275. “Valerie Harper lookalike contests are held.”

The episode: “Progress Island, USA,” the second short in front of “The Beast of Yucca Flats,” ep. 621

The riff: Quipped by Crow as a bevy of young, brunette dancers are shown dancing in San Juan.

The explanation: Harper is an American actress who was best known for the role of Rhoda Morgenstern, which she initially played on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” As the upstairs neighbor and friend of Mary, she was the sardonic foil to Mary’s “everywoman” likability. The character was popular enough to get her own spin-off into another sitcom simply called “Rhoda,” which ran from 1974-1978, winning both Emmy’s and Golden Globes along the way. Unfortunately, she has recently been in the news for her public battle with cancer.

Novelty factor: I can recognize that this should have been an easy one, but I honestly didn’t know the name when I heard it. Sorry! I know vaguely about “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” but that knowledge stops somewhere before knowing the other actors.

138. “A Quinn Martin production!”

The episode: “Progress Island U.S.A.,” the SECOND short in front of “The Beast of Yucca Flats,” ep. 621

The riff: Exclaimed by Servo right after the short’s title card.

The explanation: Quinn Martin, as it turns out, was one of the most successful television producers of all time. In the 1960s and 1970s he produced successful shows like “The Fugitive,” “The Streets of San Francisco” and “Barnaby Jones.” He also produced 20 made-for-TV movies. He holds the distinction to this day of having the most years back-to-back of having at least one show he was producing running in prime time, with 21. From 1959 to 1980, that made him a major television figure. His shows would play that fact up, proclaiming themselves as “Quinn Martin Productions”!

Novelty factor: Never heard of this dude in my life, I must say. When Servo said the riff, it could have meant anything to me.