Screen-Smart: 40 Fact You’ve Unconsciously Learned from TV

While movies and TV shows are our go-to for entertainment, they’re also secret educators. From historical snippets to cultural nuances, the screen has a way of slipping us tidbits of knowledge amid the thrills and drama. In this list, we’ve gathered 40 surprising facts you’ve likely absorbed from your favorite shows and films, proving that learning can happen when you least expect it.

The Office – CPR compressions can be done to the beat of ‘Stayin’ Alive’

Many people have told the actors of The Office that they saved someone’s life because they were aware of the fact that CPR compressions could be performed to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the BeeGees!

To the show’s producers, it was important to provide accurate information. The woman who plays the first aid teacher isn’t an actress; she works as a first aid teacher! You never know when you will need this life-saving hack.

Full House – Hairspray Removes Ink Stains

Danny’s girlfriend in season 4 of Full House, Cindy, is a dry cleaner. She tells him a trick that only professionals know about: hairspray removes ink stains. Viewers were astonished when they tried the hack, and it really worked!

Permanent and ballpoint pen ink are oil-based inks, and their stains can be removed by using rubbing alcohol. Hairspray used to contain alcohol, which was the secret ingredient that allowed it to remove ink stains completely.

Call the Midwife – Afterbirth Facts

Not everyone is well informed about the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. In the movies, we always see a clean and dry baby given to the mother. But the reality of it is quite different, the baby is attached to the placenta via the umbilical cord, which also is expelled after childbirth.

This TV series works with real newborns on set, there’s a drawer full of umbilical cords, and minced beef is used for broken-up placentas.

Phineas and Ferb – Aglet

“A-G-L-E-T” is a song from the episode “Tip of the Day” from Phineas and Ferb, that tells us that the end of a shoelace is called an aglet. The song is full of funny puns, and it is very catchy.

No one ever imagined making a song about such a specific thing, but the creators of Phineas and Ferb thought it was a cool fact to make a cute song about. This is trivia gold!