Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
A drone’s aerial footage can leave everyone below listening to a flying lawnmower
You might be capturing a breathtaking aerial view, but the fifty people trapped below you are just trying to enjoy their vacation over the high-pitched,…
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Weight-loss before photos use bad lighting, posed stomachs, and frowns to worsen results
Looking miserable is practically an art form in weight loss advertising. To maximize the impact of the final result, subjects are aggressively poorly lit,…
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How reality TV edits people into saying new things
If you fail to provide a juicy soundbite, the production team will simply build one for you. Editors routinely stitch together single syllables from…
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Why brand mascots have rulebooks
That giant anthropomorphic tiger cannot simply wave at a child however he pleases. Every corporate character is bound by incredibly thick rulebooks dictating…
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Why survival-show contestants take vitamins
Starving to death on a deserted island is terrible for network liability insurance. While heavily promoting the sheer desperation of their cast, producers…
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Reality-show contracts can rewrite your personality
Entering the world of unscripted programming requires signing away your basic dignity. Bizarre legal riders explicitly state the network can aggressively…
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Unscripted sets often trap participants in a single house
Transporting dozens of erratic personalities across town is a massive logistical nightmare. To save incredible amounts of money on permits and transportation,…
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Reality dating can cost contestants thousands
Looking glamorous while desperately seeking love will completely drain your bank account. Participants on popular romantic unscripted series are rarely…
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Energy drink sponsors mandate logos always face the camera
Athletes are strictly instructed on the proper ergonomics of corporate promotion. Whenever a sponsored individual takes a refreshing sip during a post-game…
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Home renovation shows may charge extra for the furniture
That gorgeous staged living room usually disappears the moment the cameras stop rolling. While the drywall and paint might be covered by the network,…
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Why survival shows secretly provide toilet paper
It turns out Mother Nature doesn't offer two-ply. While these brave souls are supposedly roughing it in the wild, production discreetly supplies basic hygiene…
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Why romantic hand-holding poses can hurt your shoulder
That intensely romantic shot of someone leading their partner by the hand actually requires an awkward, painful shoulder twist and contortion just to keep the…
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Why drug ads rush through the side effects
Nobody actually wants to admit their allergy pill might cause spontaneous internal combustion. However, federal mandates demand full disclosure of horrific…
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Deodorant commercials feature completely hairless pits
Apparently, acknowledging natural human biology is simply too grotesque for daytime viewing. Advertisers deliberately hire models who have already removed…
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QVC hosts sell for hours without scripts
Selling cubic zirconia requires a terrifyingly specific skill set. Hosts on major shopping networks do not rely on scripts, instead speaking for hours on end…
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Why beer ads never show a swallow
You can imply a wildly exciting party, but you absolutely cannot cross the line into actual consumption. Strict network guidelines prevent advertisers from…
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Commercials legally require text declaring simulations
Consumers are apparently entirely too gullible when it comes to mascara. Strict advertising laws mandate tiny legal disclaimers at the bottom of the screen…
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Medical professionals in commercials are paid spokesmen
That incredibly handsome dentist highly recommending a specific toothpaste hasn't seen a real patient in decades. Advertisers specifically recruit beautiful…
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The movie clue that can reveal a secret villain
If you want to quickly identify the secret traitor in a suspenseful narrative, just look at their smartphone. The massive tech giant absolutely forbids anyone…
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Instagram color grading lies to your face
That pristine, glowing turquoise water you saw online is realistically a murky brown puddle in person. Influencers just crank up the saturation until nature…
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Why “But wait, there’s more” makes you buy
Screaming 'but wait, there is more' is an incredibly calculated act of psychological warfare. These carefully tested trigger phrases are scientifically…
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Pet food ads use real food to sell you kibble
Your golden retriever does not care if their kibble looks like a gourmet stew, but you definitely do. Because real dog food looks incredibly bleak on camera,…
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Screen rides are a cheap out for designers
Instead of building tangible animatronics or physical sets, modern parks just strap you into a violently shaking chair in front of a giant 3D movie screen to…
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Some dating-show rings come with a two-year deadline
True love might be forever, but network generosity definitely comes with a strict expiration date. If a heavily promoted couple separates within two years of…
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