Special Sub-Topic: Why Did They Call it That, Part 7 Click Here To Play: Why Did They Call it That, Part 7

Who directed the film "Meet John Doe"?

Frank Capra. The episode title "Meet John Smith" is a reference to the Frank Capra directed movie "Meet John Doe". In the movie, Barbara Stanwyck plays wise-cracking reporter, very much like Veronica, as she joins the school paper in this episode.

The episode title "The Wrath of Con" is a play on words from a movie title from what movie franchise?

Star Trek. The movie "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is a follow-up to the "Star Trek" episode "Space Seed". The movie shows Khan trying to get revenge on Kirk. The "Veronica Mars" episode "The Wrath of Con" shows Veronica getting revenge on some computer nerds.

The episode title "The Return of the Kane" is a play on words from the final movie title from what movie trilogy?

Lord of the Rings. In "The Return of the King", Aragorn returns to the kingdom of Gondor to become the king, though initially he was reluctant to take his rightful place. In "Return of the Kane", Duncan is forced to run for student body president, against his will. When he wins, he decides to be the best that he can.

Who sang the song "Like a Virgin"?

Madonna. In the episode "Like a Virgin" the whole school is abuzz with the results of an online purity test. Meg and Veronica have false tests posted, making them look like sluts. The chorus of the song "Like a Virgin" says, "Like a virgin, touched for the very first time. Like a virgin with your heartbeat next to mine."

The title "Drinking the Kool-Aid" references a mass suicide, mixing what with Kool-Aid to kill the cult members?

potassium cyanide. According to tv.com, "The title is probably a reference to the murder/suicide of over 900 members of the Peoples Temple, at Jonestown. Jonestown refers to an agricultural project established by the Peoples Temple, a religious group based in California which moved to Guyana in the late 1970s to establish a religious utopia. On November 18, 1978 a U.S. Congressman was assassinated, along with four other individuals, at a jungle airstrip; these tragic killings were followed by the mass suicides/murders of 900 men, women, and children by ingesting potassium cyanide mixed into a vat of punch (Kool-Aid) and tranquilizers." Veronica is investing a nearby cult in this episode.

Who starred in the 1991 movie "Silence of the Lambs"?

Jodie Foster. In the movie "Silence of the Lambs", serial killer and cannibal Hannibal Lechter helps Clarice Starling, an FBI agent, catch a serial killer , but not without strings attached. In the episode "Silence of the Lambs", obnoxious Sheriff Lamb is forced to work with enemy Keith Mars to stop a local serial killer.

The episode title "Clash of the Tritons" is an obvious nod to a movie called "Clash of the _____". What word fills the blank?

Titans. Harry Hamlin, who plays the part of Aaron Echolls, starred in the movie "Clash of the Titans". It is a movie about ancient Greek legends and mythology. In the episode "Clash of the Tritons", Veronica is hunting down the members of a secret cult in her school, the Tritons, who use some ancient Greek mythological personages in their group.

"Lord of the Bling" is an obvious play on the book/movies "The Lord of the Rings", but what is meant by the word bling?

jewelry. According to wikipedia.com: "Bling-bling is a hip hop slang term which refers to expensive jewelry and other accoutrements...", The Urban Dictionary cites that the term may come from a slang term in Jamaica that refers to the onomatopoeic "sound" made in some animated cartoons when light reflects off a diamond or other shiny jewel. The "Veronica Mars" episode features a rap recording producer who hires Mars Investigations to find his missing daughter.

The title "Mars vs. Mars" references a cartoon strip from what magazine?

MAD Magazine. The title references "Spy vs. Spy", a cartoon strip from "MAD Magazine". Often in the strip, one of two spies tries to lure the other into a deadly trap where they encounter a box full of explosives. Keith uses a box in the safe that sprays Veronica with ink when she tries to open it.

Who starred in the movie "Risky Business"?

Tom Cruise. In the episode "Ruskie Business", Veronica is supposed to track down an actor called Tom Cruz for his supposed lost love, a Russian woman. In reality, the Russian Mafia is after him. Also, Logan shows up to the dance dressed as Tom Cruise's character from "Risky Business" from the famous scene where Tom wears only a white Oxford shirt and his underwear.

What comic would you read to find the characters Betty and Veronica?

Archie. Betty and Veronica are the two girlfriends of Archie in the comic books known as Archie Comics. In the episode "Betty and Veronica", Veronica has to go undercover to the rival high school and uses the name Betty as her alter ego.

Where would you find the original story of Cain and Abel?

The Bible & Bible. The story of Cain and Abel is found in the book of "Genesis", Chapter four. Cain is jealous of his brother Abel and slays him, then lies to God about his brother's whereabouts. In the episode "Kanes and Abels" we find that Abel Koontz lied about killing Lily Kane. In this case, he is innocent, not guilty.

Which president was intent on finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

George W Bush. In the episode "Weapons of Class Destruction", someone has called in several bomb threats to the school. Veronica blows the cover on the story, has a run in with an undercover DEA agent and eventually reveals the whole thing to be a hoax. President George W. Bush sent troops to Iraq, charging them to find the caches of weapons of mass destruction rumored to be hidden in the desert.

What does it mean when you give somebody a "Trip to the Dentist"?

spit in their drink. This is something Madison Sinclair does to people she doesn't like. At Shelly Pomroy's party, she spits in her drink and hands it to Veronica, not realizing that it was spiked with Rohypnol. This leads to Veronica waking up the next morning with no knowledge of the rest of the night, having been raped. In the episode "A Trip to the Dentist", Veronica attempts to piece together the events of that night with the help of everyone who had been at the party.

Who starred as Beaver in the 50's TV sitcom "Leave it to Beaver"?

Jerry Mathers. "Leave it to Beaver" was a family sitcom that ran from 1957 to 1963. It was about the Cleaver family, Ward, June, Wally and Beaver. In "Veronica Mars", Cassidy Casablancas is known by the nickname "Beaver". He gives vital information to Veronica, which helps her finally solve the case of her best friend Lily Kane's murder.