#decodinghugh

[decodinghugh]

Hugh refers to a lyric from the song ‘Blueberry Hill’, made famous by the musician Antoine Dominique Domino Jr, nicknamed ‘Fats’. Domino died on 24 October 2017, aged 89, in New Orleans. He grew up in the Lower 9th Ward and was renowned as a gifted pianist as well as one of the founding contributors to the sound of rock n roll. He was one of the first ten musicians inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

"As far as I know, the music makes people happy," he said in a television interview. "I know it makes me happy."

[decodinghugh]

Our man is talking about the battle due to take place between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at the MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on 22 February, 2020. Fury is looking to regain his heavyweight title from Wilder in this rematch. Hugh gives his opinion on this event with his usual obscure but entertaining sense of humor.

You can read more about the rematch here. 

[decodinghugh]

To promote his latest work in The Night Manager, Hugh quotes from Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar:

Mischief, thou are afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt! (Act 3, Scene 2)

And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war . . . (Act 3, Scene 1)

Gaius Julius Caesar was a politician in ancient Rome. He gained immense power through a combination of inspired strategy and ruthless ambition. About a year after his appointment as dictator for life, he was assassinated by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, long-time antagonists he had placed in the Senate (most likely following the advice of the proverb, ‘keep your friends close, but your enemies closer’).

The Night Manager currently airs on BBC One at 9 p.m. GMT. It will also be shown on the cable channel AMC beginning in April 2016.

[decodinghugh]

Hugh is referring to two records broken: 

Wayne Rooney, a striker for Manchester United, is the first English player to score 50 goals for his country. 

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest serving monarch in English history. 

Photo credits: Wayne Rooney, SkySports; Queen Elizabeth II, Tim Graham/AP

[decodinghugh]

Our man refers to the comedy team of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. For the last four years they’ve been the creative contributors and main actors in a sketch show on Comedy Central, titled (appropriately enough) Key and Peele.

‘They do primarily sketch comedy, not two-man standup routines, and either can take the lead.’ --David Hinckley, New York Daily News 

The creators recently announced this season would be the last for the show. It airs Wednesdays at 10 pm Eastern time. 

And, as a little extra: ‘When Hugh met Key’. (Thanks to fellow Decoder, MaineacFTW, for the reminder!)

[decodinghugh]

Because someone asked what Hugh meant by ‘port’ (which does have more than one meaning in the digital age Hugh mentions) . . . 

Photo credit: Roger Tully (Stone/Getty Images)

[decodinghugh]

Our man's talking about the big welterweight title championship boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, to be held on 2 May 2015, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. This fight has been five years in the making, and is expected to generate the biggest amount of money paid to see the match (through both live seating at the arena and cable tv pay-per-view options) of any fight in boxing history. 

Hugh also refers indirectly to American conservative talk-radio host Sean Hannity's comments about his new exercise routine, which allegedly includes a blend of “kick boxing, Japanese jujitsu, submission, grappling, Filipino martial arts, blade and firearms training.”