Ever correct strangers when you overhear a factual error in their pop-culture conversation?

Mel Fri, May 9, 2008 at 12:51 PM EST

I've corrected people before when I heard their blunder. One that stands out the most was during a sneak peek of the 2004 Andrew Lloyd Webber 'Phantom of the Opera.' I don't claim to be an afficiando but I do know quite a bit about 'POTO' in almost all its versions. The group behind us started talking about the Lon Chaney and Claude Rains films when they made a factual error. I felt I had to speak up because they were giving false information to another couple who had asked a question. I'm thinking I can't let these people walk out of this theater knowing false information. And so I corrected them.

Jackie Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 03:06 PM EST

My friends hate it. I always try to be like "Oh, you mean ____, right?" but they totally hate it. It's not my fault I have so much random and useless pop-culture knowledge!

buffyfan Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 08:49 PM EST

As a teen, I embarrassed my dad while watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The row behind us was like, oh look it's Emilio Estevez. I felt compelled to let them know that it was Charlie Sheen. No one else appreciated my helpfulness, whoops.

Bridget Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 08:53 PM EST

Oh, and in the spirit of this Popwatch... Ruby, it wasn't Isabella, it was Katherin of Spain. Isabella was her mother.

Bridget Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 08:50 PM EST

Several years ago, a friend and I went and saw Sweet Home Alabama. As the movie began, the couple next to me kept going back and forth about whether or not Sean Penn was playing her New York fiance. When I couldn't take it any more, I butted in and pointed out that it was Patrick Dempsey (this was pre-Grey's Anatomy, after all) and that Sean Penn wasn't in the credits that we'd all just seen.

sh Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 05:00 PM EST

My favorite example of correcting friends: there were four of us at a pizza place for dinner and "Smoke on the Water" started playing. I drew a blank so asked "who sings this song?" One friend said "Elton John". I knew that wasn't right and told her so. We argued for a while, and she wouldn't believe us. Finally someone remembered Deep Purple, but she still wouldn't admit she was wrong.

A few years later at her wedding, we had the DJ dedicate her the song by saying "Long Live Elton John" followed by "Smoke on the Water." We were the only ones that knew what was going but it was AWESOME!

I don't think I've ever corrected strangers, but if I am in line and someone around me is drawing a blank on a pop culture tidbit, I'll help them out.

kc Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:36 PM EST

i had a very hard time holding my tongue while overhearing a conversation about gus van sant's "elephant". one man was telling the other two that it was a factual re-telling of columbine!! how can you get that wrong?!? he kept citing the shower scene between the 2 shooters in "elephant" as something that they know the 2 shooters in columbine did right before they killed all those people. but i held my tongue, somehow i felt correcting these particular guys was not really good for my health.

Ruby Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 01:42 PM EST

I always resist the urge to correct strangers about pop culture, even when they are have a question up in the air. I think, no matter what, you always come off as pushy or the whole thing is awkward because not only did you just interject yourself into a conversation, now you have to leave it with them knowing you are listening. That said, I do the whole smug, it's actually this in my head. Oh, and escargot, BTW, your question isn't totally random, as Elizabeth also had a half sister named Mary (the basis for Bloody Mary), whose mother was Henry VIII's first wife Isabella from Spain. You'll find that the English during this time had a tendency to reuse the same names over and over again.

Dave Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 01:12 PM EST

Corinne, you rock.

Corinne Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM EST

I punched a girl in the face who insisted it was "Papa Don't Breathe" instead of "Papa Don't Preach." Hey we were in 3rd grade!

Dan Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 12:25 PM EST

Did you ever think they called it a "college movie" since it came out while they were in College? Might have been less about the plot and more about when they watched it on repeat. I associate (and have referred) to the Big Lebowski as a college movie (not because it was set in college) but becasue to me it symbolizes what was being watched (again and again) at the time.

I think the problem with correcting a random person on the street is that you don't know the entire context of their conversation (shared experience).

All that said, I'll correct friends on pop culture all the time...

Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 11:12 AM EST

now i'm correcting myself! the website i read about Ed Gein a couple of weeks ago said he lived in Texas, but Wikipedia says Wisconsin, and I'll believe Wikipedia any day on something like that. My B, Chris G!

Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 11:08 AM EST

actually Chris G, Ed Gein WAS in Texas, not Wisconsin.

Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM EST

I correct people all the time, its the price they pay for all the other times they consult my pop culture genius.

One of the most awkward ones though, was the time two guys on a bus couldn't remember the name of Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid. This lasted pretty much the entire ride t'il I couldn't take it anymore and blurted it out. Of course I was met with the - "... because you're Asian?" look, which was the whole reason I never spoke up in the first place.

Jennifer Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 10:17 AM EST

I was quick to correct my co-worker yesterday but it wasn't really a correction. He was complaining that Ocean's 11 w/Brad & George had to many people in it. I said~ 'Well, the original had a lot of people in it as well. You know the one with Frank Sinatra" (Hint..Hint..that is why it is called a REMAKE) He gave me that 'what are you talking about look'. LOL!! I just could not help myself.

Catherine Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 10:06 AM EST

I have a hard time not wanting to correct people (I do come across as a know-it-all quite often). But sometimes holding my tongue is a good thing. In high school I remember some classmates talking about how they loved Guns 'n Roses' "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." I immediately thought to myself, "What idiots. That's an Eric Clapton song that was covered by GNR." It wasn't until sometime later that I discovered that it's actually a Bob Dylan song covered by Eric Clapton. Oops! Maybe I'm not always right...

suzie q Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 10:04 AM EST

speaking of correcting pop culture info... isn't that a picture of summer glau next to comments about kaylee (jewel staite) in the "characters you'd date" photo spread on the home page?

Chris G Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 09:38 AM EST

I was walking through campus one day a few years ago when The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake came out and these two girls in front of me were talking about it. they went on and on about how it was scary mostly because the killer was never caught and it was based on "actual events." I neglected to tell them that there was never a Leatherface in Texas (but real killer Ed Gein in Wisconsin)mostly because I enjoyed the idea of them actually living in fear of someone that doesn't really exist...what a bunch of morons.

jen Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 09:19 AM EST

i guess it's not really correcting, but die hard Buffy fans will agree. When ever I watch tv I'm always quizzing my husband on where an actor is from, he knows by now that most times if I say "oh guess what that guy's been in" he knows to just say Buffy, then I'll go into a detailed description of what episode and what happened to them. Buffy characters are all over tv if you are a diehard who knows all the episodes, even the minor characters (like the victims usually) Just try not to spot them everywhere

Eric Friedmann Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 09:05 AM EST

When I was in college in 1991, I overheard two girls talking about how much they loved this "brand new" song by Guns & Roses called "Live and Let Die". I laughed to myself, but inside I was thinking,"Hey, stupid, it's a remake of Paul McCartney & Wings from 1973!"

Eric Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 08:37 AM EST

I once sat in a line with two girls who were trying to figure out if Ali was based on a book or a true story.

After like two minutes of witnessing this pathetic conversation I just had to tell them that Ali was a real boxer to which several guys behind me (who I also didn't know) started chanting "Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee"

Kate Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:25 AM EST

I don't think I've ever actually corrected a stranger, but a few weeks ago I was in the airport sitting next to a couple of girls who were playing 20 questions. After the 4th question, I figured out the person in question was Kid Rock (totally obvious), but they were incapable of guessing this. On the next round, after it took them 15 questions to figure out who Mariah Carey was I finally muttered it under my breath, making the girl next to me very happy b/c then she got to win and have her own turn. So I consider that interjection to be a success, even if it was technically helping someone cheat.

Heather Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:07 AM EST

I don't correct them, but I yell angrily at people I know about their ignorance. This comes from reading too much Wikipedia and IMDB. Along with HeroesWiki.

Jakeem Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:01 AM EST

I swore off correcting people years ago after seeing how flamboyantly Woody Allen used the Marshall McLuhan Maneuver in "Annie Hall."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpIYz8tfGjY

Babuda Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:15 AM EST

I never corrected an old roommate's idiot girlfriend when she said "Jennifer 8" was one of her favorite Spike Lee films. I liked to see her wallowing in her own stupidity (which extended far beyond movie titles).

Joan Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 01:43 AM EST

Well I was the first comment and now I am (for this second) the most recent. But does anyone else dumb themselves down in embarrassment? I usually do this with friends and family, where they'll be asking about a movie or TV show ("Which one was about the couple and the radio station and they had a baby?") and I'll want to say "Rock Me, Baby" but can't because even though I was not pathetic enough to watch, I don't want to admit that I store this junk away in case of emergency.

Tati Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 12:28 AM EST

If I was at my past job (Hollywood Video) I never had a problem correcting a stranger if I was checking out their movies at the counter, I don't know why. I knew I wasn't the only pop culture fan in the world but it's nice to see others comment they are too on an entertainment website. I'm such a fan that if someone tries to tell me something I know isn't right, I will argue until they agree. Like just recently someone tried to tell me John Ritter was Zach Braff's father in real life (not just on the episode of Scrubs) and it bothered me so much I still bring it up. Case in point!

Cece Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 11:57 PM EST

I'm one of practically two people at my job who is not married/engaged/has a child. My life consists of work-gym-TV. So I know quite a bit about what's on right now. One of my co-workers asked the office the names of some legal TV shows. I piped up with about six. Lame? Yes. Useful? Definitely.

Miranda Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 10:57 PM EST

Thank god I am not the only one! I am the person who can tell you who an actor is, what other stuff they've been in, and multiple items about their personal life. I'm the same way with shows and reach critical levels of nerd-ness when it's a show that I love like Buffy. I don't really correct people, but I am always spicing up my conversation with pop culture tidbits. In my film class, we had to write these journal entries for every movie that we watched and I was able to bring up Buffy for every movie....

Jeanne Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 10:31 PM EST

I've often had the urge to correct strangers, but I don't have the guts. I'm always correcting family and friends. I am, like many others here, the go-to person in my family for useless information. So much so that even my mother's co-workers will ask her to call me with their questions.

M Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 10:19 PM EST

Oh, my god, I have the same problem all the time. I was at a college basketball game, of all places, a while back and the two guys next to me were talking about "that Oscar movie with George Clooney." I actually turned to my dad and said "Michael Clayton," but I don't know if the guys heard me. We should write to Emily Post and check on the proper way to handle the situation.

Chloe Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 10:00 PM EST

I hear people butcher my beloved pop-culture trivia all day long(i work in a video store). Usually I'm pretty good about holding back, but today I couldn't hold in my Dunder Mifflin-loving rage when I had to listen to a ten minute conversation about how amazing Ben Stiller was in the 40 Year-Old Virgin. How much exposure must poor Stevie get before people actually know who he is??

Raven_Moon Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 09:48 PM EST

I do correct random stanger about their pop culture errors. I can't help myself. Sometimes they're thankful to have the correct info. Other times, they ignore me & continue to discuss wrong information.

Jelana Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 09:25 PM EST

Before the Flavor of Love shows, I was walking down the street with a friend when we overheard a guy (dorky white guy) try to impress his date (?) with this gem: "I love Public Enemy; Flavor Flav was a real pioneer." Except he pronounced Flav not as Flave, but as rhyming with calf. We waited until we were out of ear shot to crack up, lots of comments along the lines of Flav hanging out with "Charles D."

Martha Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 08:47 PM EST

By the way, escargot, Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I were cousins, not sisters. Mary's grandmother was Henry VIII's sister and Elizabeth's aunt. This makes them first cousins, once removed. (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Boy, I eat this stuff up.

Martha Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 08:39 PM EST

I only correct friends and family...and sometimes not even them, because I'm so frickin' embarrassed that I even know the right answer. Correcting strangers just sets you up for (at best) awkward silence, and (at worst) what happened to poor Ned in the bar.

Dave Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 08:35 PM EST

I just flashed back to the time when I was a 13-year-old who read the Sporting News cover to cover. At the barbershop, the old men were making some terribly misinformed comments about baseball, football, etc. I suffered in silence... even when the barber, upon completing my cut, said "Well, I guess you learned a lot about sports in here today!" ("Yeah, right!")

Alex Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 08:12 PM EST

Oh my gosh! I absolutely CANNOT correct pop culture errors. Just this past Friday I had to listen to someone recap Lost for me (I was working late) and they kept calling Daniel by the wrong name--"Daniel Farraget!" WHAT?!?! I so wanted to say that the correct last name is "Faraday" (which may be an incorrect spelling on my part here). Oh, it was killing me. Just killing me.

I MUST get over this aversion to correction that I have! I asked a friend of mine how he does it and he says that he sees correcting others as being polite so they don't continue to make fools out of themselves.

Heather Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 07:54 PM EST

This past weekend I rode a shuttle to a hotel with a flight crew that managed to miscredit the actors or titles of several different films, mostly surrounding Harrison Ford's career. I suggested to my friend that we should give them an breakdown of the errors at the end of the ride (much like they do on the sports show Pardon the Interruption), but I held back and said nothing.

Annabelle Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 07:54 PM EST

Most people I know have a terrible time with chronology. I always correct people when they talk about a movie that came out "a couple of years ago" and it was like 1992 or something.

Also, I constantly have to remind my husband of plotlines on Lost, even though he's a huge fan. He just has a terrible memory.

But I suppose really these aren't correcting strangers. I don't often do that, for shame of my dorky-ness.

stephanie Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 07:36 PM EST

it's really hard biting my tongue, especially when I'm at work and the idiots who are messing up my perfectly folded tables (I work in a clothing store) think they know all about xyz movie or song and I want to scream at them "NO YOU'RE WRONG!" a hard thing for me is when my friends misquote a movie and I want to correct them but don't want to come off as a jerk.. but when my ex did it I totally corrected him. why? he deserved it.

Matthew L Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 07:32 PM EST

(Vague spoilers for Vertigo)

Not quite on topic, but Hanna's story reminded me about an incident when I was at university. I had discovered Alfred Hitchcock, and was watching the film "Vertigo" with a friend of mine (it was about my third viewing, first time for a friend). Afterward, I had a realisation, and commented to a friend that elements of the film could almost be viewed as a type of idealised necrophilia. My friend scoffed, and said I was wrong, it wasn't in the film, and I was sick for even thinking of that.

Some months later, I read the book of the Hitchcock interview with Truffaut, and at one point Hitchcock comments that Vertigo could be viewed as being about a form of necrophilia. I excitedly photocopied the page and gave it to my friend as proof that I was right. His comment: All this proves is that you and Hitchcock are both sick.

NineDaves Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 07:21 PM EST

i tend to avoid correcting strangers to their face. i much prefer talking smack about their dumb mistakes behind their back. it's just polite.

Aaron Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:45 PM EST

If people are trying to think of something and can't, I'll provide the answer. But otherwise, I let misinformed people go on about their lives because it's difficult to correct a stranger without coming off as a douchebag.

Christina Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:43 PM EST

I'm basically the person that my friends and family come to for trivia, facts, and dates of when certain shows or movies are coming out. I also feel the need to watch the beginning credits with my friend who knows nothing about pop culture and tell her what other movies or projects so and so was in. And it usually ends with a blank stare from her. And I am one of those people who listens to others' conversations and wants to blurt out the answer to "who's that guy in so and so?" It's nice to know I'm not alone.

escargot Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:39 PM EST

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!

escargot Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:37 PM EST

Ames - wouldn't they be half-sisters? Same father, different mothers?

Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:12 PM EST

I correct people all the time, there is far too much misinformation out in the world!

KateDFW Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:10 PM EST

I am that person in the office that everyone comes to when they can't remember their trivia. And yes you can get in trouble by correcting strangers but I always try and read their mood so there will be no surprises.

philippa Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 06:09 PM EST

I once overheard this exchange in a video store.
Man: What's this? (Picks up a copy of 28 Days Later.)
Woman: Oooh! It's a sequel to that Sandra Bullock movie, 28 Days. Let's rent that!
I had the urge to correct the couple, but decided it would be funnier to let them be surprised. I wonder how long it took them to figure out their mistake.

Joy Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:58 PM EST

Unfortunately I have been correcting family, friends and strangers since I was a kid. My mom used to say "Why can't you know your chemistry as well as you know all that useless information?" Now I have become the one to call for an answer to a pop culture question.

Ames Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:54 PM EST

This is one of those gray areas for me. I can't stand it when in a casual conversation, I get interrupted and corrected over very insignificant things. However, I also know I'm a total hypocrite b/c I do it too. Most recently correcting my professor (in front of the whole class) saying that Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth's cousin, not sister. What else could I do, though?

Cristina Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:42 PM EST

I am quite proud of my "if it's useless, I know it" philosophy, but one day I really should have just shut up. I was sitting in class and my professor says "Like Pink Floyd sings: Money Money Money - Money!" and another student chimed up "That's not Pink Floyd." Well, I leapt to the professor's defense and said, rather snidely, "Uh, yes it is." Only to realize 20 minutes later that the professor had sung the O'Jays "Money" and NOT Pink Floyd. After class, I ate crow and apologized to the student. I don't say anything anymore. Wait...it WAS the O'Jays....right?

Hanna Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:38 PM EST

At work, I try really hard not to correct people, because it seems so obnoxious. But sometimes I can be pretty catty. In college I once printed out a page from the internet and slipped it under my roommate's door to show her that yes, the movie "Simon Birch" is based on the book "A Prayer for Owen Meany." I also know using quotation marks on a movie or a book is incorrect, but there is no option for italics. I'm such a nerd!

RayT Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:33 PM EST

I overheard co-workers talking about American Idol: "Simon has to be mean to the contestants because he owns the show and he'll lose money if their records don't sell." After I blurted out that it was actually Simon Fuller, not Cowell, who does this, I just then realized I had outed myself as an AI fan to everyone. Oh, and I STILL say, "I don't want your life!" randomly all the time!

I thought it was just me Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:24 PM EST

I always want to correct people but don't. But I do chime in pop culture facts to my poor boyfriend when he's trying to watch TV.

Ep Sato Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:21 PM EST

All the time. The other day, some woman was asking her friend the name of the bad guy in the Spider Man movies. When her friend replied "William Dafoe" I had to correct her.

Incorrect song titles, messed up actor names and "who's the guy who played in such and such movie" are all questions that strike me as open ended. So if you hear someone say 'that was John C Reily yo', it might be me giving the answer...

cruzilla Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:21 PM EST

To Kirsten: no one here would blame you for dumping friends who don't know the difference between John C. McGinley and John C. Reilly ;)

cruzilla Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

This isn't quite the same thing, but last Friday I almost asked a group at a table next to me at dinner to stop talking about the previous night's episode of Lost (which I watch online over the weekend). Would that have been rude if I had?

Kirsten Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:16 PM EST

Constantly. I am afraid that some people have actually stopped talking to me. But serves them right for not being able to tell the difference between John C. McGinley and John C. Reilly

erin Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:16 PM EST

It should be noted this was a random person talking to someone (not me) and I completely interjected my knowledge and then left the conversation.

erin Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:15 PM EST

I actually just did this today. Someone at my work was talking about Tom Cruise winning an Oscar, and I had to tell them, "No, he hasn't won, but has been nominated three times."

clare-clare Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:13 PM EST

No no no, don't ever correct people in public. Instead, me and one of my friends will turn into catty know-it-all b*tches behind their backs. Ranting or scoffing about their mistakes. *cringes a little w/ shame* However, w/ family or other friends, there is the freedom to become the catty know-it-all b*tch to their faces. Honestly! I swear I'm not like that all the time! Hahaha. But being defensive about pop culture can get ugly...

Nose Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:12 PM EST

This is like a support group! Yay!

Winona Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:11 PM EST

I can't recall anything specific, but I know I've corrected strangers on Beatle-related things, but that's about it.

Vance Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:10 PM EST

I've been reading the comments and all I can say... OH MY PEOPLE! Finally people that have the same love for obscure pop culture that get back blank stares like Nose.

(Seriously, I've even wanted to comment back to some people that make mistakes on these boards all the time but I do or don't depending on the size of the offense as in real life).

Rae Rae Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:09 PM EST

I always have the urge to correct complete strangers about their pop culture knowledge (or lack of), but I've never had the nerve to.

Lynny Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:04 PM EST

I can usually restrain myself in public, but friends and family just have to deal. Although, they call me from wherever they are when they can't think of some movie or actor's name. In public what hurts is when people are struggling to remember "who was in that movie" and I can't just list them. They always get it so wrong. Ugh!

Sarah Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:02 PM EST

I have never corrected a stranger, but I have had someone correct me.

One day while watching "Blazing Saddles" with my two older sisters, I asked where the "We don't need no stinkin' badges" line came from. My sisters mocked me for hours, saying that it came from that movie, which I ashamedly believed. A year or so later, my college roommate and I were discussing the line, and I said it came from "Blazing Saddles," at which point a professor turned around from the next table and informed us that the line came from "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," then proceeded to laugh to himself throughout the rest of his lunch.

I still haven't forgiven my sisters, and bring the story up from time to time.

Valerie Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:01 PM EST

Sadly, I always do it with everybody I know, and I can't help myself. My family and friends are starting to like it, though, since I started getting phone calls from them just to know "who was that guy in...". I'm like their own personal IMDB !

Jenny Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 05:01 PM EST

I generally only correct if the misinformation is about something I really love. Trust me, if you're going to discuss Gilmore Girls, X-Files, Battlestar Galactica or most of the iconic 80s movies with me, you'd better have your facts straight. Other wise, you'll get to hear an all together too long discourse on how you are wrong and why such errors are detrimental to the entertainment experience as a whole.

Yeah, I'm a nerd.

Snarf Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:59 PM EST

I've got a photographic memory but I usually fight the urge to correct people on these things as they'll stare at me like I'm from another planet for remembering trival triva in the first place.

Cherry Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:58 PM EST

I was at a fundraising gala for an organization where I had just been hired but hadn't actually started working yet. The Bacon Brothers Band performed. Afterward, a board member and a celebrity at my table started talking about Kevin Bacon and the different movies he's been in. At one point the Board member asked if he was in The Outsiders. The celebrity said she didn't know, and at that point, though intimidated by my surroundings but not by my knowledge of The Outsiders, spoke up to assure them that he was not in the film, which then sparked a tangent on who else was in it. Then, one of them asked if Mickey Rourke was in it. I said no, but that he probably auditioned for it. They all nodded in agreement as if they were sure he had. A very surreal beginning to a new job.

bb Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:54 PM EST

I do it every day on a national radio program, they actually refer to me now if they don't know what they are talking about.

Nose Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:51 PM EST

I also find that even when the info is solicited, like if we're all sitting around, and someone will say, "Who was that guy on (insert obscure tv reference here)?" and I answer, I still get blank stares for knowing the answer.

It ain't easy being a pop culture nerd.

Ned Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:47 PM EST

I was at a bar last year, when I heard someone telling a large group that Marilyn Manson used to be on the 80's TV show "Small Wonder", as the robot girl's brother. I interrupted him, and explained that, although there are many long-running rumors that Mr. Manson was a child actor, none of them are true. "No one asked you!" the man exclaimed, and he stabbed me in the shoulder with his pocketknife.

banana Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:43 PM EST

I have corrected a few people becasue it kind of just slipped out but they responded by saying "oh really i didn't know thanks for telling me so i dont look like a fool when i tell someone else." but most of the time i just keep it to myself and bite my tongue so i dont say anything!!

Dawn Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:43 PM EST

I was in the restroom after seeing Juno and overheard this conversation:
Girl #1: Oh my god, I LOVE Ellen Page.
Girl #2: Oh me too, she was SO good when she was on ALIAS.
Girl #1: Yeah, I've liked her ever since then.
Sadly I was in a stall (TMI?) and didn't know who said it. I should have probably just shouted out at them.

Sara Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:40 PM EST

Oh dear lord, Joan--are you serious? I have a pretty good head for trivia like that-but if you expect me to remember exactly what year every movie ever came out, there's no WAY more than a handful of people could live up to that standard.

I've occasionally answered questions like that that people throw my way becuase they know I'll know what David Hasselhoff's ex-wife's name is--but I think it's sometimes cool when someone corrects me--but sometimes it's just annoying/embarassing--guess it just depends on the delivery.

Cara Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:39 PM EST

Happens all the time :). And it always happens before I actually realize I'm doing it, so it's way too late to stop myself.
For example, once when I was in class, there were two kids sitting in the row in front of me, talking. At one point in the conversation, one of them turned to the other and said, "I'm so excited! American Gladiators premieres tonight, I'm so psyched to watch it!". Before I could stop myself, I was leaning over and saying, "NO. That's wrong. American Gladiators premiered LAST SUNDAY. You missed it."
The reaction: strange looks. Also, a strange fury on my part for their lack of knowledge about premiere dates for a show I didn't even watch.

soulman Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:35 PM EST

I've done it a few times, and I try to be as modest and "oh yeah, this is not a big deal, but..." as possible. It's still a little awkward, though...

Crystal Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:28 PM EST

I am the biggest nerd and annoyance ever and will totally correct someone or "be helpful" with the bit of trivia if I have it. It's a fault, I know, but I can't help it. I've gotten all sorts of reactions, from sincere thanks to a look that said "loser, who cares and who asked you anyway?"

My fav memory of this was when I was home for Christmas in Hicksville and saw the first LOTR with my fam. After the movie was over the group behind me went into this discussion about when the other movies were coming out, if they were getting made, etc. I kept my mouth shut as long as I could but after too many errors on their part I went into an "actually, they shot all the movies together..." speech that my family still laughs about. My sister said I was so annoyed I looked like I was going to punch one of the louder "know it all" men.

J from VA Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:25 PM EST

I've done it before but I usu try to stop myself b/c I know I look like a jerk. I did have to correct a friend who always refered to all tv shows as sitcoms. I held off for a year but one day just snapped and explained the difference between an hour long drama and sitcoms. Needless to say he looked at me like I was a crazy man for caring about the distinction. But, tv addicts have bad reactions like all other addicts I suppose.

Laura Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:16 PM EST

If it's someone I know, even remotely, I don't hesitate at all to correct/help them (i.e., "What was that guy in?" "Oh, you know, this and this and the other thing"). If it's a total stranger, I'll hesitate, but if they seem to be in a good mood I generally jump right in.

Nose Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:16 PM EST

Mandi, it takes every bit of self-control I have not to correct people when they say Jake Gyllenhaal's name wrong or misquote movies. I actually only do this with my close friends, because they already know what a nerd I am. I don't like to inflict that on others until I get to know them. I actually did this the other day while discussing Casablanca. It went a little something like this:

Nose's Friend: Ha, and then he says, Play it again, Sam.
Nose: Um, you know, he never ACTUALLY says that.
Nose's Friend: You are such a nerd.

Elm Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:10 PM EST

Not to skirt the question, but did you ever think that they called it a "college" movie because that was when they saw it (while they were students in college), versus discussing what type of school in which the movie took place?

Joan Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 04:08 PM EST

I usually don't correct the mistakes of others, but I often find that I make note of it and complain later. I have a tendency to remember dates and when I hear people say a movie was made in 1986 when I know it was '83, I want to scream.