Comments on: ”Is the Pope Catholic?” Synchronicity

By: Todd

Todd — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:43:16 +0000

According to Wikipedia, it’s Karol Wojtyla. Makes it easier to look it up if it’s spelled right. (John Paul II’s real name, for those who don’t want to bother, but do want confirmation.)

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:42:27 +0000

I have to wonder what the Charmin bears do with their used toilet paper. You never see any actual toilets in those commercials.

By: Morris Keesan

Morris Keesan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:42:47 +0000

Charlene, the only times I ever heard (or used) the phrase “is the pope Polish?” were during the term of office (reign? tenure?) of Karol Wotyla, and it was clearly an ironic variation of the standard “is the pope Catholic?” version.

By: Kamino Neko

Kamino Neko — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:17:47 +0000

“Is the Pope Italian?”

Which has hilariously managed to continue in use despite the fact that the Pope hasn’t been Italian since 1979. (John Paul II was Polish, Benedict XVI is German.)

By: Mark in Boston

Mark in Boston — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:07:21 +0000

The bears have a music room too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q35e6h8_Xdo

(Warning: offensive Warner Brothers cartoon stereotypes.)

By: mitch4

mitch4 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:38:23 +0000

@Charlene — I recall something like that, but still presupposing the affirmative: “Is the Pope Italian?”.

By: David N

David N — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:33:16 +0000

Yeah, the car-driving bear puzzled me too. Without it being next to the second one, I don’t think I would come to the answer of “crap”.

Along the same lines (and to Charlene’s comment), the one I remember hearing before 1978 was “Is the Pope Italian?” (2 in a row being not, so far.)

By: Charlene

Charlene — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:02:32 +0000

Does anyone remember that before 1978, the phrase “is the Pope Polish?” was the rough equivalent of “Do pigs fly?”

By: David A. Rooney

David A. Rooney — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:58:22 +0000

Dysfunctional - remember the ones with the cute talking roll of TP - how can you then use it for its intended purpose without feeling like a cruel sadist or something?

By: Dyfsunctional

Dyfsunctional — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:24:28 +0000

The Far Side version had a few bears talking, with a caption along the lines of, “Does a bear…well, I know -you- do, Earl.”

Charmin has a whole bunch of ads out with a family of animated bears who seem preoccupied with the process. I’d bet that a lot of people watch the commercials and say “I love those cute bears in the toilet paper ads” without getting the reference to the expression.