To Tell the Truth
by CarolineEarlier this week I linked to Stanley Fish’s column on headlines. Later that day, a good example popped up on frog design:
Will the Real Brand Owner Please Stand Up?
This relates back to the classic game show To Tell the Truth, where three panelists would all claim to be a certain individual and answer questions. At the end, the celebrity judges guessed which they believed to be the real thing, and the announcer said, “Will the real ________ please stand up?”
Usually the best questions involved jargon or industry knowledge the panelists were supposed to have. The major entertainment value was in the really gifted fakers who managed to hoodwink all the judges. One of the more famous guests now is Frank Abagnale, who appeared in 1977 — then his 1977 appearance was recreated by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 Steven Spielberg movie Catch Me If You Can.
Of course, the syntax was mimicked by Eminem in whatever that song is, “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?” And, in turn, by Weird Al in his mocking medley “Angry White Boy Polka.”
no responses