Bathroom Readers Institute - Uncle Johns Facts to Go UJTV

UNCLE JOHNS FACTS TO GO UJTV

Copyright 2013 by Portable Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Portable Press/The Bathroom Readers Institute
An imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121
www.bathroomreader.com
e-mail:

Printers Row Publishing Group is a division of Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC.

The Portable Press, Bathroom Readers Institute, and Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader names and logos are registered trademarks of Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC.

All correspondence concerning the content of this book should be addressed to Portable Press/The Bathroom Readers Institute, Editorial Department, at the above address.

Cover design by Lauren Clulow

eISBN: 978-1-62686-158-9

e-Book edition: December 2013

UJTV

A Note from Uncle John
Here at the Bathroom Readers Institute, when people accuse of us of not getting enough exercise, we say, Hey, we go channel surfing all the time! (So far, no ones been impressed.) But we like to think that all that research has made us experts on the small screen. So before the commercial ends, make some microwave popcorn, snuggle up in you Snuggie, and let UJTV keep you company for a while.

About the Series
Uncle Johns Facts to Go e-books feature the very best articlesalong with all-new materialfrom the extensive Bathroom Reader line. Founded in 1988, the Bathroom Readers Institute has written more than 100 books that have collectively sold over 15 million copies. Today, Uncle John is the worlds most trusted name in trivia.

We begin with some boob-tube influences.

C OSMO KRAMER. While Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were laying the groundwork for Seinfeld, Davids eccentric neighbor, Kenny Kramer, would often pop in and bug them. Just like his TV counterpart, Kramer had no real job but dabbled in schemes and inventions (he patented glow-in-the-dark jewelry). Unlike the TV Kramer, says Kenny, my harebrained schemes work.

PHILIP J. FRY. The lead character on the cartoon Futurama wears the same clothesblue jeans, red jacket, and white T-shirtand has the same blond hair as Jim Stark. Whos that? James Deans character in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause.

VULCAN HAND SALUTE. Leonard Nimoy invented this for Mr. Spock during the filming of a Star Trek episode. The gesture was borrowed from the Jewish High Holiday services. The kohanim priest blesses the congregation by extending the palms of both handswith thumbs outstretched and the middle and ring fingers parted. Nimoy used the same gesture, only with one hand.

LAVERNE & SHIRLEY. In 1959, Gary Marshall was eating at a Brooklyn restaurant with his date when another woman approached the table and began arguing with Marshalls companion. Before he knew what was happening, his quiet, demure date was shucking her coat and wrestling in the aisle. The incident made such an impression on Marshall that in 1975 he wrote it into an episode of his TV show, Happy Days. He named the two brawling women Laverne and Shirley. Audiences loved the pair, and the following year they had their own sitcom.

AMY POEHLER. On her influences: Laverne & Shirley was physical and broad, and I loved those characters. Law & Orders Lieutenant Anita van Buren is a great example of a tough lady among men. Omar Little from The Wireone of the best bad good guys, or good bad guys, on TV. Cliff, from Cheers. And Animal from The Muppets, who taught me: When in doubt, go crazy.

ANIMAL. Jim Henson based the Muppets crazy drummer on another crazy drummer: The Whos Keith Moon.

OSCAR THE GROUCH. At a restaurant called Oscars Tavern in Manhattan, Jim Henson and Sesame Street director Jon Stone were waited on by a man so rude and grouchy that going to Oscars became a sort of masochistic form of lunchtime entertainment for them. They immortalized him as the worlds most famous grouch.

SONS OF ANARCHY. According to creator Kurt Sutter, the violent show about the politics and infighting of a California motorcycle club is based upon Shakespeares Hamlet. (But he said the later seasons are more akin to King Lear.)

STEVE MARTIN. As a boy in the 1950s, Martin loved watching The Red Skelton Show on TV. Amazed by Skeltons power to make people laugh, he wanted that power, too. Howd he get it? By learning every Skelton skit word for word and then performing them for his schoolmates.

SUE SYLVESTER. The mean high-school cheerleading coach on Foxs Glee is based on American Idols Simon Cowell. Said actress Jane Lynch: Simon and Sue say the things people wish they could in their jobs or at their school, but cant.

THE BIG BANG THEORY. Show creator Chuck Lorre named the two leadsSheldon and Leonardafter legendary producer Sheldon Leonard (The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show).

THE SS MINNOW. The boat that took the seven castaways to Gilligans Island was named after FCC chairman Newton Minow. In a 1961 speech he called television a vast wasteland. Gilligans Island creator Sherwood Schwartz named the doomed vessel after Minow as an insult.

Scooby-Doo is his nickname. His real name is Scoobert.

Being on a game show may look easy from the comfort of your living room, but under those hot television lights, contestants mouths sometimes disconnect from their brains.

Anne Robinson: What insect is commonly found hovering above lakes?

Contestant: Crocodiles.

The Weakest Link

Alex Trebek: If a Japanese isha (doctor) asks you to stick out your shita, he means this.

Contestant: What isyour behind?

Jeopardy!

Todd Newton: Bourbon whiskey is named after Bourbon County, located in what state?

Contestant: England.

Press Your Luck

The Puzzle: TOM HANKS AS _ORREST GUMP

Contestant: Tom Hanks as Morris Gump.

Wheel of Fortune

Anne Robinson: Who is the only Marx brother that remained silent throughout all their films?

Contestant: Karl.

The Weakest Link

Richard Dawson: Name something a blind man might use.

Contestant: A sword.

Family Feud

Eamonn Holmes: Name the playwright commonly known by the initials G.B.S.

Contestant: William Shakespeare?

National Lottery Jet Set