Comments on: Variety Scribes Sling Slang and Sing Lingo

By: Michael Corcoran

Michael Corcoran — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:19:27 +0000

Great post, as per usual!

My favorite Variety headline was from some point in the 1990’s (I think)in reference to economically depressed publicity firms laying off staff; “Pinched Praiseries Give Flacks The Axe.”

By: Tod Hunter

Tod Hunter — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:18:09 +0000

I believe a “skein” is also a length of yarn, which could work as a pun on “yarn” meaning “tale” and also refer to an elongated story (strung-out if you will) told, say, one hour a week.

–t

By: kittypackard

kittypackard — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:12:16 +0000

This is a terrific post, thanks! My job requires me to read the trades each morning and it has taken *quite* some time to assimilate into the Variety ’slanguage.’ Your post would have DEFINITELY been useful about 18 months ago, let me tell ya! Great work!

By: jbl

jbl — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:19:21 +0000

What a lot of fun that was!

If I’m not mistaken, the famous “Sticks Nix …” headline is the one explained in full by Jimmy Cagney as G. M. Cohan in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY. I could be wrong; I know he explains a Variety headline toward the end of the picture.

“Ankles” I always understood as a take-off on “walks”; I think Archie Goodwin used that term once or twice.

Star Trek is an example of a space opera, not that I know whether Variety used the term much or not.

“Skein” reminded me of “web” for network.

Regards / J

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:53:43 +0000

Inspired by your delightful review of Variety’s malleable use of English, here is an attempt to capture my reaction to your blog, in the style of the venerable but always lively rag:
FYC: Scribbler Suzi Socko Solon on Slang

Thanks for writing this blog.

By: Suzi Doll

Suzi Doll — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:11:23 +0000

Thanks Robot Monkey!!!

Thanks for catching my mistake regarding Hudson vs. Lopez. The wonders of modern technology allowed me to correct it. There was some news regarding Hudson’s family tragedy over the weekend as I was writing this blog, so she was on my mind. Using the wrong Jennifer was too big of an error to let slide, so I appreciate that your brought it to my attention.

By: debbe

debbe — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:35:54 +0000

great blog suzidoll. The ones that always got to me were “blighty” and the “beeb”- the beeb referring to the bbc, and blighty well I am not sure right now. I agree with you about the Variety film reviewers- I think they give a pretty even review even if I don’t agree with them. But I love that they try and figure out the box office of each movie. I hope that in this recession that Variety manages to survive. $329 is expensive if your studio isnt paying….

By: Robot Monkey

Robot Monkey — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:10:26 +0000

Great blog entry. I’ve always wondered about where some of the slang Variety uses comes from. Cool to see some of it explained as well.

BTW – Not to be nit picky since I’m guessing it was just a typo, but it was actually Jennifer Lopez, not Jennifer Hudson, in “Monster-In-Law” with Jane Fonda.

By: Medusa

Medusa — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:21:20 +0000

Great blog, Suzi! I love their slang, too. I always thought “skein” was somehow derived from knitting or yarnwork, as in a continuous stream, like a series is on television.

The “Variety” website has a Slanguage Dictionary here, in fact:
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=slanguage&query=slanguage

One of my favorite things about starting work in the TV industry back in the late 1970s was getting the office copy of “Variety” and cutting out articles — after everybody was through with it, of course — about Danny Kaye, who was my all-time favorite and was still alive and working at the time. I still have many clippings in my scrapbooks from that time! Pathetic but true!