Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s puzzle this week was inspired by the Gersberms meme, and involves adding R sounds to book titles to create books with entirely different plots. For example what George Orwell novella would be about a horse, a duck, a dog, and several pigs, and how they get rid of people and start their own company? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Ermahgerd! A Word Puzzle!”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette, and joining us on the line from New York City is our quiz guy, Mr. John Chaneski.
Hi, Martha. Hi, Grant.
Hey, bud. What’s up, Mr. Chaneski?
Well, you know, I’ve been kind of surfing the web for interesting ideas, and speaking of language, maybe you’ve seen this photo going around of a young woman. She’s wearing pigtails and an atrocious vest and a goofy look on her face, and she’s holding up several goosebump novels.
Oh, my girl!
Gershberms.
You know this one?
Yeah, that’s it.
Now, they added the text, Gershberms, my favorite Berks. Now, it’s since been revealed that the young lady was intentionally goofing around, but that picture with the added goofy words has become a viral meme, Gershberms. And that style of talking, if you call it that, has been adapted to lots of memes, like Durbelsturf Erdiers for Double Stuff Oreos.
Now, let’s imagine that young woman got a job at a bookstore.
Oh, my goodness.
If I gave her a list of classic books and she said, Irma Gersh, it’s her version would sound different. Now, I’ll describe the plot of a book, or Burke, as you tell me what the new title is.
Oh, man.
For example, this is a George Orwell novella about a horse and a duck and a dog and several pigs and how they get rid of people and start their own company.
Animal firm.
Animal firm.
Animal firm.
Irma Gersh.
Animal firm.
Very good.
This Kerouac novel describes how you can’t just go out and travel. You have to work hard and be worthy of travel.
Irma Gersh, it’s…
Earn the road.
Earn the road.
Earn the road.
Earn the road.
Oh, earn the road.
Okay.
Just one of the words.
It’s too hard not to do that with every word.
It is.
It’s very hard.
Okay.
This Burgess book is about a receptionist at a hotel, his duties, and how his color changes when he eats too many Cheetos.
The clerk work orange.
A clerk work orange.
Irma Gersh.
A clerk work orange.
Now, Raymond Chandler writes about a guy eating a bowl of soup and how he takes one giant messy drink of it.
Irma Gersh.
It’s…
Something slurp.
Yeah.
Sleep.
The big slurp.
The big slurp.
The big slurp, yes.
Nice.
W. Somerset Maugham writes about the patriarch of the Munster family once he is captured and put in chains.
It’s…
It’s not Herman Burndage.
Yes.
Oh, it is?
Of Herman Burndage?
Of Herman Bondage.
Oh, I’m Herman Bondage.
Okay, I get it.
Don’t forget, just the one word, yeah.
Finally, Jack London tells the story of a young hermit who suddenly feels he is summoned to go out and experience the planet outside his hut.
Irma Gersh, it’s…
The Call of the World.
The Call of the World, Irma Gersh.
Oh, John, that was a challenge.
Oh, thank you, guys.
That was really heard.
It’s further heard.
You know, I was prepared. I have all the Goosebump titles memorized, but you didn’t use a one of them, so I feel misled.
It’s the Night of the Living Dermy.
Thanks, John. We’ll talk to you next week.
Thank you, guys. Talk to you next week.
Cheers. Bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
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