9 Comments
Aug 8·edited Aug 8Liked by Andrew Smith

Amongst people who don't believe William Shakespeare wrote his own stuff (less common than in the past), Bacon is considered one of the leading candidates for the authorship. The much beloved "Peabody's Improbable History" of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" riffed on this amusingly by showing Bacon interfering with a "Romeo and Juliet" production gone wrong. ("Bacon!" "With eggs!" (throws them). "SCTV" did something similar with their later sketch "Shake 'n' Bake".

Expand full comment
author

It's kind of incredible how much smart stuff like that was snuck into kids' cartoons.

Expand full comment

Jay Ward encouraged his writers to do that kind of stuff. Most of the other producers of the time didn't do it. So he lay the groundwork for "The Simpsons" and everything else after it...

Expand full comment
author

I think Pixar did a great job of recognizing that there were two groups watching: parents and kids. Some of the parents stuck there watching were pretty smart folks, so they snuck in some pretty good side jokes for parents. I know the concept isn't new, but I thought Pixar did this really well. They probably owe a lot to Ward as well.

Expand full comment

I have a friend in London who's writing a book on the second Bacon.

As to Bacon the First, as David P pointed out in his comment, he might well be the real Shakespeare (although I tend to favour Marlowe or the Earl of Oxford as more plausible candidates.)

Expand full comment
Aug 8Liked by Andrew Smith

Centuries later, their descendant explored a different path: Self-expression through dance. It was a parh fraught with danger, trials and tribulations, but he showed us that the power of dance conquers all.

His name was Kevin Bacon and he eventually starred as himself in a little-known indie B-movie called "Feet Louse" or something like that. I don't know how to look it up.

Expand full comment
author

People are saying that Francis was his real first name. Do your research.

Expand full comment

Research will indicate that all Bacons are connected within six generations.

Expand full comment
author

Or possibly even six degrees of Bacon!

Expand full comment