h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Did you ever watch 'My Favorite Martian', either back in the 1960s or on late-night TV?

If so, you understand why this TV commercial is amusing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAohs_EElnw

If not, you might be puzzled. But if someone showed you this clip, you'd understand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQlq4gsui1c

If you're a US citizen of a certain age, this bit of cultural baggage is common knowledge. If you're from anywhere or anywhen else, it requires a bit of explanation if you're to share in the fun.

Why am I bringing this up?

Because what I've just described is either a PROBLEM for h2g2 - or an OPPORTUNITY.

What do I mean?

Simply put, a lot of our writers - for the Edited Guide, especially - are British. Some aren't. The Post writing staff are a well-rounded, international crowd who already know about this, so pardon the rest of us while we explain.

Now, over in PR, we end up with a lot of comments to the effect that, 'Hey, I don't understand that.'

Great. That's an opportunity.

Keep in mind that people who read what we've written are:

- Of different ages.
- From different countries.
- Likely to speak different varieties of English.
- Likely to have different brands of cultural baggage.
- Unlikely to share your musical/film/TV tastes exactly.

Which means, simply, that you want to listen to PR feedback (or the plaintive cry of an editor) to the effect that you need to put the info in context.

It's a challenge - but hey, wait: it's something we can do that makes h2g2 remarkable: we're the go-to place for explaining what has always puzzled outsiders about:

- The US.
- The UK.
- The Irish.
- 2legs.
- Germany.
- Austria.
- South Africa.
- Outer space, inner space, and the differently mentated. (Also 2legs.)

In other words, it's an OPPORTUNITY.

Lil makes sure we know about Dame Edith Evans. I look up Fyvush Finkel. Galaxy Babe rescues the Ponderosa Pine, although one doesn't grow in her neighbourhood. Vip tells us about Mozart's clarinet concerto, and we get it, even if we've never picked up a reed instrument. (I've tried tin whistle, but I can't play it. Nope. Sad sounds come out of there. I'll stick to keyboards.)

This came to me last night, when we were watching 'Picket Fences'. There was a Halloween party, you see, and everyone in town was there in costume. When the judge, played by Ray Walston - the guy you saw in those clips earlier - walked by wearing antennae on his head, I laughed at the little visual joke. And then I thought about how I could explain that to Willem. See?

It's an opportunity. One we have all the time. In a way, we're writing letters from Mars.

We just need to remember to include the operative alien information.

We have to explain 2legs? Man. That's setting the bar a bit high!

I was thinking the same thing, KB, and he's been one of my best friends on here for 11.5 years now (including a standing invitation and hours upon hours on the phone)!

Well, maybe not *explain* him...

I've often thought about this, Dmitri.

I once wrote an entry about a British Book of Patriotism. It's a thin paperback containing historical dates, soundbyte quotes, hymns and speeches. All very rousing at those 'Last Night of the Proms' moments, but it was missing something very big indeed: popular culture.

I believe it would be possible to condense any popular culture down into a similarly thin book. The historical dates and soundbytes would be books and films and entertainers' catchphrases. The hymns would be the choruses of pop songs. The speeches would be well-known TV sketches - you get the idea - anything which you'd *expect* someone from that culture to know.

Or could we squeeze it further into a Guide Entry: "The Essential Popular Culture of (The United States)"

I'm pretty sure we couldn't do that for the US as a whole. It would be far too long. For any other country as well, I suspect.

But it would make a splendid University Project.

What a good idea, Icy!

One important thing is that popular culture doesn't have to originate in that territory - it just has to be popular there. We in the UK have enjoyed a lot of American TV, for example.

my fav' Martianfond memories of watching in the early 60's

That would also be a good reference - for instance, h2g2ers are always discussing TV shows, and one question is, 'Do you know that one?'

The Prof's a big fan of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.

Bel in Germany watches NCIS, and the US series 'Elementary', with Jonny Lee Miller. I turned her onto 'The Guardian', which she found in Germany, too.

Over here, 'Keeping Up Appearances' and 'Are You Being Served?' are perennial favourites, along with 'Last of the Summer Wine'. In Philadelphia, there's a station that runs 'Ros na Run', an Irish-language soap opera.

But if you mention 'House of Cards', US Netflix viewers will think you mean the new series with Kevin Spacey (pretty good). And if you say 'Life on Mars', we're thinking about Harvey Keitel and Jason O'Mara. I tried watching the UK version of that, but frankly, it left me cold.

laugh-inno DVD's on the planet as far as I know
that'll play on euro players that is

All the kids in the US know that stuff by heart - it ended up on 'Nick at Nite', apparently. (Kids' cable.)

say good night Dick! good night Dick!


there ain't no fighting in my court

We love soaps in the UK. Many people can name the Rovers Return barmaids, or who Ken Barlow married, and in which order. But in the 70s/80s/90s we enjoyed Dallas and Dynasty from the US, and Neighbours (Australia) too.

I'm sure most over here could quote a few Monty Python sketches, or do an impression of Tommy Cooper's comedy magic show.

Everyone over 30 should be able to name the firemen from the children's show Trumpton. If you're ever in a room full of people in a foreign land and want to find the Brits among them, just shout "Pugh, Pugh, Barney-McGrew" and wait for someone to finish it off.

...Cuthbert, Dibble and Gruff, right?

It even became a rave song circa '92.

err! Albert ?

In the US, a certain generation would be able to finish advertising slogans such as 'You'll wonder where the yellow went, when [you brush your teeth with Pepsodent],' or 'Mother, please, I'd [rather do it myself].' (Headache remedy.)

Pepsodent was the first tv advert ever shown over here

Ah, little did they know then that the advertising would soon have more screen-time than the programming would.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPsoxmXjtfc

Cool, you found that one.

Another great place to study old commercials is the Prelinger Archive.

Here's a 1956 COMPUTER commercial:

http://archive.org/details/Univac_Commercial_Classic_Old_Vintage