HRWiki:STUFF/Archive/Teen Girl Squad Issue 13

[edit] Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

From: Teen Girl Squad Issue 13
Posted on: 05:38, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Arguments for:

1. There are no other likely explanations for the periods after the letters in "m.a.s.h."
2. M*A*S*H has been referenced before (in a small way) in 12:00
3. Re: arg against #3: Just because it's "unusual" to refer to two references at once doesn't mean it's not possible. The concept of "mashing" something is an inside reference, which is only a reference because we started noting when the word shows up. There have been several instances where something was both an inside reference and a real-world reference (the Lil' Steiny piano, for example).
4. It is an obvious reference which makes perfect sense considering the positions of the periods.
5. t.a.p.s. is also used and the movie Taps used the spelling T*A*P*S in promotional material, such as the DVD cover.

Arguments against:

1. The TV show has asterisks, not periods, between the letters. (note that asterisks were used when the show was referenced in 12:00)
2. The TV show doesn't have anything after the last letter.
3. "m.a.s.h." is already a reference to mashing; it's unusual for things to be two references at once.

Additional comments:

• See also the previous discussion.
• It is strange that there are periods between the letters, but I think it's just randomness.
• Assuming the periods make it an acronym, why wouldn't it stand for the most famous one, "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital"? Perhaps the item could be reworded to eliminate the issue about the asterisks (which would have looked out of place in the toon, in my opinion, and thus the fact that they used periods doesn't make this false for me).
  • The "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital"(MASH) acronym does not use periods.
    • That's because it's in all capital letters. A lowercase version would have to use periods or it wouldn't look like an acronym.
      • Also, its uppercase counterpart uses asterisks.
• When The Ugly One presses buttons on the remote control, the text "t.a.p.s." appears. What, if anything, is that referring to?
  • That's just a callback to the "m.a.s.h." joke.
    • No, see the argfor reagrding the movie Taps.
      • If this is accepted, then we should consider including the following as part of this fact or as a separate one right below it: 'Similarly, "t.a.p.s." likely refers to the movie Taps, which used the spelling "T*A*P*S" (or "T.A.P.S") in promotional material, such as the DVD cover, and the UK title.'
        • Definitely — here's a way we can add the two together (assuming this fact is accepted):

When Tompkins feeds his virtual pet, the text "m.a.s.h." is a reference to M*A*S*H, and "t.a.p.s." is a reference to Taps whose title was spelled "T*A*P*S" on the DVD release.

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[edit] You're not my real Fun Fact!

From: Teen Girl Squad Issue 13
Posted on: 18:24, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Arguments for:

Arguments against:

1. It's almost certainly just a joke about kids not liking or respecting their stepparents.
2. The line is frequently used in other films and TV programs. TTATOT.
3. In the movie, the line is phrased as a question, not a statement. See Comments below.

Additional comments:

• According to IMDb, this is how the exchange goes:

JOE: You know what my kids would say?
CROW T. ROBOT: YOU'RE NOT MY REAL FATHER?

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