Print
This List
Email to
a Friend
Tryptophan is a TV Star
INTERESTING 
Tags: tryptophan, Turkey, tired, sleepy, why, eat, Thanksgiving, naps, TV, shows, fictional references
Heavy consumption of turkey meat (as for example in a Thanksgiving feast) results in drowsiness, which has been attributed to high levels of tryptophan contained in turkey. Interestingly enough, this has made this amino acid a very popular cultural reference. These are the fictional references to tryptophan that we could find:
| | In U.S. TV show an episode of Seinfeld, Jerry and George use turkey and boxed wine to cause Jerry's girlfriend to fall asleep so they can play with her extensive antique toy collection. When Jerry's girlfriend asks what is it in turkey that makes people drowsy, Jerry and George immediately and simultaneously respond "Tryptophan"! |
| | In James Cameron's TV series Dark Angel, genetically engineered Max Guevara and the other escaped X-5s need to take tryptophan supplements to control their seizures, which were the result of a faulty gene. |
| | In the U.S. TV series Reno 911!, the faux-information documentary "Keeping it Real, Real Safe" claims that tryptophan is as dangerous as alcohol when it comes to driving. |
| | In the episode "Psycho Therapy" of the MTV animated series Daria, Daria tells her father Jake of tryptophan in milk and its calming influences. This serves as a running gag through the episode. |
| | In the U.S. TV series "Titus", Christopher Titus believed it was tryptophan that caused sleepiness during a turkey dinner. It was in fact the bottle of antidepressants his mother put in their food. |
| | On the Bernie Mac Show titled "Tryptophan-tasy" - an undercooked Thanksgiving turkey gives Bernie food poisoning. When he tries to sleep it off, bad dreams occur. |
| | Les Nessman and the WKRP "Turkey Drop" - not really a tryptophan reference, but the funniest Thanksgiving TV episode of all-time |
Lister:
ListAfterList Wiki Contributors
Other lists of interest:
Current list rating:
5.00