Query from Wired: "more cowbell"

[Lal Zimman]

I think the upsurge is in part due to Will Ferrell's increase in
popularity among a larger audience (including non-SNL watchers)
beginning with the 2003 movie Old School. These new fans already like
Ferrell and are exposed to his SNL sketches in syndication. It's Walken
who says the line, but Ferrell is a big part of why that sketch was so
funny to begin with.

-Lal

Geoffrey Nunberg wrote:
> I had this question from Mark Robinson, an editor at Wired. Can
> anybody help with suggestions? Please copy your answer to
> Mark_Robinson at wiredmag.com.
>
> Geoff Nunberg
>
>
>
>> i was hoping you could give me some quick advice. we're doing a
>>
>>> little item in the front of the magazine about the phrase "more
>>> cowbell." it has had a sudden resurgence in the last year or so. we
>>> wanted to trace that resurgence. (the term, as you may recall,
>>> originated in a hilarious saturday night live skit spoofing the
>>> creation of blue oyster cult's landmark song "don't fear the
>>> reaper.")
>>>
>>> our theory on this is that, like ebola or bird flu, catch phrases
>>> from pop culture can go underground for years only to surface and
>>> suddenly explode into popularity. we were hoping to use "more
>>> cowbell" as an example. any suggestions on how to trace the sudden
>>> upsurge in usage?
>
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>