More Learning Curves (non-astrological)

A side-effect of being an American Idol junkie is the learning curve one has to negotiate in order to translate the "cool"-ish jargon one is liable to encounter. I've already gathered that in current lingo "sick" means good to brilliant, and "dope", as adjective, means something along the same lines. My education continues.

Upon reading a review of Thursday night's results show written by Paul F. Tompkins, who Wikipedia tells me is an American actor and comedian, I had need to research the following bits and pieces which may or may not be of interest to passing readers, keen to keep abreast of....not sure what:

Mr Tompkins began:

"The judges enter. Steven Tyler is dressed like Murphy Brown dressed like Ichabod Crane."

I had rather admired Mr Tyler's long flowing black duster coat lined with leopard-skin print (can't find a photograph), so was curious to know who is Murphy Brown and who is Ichabod Crane, neither being familiar to this transplanted Yorkshire lass.


Murphy Brown, it appears, is a character from a TV sitcom starring Candice Bergen - she of the long flowing locks, and Ichabod Crane is a fictional character in Washington Irving's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, first published in 1820. Norman Rockwell saw him thus:

I'd equate Steven Tyler's outfit more with a rather arty farty version of Doctor Who. Either way, I thought it looked rather swish (my own non-cool adjective).

A little further down his piece Mr. Tompkins reports

After Adam’s (Adam Lambert was a guest) performance, the segment ends with a discussion of The Dougie. I am thrilled that I know what this is and do not have to look it up. I am even more thrilled that some young people on the show do not know what it is! I still have some fight in me! Go rent The Lion in Winter, you utter children! People who do not know what The Dougie is: Steven Tyler, Adam Lambert, Paul, Pia, Thia, Scotty. People who know what The Dougie is: J.Lo, Randy, Jacob, Stefano, Ashthon, Naima, Lauren, James, Haley and … Ryan.

The Dougie? Another learning curve to negotiate. It's a dance, with name originating from hip-hop slang (see Urban Dictionary)

The term "dougie" derives from the name of 80's early 90's Hip Hopper Doug-E- Fresh. The term "dougie" means to have a cool or hip stlye.
If we are going to go out tonight I need to go home and get dougie before we go.
swagga;
the way you carry yourself
also a dance

That's the Dougie then. But, scratching head, what's the connection with Lion in Winter? This learning curve is becoming too steep....I should learn to listen to the kids sing and leave it at that.