Green Eggs and Ham in popular culture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The children's book Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss, was published in 1960. It quickly became extremely popular, and continues to be a favorite children's book. Since so many people know the book, it has been repeatedly adapted or otherwise referred to in works of popular culture. Some have "official" status, being the enterprise of the copyright holders; others are independent work.
Contents |
[edit] Sponsored items
- In the first category, work sponsored by Seuss's publisher and heirs, there is a Green Eggs and Ham computer game for children, as well as a line of Green Eggs and Ham toys. Merchandising of this sort had to await the author's death, since Dr. Seuss was firmly opposed to it and did not permit it while he was alive and well.
- The book has been adapted as a cartoon (as part of the TV special Dr. Seuss on the Loose).
[edit] Other
The following are spontaneous emulations of, and tributes to, the book.
[edit] Television
- In an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, Just One Bite, SpongeBob tries to persuade Squidward to try a Krabby Patty, much to the resentment of Squidward. Squidward eventually agrees, but eats too much, thus making him explode.
- In a tribute four days after Dr. Seuss's death, the Rev. Jesse Jackson read Green Eggs and Ham during the 1991 season premiere of Saturday Night Live. During a later season of SNL, Darrell Hammond, who was known for impersonating Jackson, read Green Eggs and Ham during a segment of Weekend Update as Jackson.
- The reading of the story is employed as a plot device in an episode of the American TV series St. Elsewhere dealing with the death of Dr. Mark Craig's son.
- The story was parodied in the Johnny Bravo episode "Cookie Crisis". The episode's story revolves around Little Suzy trying to sell Girl Scout Cookies to Johnny, despite his continuous rejections.
- Similarly, a sketch in the Histeria! episode "Presidential People" revolved around Loud Kiddington trying to get George Bush to eat broccoli, set to the tune of Green Eggs and Ham. This was based around Bush's banning of broccoli from the White House and Air Force One.
- A parody was also done on an episode of Animaniacs, in the skit "The Warners and the Beanstalk" (retelling the children's tale, Jack and the Beanstalk) where the Warner Brothers and Sister are attempting to outwit a giant by offering him "Gold Eggs and Meat." Also, in a later skit titled "Papers for Papa", Ernest Hemingway, trapped in writers' block, considers writing, "I am Sad. Sad-I-Am. I would not eat blue figs and lam."
- On X-Play, after reviewing the video game adaptation of The Cat in the Hat, Morgan Webb commented "I do not like this crappy game; I do not like it, it is lame."
- During an episode of Dexter's Laboratory, Dexter runs the school library while the librarian is away and repeatedly goes into bouts of anger about the misplacing of a book called "Green Bacon And Eggs".
- Australian comedian John Safran performed a sketch on his TV program John Safran's Music Jamboree in which Eminem reads "Green Eggs and Ham" to a classroom of preschoolers in the style of his song "Stan".
- In the episode of Friends, "The One Where Dr. Romoray Dies" Phoebe claims she has to go to a "Green Eggs and Ham Discussion Group" to avoid an awkward situation.
- In the House episode, "Heavy", Jessica's mother says "Remember the story where the guy keeps saying he hates green eggs and ham? And then at the end he realized he really loved them? (...) You just gotta be like Sam-I-Am. And don't give up."
- An episode of Digimon Frontier has the title pun, "Glean Eggs and Scram".
[edit] Film
- In Daddy Day Care, Charlie (Eddie Murphy) is reading this book to the children during a session of child-minding.
- In the movie Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Nora Baker, pregnant at the time, is reading the book to her expecting child with her husband Bud. Together in the shot, they were heard reciting, "I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am."
- In the film The American President, after the President chides his Chief of Staff (also his best friend), for calling him 'Mr. President' 'even ... when we're playing pool?', the same responds 'I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.'
- The book's first line inspired the title of the movie I Am Sam, and features as the title character Sam's favorite book.
- In the movie (My life), the last scene is a post-mortem video of Bob Jones (Michael Keaton) reading to his son "Green Eggs and Ham"
[edit] Music
- Rock band Too Much Joy titled their first two albums Green Eggs and Crack and Son of Sam I Am.
- The Canadian musical group Moxy Früvous has performed a musical version of the story, complete with acting and props, during their live shows; this work has never been recorded on a major release because of copyright issues (the song does appear on their 1992 indie tape).
- "Weird Al" Yankovic has sung the words of Green Eggs and Ham to the tune of U2's song "Numb" as part of his "food medley" in live concerts. It has not been officially recorded, though bootlegs do exist.
- Green Eggs and Ham has been staged as a children's opera, called by a Boston Globe music critic "the most popular children's piece since Peter and the Wolf".
- Kenny Rogers refers to Dr. Seuss as "Sam I Am" in his song "The Last Ten Years {Superman)".
- The song "Method Man" on Wu-Tang Clan's 1993 album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) makes mention of Green Eggs and Ham.
- Green Eggs and Ham has been sung in the style of Bob Dylan on Dylan Hears a Who.
[edit] Comics
- An issue of Marvel Comics' Defenders featured the eponymous heroes travelling to a dimension inhabited by Seussian lifeforms, of which two were named Greeneggs and Andhamm.
