Babaloo (a.k.a. Babalú) - Remember on the sitcom I LOVE LUCY/CBS/1950-61 when Cuban born singer Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz)  banged on his drums and sang that funny sounding lyric "Babalú Ayé"? He was actually invoking (in song) the help of a patron saint of the sick worshipped by the Cuban immigrants who belonged to a religious group known as the Santeria (Translation: Worship of Saints). Santeria is a mixture of African magic/witchcraft and Catholic mysticism that originated with Yoruban (Nigerian) slaves who were brought to Latin America during the 17th Century. On the series Ricky Ricardo later left his $100-per-week job at the Tropicana Club to become the proprietor of the Ricky Ricardo Babaloo Club. TRIVIA NOTE: Inspired by Ricky's classic phrase, the Quick Draw McGraw's cartoon burro sidekick was called "Baba-Looey."       

Bing - Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) on the sitcom FRIENDS/NBC/1994-2004 once commented on the origins of his surname saying "Bing...That's Gaelic for "Thy turkey's done."

Carrascolendas - The name of a bilingual (English/Spanish) educational series produced by KLRN-TV, San Antonio/Austin, Texas that helped children four to nine years of age cope with their feelings and relationships. The title of the series was a corrupted version of the word "Carnestolendas" meaning Carnival, the original name of a South Texas town.

Chico - Hispanic phrase meaning "boy" and the word used in the title of the sitcom CHICO AND THE MAN/NBC/1974-78. Set in the barrio of East Los Angeles the series told the story of a hip young Chicano mechanic Chico Rodriguez (Freddie Prinze) and a cranky, widower Ed Brown (Jack Albertson) who owned the garage where Chico worked.

Daktari - Swahili word for "Doctor" and the title of the medical adventure DAKTARI/CBS/1966-69 about a veterinarian Dr. Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson) who ran an animal study center in Kenya, Africa.

Flicka - Swedish for "little girl" and name of the equine star of the adventure series MY FRIEND FLICKA/CBS/NBC/1956-58. Based on the trilogy of novels Thunderhead, Son of Flicka and Green Grass of Wyoming by Mary O'Hara and the movie My Friend Flicka (1941), this series followed the adventures of a young Montana boy, Ken McLaughlin (Johnny Washbrook) and his horse, Flicka who lived at the Goose Bar Ranch at the turn of the century. In the 1941 movie, a ten-year-old Ken McLaughlin tended to the wounds of a wild filly who hurt itself when trying to escape captivity. Eventually the horse grew to trust the boy and they became fast friends. The four-year-old Arabian Sorrel who played Flicka on the TV series was called Wahama. He resembled Gene Autry's horse, Champion  having white stockings and a partially blazed face.

Gung Ho - Chinese words meaning "Team Spirit" or "To Work In Harmony" and the title of the sitcom GUNG HO/ABC/1986 about a Japanese management team which reopened a Pittsburgh automobile plant. The series was based on the theatrical movie Gung Ho (1986) directed by Ron Howard. TRIVIA NOTE: The term "Gung Ho" was adopted by Marine Lt. Colonel Evans F. Carlson as the slogan for his battalion, (a.k.a. "Carlson's Raiders") whose surprise attack on Makin Island during World War II inspired the motion picture Gung Ho! (1944).

"Gwyn eich byd a dymunaf i chwi lawenydd bob amser" - Traditional Welsh saying meaning "May you always be well and be happy" spoken by singer Tom Jones at the conclusion of his weekly musical variety show THIS IS TOM JONES/ABC/1969-71.

Hasenpepper  See - "Schlameel"

Hashush-al-Kabaar - Lebanese phrase meaning "The Man Who Made a Monkey Out of a Camel" on the sitcom MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY/CBS/1953-64. "Hashush-al-Kabaar" was the nickname of Uncle Tonoose (Hans Conried), the Lebanese relative (head of the family) of nightclub entertainer Danny Williams (Danny Thomas). Tonoose (who loved goat cheese and grape leaves) claimed his family descended from King Achmed the Unwashed.  

Horshack - A "very old and respected name" which meant "The cattle are dying." This unusual last name belonged to an even stranger young man named Arnold Dingfelder  Horshack (Ron Palillo), a member of a gang of hoodlums (The Sweathogs) who wandered the halls of Brooklyn's James Buchanan High School on the sitcom WELCOME BACK, KOTTER/ABC/1975-79. His favorite expression was the annoying declaration "Ooh, ooh!" when he wanted to get his teacher's attention. TRIVIA NOTE: On the sitcom LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/ABC/1976-83, Lenny Kosnowski's (Michael McKean) last name in English means "Help there is a hog in my kitchen."  

"In canis corpore transmuto" - In the 1959 Disney movie The Shaggy Dog, Tommy Kirk starred as a young man named Wilby Daniels who inadvertently transformed himself into a shaggy dog when he read the magical Borgia spell "In Canis Corpore Transmuto." Translated from the Latin the phrase said: "Into a dog's body I change." The movie was based on the story The Hound of Florence written by Felix Salten about a magic ring that changed a small boy into a dog. The phrase was also used in the sequel theatrical movie The Shaggy D.A. (1976) and the made-for-TV movie The Return of the Shaggy Dog (1989).

"Invoco legem magiciarium" - Magic chant that translated from the Latin language as "I invoke the law of magic." Real-life magician and illusionist Coe Norton used this magical incantation on the occult series MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN/SYN/1954. He was assisted by a hulking companion, called Lothar (Woody Strode). The 39-episode series was based on the King Features comic strip character created by Lee Falk and Phil Davis. The made-for-TV movie Mandrake (1979) starred Anthony Herrera as Mandrake and Ji-Tu Cumbuka as Lothar who fought a sinister business tycoon. The animated cartoon DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH/SYN/1986 featured Mandrake the Magician and his son, Kshin, a martial arts expert who battled evil with the help of Lothar, Phantom, and Flash Gordon and their siblings.

Ji-Tu - Swahili for "Giant To Remember" and the first name of black actor Ji-Tu Cumbuka who costarred as Hawk, a former slave and friend of Daniel Boone on the adventure series YOUNG DAN'L BOONE/CBS/1977; and as Torgue, a spy with a metal right hand on the espionage drama A MAN CALLED SLOANE/NBC/1979-80. 

Kemo Sabe - Indian phrase meaning "Faithful Friend" or "Trusty Scout" used by the North American Indian Tonto (Jay Silverheels), to describe his close friend John Reid aka "The Lone Ranger" (Clayton Moore/John Hart) on the western adventure THE LONE RANGER/ABC/1949-57. The word "Kemo Sabe" was actually inspired by James Jewell, the director of the original Lone Ranger radio series that debuted on January 30, 1933. It was derived from the name of a boys camp called "Kee-Mo-Sah-Bee" established in 1911 at Mullet Lake in Michigan that was owned by Jewell's father-in-law, Charles W. Yeager. During the 1930s "Lone Ranger Camps" were held at this popular North Michigan campground. The camp closed in 1941. See also - "Tonto"

Kukla - Russian term used to affectionately describe a doll. The puppet character Kukla, a sweet round-faced puppet with a big round nose from the children's puppet show KUKLA FRAN AND OLLIE/CBS/1948-54/ABC/1954-57 got its name in the fall of 1936 when Russian Prima ballerina Tamara Toumanova visited the USA Puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who was a fan of the ballerina visited her backstage carrying his yet unnamed small hand puppet. When Tamara saw the puppet she exclaimed "Kukla!" Kukla and other Kuklapolitan puppet players included Oliver "Ollie" J. Dragon, Beulah the Witch, Fletcher Rabbit, Madam Ophelia, Ooglepuss, Colonel Cracky, Cecil Bill the sailor, and Clara Coo Coo.  

Kung Fu - An ancient form of martial arts that originated in the Shaolin monasteries of China. On the western adventure KUNG FU/ABC/1972-75 David Carradine starred as a half-Chinese Shaolin Monk, Kwai Chang Caine who wandered the vastness of the western frontier searching for serenity from a hostile world of assassins and bigoted Americans. His only defense against the many evils he encountered was his training in the mystic arts of Kung Fu. (Translated: "Accomplishment Technique").

According to the program "It is said a Shaolin priest can walk through walls...listened for, he cannot be heard...looked for, he cannot be seen...felt, he cannot be touched." (episode No. 3 "Blood Brother" 1-18-73) In his book The Spirit of Shaolin (Charles Tuttle, 1991), David Carradine defined "kung fu" as "an ancient fitness program through which humankind realizes its full potential through better understanding, learning to set high limits and standards, transcending rigid and false values and achieving harmony with the law of nature and the universe. Kung fu is training with a useful purpose, and leads to the learning of refined skills, which will remain with the student for a lifetime, and, perhaps, even longer."

An excerpt from the TV script had Master Chen Ming Kan (Philip Ahn) explain the various kung fu fighting styles used by the Shaolin priest.

"In the Shaolin Temple, there are three kinds of men...students, disciples and Masters. The development of the mind can be achieved only when the body has been disciplined. To accomplish this, the Ancients have taught us to imitate God's creatures...From the Crane we learn grace and self control. The Snake teaches us suppleness and rhythmic endurance. The Eagle, the duality of hard and soft. The Praying Mantis teaches us speed and patience. The Way of the Tiger...tenacity and power. And from the Dragon we learn to ride the wind."

The kung fu student practices the Animal styles so he or she can reduce conflict and be one with nature, one with the universe. It may take a person half-a lifetime to master just one system. When Master Kan was asked which style he taught. Master Kan replied "I teach them all." Kwai Chang Caine resurfaced on the spin-off TV pilot KUNG FU: THE NEXT GENERATION/CBS/1987 (aired on SUMMER PLAYHOUSE) starring David Darlow as a modern-day descendent of Kwai Chang Caine (with Brandon Lee as his son, Johnny); Kung Fu: The Movie (1986) continued Caine's adventures; and the first-run syndicated series KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES/SYN/1993-97 starring David Carradine as the grandson of original Shaolin Priest.  

Latifah - Arabic term for "delicate and sensitive" (as in Queen Latifah, rap artist and actress on the black sitcom LIVING SINGLE/FOX/1993-97)

Latka's Language - Strange sounding Slavic language spoken by immigrants Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman), a mechanic for New York's Sunshine Cab Company and his wife, Simka Gravas (Carol Kane) on the sitcom TAXI/ABC/NBC/1978-83. Their language (a mishmash of Porky Pig-like stammerings) sounded like "Yaba Daba Dee Bee Daba." Some distinct phrases to originate from the program were

• Gewirtzal: Person who proposes marriage for the man;

• Ha-Dee-Fee-Bee!: Revolution!;

• Ibi-da: That is right;

• Krimpka-Push: Pre-Menstrual Syndrome which caused Latka's wife, Simka to undergo such personality changes as being clumsy, craving salt, headaches, talking jags and depression;

• Murzik: What the mother of the groom tells the fiancée about men -generally insulting phrases. The response of the bride-to-be to these remarks determines whether she is worthy of her son;

• Plumitz: The dance performed at the end of a marriage ceremony;

• Schloogel: Matchmaking ceremony that introduces newlywed's friends to their ideal mate;

• Yak-Da-Veh!: Kiss my ass!

See also -CEREMONIES...& RITUALS: "Schloogel"

"Mira que tiene cosa la mujer esta!" - Cry of exasperation spoken by Cuban nightclub singer Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) when he got frustrated with his zany redheaded wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) on the classic sitcom I LOVE LUCY/CBS/1951-57. Roughly translated "Mira que tiene cosa la mujer esta!" means "What a thing this woman is!"

Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah - The name of the Pawnee American Indian character (X Brands) who starred on the western adventure YANCY DERRINGER/CBS/1958-59. Translated, his name meant "Wolf who stands in water." Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah was the unsmiling, silent Indian companion of ex-confederate soldier Yancy Derringer (Jock Mahoney), a suave gambler and undercover agent for the city of New Orleans.  

Pfister - On the sitcom LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/ABC/1976-83 the word "Pfister" is used in a number of episodes. The German word has reportedly been linked to an old tannery building in Milwaukee whose wall displayed a sign large with the names "Pfister & Vogel" located at Water Street and Brady Street. The following is a list of "Pfister" occurrences found in Laverne & Shirley scripts:

• At the beginning of episode No. 32, a man from "The Pfister Mortuary and Funeral Parlor" visits the girl's apartment;

• In episode No. 33 Shirley Feeney wins a free honeymoon trip to "The Hotel Pfister";

• In episode No. 37 a man named Charles Pfister Crane (a parody of Charles Foster Kane in the movie Citizen Kane) transforms Laverne & Shirley into the singing group called "The Rosebuds.";

• In episode No. 46 singer Fabian performed at "The Pfister Arena";

• In episode No 59 Laverne and Lenny go  to "The Hotel Pfister" for the Polish Debutante Ball; 

• In episode No. 60 Carmine Ragusa tries to get a loan to open up a dance studio; He applies at "Pfister Savings and Loan";

• In episode No. 74 Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman says his favorite mouthwash is "Pfisterene Mouthwash";

• In episode No 74 Laverne & Shirley purchase a statue from "Pfister Plaster Palace";

• In episode No. 93  Shirley advises Laverne's father, Frank (who wants to propose marriage) to take his girlfriend Edna on a romantic dinner at "Cafe Le Pfister.";

• In episode No. 107  Carmine Ragusa talks about the time he took the girls to the "Chez Pfister" restaurant;

• In episode No. 111 Shirley and Laverne eat at a restaurant called "Pfister Fong's".

There are also even references to "Pfister" in the HAPPY DAYS series including the "Pfister Retirement Home"; and for one season, Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli dated Ashley Pfister (Linda Purl) who had a cute little daughter named Heather Pfister (Heather O'Rourke).

Pig Latin - In the book Bart Simpson's Guide to Life (Harper Perennial, 1993 p.96-97), Bart Simpson the bratty juvenile delinquent from the cartoon sitcom THE SIMPSONS/FOX/1989+, instructs his fans on how to speak classic Pig Latin. The instructions read:

"Take the first letter off each word and move it to the back of the word and add an "ay." If the word starts with a vowel (antsy, oink, egghead) just add 'ay' at the end of it (antsy-ay, oink-ay, egghead-ay). When two girls try to kiss Bart he says "O-Nay Ay-Way, An-May!"

He also offers an alternative to Pig Latin called "Oppish" which inserts an "op" after the first consonant of any syllable. If the word begins with a vowel, you start the word with "op."

Schlameel - At the beginning of each episode of the sitcom LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY/ABC/1976-83, Laverne De Fazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) skip down a Milwaukee sidewalk chanting "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Schlameel, Schlamaazal Hassenpepper Incorporated" (Lyrics from "Making Our Dreams Come True" by Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox). The significance of the words were never disclosed, but were more than likely the remembered words of a shared childhood ritual. "Schlemiel" is Yiddish for "a fool, born loser"; "Schlimazel" is Yiddish for "a loser or unlucky person"; and "Hasenpfeffer" is a reference to a German rabbit stew.  

Schlimaazal  See - "Schlameel"

Schloogel - Sacred traditional post-marriage ceremony performed by the newlywed auto mechanic Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) and his wife Simka (Carol Kane) on episode No. 91 "The Schloogel Show (a.k.a. Love Un-American Style)" on the sitcom TAXI/ABC/NBC/1978-83. In the old country where Latka and Simka were born, there was a ceremony wherein newlyweds in an expression of love and sharing of their new found happiness, would introduce their closest acquaintances to "ideal" marriage partners. If the newlywed's friends did not attend the ceremony, it was considered a great insult. Following the tradition of their country, Latka and Simka hosted a party at which Alex Rieger (Judd Hirsch), Elaine Nardo (Marilu Henner), Tony Banta (Tony Danza), Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito), and Jim Ignatowski (Christopher Lloyd) were supposed to meet their ideal life partner. See also - "Latka & Simka's Wedding Ceremony" 

"Sic gorgiamus allos Subjectatos nunc" - Family credo of the Addams Family found on a carved tomb in the family cemetery in a scene from the movie "The Addams Family: The Movie (1991) an adaptation of the macabre sitcom THE ADDAMS FAMILY/ABC/1964-66. Translated from the Latin the phrase reads: "We gladly feast on those who would subdue us."

Uggams - The surname of the black, female singer Leslie Uggams was derived from the Indian word meaning "Sweet One." A descendent from Negro, Scotch, Irish, Cherokee and Seminole Indian stock, Uggums was the star of the musical variety program THE LESLIE UGGAMS SHOW/CBS/1969.  

Uhura - Swahili for "Freedom" and the surname of the black, female communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) stationed on the USS Enterprise on the sci-fi series STAR TREK/NBC/1966-69 and subsequent movie sequels.  

Villa Alegre - Spanish for "Happy Village" and title of half hour daytime children's series, presented in Spanish and English targeted at Hispanic speaking pre-schoolers. The series of 159-episodes premiered on the Public Broadcasting System in 1974.

"Wa Sabe Ani Mako, O Tar Vey, Rama Kong" - In the 1933 movie King Kong (debuted on TV on March 5, 1956) a South Seas native witch doctor from Skull Island chanted these words into the jungle to invoke the presence of their island God known as Kong. Translated the phrase said: "Thy bride is here, O mighty one, great Kong." Actress Fay Wray was the unlucky human sacrifice tied to two pillars who reluctantly awaited the huge ape. Imagine, the banana breath on this monkey.  

Yiddish - On the sitcom THE NANNY/CBS/1993-99 Fran Drescher starred as Fran Fine, a Jewish American Princess who lost her job at a Flushing Bridal shop and found employment as a nanny for a wealthy Manhattan widower. As she cared for his children, or spoke with her mother, Sylvia Fine (Renee Taylor) Fran sprinkled her conversations with a number of Yiddish terms. The following is list of some of those words with definitions:

• bar-mitzvah (ceremony marking the 13th year of a Jewish male-passage into manhood);

• bashert (fated or destined);

• bubbie (grandmother);

• bubkes (nothing);

• farkakta (terrible or ridiculous);

• kvetch (to complain);

• meshugeneh (a nutty person);

• meschpuche (member of an extended family);

• mozeltov (good luck or congratulations);

• Oy (a negative exclamation like "Oy, my back is killing me!");

• punim (face);

• shlep (to carry or pull something);

• shnoz (short for schnozzolla meaning "nose");

• shmootz (dirt or grime);

• shvits (to sweat);

• shikse (non-Jewish woman);

• tuchas (rear-end, butt, ass, derriere);

• yenta (a mouthy or gossipy woman).

The Yiddish language is a combination (blending) of both the German and Hebrew languages that originated in Eastern Europe. See also - MUSIC & MUSICIANS: "Bupkiss"

Max:	Why don't we speak in Swahili?
Chief:	As you wish. Mahani ganga gi.
Max:	Ganga gi? I thought it was Ganga ga.
Chief:	No, Ganga gi.
Max:	Oh, that's strange. I thought it was gi after ganga   unless it came before goo.
-- Get Smart

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