The Curious Case of “It’s Turkey Time Gobble Gobble”

“It’s turkey time gobble gobble” is a bizarre and memorable quote that originated from the infamously terrible 2003 film Gigli. Though the line was delivered by Christopher Walken in an oddly captivating way, its meaning and purpose has confused viewers for years. In this article, we’ll explore the mysterious history behind this quote, why it gained notoriety, and the lasting cultural impact it has had.

The Origins: Christopher Walken’s Cameo in Gigli

Gigli is considered one of the worst films ever made largely due to its disjointed plot unlikable characters, and uncomfortable romantic subplot between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. In the movie, Affleck plays Larry Gigli, a low-level mobster tasked with kidnapping a federal prosecutor’s brother.

In an already incoherent film, Christopher Walken’s brief cameo stands out as particularly absurd. He plays a suspicious cop who shows up unexpectedly at Gigli’s apartment and delivers the “turkey time gobble gobble” line. The quote is completely non-sequitur, having no relation to anything else in the scene. Walken says it in his trademark halting speaking style, with bulging eyes and strange pauses.

The scene was likely the result of extensive re-editing An earlier cut of Gigli contained a subplot involving Walken colluding with the mob, which was removed after negative test screenings His odd cameo remains in the final film without context.

Why It Became So Memorable

Gigli was a notorious failure when it released in 2003. The film had an enormous budget, marketed heavily on stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s high-profile romance (dubbed “Bennifer”). But it was an unequivocal critical and box office bomb.

In the aftermath, “it’s turkey time” emerged as the most memorable takeaway from the film. Its sheer randomness made it endlessly mockable and quotable. While Gigli was plunged into obscurity, Walken’s turkey line took on a life of its own in pop culture.

Several factors contributed to its sticking power:

• Walken’s captivating delivery: His trademark halting speech gives the gibberish line a weird gravitas.

• Absurdity It’s so random and ridiculous, with no context or explanation. A laughably poor attempt at comedy

• Memorable wording: The alliteration of “turkey time gobble gobble” makes it oddly catchy.

• Representing Gigli’s awfulness: It encapsulated the film’s haphazard style and sheer badness.

The Line’s Lasting Cultural Impact

Though Gigli faded from the public consciousness, Walken’s turkey time line has enjoyed surprising longevity as an iconic bad movie quote. Here are some of the ways it continues to ripple through pop culture:

• Comedic meme template: The quote and screencap are widely used as a meme, often to poke fun at bizarre or nonsensical language.

• Late night joke fodder: The bizarre line was referenced endlessly by late night hosts in Gigli takedowns. It remains an easy callback for laughs.

• Bad movie quote hall of fame: It’s now remembered among the most famous movie lines for all the wrong reasons, alongside Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room” quotes.

• YouTube popularity: Clips of the scene have millions of views from people seeking out this iconic cringeworthy moment.

• Walken impression staple: His unique delivery makes it a popular line for Christopher Walken impersonators to perform.

• Inspiring creative works: The absurd quote has spawned artworks, interpretive dances, and other tributes exploring its meaning.

The Many Theories and Meanings Behind the Quote

The sheer randomness of the “turkey time” quote has spawned endless debate about what it could possibly mean or signify. In the absence of any clarification from the filmmakers, fans have come up with their own interpretations. Here are some popular theories:

Coded Message Theory

Some theorize it’s a coded message about contacting Walken’s mob boss character, with “gobble gobble” being a secret signal. This ties into the scrapped mob subplot that gives context to his cameo.

Sexual Innuendo Theory

“Turkey time” could be a lewd sexual reference, supported by Walken touching his face and bugging his eyes after saying it. Gigli was ostensibly a romantic comedy, after all.

Surrealist Art Theory

Perhaps it’s meant as some avant-garde Dadaist performance art, reflecting the meaningless chaos of life. Or Walken is comparing Gigli’s brain to turkey in a visceral image.

Meta Commentary Theory

Walken may be winking at the audience about the film’s absurdity. His delivery seems to acknowledge the line is nonsense, almost breaking character.

Drug-Induced Theory

Maybe Walken was feeling extra quirky on set that day after indulging in some recreational substances. After all, this was already one of his more eccentric performances.

Straightforward Reading

The line could just mean…Walken wants pie and ice cream with turkey on top? But the bizarre phrasing makes even that suspect.

Why We’re Still Not Sick of It After 15 Years

Even though Gigli long ago faded into obscurity, Walken’s iconic line remains stubbornly lodged in pop culture consciousness. Why has this throwaway quote outlived the notorious flop it came from?

For starters, the line itself is just sublimely weird and fun to quote. It’s like a perfectly absurd little poem. Walken’s one-of-a-kind delivery also never gets old. But more importantly, it represents a kind of smart-stupid humor that appeals across generations. The sheer, unexplainable randomness of it is endlessly amusing.

But there also seems to be an appreciative, almost protective quality in how culture has embraced this line. It’s so strange that it becomes lovable. The mystery gives creative minds space to project their own meanings onto it. And for movie buffs, it represents the possibilities of finding gold in even the most notorious cinematic trash heaps.

In the vast graveyard of failed blockbusters, Christopher Walken’s “turkey time gobble gobble” has endured as one of film history’s most famous bad movie quotes. Against all odds, it has taken on a life of its own that has outlasted the notoriously awful film it originated from.

It’s a testament to Walken’s captivating delivery, the public’s love of random absurdist humor, and the endless fun of dissecting terrible films for their most meme-worthy moments. The sheer confusion and possibility represented by those seven words will likely keep provoking discussion, laughter, and pop culture tributes for years to come. So let’s give thanks for this timeless turkey of a cinematic moment.