Mental Floss

POP CULTURE

George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven (2001).

In 2001, newly minted Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh gathered up some of the biggest names in Hollywood and pulled off a heist movie for the ages.

Jon O'Brien






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