Grand Poobah

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Grand Poobah is a term that originates from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. In this operetta, the haughty character Pooh-Bah holds numerous exalted offices, including Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Buckhounds, Lord High Auditor, Groom of the Back Stairs, and Lord High Everything Else. The name has come to be used as a mocking title for someone self-important or high-ranking and who exhibits an inflated self-regard.

[edit] Pop Culture References

The name Pooh-Bah has come to stand for anyone with no real authority but who acts otherwise, as in the expression The Grand Pooh-Bah, first introduced in episodes of The Flintstones.

Fred Flintstone and his friend Barney Rubble were members of the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26. A high ranking elected position within this organization is Grand Poobah or Grand Imperial Poobah.

In addition, Howard Cunningham (TV series "HAPPY DAYS") was a Grand Poobah of Leopard Lodge No. 462 in Milwaukee.

In the Karate Choppers episode of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob calls Squidward a "Poobah" in one scene.

[edit] Other Uses

The Grand Poo-Bah is the name of one of the KWE wrestlers in the Kingdom of Loathing

Grand Poo-Bah is one of the ten choosable names in the Great Word Adventure

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