Subject: Re: Robocop and Twin Peaks
From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel)
Date: 1991-03-05, 15:03
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks

In article <38682@netnews.upenn.edu> shiau@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Cherubino) writes:
> >And what does `I'll buy that for a buck!' mean?

It's a reference to a science-fiction story that takes place in the near
or not-so-near future.  The tag line is from some game show, and is usually
the game show host asking the audience: "Will you buy *that* for a buck?".
Unfortunately, I don't remember the plot, author or name of that particular
story.  The game show was only incidental to the plot, if I remember
correctly.

The implication is that the thing, thought, idea, opinion, or whatever is
worth a little bit, but not much.  It's worth enough to spend a buck on,
but not more.  In the story, the line was considered quite hilarious (at
least by the game show audience -- which was portrayed as being similar
to the audience on "Let's Make a Deal" or "Funniest Home Videos").

-Pete Zakel
 (phz@cadence.com or ..!{hpda,versatc,apollo,ucbcad,uunet}!cadence!phz)