Liz: Well, here we are: another Thursday and amb is chatting away about another national holiday.
amb: Hi guys! It’s no October 19th, but let me tell you, today is a great day. Guess how many Hershey’s Kisses I’ve eaten already today? Am I talking really fast?! Is the room spinning?!? … Sorry, I had a point there. My point is, this week I’m being legit. Valentine’s Day is an actual holiday, with its own greeting cards and television specials and food and everything.
Liz: True! And it probably won´t surprise you to learn that Food is my favorite part of this and any other holiday … aside from the opportunity to talk about folks with funny names, of course.
amb: Of course! Before we get started, I have to point out that credit for today’s post goes to Liz, who got this Valentine-themed ball rolling by pointing out that Paulo Costanzo and Moon Bloodgood would make a fantastic, funny named, couple. She also pointed out the staying power of the name “Brangelina” which has permeated the public consciousness of oh, probably the whole entire world by now.
Look at his face – Ben knows this nickname is going to be around for a while
When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez became an item in 2003, their combined star-wattage burned so brightly that everyone they came into contact with lost their ability to recall proper nouns and had to resort to using the name “Bennifer” instead. Just kidding. I’m pretty sure editors figured out that a funny nickname would help them sell more magazines.
Bennifer’s relationship didn’t last, but the trend of bestowing a catchy moniker on celebrity couples continued. The ensuing years brought us, of course, the universally known Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), and more recently, Jethroux (Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux) and Kimye (Kim Kardashian and Kanye West).
But it turns out that Bennifer was not the couple who started it all. So who do funny-names enthusiasts (and magazine editors everywhere) have to thank for this trend? Allow me to introduce our post’s headliner: Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III. You may know him better as Desi Arnaz.
Desi Arnaz and his family fled to the United States following the Cuban Revolution, and Desi decided to pursue the American Dream in true Hollywood fashion and make a name for himself in the movies. He was cast in the musical “Too Many Girls” starring none other than Lucille Ball. It was love at first sight, and Desi and Lucille were married the following year. Desi acted in a few more movies, but where he really made his mark on the entertainment industry was in television. Television executives wanted Lucille to adapt her very popular radio series “My Favorite Husband” for television – any guesses on what the television adaption turned out to be?
Desilu Studios: where television legends and funny couple names are born.
Yes, that legendary sitcom was “I Love Lucy” and yes, this post has finally come full circle: the show was produced by the studio Desi and Lucy owned together, and it was called … wait for it .. Desilu Productions. Ta-da! You’re welcome, Bennifer.
Woot! Awesome, thematic, and educational! Thanks for posting this.
My pleasure. As your valentine, it’s the least I could do. 🙂
🙂
Fantastico, amb! I did not see that Desilu thing coming. You do your research well. And again, thanks for including me in your intro. Give me a holler should you ever make it to Minnesota and we’ll have a live and out loud conversation:-) p.s. Got a kick out of the fact that I’d never heard of Jethroux (though I do know of Jennifer Aniston;-)) and Kimye. Wasn’t there a Kardashian who was (briefly) married to a Minnesota Timberwolves player? Am feeling old 0-:
Thank you Wikipedia! Er, I mean, thanks Liz! I do all of my research myself, really, I do.
You’d better believe you’ll be my first call if I ever find myself in Minnesota! We’d have a ball, I’m sure.
I think Khloe was the one married to the Timberwolf? I will check with my other research source, Shutterbug Sis, since she Keeps up with the Kardashians 😉
Amb I love your style. You nearly made me snort tea out my nose this morning. Loved your conversation with Liz.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Whoohoo!
Ever since Mailman made me snort coffee out my nose with her infamous “Intercourse, PA” post, it’s been a personal goal of mine to incite the same reaction.
Fannie, you just made my day!! The happiest of Valentine’s Days to you too 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day dudes! Missed you! 🙂
If I could draw, I’d draw you a stick figure Hannibal Lector right now … Happy Valentine’s to you too 😉
We’ve missed you too Becky! You should come around more often – hint hint
Becky! So glad to have you back! Woohoo!
that was totally cool! witty, educational AND fun!
btw, i’ve never heard of Jethroux before. when i first skimmed the post, i thought you were talking about a heavy metal band.
Why thank you!
Teehee – that education is coming to you courtesy of Huffington Post, People, and other high quality resources. Jethroux was a new one to me too. And you’re right, it would make a wicked band name!
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