“My new shadow puppet theater could make millions, but that’s just projected figures”
A business projection's "projected figures" aren't literally projected figures, but there's a popular theater joke. "I've worked out that my new shadow puppet…
“My next song is about subtraction. Take it away…”
"My next song is about subtraction. Take it away..." was posted on Twitter by sickipediabot on January 10, 2011. The joke originated on the Sickipedia website. "This next song is…
“My pronouns are He/He/He because I identify as a comedian”
Entry in progress -- BP X/Twitter Bob @wanderingbob73 My pronouns are he he he I identify as a comedian 3:15 PM · Apr 16, 2024
“My uncle was a great conductor. He was struck by lightning”
A musical conductor is not the same as a conductor of electricity, but there have been jokes. "My uncle was a great conductor. He was struck by lightning six times" is a joke that has…
“My wife is leaving me because of my Star Wars obsession. I said, ‘May divorce be with you’”
"May the Force be with you" is a famous line from the Star Wars films. "May divorce be with you" is a popular joke. "May Divorce Be with You" was an episode of the…
“My wife rotates playing her guitar, drum, or flute once a month. It’s part of her minstrel cycle”
"Menstrual cycle" shouldn't be confused with "minstrel cycle," but there are jokes. This was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on August 9, 2020: "My wife rotates playing her…
“N.Y.C.” (1977)
The musical Annie (1977) was based on a comic strip about a little orphan girl. It was a great Broadway success and was later made into a big-budget (but unsuccessful) film. The most-remembered…
“Native New Yorker” (1977)
"Native New Yorker," from a group called Odyssey, is often described as a "disco" hit. However, it's also Carribean - the singers are from the Virgin Islands!…
“Never judge a book by its movie”
"You can't judge a book by its cover" -- meaning that outward appearance isn't everything -- is a proverb that dates to at least 1929. "Never judge a book by its…
“Never meet your heroes” (entertainment adage)
An entertainment adage holds that one should "never meet your heroes" (or "never meet your idols"). A hero on a stage or a movie screen can be very different in real life.…
“Never read the last line of a play at a rehearsal” (theatre superstition)
Entry in progress -- BP Toby SimkinTheatre Superstition The Last LineIt has been considered bad luck to say the final line of a show before it opens. Therefore, many rehearsals skip the final line…
“Never sing in the shower. Singing leads to dancing. Dancing leads to slipping…”
"Never sing in the shower. Singing leads to dancing. Dancing leads to slipping, and slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked. So remember, don't sing!" is a jocular saying that…
“Never swear at a prop boy. You may be working for him tomorrow” (entertainment adage)
There are many different ways of the business saying: "Be kind to those working under you; you might be working under them some day." "Do not antagonize the newsboy today -- you may…
“Never work with children or animals” (show business adage)
"Never work with children or animals" is an old show business adage. Children and animals can behave unpredictably on the stage or movie set. Once the movie is made, the audience always…
“New York City (Such a Beautiful Disease)”
"New York City (Such a Beautiful Disease)" is a popular song by a real New Yorker, Norah Jones. The book Songs in the City needs to be updated for this one. I hear the Norah Jones song…
“New York Groove” (1978)
Ace Frehley (of the rock group KISS) did a solo album in 1978. "New York Groove" was his big hit from the album. The lyrics ""I'm back in the New York groove" occur…
“New York has been the Big Apple for several decades (in jazz)” (New York Times, 1967)
John S. Wilson (1913-2002) was a music critic for the New York (NY) Times and one of the country's leading jazz authorities. He wrote about New York City's role in the jazz world in…
“New York stabs you in the heart; Los Angeles stabs you in the back”
Actors and musicians have a saying about the difference between New York City (Broadway) and Los Angeles (Hollywood): "In New York, they tell you that you suck and they stab you in the heart.…
“New York State of Mind” (1975)
"New York State of Mind" (1975) was written and performed by Billy Joel. It appears on his album Turnstiles. Hillary Clinton used this song during her 2000 New York Senate run. Arguably,…
“New York, New York (It’s a Helluva Town)” (1945)
"New York, New York (It's a Helluva Town)" (1945) (or "It's a Wonderful Town," for those who prefer these lyrics) was written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and…