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Muppets Named Top Scientists

praedictus writes "Apparently Bunsen and Beaker of Muppet fame have been nominated favorite TV scientist in a poll conducted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA). and the BBC, soundly beating other contenders such as Mr. Spock, and Agent Scully."

27 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. What about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Bill Nye the Science Guy or Mr. Wizard?

    Oh, and it was an unscientific internet poll.

    1. Re:What about by dealsites · · Score: 4, Informative

      Mr. Wizard rocked. Definately one of the better shows on Nickelodeon in the day. I'm not sure if it's still or in syndication these days as I don't have cable, but it was a great show to learn growing up. Check out these facts from the pre Nickelodeon days
      --
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    2. Re:What about by ScottGant · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Prof. Hubert J. Farnsworth from Futurama? He get's my vote!

      --

      "Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it." - John Lennon.
    3. Re:What about by the+HIM · · Score: 4, Funny

      Beakman!! Nothing says quality scientist like a giant rat and a drug addict female cohost! It brought me through the hard early years of science, to be sure. "Ok, kids...for today's experiment, you'll need a spoon, a lighter...."

  2. Quatermass by alanw · · Score: 4, Informative
    Get the original story, with the voting figures, from the BA Web site

    Why wasn't Quatermass on the short list? It's astounding to think that early TV SF horror shows were broadcast live.

  3. It follows by SYFer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not a surprise really. Oxford University recently announced that Beaker will be delivering the inaugural lecture for this year's Department of Biochemistry Distinguished Lecture Series. Rumor has it he will address "Neuro-imaging and Neuropathological Studies of Mood Disorders in Primates." Although not widely known, Beaker's contributions to science have far outweighed his achievements in the field of entertainment.

    --
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  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. Missing options... by archnerd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...they're not just for /. polls anymore!

    What about Samantha Carter from Stargate?

  6. Bunsen's Friends Supportive by DrunkenTerror · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Swedish Chef had these words of congratulation:

    "He-a's a greet mun, a guud freeend. Thees echeeefement feenelly recugneezes zee cuntreebooshuns he-a hes mede-a tu zee sceeence-a und zee betterment ooff hoomuneety. I shell beke-a a ceke-a in hees hunur! Bork Bork Bork!"

  7. Scully? by heffrey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This may offend some but Scully is certainly not a scientist. Now, as for Bunsen and Beaker they may have been somewhat inept but scientists they were!!

    1. Re:Scully? by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 4, Informative

      Scully had degrees in physics and medicine. How is she not a scientist? In fact, that's why she was paired with Mulder. She was the objective yin to Mulder's crazed yang. She didn't accept anything she couldn't directly observe or quantify.

      --
      Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
  8. Re:Two Things by DarkHelmet · · Score: 5, Funny
    I'm guessing Spock would win due to the nerd contingent.

    In a forum of virgin nerds, you have to give the nod to Scully.

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
  9. Missing Poll Option... by sigma · · Score: 4, Funny
    Batman!

    Marge : There's a man here who says he can help you.
    Homer : Is it Batman?
    Marge : He's a scientist.
    Homer : Batman's a scientist.
    Marge : It's not Batman!

  10. Beaker Miffed by DrunkenTerror · · Score: 5, Funny

    His exact words for YOU, Mr. Anoymous Coward:

    "Meep mee, me meep meep meemeemee meep!"

    Dag, yo. You got served! You better apologize.

  11. beaker's comments by admiralfrijole · · Score: 4, Funny
    omitted from the original article was beaker's comments upon hearing he was sharing the top prize:

    Mee mee meeeee me meeeeee mee meee meeeee. Meeee me meeee mee meeeee me.

    --
    e to the pi i plus one equals zero
  12. What about the Professor???? by WerewulfX · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I mean for gosh sakes, I never saw Scully make a battery out of a coconut!!

  13. Racist title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't believe slashdot would run a story with that title. "Bunsen, Beaker Named Top Scientists" would have been much more dignified. You would never see "Whites Named Top Scientists" or "Hispanic, Woman Named Top Scientists" would you? Please, Bunsen & Beaker are scientists first, muppets second.

  14. The converse poll... by the_twisted_pair · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...could be good fun too: Top scientist named a Muppet poll anyone?

    Hmm, think I'll vote for Pons and Fleischmann.....

  15. Beaker in Las Vegas by Jack+Action · · Score: 4, Funny
    Beaker "sings" Feelings.

    Truly one of the funniest things you will ever see.

  16. Inspiration for young scientists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fictional characters can be a better role model for young people than real scientists and engineers. Perhaps a few children will think of becoming scientists because of these characters.

    "Scotty" on Star Trek has just got his star on the sidewalk (covered by slashdot). Many student engineers at one US school said they were inspired to take engineering by Scotty. (I can't find the link.)

  17. Wile E. Coyote by wideBlueSkies · · Score: 4, Funny

    How about: Wile E. Coyote Super Genius ?

    wbs.

    --
    Huh?
  18. How about the CSI guys? by earthforce_1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They seem pretty popular - I am watching a back to back CSI labour day marathon on Spike.

    I heard enrollment in forensics college courses is way up on account of that program.

    --
    My rights don't need management.
  19. I know why Dr.Strangelove lost... by thrill12 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...a few years ago, I was visiting a local videostore, suddenly feeling the need to see Peter Sellers again in his wonderful appearance of the mad german scientist.
    I asked the clerk if he could provide me with the movie "Dr.Strangelove".
    Immediately, the man points to the back of the store : the x-rated section...

    I guess most people seeing the vote were disgusted when they saw this name in the contest :)

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  20. Mr. Lizard! by zogger · · Score: 5, Funny

    That muppet like show "Dinosaurs" was hilarious, they had a Mr. Wizard clone called "Mr. Lizard" IIRC. He was always wasting his kid assistants with bad science going even worse--> BOOM! "Oh well, guess we need ~another~ Billy!"

  21. Re:Two Things by cgenman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You'll notice Beaker and Honeydew were the only traditional scientists on the list. Mr. Spock, the doctor, and Dana are more explorers than scientists, Q is an engineer, Frank 'n Furter, Mr Evil, and Dr Frankenstein are, well, mad. Dr Strangelove is a consultant. Even Emmett Brown is portreyed as more mad than scientist.

    Why not include more traditional scientists on the list, such as Bill Nye, Mr. Wizard, or popular untraditional ones like Peter Venkmin or the Answer Guys?

  22. Sample Farnsworth Quotes by Amorpheus_MMS · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Buddha! Zeus! God! one of you guys do something! . . . Help! Satan! You owe me!!!"

    "I still don't understand why you wouldn't let me craft a laser cannon onto your chest, to crush those who disobey you..."

    "Sure, everyone's always in favor of saving Hitler's brain, but put it in the body of a great white shark... oooooh, suddenly you've gone too far!"

    1. Re:Sample Farnsworth Quotes by RsG · · Score: 4, Funny

      Speaker: "And the winner is ... Number 3, in a quantum finish."
      Farnsworth: "No fair! You changed the outcome by measuring it!"

      Farnsworth: "I'm even dating a young Brazilian retired actress!"
      Crew: *whoohoo sounds*
      Farnsworth: "Some say I'm robbing the cradle, but I say she's robbing the grave!"

      Farnsworth: "Fry, that monkey is my most important experiment. If you two don't stop fighting I'll have you both neutered."
      Fry: "Hehe, that'll show him."
      Farnsworth: "Oh, I always feared he might run off like this. Why, why, why didn't I break his legs??"
      Leela: "So he just ran away in the middle of the exam?"
      Farnsworth: "I'm afraid so. All he handed in was a paper smeared with feces. He tied with Fry."

      (stolen from gotfuturama.com)

      --
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