dick_grayson

In the episode "The Pen" where Jerry goes to Florida for his father's testimonial dinner and Jerry's capilaries burst and he's forced to wear sunglasses. Anyway, Uncle Leo says to him:

LEO: (to Jerry while he's grabbing his arm as usual) What's with the sunglasses? Who are you? Van Johnson?

I know Van Johnson was an actor, but that's about it. Anyone know why Uncle Leo chose Van Johnson of all people?

Thanks

Jack Straw

Google is a wonderful thing.

dick_grayson

yeah, I googled it and didn't find an answer so I posted a thread here.

these "google is your friend" posts are pretty retarded, by the way. If it's so easy to find, post the damn link rather than......

Charlie Goose

I'm thinking it's because although VJ was a semi-major movie star way back when, it's funny because it's an obscure reference. Just like an older member of any family would make. It's not as if VJ and sunglasses are synonymous, probably even in those days.

dick_grayson

thanks. that's pretty much what I assumed. I thought maybe it was explained on the dvd commentary or something or that there was something about Van Johnson that I didn't know. The fact that Uncle Leo would use him of all people as his model for "cool" is pretty funny. Well, just about everything Uncle Leo does is genius.

theflicker

Van Johnson? Why, he's a regular Rory Calhoun!

Dr Mabuse

Van Johnson was a major movie star.

kenbuzz

Well, people who wear sunglasses indoors are dicks, except for Corey Hart, and then only at night.


Johnson is a euphenism for penis, which has "dick" as a euphenism as well, so they're equivalent in that respect. And a Van is big. So calling an indoor sunglass-wearing Jerry a name by using a reference to Van Johnson is the same as calling him Corey Hart (at night).

I can't believe that you couldn't Google that.

Charlie Goose

And the Minstrel, a Batman foe!

Michael Corvin

That is exactly the joke.

GoldenJCJ

One of the funniest out-of-nowhere name drops was another episode of The Simpsons. Homer says something like, "When it's time to do your laundry, where's Ray Bolger? I'll tell ya. Ray Bolger is looking out for Ray Bolger!"

So obscure that it makes me laugh every time I hear Bolger's name mentioned elsewhere.

madcougar

You think he's obscure? He was the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. I've never even seen the entire movie and I know that.

But then, I am a super genius.

The Bus

Genius. 5/5

GoldenJCJ

Yeah, I think he's fairly obscure. Aside from the Wizard of Oz I couldn't tell you a single thing he's been in. But for all I know he was Hot shit in the '30's and '40s.

rw2516

Maybe there's a semi-famous film where Johnson played a blind character. And he was a major movie star.

My Other Self

You sure you don't mean Snoop Doggy Dogg? Bob Barker? David Brenner?

"No, no. The person that's always standing and walking."

cleaver

Baby, on Board, something something, Dick Ward

rfduncan

Yeah... that Roy Orbison was a real asshole.

I'm guessing they wanted to get more "ancient" and dated than Roy Orbison who would have be more contemporary and therefore not as funny.

dick_grayson

so Van Johnson was known for wearing sunglasses all the time?

Jobronie

Wasn't it Burt Ward?

cleaver

I guess I combined Dick Grayson and Burt Ward; this is exactly why Batman the show needs to come out on DVD.

Deke Rivers

im glad someone finally said it..
it amazes me too that someone would read a thread they dont want to just to reprimand the thread starter for not using google

Rockmjd23

I don't like them either. If it's so easily found in google, why not just post a link to it?

My Other Self

You're good, Milhouse. Van Johnson good.

Jack Straw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Johnson