Fictional Character Brain 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 now is our quiz guide, John Chaneski.

Hello, John.

Hi, Martha.

Hi, Grant.

What’s up, bud?

Well, you know, I was watching TV with my kids the other day. We have this new way of watching TV now. We binge watch. So we were watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory, where Rajesh Kuthrapali decides that for Halloween, he’ll wear a fedora and carry a bullwhip, and he’ll go as Indian Jones.

Now, of course, that’s wordplay that I can’t pass up. So following are descriptions of fictional characters, but I’ve omitted a letter from their names. And you have to tell me the new character name.

For example, if I said, he used to use the force to turn people to the dark side. Now all he does is hang out in bars and toss pointy objects at a board.

Darth Vader.

Darth Vader. Yeah, very good.

And the first one’s very similar. He’s given up being a Jedi, moved to Hawaii, spends all his time at the beach playing Aloha Oi.

Uke Skywalker.

Uke Skywalker, yes. Aloha Uke.

Another Star Wars guy briefly stopped his smuggling and tried his hand at being a goofy stand-up comedian.

Ha, Ha, Solo.

Ha, Solo.

Ha, Solo.

Not the best stage name for a comedian. I guess it’s okay.

Now, changing franchises, what former Starfleet science officer spends his time knitting hosiery?

Science.

Mr. Sock?

Mr. Sock, yes. You got that one.

Darn it.

Orphaned as a girl, she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, marries Mr. Rochester, and then leaves him to become the first female optometrist in the north of England.

Jane I.

Jane I, right.

Now, anthropomorphic animals are always successful. I’ve got an idea for a boy wizard who is furry, cute, and loves shellfish.

Hairy otter.

Hairy otter, yes. Once again, copyright 2018.

Similarly, I’m going to change the fairest of them all into a swine. Now, the dwarfs, they can stay dwarfs.

Sow white.

Sow white, yes.

Conversely, I’m taking a highly successful Disney icon and changing him into a Greek deity who will inspire artists.

Highly successful Disney icon? Animated?

Yes.

So inspiring artist is Muse.

Oh, Mickey Muse.

Mickey Muse.

Or Mini Muse.

Could certainly be Mini Muse as well.

Similarly, the world’s greatest detective might give his brain a rest to become a realtor.

Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes.

It doesn’t even sound very different, but on his business card, it would probably say, if you need a home, call Sherlock Holmes.

Flaubert’s title character, who lives beyond her means in provincial northern France, has a side interest in women’s reproductive health.

Madame Ovary.

Madame Ovary.

He was a wisecracking superhero, or villain, or let’s say anti-hero. Now that he’s adopted a bunch of kids, he’s too busy driving them to school, making them lunch, and all the other things guys like Grant and I do.

Deadpool.

Deadpool, that’s right.

And that’s all my, what do I call them again?

Fiction-a characters.

Fiction-a characters.

Fiction-a characters.

Thanks, John. That was a lot of fun.

We’ll talk to you next week.

Thank you, guys.

Take care.

And we’d love to talk with you about any aspect of language. So call us, 877-929-9673. You can send us email at words@waywordradio.org and find us on Twitter at Wayword.