The Many Worlds Hypothesis is a solution to a puzzle of quantum physics. Basically, quantum physics produces an impossible result, that the cat is both alive and dead at the same time, and the many worlds hypothesis resolves this impossibility by saying both outcomes are true in different worlds. In this universe that we experience, the cat lives; in another universe branching off from this one, the cat has been deaded. (For a detailed discussion, see here.)
Inspired by this hypothesis, I would like to propose my own. It has been seen that television has produced an impossible result: John Munch is in both this show and that show at the same time. The Munchy Worlds hypothesis resolves this by saying John Munch is on both shows, which are in different worlds.
To elaborate: in every fictional world, there is a separate and distinct John Munch. Each world has its own fictional detective John Munch. Sometimes the universe’s Munch comes on screen (e.g. Homicide: Life on the Street, Law and Order, The X-Files). Sometimes, there are no overt signs of that universe’s Munch. Even so, it is reasonable to believe that he is out there somewhere, whinging about his ex-wives and making with the gallows quips. If we stayed long enough in the world of Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, How I Married Your Mother – he would eventually lurch into frame.
Inevitable corrolary: when you create a fictional world, somewhere in the vast and ineffable depths of that creation, there’s a pockmarked Richard Belzer glaring at you through his specs. Sleep on that, creatives of the world. We must all make our peace with the Munchyness of our Worlds.
4 thoughts on “The Munchy Worlds Hypothesis”
Comments are closed.
I couldn’t believe it when John Munch turned up in Scarface!
Hey, haven’t we talked about this before? (viz: http://www.additiverich.com/archives/000448.html). Apropos of the Westphall Hypothesis, the grid has been expanded to include more than 280 shows, including “Firefly” and “Battlestar Galactica”. John Munch has yet to appear in those, although here is on “Sesame Street”:
I’ll have some of what you’re having.
David: the Munchy Worlds Hypothesis is actually the opposite of the Westphail Hypothesis; Westphail says there is only one world containing contradictory truths, by Munchy says there are many worlds united by parallel John Munch.
Thanks for the Sesame St clip too, I knew it was out there somewhere…