For actors, inspiration can come from anywhere, but for Christopher Walken, it comes from none other than Bugs Bunny.
The beloved actor has discussed his penchant for the “wascally wabbit” in the past at least once, telling The New York Times about his acting process. “Sometimes I do things just to amuse myself,” he told the paper. “I’ve played scenes pretending that I was Elvis or Bugs Bunny or a U-boat commander. I just don’t tell anybody.” Walken shared this with Ben Stiller as well while appearing on the Apple TV hit Severance. Stiller mentioned this on the Severance podcast, which prompted the director and fans to wonder just exactly where Walken is doing this.
@nowthis Bugs Bunny walked so Christopher Walken could Walk-en 🐰🥕
Redditors have a few ideas of their own. Indeed, there’s now a whole thread dedicated to the question “Which characters did Christopher Walken play as Bugs Bunny?” Some point directly to his role as producer Bruce Dickinson in the famed Saturday Night Live Blue Öyster Cult sketch now lovingly known as “More Cowbell.”
Are there traces of Bugs Bunny in Christopher Walken's portrayal of Bruce Dickinson in the famed "More Cowbell" sketch from Saturday Night LIve? Saturday Night Live, www.youtube.com
Others draw a line to Walken's appearance in 2012’s Seven Psychopaths, particularly where a gangster points a gun in his face, says “Put your hands up,” and Walken simply says “No.”
Another Redditor called to Walken’s role in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can, “picturing Bugs giving the ‘mouse churned butter to escape the bucket of milk’ speech."
Christopher Walken in Catch Me If You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 2002. www.youtube.com
Another called to Walken’s cult classic performance in Fatboy Slim and Bootsy Collins’ “Weapon of Choice” music video.
Christopher Walken dances through the Fatboy Slim x Bootsy Collin's video for "Weapon of Choice." Fatboy Slim, www.youtube.com
Once aware of Bugs’s influence on Walken, it’s possible to see traces of the famous rabbit’s impish charm, cleverness, and “wascally” nature throughout Walken’s comedic work in particular. He seems to be winking throughout many of these roles the same way Bugs does, inviting us to be in on the joke.
This isn’t the first time the famous hare has been an inspiration in the world of performance, however. Dave Chappelle has long cited Bugs as an influence; there’s traces of the rabbit throughout Jim Carrey’s performance in The Mask; and, of course, in Barbra Streisand’s character Judy in the film What’s Up, Doc?; as well as Gary Oldman’s role as Zorg in The Fifth Element. Even Bryan Cranston once said “Any actor who tells you he’s not inspired by Bugs Bunny is a liar, frankly, or just a hack.”
Bugs Bunny in the Looney Tunes cartoon "French Rarebit," released in 1951. WB Kids, www.youtube.com
Considering that Bugs himself was inspired in part by one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, maybe it’s not that much of a surprise. One inspiration for our furry friend was none other than Clark Gable, a legendary actor in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The bunny was in part based on Gable’s performance as fast-talking and hustling New York reporter Peter Warne in the famed 1934 film It Happened One Night, down to the way Gable eats carrots in it. Gable was so famous and beloved at the time that audiences would have recognized, and perhaps similarly loved, the rabbit’s similarities. Comedian Groucho Marx and suave screen legend Douglas Fairbanks were also said to have influenced Bugs’s character.
Christopher Walken’s lineage as an actor thereby goes all the way back to these distinguished actors in addition to Bugs Bunny. It’s not a bad legacy to carry, carrots and all.
Clark Gable as Peter Warne in It Happened One Night, one of the inspirations for Bugs Bunny. www.youtube.com
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.