Dictator and/or Television Sit-Com Character

October 20, 2002 5:20 PM

Dictator and/or Television Sit-Com Character Remember this site? For two years now it's been sitting there, growing stronger. Are there other game sites where you should just forget it, they know too much?
posted by kablam (72 comments total)

Wow. I'm Dharma, smack on. But, maybe everyone is Dharma.
posted by sadie01221975 at 5:37 PM on October 20, 2002

Other excellent pages on smalltime.com:

The Anonymous Message Server. Leave a message for the next person, you get the message left for you. Incredible.

And don't forget the darn-near-impossible Find-the-Spam!
posted by ALongDecember at 5:46 PM on October 20, 2002

Wow. I'm Dharma, smack on. But, maybe everyone is Dharma.

No, I'm the father from Steptoe & Son which means I'm also Fred Sanford ya big dummy.

**clutches heart**

Here come the big one....
posted by jonmc at 6:02 PM on October 20, 2002

good lord, that's almost frightening. i truly thought i'd stump it with "bookman" from GOOD TIMES, but alas...

someone's gotta come save me 'cause i be ADDICTED to this.
posted by tristeza at 6:16 PM on October 20, 2002

I thought I'd try to stump it too with Vicki from "Small Wonder." The only question it asked that was remotely related was "Are you a child genius?" which I answered yes on.

It was uncanny, really.
posted by Stan Chin at 6:22 PM on October 20, 2002

Wow, I'm impressed. So far it's gotten Josef Stalin, Anastasio Somoza, Screech, Julius Caesar, and King Henry VIII.

... never thought I'd type those five names in succession ...
posted by Chanther at 6:30 PM on October 20, 2002

20 Questions is a pretty neat, more general site along the same lines.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 6:31 PM on October 20, 2002

It is getting smarter. It only took 22 questions to determine I was the Great Gazoo. I knew I was a goner when it asked if I was always helping Fred out of trouble.
posted by yhbc at 6:34 PM on October 20, 2002

I wasn't counting, but did take quite a while to figure out I was Ralph from "The Great American Hero."
posted by Plunge at 6:38 PM on October 20, 2002

Hmph... it knew Gordon Brittas from The Brittas Empire. Answering either all yes or all no is fun too...

"Are you MrYes from YesLand?"
posted by adamt at 6:42 PM on October 20, 2002

it even recognized good ol george w!
posted by texaselnk at 6:52 PM on October 20, 2002

I don't even know what Bob Newhart's Chicago wife did for a living, I found out. Plus, unlike the Twenty Questions site linked above, there are no alternatives to YES or NO.

Also...too many misspellings on this site. "Interiour?"
posted by kozad at 6:59 PM on October 20, 2002

The misspellings are due to the users' own input. If and when you do stump the program, it prompts you to input a clue that would nail down the character. That input then becomes part of the database, which makes the program smarter, typos be damned.
posted by yhbc at 7:02 PM on October 20, 2002

I was only the third to do Bill Gates.... I feel proud.
posted by cyphill at 7:02 PM on October 20, 2002

I stumped it with Auto Man - a really cheesy character from this short-lived scifi series.

Go me =P
posted by ookamaka at 7:04 PM on October 20, 2002

Funny, it was able to guess that I was Otto Mann from The Simpsons in 18 tries. Go figure.
posted by Space Coyote at 7:10 PM on October 20, 2002

I was the 729th or so person to assume ALF would be a stumper. When it asked me if I was an alien, I was floored. It had to be less than five questions into it.

When I tried Buffy (I was 328th to think of that one) it was asking completely innocuous questions about whether or not I lived in the midwestern united states, do I have a roommate, or if I was a ditz. Then outta NOWHERE it asks: "Do you often go patrolling at night?"

This thing is scary!
posted by ZachsMind at 7:12 PM on October 20, 2002

Heh. you guys just dont own the right books...

Try Characters from "Marblehead Manor", "Dobie Gillis," "Many Happy Returns," "INK," "Fathers and Sons..."

All you hafta do is find a shjow nobody ever heard of, and its ducks in a barrel.
posted by Perigee at 7:20 PM on October 20, 2002

Interesting. It took a long, plodding time to get Hawkeye Pierce -- although it knew early that I was a womanizer, once it found that I lived in Korea, it carefully eliminated damn near the whole cast before making a guess.

Jimmy James from NewsRadio completely misled it -- it opted for Chandler right away, after making triple-sure I wasn't Drew Carey.
posted by BT at 7:35 PM on October 20, 2002

Damn! I was sure Norm from "The Norm Show" would stump it. Wish I could remember stuff about the characters from "Grand.'
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:46 PM on October 20, 2002

Whoa! I stumped it! It was certain I was Rachel from "Friends," but I was Carla from "Cheers."
posted by Alylex at 7:52 PM on October 20, 2002

Only 13 people tried Mr. Roper?
posted by machaus at 8:05 PM on October 20, 2002

I stumped it with the car from My Mother, The Car. God this is stupid. Hehe. I love it. I'm going to stump it again, just to re-experience the barely supressed rage and hostility that lie just beneath the thin veneer of the fawningly insincere compliments you get dealt when you stump it. Or maybe just I'm imagining that part.
posted by iconomy at 8:09 PM on October 20, 2002

I began to fear this thing when in figured I was Jim J. Bullock's character Monroe from "Too Close for Comfort."

It followed it up with correctly deducing that I was the Gooch from "Dif'rent Strokes." THE GOOCH! I knew it had me when it asked if only my voice could be heard...

It did miss Arnold Ziffle the Pig from "Green Acres," though.
posted by agentfresh at 8:10 PM on October 20, 2002

Try Characters from "Marblehead Manor", "Dobie Gillis," "Many Happy Returns," "INK," "Fathers and Sons..."

"I guess that you are Maynard G. Krebbs from Dobie Gillis! Am I right?"

I figured it had me as soon as it asked if i was a beatnik, but then it asked if i hung out with the cunninghams, or i was a cartoon character.
posted by duckstab at 8:21 PM on October 20, 2002

I win again! You are player number 370 to have chosen jr ewing from dallas. I knew you were jr ewing from dallas from the start, but I strung you along for a while to make it seem more sporting. I hope that one day you will overcome the powerful sense of humiliation that you now feel. Until then, good luck.

It answered correctly, after asking 40 questions.
posted by Beholder at 8:27 PM on October 20, 2002

this is pretty neat. it reminds me of 20Q.net, which you should visit immediately assuming you haven't already.
posted by mcsweetie at 8:30 PM on October 20, 2002

Hmm, 27 comments and no mention that it's been posted before. Can't have that now, can we? (then again, it was 2 years ago.)
posted by mkn at 8:33 PM on October 20, 2002

mkn: Well, the poster did say "Remember this site? For two years now it's been sitting there..."
posted by languagehat at 8:41 PM on October 20, 2002

I beat it with Mike Moore from Frontline. Must be US-centric.
posted by Neale at 8:41 PM on October 20, 2002

Good call, mkn, but this is not a double-post. It's a triple-post.

Of course, I knew that all along; I just wanted to see how long it would...you know...take for someone else to mention it.
posted by iconomy at 8:43 PM on October 20, 2002

Dear god I just spent 20 minutes with this thing until after about 60 questions it got "Michelle Tanner."
posted by Stan Chin at 8:44 PM on October 20, 2002

I know, but what next "Remember cat-scan? It's been sitting there for years..."

Similarly, I also remember a similar site to this that focused on video games -- I think it was posted here on Mefi, can't remember what it was called, though.

Anyway, going with the flow: "You are player number 5 to pick Jay Nichols from Herman's Head, and what a clever choice it was!." And here I was thinking that I was the only one to remember that show.
posted by mkn at 8:56 PM on October 20, 2002

In reverse chronological order, thank you kablam, ignu and matthowie. Odd, isn't it, how matt seems to trump us time and again?

Anyway, this thread has made me laugh and so has the game. Cheers!
posted by ashbury at 9:10 PM on October 20, 2002

I went for a personal favorite of mine, Cotton from King of the Hill, and it thought it was "osama bin laden from yemen". Ok, that's funny.

But why does anybody think he's a dictator or sitcom character?
posted by Hildago at 9:47 PM on October 20, 2002

Wait, I hope that's not a can of worms I just opened.. never mind.
posted by Hildago at 9:49 PM on October 20, 2002

Everyone's doing sitcom characters. Anyone gonna actually try to stump it with a dictator!?
posted by ZachsMind at 9:51 PM on October 20, 2002

You are player number 2 to have chosen the fat dude from What's Happening?. the fat dude from What's Happening? was a tough one, but I've had a lot of practice. Thanks for giving me something to do.

Only the 2nd person to try Rerun? I'm shocked!
posted by Ynoxas at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2002

I felt a sharp pang of palpable fear when it asked if I was bald. Moments later, it knew that I was Murray from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Skynet may never actually achieve consciousness, but this might.
posted by Verdant at 9:57 PM on October 20, 2002

You are player number 2 to pick Vera from Alice, and what a clever choice it was! You almost had me for a while, but you let your guard down. Don't worry, it happens to all of us sooner or later.

What's scarier to me is it seems there's 1 other person out there that thinks like me. 3 tries, and 2 have the result of "you are player number 2".
posted by Ynoxas at 10:01 PM on October 20, 2002

I beat it with Kitten from Father Knows Best. I loved that show....
posted by Juicylicious at 10:02 PM on October 20, 2002

Everyone's doing sitcom characters. Anyone gonna actually try to stump it with a dictator!?
posted by ZachsMind at 9:51 PM PST on October 20

It caught me with Vlad the Impaler fairly quickly. But I was the 112th person to try the Tepes Gambit.
posted by Verdant at 10:05 PM on October 20, 2002

I beat it with Roberta, the titular robot character from My Living Doll. (Julie Newmar! Yow!)

Let me see if I understand this... the robot, she vibrates?
posted by SPrintF at 10:08 PM on October 20, 2002

Ok, I'm beginning to doubt the methodology here... only 4 people did Squiggy from Lavergne and Shirley... but 33 did Lenny?

8x more people tried Lenny than Squiggy? That's hard to believe.

Of course, it's hard to believe anyone ever watched "Small Wonder". *smirk*

I am forcing myself to stop now or else it will be morning. Good link, no matter how many times it's been posted.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:12 PM on October 20, 2002

Of course, it's hard to believe anyone ever watched "Small Wonder".

"Small Wonder" is like "Wings" and "Coach", the only reason those shows all stayed on the air so long is because no one wanted to expend the energy to cancel them.
posted by jonmc at 10:23 PM on October 20, 2002

I was Casey from Sports Night - I stumped it, but barely. It guessed I was Dan...

I, too, tried ALF, and I, too, was humiliated.
posted by UKnowForKids at 10:25 PM on October 20, 2002

is your best friend a little "Clueless?"

That's when I knew the gig was up for Dr Dorian from Scrubs. 56th person to try, but it took a whole lotta "No" responses before it got to "Are you a doctor?". Then 6 more questions after that it came up with the above gem.
posted by Grum at 10:28 PM on October 20, 2002

I t guessed me as Radar almost immediately. Same with Ellie Mae Clampett and Schneider.

I stumped it with Corporal Agarn, though.

Go, me!
posted by jonmc at 10:51 PM on October 20, 2002

Wow. It actually guessed that I was Kai from Lexx, despite the fact that I'm only the 7th person ever to pick him. If anyone actaully watches (or watched) that show, speak up. It seems to be kind of a cult thing...
posted by Stauf at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2002 [1 favorite]

I have to confess that I also thought Vicki from Small Wonder would be a stumper--guess not. It did take a while for it to get there, though, and many of the questions I had to guess the answer to. I was almost relieved when we made it, though the ending taunt dampened my enthusiasm somewhat...

I guess I can deal with being Harry Potter, though...

(Has anyone tried one of Vicki's human siblings? How about her evil robot twin?)
posted by tss at 11:01 PM on October 20, 2002

Damn! It guessed Principal Blackman from Strangers with Candy after only 40 queries.
posted by Karl at 11:06 PM on October 20, 2002

(Has anyone tried one of Vicki's human siblings? How about her evil robot twin?)
Vanessa
posted by riffola at 11:09 PM on October 20, 2002

Of course, it's hard to believe anyone ever watched "Small Wonder". *smirk*

Hey, at least I don't know the name of the evil robot twin.
posted by Stan Chin at 11:10 PM on October 20, 2002

Anything to make you look better Stan :)
posted by riffola at 11:15 PM on October 20, 2002

For those of you who are really bored, find the sitcom here and then try it out.
posted by Plunge at 11:54 PM on October 20, 2002

I picked Rod Serling...

and it asks me "Are you on Fraggle Rock?"
posted by iamck at 11:55 PM on October 20, 2002

It guessed George W. Bush after 12 queries.
It guessed Kosmo Kramer after 14 queries.
I stumped it on Kadafi, it thought I was talking about Mugabe or Saddam Hussien.
posted by abez at 11:58 PM on October 20, 2002

That's odd. I totally stumped the thing with 'Eddy Haskell' from 'Leave it to Beaver'! I would have thought that would be a fairly common one. Was his father a dentist?
posted by hama7 at 1:04 AM on October 21, 2002

Funny hama7, I was 1061 to pick Eddie Haskell. Don't quite remember what his dad did but I answered no to all the options for his dads job. Remember he's good friends with a dumb kid, Lumpy.

And the thing figured out I was 'Bernard Black' from Black Books... there were maybe less than a dozen episodes of that show.
posted by bobo123 at 1:52 AM on October 21, 2002

Wow, I'm impressed. I'm only #2 to pick Jerry Hubbard from "Fernwood Tonight" but it got me in less than 20. I don't even know any other person who has even seen "Fernwood Tonight".
posted by ttrendel at 2:04 AM on October 21, 2002

I tried Batmanuel from The Tick and it guessed I was Pinochet, whihc is pretty funny. But it did get Dave from News Radio after about 30 questions. I knew I had lost when it asked if I'd ever been a member of Kids in the Hall. Only one other person was Dave? That surprised me.
posted by Nothing at 2:59 AM on October 21, 2002

Are you known for drinking the blood of many people? Yes

Do you live in LA?

I nearly fell over laughing. Logical next question, I'm sure.
posted by Nothing at 3:03 AM on October 21, 2002

I can't believe that only 10 people have been Fry from Futurama...

Took a hell of a long time to get there too...
posted by twine42 at 3:32 AM on October 21, 2002

I'm really enjoying this, but only 'cause I'm playing fair...I beat this with Bill Oddie from The Goodies but felt guilty 'cause I know it's not really a 'sitcom' and is unlikely to feature in the database of questions.

I beat it with Mike Moore from Frontline

Shame on you! Try 'Steve from My Three Sons' before you try to make yourself feel like a *big man* by naming some minor anitpodean office satire!
posted by backOfYourMind at 5:09 AM on October 21, 2002

"I can't believe that only 10 people have been Fry from Futurama...

Took a hell of a long time to get there too..."

I did it and it said 300 people had done Fry. The only reason I did it was actually to see how many had.

I also did a whole bunch of non-sitcom, non-dictator ones, just to see. Forty people had done Scully before me, and I was the third to do my man Conan O'Brien.
posted by The God Complex at 5:17 AM on October 21, 2002

At least we'll know we're living in The Matrix when we find ourselves living next door to the Huxtable family and Emperor Hirohito.
posted by klaatu at 5:49 AM on October 21, 2002

I was #27 to choose Miles from Murphy Brown, but only #4 to choose Phil the bartender. This site is always a great distraction.
posted by thewittyname at 5:59 AM on October 21, 2002

I was #13 to try Major "Hot Lips" Hoolihan from M.A.S.H. and #30 to do Punky Brewster. I stumped it with Jay from My Wife and Kids. It though I was Claire from the Cosby Show.
posted by onhazier at 6:13 AM on October 21, 2002

I stumped it with Omar Torrijos from Panama. It guessed "Manuel Noreaga from Nicaragua". I wonde who told it that Noriega was from Nicaragua?
posted by teo at 8:49 AM on October 21, 2002

I stumped it with Chuck, Richie's absent older brother from Happy Days. (Chuck's at college, and appeared only in the pilot; he was never mentioned at all after the first season.) It had never heard of him.
posted by hot soup girl at 10:46 AM on October 21, 2002

You gotta blind it with obscurity, Duckstab; try Thalia or Zelda from Dobie Gillis. ~grin~
posted by Perigee at 12:54 PM on October 21, 2002

It took it about 70 questions to figure out that I was Duffman from the Simpsons... longest that I've seen so far.
Anyone seen longer?
posted by rfordh at 9:54 PM on October 21, 2002