Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2010 November 13

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November 13

Instrumentation in the theme to the old ER tv show

I am talking about the John Wells ER, that ran for 14-15 seasons, and I am talking about their original theme music, which I believe they used for at least ten years.

There is an instrument (or something making a noise) that I can't identify; it sounds a little like a steel drum. It runs off and on throughout the 47 second theme, and plays by itself for a few seconds at the end, just before the piano comes back in to finish up the piece.

Any ideas?

rc (talk) 02:52, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Quick and easy parental guide for Video Games and Japanese Animation

So I've had this idea to make a simplistic rating system (5 star, from none to extreme, that sort of thing) for parents to know if a show/game is acceptable for their family/kids/morals whatever. So far the categories I've thought up for them are: Violence, Language, Nudity/Sex, Plot Depth, and maybe a target audience and a short note section. Not as much of a "These are the horrible shows ruining your children and don't let them watch it" but more of the opposite. I originally wanted to ask this at the conservapedia since that's more of the target audience who could use such a thing as this. My overall questions are; Does this sound like a good idea? Has it already been done before? Any other categories that would be good to rate them on? -zz905

Why target these two in particular when you could add books, music and TV to the mix? Here's an example of someone who I think gets it right: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ They cover all the bases you mention. Aaronite (talk) 16:15, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Because they're what interest me the most, and that is exactly what I am looking for, thanks! -zz905 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.63.211.141 (talk) 20:35, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

For video games, there's the ESRB rating they put on the front and back of every box. As for anime, usually since they don't get shown on tv they won't have quick rating like this, but if they're on netflix, (and a lot are), they usually have ratings there like the tv does. 134.126.191.109 (talk) 03:51, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Richest Dead Celebrities

Each year a list is published showing the wealthiest dead celebrities and how much their estates made. At what point do their works become part of the public domain and their heirs are no longer entitled to royalties? As an extreme example, do William Shakespeare's heirs still collect royalties every time one of his plays is performed? Hemoroid Agastordoff (talk) 18:08, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

That's not all that easy a question to answer since works enter public domain at different times depending on the country. See that article and List of countries' copyright length for specifics. Dismas|^(talk) 18:37, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Shakespeare has no descendants. His direct line died out in the 17th century. I believe, however, his sister has living descendants.--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 19:50, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

There isn't that much variation anymore. The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, etc. have lead to most countries using "life plus 50 years" or "life plus 70". See List of countries' copyright length. Very few items like the King James Bible and Peter Pan have perpetual copyright. (Although some think Mickey Mouse is making an attempt at it: ("the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act or pejoratively as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act"). 75.41.110.200 (talk) 22:34, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Many people feel that the entertainment industry has demonstrated the ability to lobby legislators in many countries so much more effectively than the general public that their rights will continue to expand as necessary so that no further works will ever enter the public domain through copyright expiry (as long as the situation continues). In the US, for example, the Copyright Term Extension Act is considered an example of such legislation, which is why the Eldred v. Ashcroft lawsuit was brought against it, unsuccessfully. --Anonymous, 22:25 UTC, November 13, 2010.

One comment on the original premise: Just because a work falls into the public domain doesn't mean a valve is shut off and the heirs stop collecting all royalties by law. If it's 2010, and it's known that some popular work is set to enter the public domain in 2015, the heirs might license the work to a movie production company for a 20 year term. (I'm thinking the movie company sees a window of opportunity in the coming 5 years because of some cultural event, and agrees to the 20 year term because if it's a bomb they don't pay anything to the heirs, and if it's a hit they're happy in the end to have to keep paying the royalty checks.) In 2015, when the work becomes public domain, the movie production company will still be liable for breach of contract if they breach the contract's terms by failing to pay royalties. Of course, rivals will be able to make their own movies in 2015 without paying royalties. Comet Tuttle (talk) 16:20, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Dance Music in _My Favorite Year_

Peter O'Toole dances with Gloria Stuart at The Stork Club in the 1982 movie My Favorite Year; does anyone know the name of the tune to which they dance?

rc (talk) 19:45, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Your best bet is to look at the list of songs in the soundtrack page of the film's IMDB listing and try finding audio for those tunes online (e.g. YouTube). By the looks of things from the song descriptions, it might be "How High the Moon". Y2Kcrazyjoker4 (talk • contributions) 07:05, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Episode of futurama

Hey, i'm back again, with a question about futurama: What episode is it on futurama where they are voating for the president of earth? i know it's not 101, but what one is it? (Note, i only know them by number, i.e. 101, or 102). -- N.I.M., 20:12, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

A Head in the Polls, Season 2, Episode 3. The article desn't seem to state its production number. 90.195.179.106 (talk) 20:28, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

Our article states the production code is 2ACV03 (so I suppose you'd call that 203), but claims it's episode sixteen. 90.195.179.106 (talk) 20:30, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

The article actually says Episode 3 of the season in one place and Episode 7 in another. Having confirmed at tv.com that it's Episode 7 of the season (and 2ACV03), I'll fix it. --Anonymous, 04:14 UTC, November 14, 2010.

Thank you, 203 did it. -- N.I.M., 22:00, 13 November 2010 (UTC)