Mental Floss

POP CULTURE

Keanu Reeves moments after discovering he will never be able to remove Babes in Toyland from YouTube.

In 1986, Keanu Reeves starred in a three-hour made-for-television adaptation of the operetta 'Babes in Toyland.' One critic declared he "looked understandably embarrassed each time he is required to join in another dreary song."

Jake Rossen








Hulk smash complete sentences!

When Toy Biz released foam Hulk Hands in 2003, kids went into a violent frenzy. "He punched walls," one mother said of her son's behavior. "He punched furniture. He punched me. And when his 4-year-old friend, Lydia Cole, arrived, he punched her.”

Jake Rossen








Did I do that? Yes, Steve Urkel really did somehow get lost in space for the Family Matters series finale.

A surprising number of television shows have ended with the sudden appearance of dinosaurs, demons, and that tired old trope of shooting your lead into outer space.

Jake Rossen
Terry Pratchett in 1996.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Terry Pratchett’s first novel, here are some things you might not know about the architect of Discworld.

April Snellings
Hayao Miyazaki is the director behind acclaimed animated movies such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and The Wind Rises.

Director Hayao Miyazaki is responsible for some of the most beloved animated movies of all time—here are 11 things you should know about him.

Rudie Obias


Howard Johnson's was a beacon for hungry travelers.

In the 1950s, families didn't flock to McDonald's or Friendly's. They headed for Howard Johnson's, which lured them in with a bright orange roof, 28 flavors of ice cream, and French chefs preparing classic American food.

Jake Rossen






Madonna in 2016.

Madonna has been an innovator in music for four decades and counting, but doesn't mean she still doesn't get called for jury duty.

Jake Rossen