Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2011 March 6

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March 6

Gilbert & Sullivan and Saturday morning cartoons

A few nights ago I saw a performance of The Yeomen of the Guard by Gilbert and Sullivan. In the second act, there is a duet in which the two characters agree to collaborate on telling a false but plausible tale. The chorus:

Tell a tale of cock and bull,

Of convincing detail full,

Tale tremendous, Heaven defend us!

What a tale of cock and bull!

The odd thing is that every time I hear that song, I have some dim memory of it being used as a intro or opening theme to some Saturday morning kids' cartoon. I would have been watching those in most likely the early to mid 1970s, though of course they could have dated from earlier. But I have not been able to locate any reference to these lyrics being used on such a show. Can anyone either confirm my memory, or else confirm that I am completely losing it? Thanks, Newyorkbrad (talk) 03:22, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Where was this ? New York City ? StuRat (talk) 20:57, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

I grew up on Long Island, but I assumed (maybe wrongly) it would have been a nationally syndicated cartoon. Newyorkbrad (talk) 03:17, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

If anyone's looking it up, the song in question is called "Hereupon we're both agreed" by Point and Wilfred. I've seen it a couple of times - not one of my favourite G&S though. Anyway, I can't be much more help since I grew up in the UK a few years later! Worm^TT 11:35, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Here's the G&S song on YouTube. Alansplodge (talk) 17:05, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Using a Wii in France

I'm not sure where to ask this, but I figured it might be more useful to check here before attempting to discuss this with someone in French...I brought my Wii with me to France, and the TV where I'm staying at the moment has the same red-yellow-white connectors that my North American Wii has, so I assumed I could just plug it in and play it (it's also plugged into a voltage adaptor, of course). The problem is, the TV/video button on the TV doesn't seem to do anything. The TV doesn't seem to have a brand name, but it gets regular French digital channels, as well as satellite channels through a satellite box, if that is relevant. So I'm wondering if the TV/video button is just broken, or if there is something else I have to do to hook up a foreign Wii to it? Maybe something obvious I'm just not seeing? Adam Bishop (talk) 15:03, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

I don't think you're going to be able to get a North American Wii to work with a French television. An HD system, maybe, but a Wii will be putting out an NTSC signal, while a French TV will be looking for either a PAL or SECAM signal.

That doesn't explain why NOTHING happens when you push the TV/Video button, but the TV might have some logic in it that won't let you switch to a bad signal. APL (talk) 18:17, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Is there any sort of device that will convert signals, or would I need to buy an entirely new Wii? Adam Bishop (talk) 06:19, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Google ntsc to pal converter or ntsc to secam converter and many little devices appear. I'm sure you get what you pay for, and it seems to me that most of these devices cost only slightly less than a new Wii. However, if you buy a French Wii, your US discs will probably not work in it, because I believe that Wii discs are region locked. Another alternative is to buy a multisystem television that will display NTSC, PAL, and SECAM video signals. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:32, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

I don't understand what you mean by the TV/Video button as I've only seen this on TVs and remotes that can change between TV and VCR control. Is this the button on the television for switching between AV inputs? If so, are you selecting the correct AV channel - many TVs have multiple AV channels - one for each available input. Have you tried disconnecting all other devices except for the Wii? Nanonic (talk) 15:14, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

His problem is that his French TV can't display an NTSC signal. Comet Tuttle (talk) 18:32, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Nanonic, that's how it works on North American TVs, and what I assumed would happen in France, but there are no AV channels to select - if I press that button, it just doesn't do anything. I can switch between digital and satellite channels, but that's through the satellite box. I'm probably not explaining this very well, but the TV does have red/yellow/white connectors like a North American TV; does that have anything to do with NTSC signals? I guess not. Maybe I'll have to find a multisystem TV. Adam Bishop (talk) 19:15, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

The red, yellow, and white connectors are the same for NTSC and PAL video game consoles. You can't tell by looking at the connectors whether an NTSC, PAL, or SECAM signal is being output, unfortunately. I am a little surprised that your TV/Video button does nothing; I would have expected it to switch to a black screen (because the TV is then receiving NTSC, which it thinks is a garbage signal, and it just displays black). Comet Tuttle (talk) 22:33, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Oh, I see. I also tried hooking up a DVD player to it (a multirange one, which I got from a store that sold European electronics and appliances, before I left), but it was the same, nothing happened. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:30, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Many modern TVs in Europe are quite capable of handling a NTSC signal - the Sony and both Panasonics I've bought in the last 10 years have had this ability and friend's experiences have been similar. The problem might be that there is more than one AV or video channel. What happens if you press this TV/video button more than once? Alternatively, there is a different button to switch to the red/white/yellow ports (maybe called "AV" on the remote control). Take a careful look round the ports on the TV and see if there is some text like "AV-1" stamped into the plastic. Also see if there is a SCART connector - maybe you'll have better luck with a red/white/yellow -> SCART adapter that you can buy from many large supermarkets or electronics stores like Darty. Astronaut (talk) 15:22, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

I've pressed all the buttons on the remote, and pressed the button on the TV numerous times, but nothing happens. The TV does have a SCART connector for the satellite box though. Adam Bishop (talk) 19:12, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Phish chess games

I need the game records for the Phish vs audience chess matches. TFA says there were two games, one win and one loss. I check the cite, which confirms this, but gives no further details. Anyone know where to find the full move list? 69.221.173.198 (talk) 15:27, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

I did a little searching. As it turns out, Eric Schiller was in the audience for the first concert. According to [1] he kept a record of the moves, but the link is now dead. I suppose you could try and get in touch with him. The first few moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Bb5 Nc6 3.Nf3 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6. This opening is called the Ruy Lopez exchange variation. decltype (talk) 08:23, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

music selection

I have only recently gotten into the habit of listening to music, and so my choice is limited to those few things that people have reccomended for me and that I have then actually liked. I am wondering, being reluctant to go around spending a lot of money on CDs I might well not want to listen to afterwards, is there any way I can listen to a selection of different music, most likely online, and by rating it find out what styles I am more likely to want? 148.197.121.205 (talk) 18:24, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Try Pandora Radio. Staecker (talk) 19:16, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Also Last FM. --Viennese Waltz 20:57, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Or Spotify or even just the iTunes Music Store (though the latter only gives you 30 seconds previews of songs). ny156uk (talk) 21:00, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Actually, the iTunes Music Store now offers 90 second previews [2]. 10draftsdeep (talk) 22:22, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

...Only in the US, I think. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:24, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Also Pandora which was recommended above only works in the US (the OP's IP address geolocates to the UK). --Viennese Waltz 13:27, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

Or All Music —Preceding unsigned comment added by 164.67.151.27 (talk) 22:54, 7 March 2011 (UTC)

I've used Grooveshark in the UK, with some success. Astronaut (talk) 15:12, 8 March 2011 (UTC)

Voice actor

Can anyone help me identify the narrator of this commercial? [3] ? I am positive he has done voice work for United States crime documentary shows as well as political ads. I think he has been doing voice work for many years. My Google skills have failed me in providing any success. Thanks fellow ref deskers! 10draftsdeep (talk) 22:38, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Sounds like Mark Avery. Nanonic (talk) 22:49, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Good call, but not him. This guy is older and has a creepy voice compared to Mark. 10draftsdeep (talk) 23:41, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

I finally found him....Peter Thomas (announcer). 10draftsdeep (talk) 23:47, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

That's the guy. "Creepy"? He's got a great and distinctive voice. "Creepy"??? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→

Yes, "Creepy" Bugs. If you have ever heard him enunciate about numerous ghastly killings on crime documentaries, and being the voice on an Automated external defibrillator his voice becomes "Creepy" by association. indeed. 10draftsdeep (talk) 23:41, 11 March 2011 (UTC)