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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Check Out the Big Brain on Brad

That headline will be recognizable to many readers as a line from the movie Pulp Fiction. Or close to a line from Pulp Fiction, at least. (Z) plays that sequence in his lecture on how popular media and real-life events (in this case, the L.A. Riots) combine to shape people's perceptions of California. It's an effective presentation, based on the responses, and because that lecture was just over a week ago, it's certainly fresh in the mind.

The actual line is "the Big Brain on Brett," but it sounds like Samuel L. Jackson (in character as Jules Winnfield) is saying "Brad," and that's how it's stuck in (Z)'s mind. It seems appropriate to semi-mangle the character's line, since it comes within close proximity to the moment when the character himself mangles a Bible passage (the now somewhat infamous Ezekiel 25:17).

For last week's theme, which proved very popular, we gave two hints. The first was: "[A]nyone who is Transylvanian has a big edge today. Well, except for Dracula, because it has nothing to do with him." And the second was: "For anyone who is still working on the headline theme, we'll note that it might be your striped shirt that is interfering with your work."

And here is the solution, for those who are shivering with antici... pation, courtesy of reader D.E. in Lancaster, PA:

Great Scott, it's just a jump to the left! Let's go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show again, as the headlines have a character each (well, two have bonus clues). Donald Trump would not approve of your movie selection! Madness takes its toll:

Undemocratic: It's Been A Rocky Week—Rocky the Monster in his sparkly gold shorts

The 2026 Elections: Janet Mills Throws In The Towel—for the Susan Sarandan character, Janet Weiss, who stumbles across the castle with fiancé Brad

In Congress: A Contentious Day In The District Of Columbia—for one of the good Doctor's assistants, Columbia, she with the sparkly top hat

I Read The News Today, Oh Boy: Eddie Money Wrote the "Two Tickets To Paradise" Riff—Here's a twofer, Eddie, the delivery boy with a saxophone (Eddie Money's instrument), played by rock star Meat Loaf; and Riff Raff, the alien assistant from the planet Transexual.

This Week In Schadenfreude: LIV Golf Enters Its Magenta Period—The Doctor's other assistant, Magenta, she with the Bride of Frankenstein hair

This Week In Freudenfreude: To Be Frank, It's About Time—Finally, we get to our sweet transexual from Transylvania, the good Doctor Frank-n-Furter, played deliciously by Tim Curry. Also, while not a character, the Time Warp is the most famous song of the film and the name of its signature dance—And then just a step to the right! I think it only appropriate that a film about alien transvestites and a film that changed how audiences participate with a film, it seems only appropriate that there are clues that don't quite fit in the approved boxes!

And to be a completist, the clue, "We'll say that anyone who is Transylvanian will have a big edge today." Transylvanian is the name of several background characters, such as Transylvanian #1 through Transylvanian #19. Again another clue that shouldn't be forced into predetermined boxes.

Entirely correct. The "striped shirt" clue refers to a custom, for show-goers, whose origin is disputed, and which may not be universally known. Something in the same general ballpark as "you don't wish an actor good luck." And while we didn't get Brad in there last week, he does appear in the headline for this item.

Here are the first 60 readers to get it right:

K.H. in Albuquerque, NM
M.W. in Altea Spain
J.M. in Eagle Mills, NY
M.M. in Charlottesville, VA
N.T. in Le Perreux-sur-Marne, France
N.H. in London, England, UK
J.S. in Huntington Station, NY
T.K. in Half Moon Bay, St. Kitts
G.B. in Utrecht, The Netherlands
B.R. in Arlington, MA
A.A. in Branchport, NY
B.E. in Brooklyn, NY
J.N. in Zionsville, IN
K.R. in Austin, TX
M.K. in Long Branch, NJ
D.C. in South Elgin, IL
E.J. in Homewood, AL
D.S. in Nashua, NH
S.K. in Ardmore, PA
P.H. in Buffalo Grove, IL
G.W. in Avon, CT
J.R. in Austin, TX
R.D. in Cheshire, CT
W.M. in Topinabee, MI
S.W. in Raleigh, NC
M.S. in Canton, NY
J.C. in Carmel, IN
D.L. in Uslar, Germany
A.D. in Gaithersburg, MD
J.M.R. in Muncie, IN

C.W. in Atlantic Beach, FL
D.K. in Marseille, France
D.D. in Highland Park, IL
J.M. in New York City, NY
J.S. in Chevy Chase, MD
P.T. in Bridgewater, NJ
R.S. in Pittsgrove, NJ
A.B. in Wendell
H.M. in Portland, ME
D.L. in Springfield, IL
M.L. in Chicago, IL
R.E. in Birmingham, AL
J.Y. in Walnut Creek, CA
B.A. in Edmond, OK
J.A. in Hoi An, Vietnam
A.J. in Baltimore, MD
C.O. in Marion, IA
D.H. in Leesburg, AL
M.T. in Simpsonville, SC
R.S. in Tonawanda, NY
P.H. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
J.T. in West Hartford, CT
J.S.R. in Orlando, FL
J.F. in Fayetteville, NC
N.D. in Norwich Township, OH
D.D. in Bucks County, PA
J.Z. in Baltimore, MD
R.N. in Cleveland, OH
D.M. in Grand Rapids, MI
T.K. in Manchester, MO

The 60th correct response was received at 5:40 a.m. PT on May 1.

For this week's theme, it relies on one word per headline, and it's in the category Language. For a hint, we'll say that the theme is pretty sweet.

If you have a guess, send it to comments@electoral-vote.com with subject line May 9 Headlines. (Z)

This item appeared on www.electoral-vote.com. Read it Monday through Friday for political and election news, Saturday for answers to reader's questions, and Sunday for letters from readers.

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