Mr Spock "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it." What he really said: "I don't think other people in the world would share the view that there is mounting chaos." James Callaghan, 1979 "Crisis? What crisis?" Collecting them is a fascinating exercise, and in a lot of cases it also gives the real authors their due." Ms Knowles, who introduced a misquotations section into the latest Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, said: "Again and again we see misquotations flourish because they catch the tone of a personality more than the original remark. The future King Edward VIII had newspaper subeditors to thank for his supposed sally on unemployment: "Something must be done." He said: "The opposition of events." This was changed to "events, dear boy, events", by someone whom Ms Knowles is still trying to track down.Ĭelebrity adaptors include Princess Diana, who changed Charles's TV aside from "Yes, whatever that may mean" to "Whatever 'in love' means". The Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan also features in the book, with his reported but in reality never made response when asked to name the greatest difficulty facing a PM. Ms Knowles said: "It's an example of a misquotation which sounds much more in keeping than the original." The full phrase was coined 21 years later by PG Wodehouse, in Psmith, Journalist, whose hero tacks on the remainder of the phrase. The nearest the fictional detective got to "elementary" was a single use of the word in one short story, The Crooked Man, published in 1894. Sherlock Holmes's trademark phrase is a key example in the collection, entitled What They Didn't Say, which Oxford University Press publishes this week. Misquotations are much more interesting than mistakes." The fascination lies in how and why they were altered. Ms Knowles said: "The last thing we want is to be seen as clever clogs, saying that these quotes are wrong. The exposé, by Elizabeth Knowles, who edits the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, is not intended to debunk the fabrications but rather show how quotations, like language in general, can subtly alter. No one ever said "Beam me up Scotty", and Mr Spock never said "It's life Jim, but not as we know it." The list includes many supposedly historical lines, such as Napoleon's "Not tonight Josephine", but also covers modern icons including Star Trek. Hundreds of pithy remarks from "Let them eat cake" to "Elementary, my dear Watson", turn out to be adaptations of comments that were more clumsy or more boring - or which were never said by those thought to have coined them. Despite an off-and-on British accent, she shows much more potential as an actress than she ever did as a singer.Some of history's most famous one-liners are about to be exposed as inventions by other writers with plenty of time to hone their prose. Even Kelly Osbourne - yes, that Kelly Osbourne - brings tenderness to a character that could otherwise have descended into a cute, chubby alternachick stereotype. (Yes, the WB, I’m looking at you.)Īctors are above par, and even though they play high school students, most actually don’t look a day over 20, which is refreshing. Sex - and the almost sex - is presented realistically, and it’s refreshing to see smart teenage girls who have thought through the consequences and proceed without becoming pregnant, or homewreckers, or pregnant homewreckers. After Jonathan worries about what his friends would think if he’s schmoopy in public with zaftig Deborah, the payoff is sweet when all they do is smile knowingly, with approval. Each confessional gives depth to actions that take place later in the show. Jonathan (Chris Lowell, in a clever homage to Jason Schwartzman’s character in “Rushmore”) sees his friendship with Deborah (Kelly Osbourne) taking on a new importance.Įach major character gets a turn in close-up to speak to the camera and explain their actions, a gimmick that would seem cutesy if the writing wasn’t so on the mark. Ben (Jon Foster) is under the spell of his hottie teacher (Marguerite Moreau) - the tritest storyline, but one still played with sufficient warmth and humor. Jackie (Missy Peregrym), whom he really might actually totally be in love with. Dino (Sean Faris) is a hockey star lusting after g.f. Based on Blighty writer Melvin Burgess’ novel “Doing It,” show takes a realistically lewd look at three high school boys.
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