off it. When I just watched the rerun, it was just an ordinary floral cup and Mr. T was never mentioned. Did they film two versions?
8th Dec 2022
Quantum Leap (2022)
Factual error: The bad guy tells the townsfolk to 'Get out of Dodge.' Not a saying used in 1879, despite Dodge City being a real place. In fact by this time Dodge City was no more violent than many other places, so it wouldn't have been used as a direct comparison either. There's no record of this specific phrase being used until Gunsmoke, in 1955.
15th Oct 2022
General questions
There was a short cartoon I saw in the early 80s where every time the guy used a figure of speech, it would happen literally: I combed the beach (with an actual comb); I put my foot in my mouth (literally); She had a lot of little ones (tiny numeral 1s).
Answer: "Symphony in Slang" by Tex Avery (1951).
Thanks. You just solved a 40-year-old problem for me.
You're welcome.
11th Oct 2022
General questions
What was this science fiction movie from the early 80s or earlier? An earth man is undergoing a procedure by aliens (or future people) to make him super intelligent. I just remember the aliens chanting 'Think about the brain...think about the brain...' over and over again.
Answer: Maybe "Starship Invasions," (1977) two alien races bring their war to Earth. One set experiments on humans, while the others ask for their help.
I don't think that's it either. I'm pretty sure I saw it in the theater and that was before my time.
Answer: There is a 1977 TV-Movie, "The Man with the Power." A man discovers his father was an alien from another planet. He has super powers. An alien emissary appears to advise him on how to use his powers to help mankind. I don't know about the "think about the brain" scene. It hasn't been broadcast in twenty years. There are a couple of other movies, but I believe this is the one your looking for.
Thanks, but after googling it, I don't think that's it. The man in my movie was older, they definitely were performing some sort of medical procedure on him, there were in some sort of futuristic hospital, there were multiple aliens, and I'm almost certain I saw this in the theater.
11th Oct 2022
General questions
What was this science fiction show or movie I saw in the early 80s? There was this eclectic group of aliens, including, strangely, an earth cowboy. Some of the group were identical aliens who did everything exactly the same. When the cowboy offered an alien a hot dog, they all began chewing, and reciting the ingredients ("and artificial flavoring").
Answer: "Battle Beyond the Stars" (1980).
7th Sep 2022
The West Wing (1999)
Question: Whose portrait is hanging behind Santo's desk in the newly redecorated Oval Office? (to the right of the desk from the viewer's perspective).
Answer: The painting hanging on the wall to the right of Santos' desk is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
18th Aug 2022
Mac and Me (1988)
Trivia: This film was panned for its blatant product placement, most notably for Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Sears. In the scene in the supermarket, the Pepsi logo on a cooler is whited out.
18th Jan 2022
Psych (2006)
Earth, Wind and... Wait for It - S3-E12
Trivia: The fire inspector tells the investigators to fill out form IG-88. IG-88 was a robot bounty hunter from 'The Empire Strikes Back.'.
22nd Nov 2021
Jurassic Park (1993)
Question: Who is the pipe smoking man in the black and white photo taped to Nedry's computer monitor? Some computing pioneer?
Answer: After the explosion of the first Atomic Bomb, Oppeheimer was quoted as saying, "I'm not an evil man, but I have done evil things."
Answer: Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. One of the fathers of the atomic bomb. I don't know why Nedry would have his picture up and you can draw your own conclusion, but it does seem to be a reference to how good science can lead to destruction.
Answer: He also said, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
20th Oct 2021
Monk (2002)
Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion - S5-E6
Factual error: Stottlemeyer says that if Diane killed herself, her suicide note would go on the public record (and her old nurse would recognize it as a copy of her decades-old note). Since when are suicide notes made public?
12th Oct 2021
Cheers (1982)
One Happy Chappy in a Sappy Serape (2) - S7-E4
Trivia: Translation of Pepe's joke - Sam: What's up, Pepe? Pepe: My underwear. That water is really cold.
18th Feb 2021
Pleasantville (1998)
Trivia: When the mayor is talking in the bowling alley, you can see the projection of the score sheet. There is not a single open frame; everyone bowled a strike or spare every time.
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Answer: Most likely, they were stand-ins for members of the main cast. When lighting sets, rather than have the main actors stand around while they adjust the lights, they will get someone with similar physical characteristics to fill in. Since they are already on the set and have nothing to do during the actual shooting, it is more convenient, and probably cheaper, to also use them as extras.