publication date: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 (part of Winter 2021)

category: Government

clue: Being the president of the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s was a far more important elected office to hold than, say, being sheriff of a very strange valley town in Washington state roiled by a teenager's murder.

explanation: Truman inspired the name of Harry S. Truman on Twin Peaks. more…

intended difficulty: very easy

solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Denise Sawicki, Erik Bates, Ruth Cichoski, and Alexis Andino

Sci-Fi Namesakes: Science fiction is a genre of ideas, and the best ideas are the ones connected to reality. This two-week theme presents 14 real-life people who inspired the names of characters in sci-fi TV shows, including shows with fantastical elements not normally considered sci-fi. Dr. Who, I presume?

Similar Goos

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His assassination in November 1963 birthed many conspiracy theories about lone gunmen, and one lone gunman was literally birthed on the same day. Go »

Harry S. Truman

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Bobby Rush

This unhurried Chicago Congressman and Black Panther is the only person to defeat Barack Obama in an election. Go »

Josh Hawley

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Brad Raffensperger

Georgia's secretary of state ordinarily doesn't make the news for overseeing an election or taking a call from a president, but 2021 has not been an ordinary year so far. Go »

Syd Barrett

Pink Floyd's original frontman shocked legions of fans when he was fired for the band for schizophrenic illness, a topic that might make for an interesting show set in the world of the X-Men. Go »