CRGA entry for Show #4 (Mon Jan 23)
Will Bell
(the CRGA) for show #4 which is scheduled for re-broadcast on Mon Jan 23.
Last-minute changes by Fox may affect which episode is shown.
This file may contain SPOILERS for those who have not seen the episode.
Please see important messages at the end of the file.
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** Show #4 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Aug-23-1994)
"Hooked on a Ceiling" --
+ Title is probably a reference to the 1970's tune
"Hooked on a Feeling" by B. J. Thomas. (RWA, JB)
+ Just to be painfully correct about it, the version everyone
remembers was by Blue Swede, who took the song to #1 in 1974.
(Thomas took it to #5 in 1968.) (MMcD)
+ Recurring musical theme is Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an
Exhibition". (WBB)
+ The narrator in the circle was patterned after John Houseman. (RDB)
+ The four creatures who he hooks away are the Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles, who were popular a couple years ago but are rapidly vanishing
into oblivion. One of the turtles was named Michaelangelo, hence the
relevance (they're all named after famous painters). (WBB, RAR)
+ "Ceilings, nothing more than Ceilings" == parody of "Feelings" by
Morris Albert. (RWA, JB)
+ Dogs playing poker -- famous cheezoid cheapo paintings from some time
ago. Doesn't EVERYONE have one of these prints lying around
somewhere? (WBB)
+ Paintings with the big-eyed kids were a popular style some years ago,
alas. These paintings were originally credited to Walter Keane and his
wife, but it was later proven, more or less, that Mrs. (Margaret) Keane
was the true artist. (SS, MB, MF)
+ "He prefers the YOUNG Elvis" -- refers to the well-publicized poll
taken by the United States Postal Service regarding which image of
Elvis to put on his commemorative stamp (young vs. old -- the
Warners picked Old, the Americans picked Young) (WBB)
- The matador painting (half visible to the left of the dogs playing
poker), the dogs playing poker, the Keane kids, and the portrait of
Elvis are all classic examples of tacky art. (MB)
+ E.T. of course refers to Spielberg's famous movie.
+ The pose used for E.T. and Elliot is a wonderful combination of
Michelangelo's "hand of man touches hand of God" scene on the Chapel
ceiling and the "ouch" scene from "E.T." (MB)
+ "Mikey" (he likes it!) refers to the old Life cereal commercials.
+ "His Eminence" == Steven Spielberg, of course (WBB)
- The voice and model for Michelangelo was Kirk Douglas. See
Ren & Stimpy for more parodies of Douglas. (AS)
- There was a long discussion about Charlton Heston when the episode
aired. Charlton Heston starred in "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (a film
about Michelangelo painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel) and it
would perhaps have made more sense for the toon to parody Heston.
But the consensus is that the toon spoofs Douglas. (DD, MB)
"Goodfeathers: the Beginning"
+ Goodfeathers == Goodfellas (1990 Martin Scorsese movie)
+ Pesto == Joe Pesci
+ Bobby == Robert De Niro
+ Squit == Ray Liotta. The voice is a dead-on imitation of Ray Liotta,
including the "as far back as I remember" line that starts Goodfellas.
But some readers feel that Squit doesn't have much in common with Ray
Liotta's character in "Goodfellas". (MB, AS)
+ The Godpigeon == The Godfather (Bird resembles Marlon Brando)
- Goodfeathers is funnier if you watch Goodfellas, the Godfather movies
and Raging Bull. A lot of the parodies of Scorsese's style (like the
animated moving background to emulate the infamous 5-minute long
steadicam shot in Goodfellas) will make more sense. (AS)
- Pesto's blowing up routine ("are you calling me a ________?!?") is from
Goodfellas as well -- that's one you gotta see the original to get the
impact. (AS)
- Bobby's "You _____ with me?" bit is from "Taxi Driver". (MB)
- "Badabing..." is something James Caan says in Godfather Part I. (AS)
- A passenger on the subway resembles the "Waitress" (before version)
from *Hollywood Plucky*. (MA)
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The purpose of these postings is to cut down on needless rehashing of
already learned details. Please feel free to expand or comment on any
material appearing here.
Please see the full version of the CRGA for keys to the (XXX) and other
information. Ftp to ftp.netcom.com in the dir /pub/wb/wbb/animaniacs.
To find out how to obtain a copy of the CRGA by email, send mail to
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are ignored by the server and subsequently trashed.
Material is taken from the unedited version 2.0 of the CRGA dated
December 1994. Corrections mailed or posted since then will not appear in
these daily posts until the next CRGA update later this year.
This article was generated and posted by a program. If something is wrong
with it (missing text, unexpected episodes, etc.) please notify me because
I might not notice it.
CRGA entries are Copyright 1993, 1994 by Will B. Bell.
Thanks to Paul Hendry for providing advance info on upcoming episodes.
David Orozco
>
>Following is the entry from the Cultural References Guide for Animaniacs
>(the CRGA) for show #4 which is scheduled for re-broadcast on Mon Jan 23.
>** Show #4 ** CRGA v2.0 ** (This entry last updated on Aug-23-1994)
>
>"Hooked on a Ceiling" --
>
Not really a CR, just something I'd like to share:
Most of you know that Life cereal currently has our beloved trio on their
boxes. Some of you have collected all four different boxes with the trading
cards, and the lessons for life. Naturally, I am one of those collectors.
I started eating this cereal during my winter break (after X-mas), and
as of Jan 23, I have finished eating my fourth, and absolutely final box
of that cereal. I don't ever want to eat another sugar packed squares
ever again. Especailly that cinnamon flavor, which is probably the source
for SGW's "Totally Awesome Acme Snacks."
Forgive me for that last rant, I've had way too much sugar the last
couple of weeks.
--
dor...@WESLEYAN.EDU ==> David Orozco <*>
"Never underestimate the little guy." - Rita (Animaniacs)
_From QUEENS come KINGS!!!_