SMILY ROUND THE LIPS

This Q&A came from Alan Sepinwall's blog "What's Alan Watching?" today (link to the left). The topic was this week's episode of 'Reaper', entitled "Magic", in which Andi invited Sam to a Flaming Lips concert seven hours away in Idaho......

BigTed said...
Since they never actually go to the concert and it could have been anyone, why the Flaming Lips? Was it some sort of promotional tie-in, or just a shout-out to their infamous appearance on "Beverly Hills 90210" more than a decade ago?
3:42 PM, October 17, 2007

Alan Sepinwall said...
Since they never actually go to the concert and it could have been anyone, why the Flaming Lips?

Presumably for the same reason that a "Friday Night Lights" episode last year talked about an Old 97's concert without anyone going to it: because the writer of the episode is a fan of the band.
3:43 PM, October 17, 2007

'Beverly Hills 90210' - "Love Hurts" (1995)
According to TV.com, Valerie asked Steve to secure the rock group "The Flaming Lips" after she canceled Ray's bookings. Donna wrongly blamed David for Ray's departure after Valerie lied to her that David was the one responsible for Ray leaving town.

Looking into that '90210' episode, I can see why Big Ted considered the episode "infamous". Besides the chance to see the Flaming Lips perform, the audience also got to see a rape attempt at knife-point, a guy get hit in the head with a baseball bat, and another guy who served time for sexual assault get run out of town.

At any rate, both shows acknowledge the Flaming Lips as existing in their corners of the TV Universe. Therefore, the music group connects 'Beverly Hills, 90210' to 'Reaper' and brings them one step closer to Hall of Fame qualification via the League of Themselves.

BCnU!
Toby OB

"You know, I've never been a big fan of alternative music,
But these guys rocked the house!"
Steve Sanders
'Beverly Hills, 90210'