Month: September 2025

“There’s a platypus controlling me!”

From: Phineas and Ferb

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. The show revolves around Phineas and Ferb, two brothers who, thanks to their inventive minds as well as engineering skills, manage to create and build various fantastical object in order to enjoy themselves during their summer vacation. Their sister, Candace, always wants to “bust [her] brothers” by telling on them to their mom. However, Phineas and Ferb’s creations usually vanish before their mom arrives. This is usually due to some mishap, usually caused by their pet platypus, Perry, who also a secret agent, and his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

The quote comes from the episode Brain Drain. In the episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz puts a mind control helmet on his nemesis, Perry the Platypus, and he is able to control everything he does. Later, as they goes to pick up his daughter at a junk yard where a party is being held, a mishap happens and Phineas, Ferb and their friends are able to control Perry the Platypus with their gaming controllers. Thinking Dr. Doofenshmirtz is the final boss of the game they’re playing, they attack him while controlling Perry. While escaping, Dr. Doofenshmirtz falls down a hill, gets his hands covered with glue and gets records attached to his fingers. Perry then puts the mind control helmet on him and controls him to do rap called “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” in front of his daughter and his friends. He delivers the quote (in song) which the crowd believes is a metaphor instead of being literal.

Geek wisdom: Although Dr. Doofenshmirtz was using the quote literally, the metaphorical way of thinking of it is also true. We all have something that is telling us what to do, both literally and figuratively. It can be hard to find that balance between these outside forces and what we want to do but that’s just the way life is.

“Don’t you put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby!”

From: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lucius Washington

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2006 sports comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Rick Bobby. The movie follows the titular character Ricky Bobby, a professional race car driver throughout a significant portion of his life and career.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) gets in an accident and has to go to the hospital. He has a psychological break as, due to his fear of getting into another accident, believes he’s now paralyzed. His friends learn the truth from the doctor and try to convince Ricky Bobby it’s all in his mind and he can go back to racing again.

Ricky Bobby becomes agitated and then wishes for his friends to eventually have kids and they become paralyzed so they would know his pain. Angered that his friend would wish this on him, the head of his pit crew Lucius Washington (played by the late Michael Clark Duncan), yells out the quote at Ricky Bobby.

Geek Wisdom: No matter the circumstance, it’s just wrong to wish evil on others, especially when they only want the best for you.

“It’s clobberin’ time!”

From: Fantastic Four

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: The Thing/Ben Grimm

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Marvel‘s First Family, the Fantastic Four. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four are a group of people who were bombarded with cosmic rays that granted them superpowers. They then decided to use these new abilities to help mankind.

The quote is actually the catchphrase of one of the members of the Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm AKA The Thing. The first time the catchphrase/quote was used was way back in Fantastic Four #22, The Return of the Mole Man. In the issue, Mole Man managed to trick the Fantastic Four into an isolated island and plans to trap them there while he sinks New York and Moscow in order to get the two nations to ignite a world war.

Sue Storm/Invisible Woman uses her new found ability to create force fields to enable them to pass through their radioactive prison. As the Fantastic Four escape and prepare to go after the Mole Man, Ben Grimm/The Thing utters the catchphrase and the quote for the very first time in Marvel continuity.

Geek wisdom: While it’s always nice to try to resolve things peacefully, there are times when force will be necessary. Sometimes, you do have to go “clobberin'” in order for peace to work.

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”

From: Airplane!

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dr. Rumack

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 1980 spoof comedy, Airplane! A pastiche of disaster movies of the 70’s such as Airport, The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno and, most especially, Zero Hour!, Airplane! focuses on a former fighter pilot traumatized from the war, who is forced to take command of a commercial airliner when the assigned pilots are incapacitated. The film has an all-star cast, including the likes of Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack. These actors were actually known for more serious roles, so having them perform comedy just adds to the humor of the situation.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Former fighter pilot Ted Striker (played by Robert Hays) is called into the cockpit by Dr. Rumack (played by the aforementioned Leslie Nielsen). As he has determined the pilots are incapable to land the plane, Dr. Rumack asks Ted Striker if he can do just that. Ted replies with the phrase “Surely you can’t be serious” and Dr. Rumack does reply that he is serious before perhaps misunderstanding the first word and delivering the quote.

As kind of a continuance of the gag, as Dr. Rumack’s first name is never given, fans have comically concluded that his first name is indeed Shirley.

Geek wisdom: Names are important as they are going to be linked to who you are. However, sometimes, some people just don’t want to be called a certain way so it’s important to also respect their wishes.