Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2007 January 3

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January 3

"He called me 'a cheecky fellow'"

Where was that quote from? 67.169.56.188 01:36, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps you mean, "Their ranks are nine lieutenants, five captains, three majors and one fat colonel who called me a cheeky fellow"? Thats from The Patriot. Rockpocket 02:21, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

British series about unsuccessful gang

Anybody know the name of a British comic series (sitcom?) about a gang of about four to seven young male criminals, including one black? It is set in an English city in the 1990s, by SKA Productions Ltd. if memory serves me right.

I think one episode was about the gang's attempt to shortchange an arms dealer. Perhaps most episodes were about the gang's neglection of the mission their boss had assigned them over the temptation to engage in higher levels of organised crime and/or strike it big, but then failing miserably.

I've watched it two or three times on Nederland Twee or Een in 2001 or perhaps slightly earlier, with Dutch subtitles. Wikipeditor 02:44, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Based on Ska Production's movie portfolio and the description, I'm guessing you are referring to the television spin off of the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, cunningly called Lock, Stock.... However, our article states it was produced by Ginger Productions. Rockpocket 03:56, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

That's it – thanks a lot! Wikipeditor 03:51, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

UDL's

Could someone please explain to me what UDL stands for? RTD's are Ready to Drink, but I am unsure what UDL means? Does it have something to do with the company that started it, or does it have another meaning? Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Nicci438 04:11, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

In what context have you seen "UDL"? Have you taken a look at UDL? A google search for "Define: UDL" also yields a couple of results. --Measure 06:29, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

A wild guess: if the two abbreviations have been seen in the same context, maybe the DL in UDL stands for "drink later"? --Richardrj ^{talk email} 07:40, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

It's a brand name that has become somewhat genericised in Australia, owned by Diageo. It was probably an acronym for 'United Drinks Limited' or something when first launched, but now it doesn't stand for anything. Natgoo 09:04, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

It stands for The United Distillers (Proprietary) Limited - the original name of the company that made the beverage in Australia--Melburnian 13:46, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Positions in Rugby equivalent to linemen in USA football

I'm not so familiar with rugby and while I've read the wikipedia articles related to my question its not the same as feedback from someone whos actually watched a game. For thoose not familiar, in American Football there are positions called linemen who basically charge the opposing linemen attempting to push them back and possibly tackle the opposing teams ball. From what I've heard rugby is very similar to both american football and soccer. But the manner in which soccer is played is nothing like football linmen. Are there any Positions in Rugby equivalent to linemen in USA football? More specifically are there any positions where brute physical strength is more important than say hand eye coordination,flexibility or agility? --Gary123 Apply now, exciting opportunities available at Continental Op Detective Agency! 04:57, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

At its simplest, in rugby you have forwards (the players who create the scrum) and backs (who form the line behind the scrum along which the ball is passed). Forwards generally are heavier and use more brute strength (though they also have good hand-eye coordination) - backs are lighter and faster. Flankers are what are known as "loose forwards" - they are at the outer edge of the scrum and often join in running moves. As such they have both brute strength and coordination. Occasionally you get freak players like Jonah Lomu who are backs but are the size and strength of forwards, bu they are very rare. I suppose the front row of the scrum - the hooker and props, are probably closest to what you mean. This article will give you more info. Grutness...wha? 12:53, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

There's very little similarity between rugby and soccer. Rugby league is similar to American football in one way - a team retains the ball for six tackles (as opposed to four downs), but after the sixth, if they haven't scored, they give up the ball no matter how much ground they've gained - but there's no blocking and few set-pieces so there's not so much specialisation of positions. Rugby union doesn't have blocking either, but it does have a number of set-pieces like scrums, line-outs, rucks and mauls, so positions are more specialised. Generally the forwards (aka the pack) are big, strong guys who contest possession at set-pieces. Once they win the ball they will generally either try to advance it by pushing the other team back, or pass it to the backs who will try to advance it by running, passing or kicking. The front and second row forwards would be the closest equivalents to American linemen, while the back row forwards (the flankers and No. 8) would be similar to linebackers or tight ends. However, they're not so specialised that a prop forward couldn't take part in a passing move, kick a drop-goal or run the length of the pitch to score a try if the opportunity presented itself. --Nicknack009 20:15, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

mafia parody

I have vague memories of a sketch that goes like this: Two mafia enforcers enter a shop of some sort, one of them starts doing the cliche "a nice shop you've got here, shame if something bad were to happen..." talk and the other guy walks around the place menacingly, ready to break property "by accident". As the first guy goes on with his veiled threats and tells specific examples of accidents that might happen, the other guy turns out to be a real klutz and hurts himself in exactly the kind of accidents that the other guy is describing. This goes on for a while, the first guy keeps making deadpan threats and the other guy hurts himself while trying to damage property. But for the life of me I can't recall any more details - who were the actors in the scene and which movie or sitcom is it from? 84.239.129.42 11:55, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Sounds a lot like some of the mafia parodies that were one of the running jokes on Monty Python's Flying Circus, usually with Michael Palin and Terry Jones as the two mafiosi. I definitely recall one where they go into an army colonel's office and Palin starts with something like "Nice tanks you got there. It'd be a shame if one of them went missing..." Grutness...wha? 13:08, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

The sketch is called the Army Protection Racket, and we actually have an article on it. There don't seem to be articles on any other Mafia sketches though. Laïka 11:04, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, could be... Actually I saw the colonel's office bit recently and it reminded me of this similar sketch, but I didn't realise it was a running joke with the Pythons. They are showing reruns of Monty Python in Finnish TV, so maybe it will come up at some point. But I'm still not sure if the sketch I recall is by Monty Python, or Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, or someone else. I'd appreciate if anyone has other suggestions! 84.239.129.42 19:08, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

(Russian?) dance song?

All I know is the verse... "AY YAY YAY machichki"? Something like that. It's a catchy clubdance tune. Anybody know what it is?

Update: Found it (by fluke)... it's by ruki verh "ai ai ai"...

Name of Movie

138.32.32.44 16:11, 3 January 2007 (UTC)I once saw a movie about a husband and wife who picked up a lady whose car had broken down. The scenery looked like west Texas. A series of events ended in the husband killing a cop at a gas station. Now the twist. They kept reliving the events leading up to the cop killing over and over. The lady "hitchhiker" knew what was happening and tried to influence the out come each time. Her attemptes to influence the out come resulted in unintended event variance. For example on one "relive" the husband kills the wife in the car. The wife was a dominated and beaten character. I really want to know the name of this movie. Please help me!

138.32.32.44 16:11, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

This sounds somewhat like Run Lola Run, but you may want to look at the Time loop article for a good roundup of time-loop movies, tv shows, and books. --Measure 17:41, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Ever since Groundhog Day (movie), it seems I keep waking up each day and seeing the same movie in the theatres, each time with a slight variation, but with essentially the same theme. :-) StuRat 17:44, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

It certainly isn't Run Lola Run, which takes place in Berlin and does not involve a lady whose car broke down or a killing at a gas station. Of the movies listed at Time loop I've also seen 12:01 (the short), Galaxy Quest, Primer, and of course Groundhog Day, and it's not any of those. I don't know what it is. --Anon, January 3, 2007, 18:50 (UTC).

Let's try a different approch, then. Where and when did you see the movie? can you narrow it down to a decade? Did you see the movie on TV or in a theater? At a film convention, perhaps? Answers to any of these questions may help us narrow it down a bit. --Measure 19:59, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks everybody. The movie is "Retroactive" 1997 staring James Belushi and Karen Warren. If you are intrested in the concept of time shifting / reliving the past, this is a terrific movie. I found it at http://www.moria.co.nz/sf/retroactive.htm This film should be aded to the "time loop" article.

Thanks again.

lyrics/recording/george harris/song Mac Arthur Park

please advise how can i obtain lyrics/song/macarthurpark/geogge harris or any other singer please advise asap thank u htjPaul@aol.com

It's not clear whether you want just the lyrics, the sheet music, what type of recording (MP3, just one song, a CD?), but if you check some of the results of THIS GOOGLE SEARCH, you will find free lyrics online and some places where you can order the musical arrangement, tablature, free chord charts, etc. Anchoress 19:03, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Hill Street Blues

If Hill Street Blues wasn`t canceled how many years would it be on now.In other words how seasons would it have under it`s belt.And how close would it be to becoming the longest running television show ever.

Our article (click the link above) says it started in 1981. If it had not ended, it would be about to start its 27th season. No idea about the record. JackofOz 02:58, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

The 2005 edition of the Guinness Book of Records says the interview show Meet the Press is the longest-running TV series ever, although Wikipedia only says it is the longest-running in the US. It started in 1947 and Guinness says it has aired weekly since September 12, 1948, putting it in its 59th or 60th year depending on what you count.

If you only had in mind fiction series like Hill Street Blues, then you have to look to soap operas for the record: Guiding Light has been running since 1952 and is therefore in its 55th year -- and this with a 5-days-a-week show, too. Over 15,000 episodes!

Both of the above shows actually started in radio and then moved to TV; if you count the original radio series, Guiding Light is in its 70th year.

If you only had in mind prime time, once-a-week fiction series, I don't know what the answer is. I think the longest-running US show today of this type is Law & Order, now in its 17th year.

--Anonymous, January 4, 2007, 06:13 (UTC).

Although a soap opera, the UK's Coronation Street is a prime-time once (or twice?) a week show. it's been running since 1960. Grutness...wha? 12:54, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, Coronation Street is one of the UK's "leaders" in this respect. Having originally aired twice weekly, there are now five episodes per week - occasionally six (usually during particularly "big" storylines; for example, next week will have six episodes, as a major character will be killed). Nearly 6,500 episodes have been made. Incidentally, it was originally scheduled to run for just 13 episodes! Hassocks5489 19:05, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Per Gunsmoke : "The television series ran from September 10, 1955 to September 1, 1975 on CBS for 635 episodes. To this day, it is the longest run of any scripted series with continuing characters in American primetime television." It was on radio with a different cast previously, and members of the cast were reunited in TV movies made in 1987 through 1994. Edison 21:25, 4 January 2007 (UTC)