Enemas on Prime Time TV & in the movies?

@ericmacson Isn't it interesting that the show would imply that it would be conceivable for Sheldon to ask Penny for an enema, that Penny was aware of this possibility?

@Pecan_nutjob,

In case anyone hasn’t read this series of recent posts, your comment above is referencing The Big Bang Theory show while we were discussing Sheldon‘s possible feelings about enemas. I hadn’t thought about the angle you mention here. Short of calling the writers and director of that particular episode and asking what they believed when they wrote it, you could easily be right. After agreeing to take care of him, Penny admonished him saying “NO ______** and NO Enemas!” If she’d talked about it with him earlier in the show or just overheard comments he’d made in the past, she could think that he might ask her for enemas while she cared for his other cold/flu symptoms. OTOH, she might know nothing about his past feelings about enemas, but found them distasteful enough to be sure not to even let him ask for one.

Eric

**I couldn’t locate the first task she refused him, but then she added enemas.

Apparently the other act Penny refused doing was sponge baths.

Apparently the other act Penny refused doing was sponge baths.

@Pecan_nutjob,

Right. I thought I couldn’t find the quote, but I looked again and found the whole script of Season 1, Episode 11 typed out. She says “Okay, ground rules, no sponge baths and definitely no enemas.” Earlier in that same episode just a few script lines before, Sheldon tells Penny about getting the enema in Germany.

Eric

Sheldon: Anyway, the housekeeper in the faculty residence didn't speak any English. When I finally managed to convince her I was sick, she said, "Möchtest du eine Darmspülung?"

Penny: What does that mean?

Sheldon: Based on what happened next, I assume it means, "Would you like an enema?"

Sheldon: Anyway, the housekeeper in the faculty residence didn't speak any English. When I finally managed to convince her I was sick, she said, "Möchtest du eine Darmspülung?"

Penny: What does that mean?

Sheldon: Based on what happened next, I assume it means, "Would you like an enema?"

Does anyone know if it really says that in German? Chrome won’t translate it for me.

Eric

@ericmacson Darmspülung indeed means enema, though I don't think this is the most common word for it. I really think it means “Do you want an enema ?”

I guess his cold or flu was so unpleasant to him that he’d accept an enema if it might help, or the Housekeeper was much more dominant than him! The way the writers and director did it, Sheldon didn’t seem to object.

Eric

I found two films listed on Amazon and elsewhere: Weather Woman and Weather Woman Returns. Which one are you referring to?

@newlymobile

The first Weatherwoman.

No idea if the Amazon Inc product has been selective with what they consider to be representative of foreign film “tasteful” presentation.

Note - YouTube in recent years has taken to many films with a razor (censorship), presumably to foster a more family friendly position.

@ericmacson Darmspülung indeed means enema, though I don't think this is the most common word for it. I really think it means “Do you want an enema ?”

From my experience the term Darmspülung is quite formal. I'd translate it to colonic irrigation.

The literal translation is “Do you want an intestinal flushing?” which in German is another way of saying do you want an enema.

"

Japanese cult classic film (English subtitling) Weatherwoman.

Not only mentioned but demonstrated

@ThatAustralian, are those two videos of her receiving an enema filling?

I found two films listed on Amazon and elsewhere: Weather Woman and Weather Woman Returns. Which one are you referring to?

@Newlymobile, could you provide a link to those? Can’t find them yet on Amazon..

Eric

…could you provide a link to those? Can’t find them yet on Amazon..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/6305467617/ref=tmm_fbs_other_meta_binding_title_0?ie=UTF8&&qid=1638789525&&sr=1-12

Looks like they are out of the DVDs but still have a few on VHS.

The most common word for enema in German is “Einlauf”…

In the 007 movie “Thunderball”, there are opening scenes in a European health spa, where Bond is vacationing or recovering (I forget which). One scene shows a closed door in the spa with a sign that says “Irrigation Room”. The door opens, Bond walks out in his bathrobe, and turns around and says “See ya later irrigator!”. Then he walks away. I always assumed that he had had colon hydrotherapy.

In the TV show Malcom in the Middle, series 6, episode 1 at about the 7 minute mark, Malcom is helping in a VA hospital and is told by a nurse to give one of the veterans an enema. She hands him a barium enema kit with the Miller balloon tip and the blue hose for injecting air into the patient. I thought it strange that they would use such a speciality enema bag for a short TV scene. Interesting.

@AllenE My theory is that movies and TV shows, especially for short scenes, will use instruments that, even if not medically accurate, will be instantly recognized by viewers. If the procedure is supposed to be unpleasant for the patient, then the device should look menacing, perhaps by being bigger and more intricate that needed.

Some examples:

In Les Diablesses, a teenage girl is given a pelvic exam to check if she's still a virgin. The nurse brandishes a speculum, and I don't even think it was a small model for virgins. I don't think that in reality (this movie is based on actual testimonies) they used a speculum, for their goal was to check for virginity, not distend the hymen. But the speculum conveys really well the nature and unpleasantness of the examination, especially for female viewers.

In Midnight Cowboy, a boy is given an enema by his grandmother. She brandishes a douche nozzle. Normally one would use an enema tip, but obviously the bigger and longer douche nozzle looks more menacing. (Or perhaps the intent is to convey that the grandmother was being cruel in using a nozzle not meant for rectal use?)

I was watching MASH last night when Frank Burns entered the OR and told Hawkeye he was there to relieve him. Hawkeye immediately told Burns he looked like an enema.

This small musing is just too good to pass up

This very week (of Nov 22) one of Australias quiz programs “ Hard Quiz” featured a question about the enema . . true story !!

It was down to the two final contestants when the compere TG asked this of one :

“Medically to which part of the human body is an enema applied?”

Contestant - totally dumbfounded

Hard Quiz Compare Tom G then (tongue in cheek almost bursting with laughter) said :

“I'll give you a hint, It has this long hose thingy that goes around the back !”

Again total silence . .it hung in the air

Contestant gone

Movies.

I had always thought James Bond Thunderball had several mentions of enemas and colonic irrigation but watching it, I saw the only mention was Bond saying “see you later, irrigator” as he left the room labeled Colonic Irrigation.

Then finally the other week I figured it out.

It's in Never Say Never Again that there are multiple mentions of colonics and enemas, when bond is at the health clinic. At one point the Dr tells Bond that he looks a little peakid and that a Herbal Enema would do him a world of good.

In American Horror Story: Coven, Patti LuPone's character gives a “punishment enema” to her teenage son.

I know there is that one house episode where he talks about the barium enema, but anyone with a keen eye watching the end of season 5/6 can see some enemas sitting on the shelf in the background in S5E22 around 42 minutes in & S6E3 around 8 minutes in.

(I legit can not find the other thread, does it still exist?)

If anyone has watched Seinfeld you may remember one of the eisodes had Kramer being constipated. After trying several things that didn't work, Jerry suggested it was time for the apparatus. Kramer was reluctant, and said oh no Jerry, not that. George's reply was that it not bad, so the next thing you see is Kramer with a red enema bag heading to the bathroom. Kramer is his old self, dancing with the ladies Jerry asks, Kramer how it was, Kramer replies… wet and wild, Jerry, wet and wild. Does anyone else remember seeing this episode?

I've encountered several short enema references/jokes in 30 Rock. It is usually Liz Lemon/Tina Fey who delivers the lines, things like ‘how do you take your morning coffee? In a mug or enema?’

British made for youngsters (medical) television series Operation Ouch sees a young man bought to nearby hospital by his mother with a very impacted bowel after living off of junk food / takeaway food for the previous fortnight straight …The main cause, a diet of heavy cheese burgers & cheesy pizzas together with zero exercise

X-rays were ordered that revealed the impaction ran consideraby high up. Some discussion took place in conjunction with the parent & it was decided that the only course of action was the “grand champion” of bowel medication was the Enema ….(their exact words) With one of the two Doctors remarking ;

“I think we'd better get out the big guns then”

*Laughed away to myself at that one*

Following the procedure it was determined that the fellow was to be kept in overnight as the results hadn't quite cleared the log jam …. Another large enema was given in the morning providing the relief sought

When the parent was asked to be interviewed the young fellow was seen leaving with a very sheepish look

Https://youtu.be/NaR4AwH7bb4

One that I can relate to a little bit. The being given enemas and having traumatic memories from it.

Another one I remember in a show was in the Sit Com Different Strokes. I can't find this clip but I remember someone told Arnold there will be an invasion of the enema people. He hid under his covers and said no…

Https://youtu.be/NaR4AwH7bb4

One that I can relate to a little bit. The being given enemas and having traumatic memories from it.

Another one I remember in a show was in the Sit Com Different Strokes. I can't find this clip but I remember someone told Arnold there will be an invasion of the enema people. He hid under his covers and said no…

But be careful and be aware that this scene from the well-known dark psychiatric TV movie Sybil (1976) depicts a multiple-personality patient being talked to and treated by her psychiatrist about very real, severe painful punishment enemas her sadistic (real sadism stemming from mental illness, NOT consensual BDSM) ”mother” gave her. This is not a fun movie, though ultimately hopeful.

Eric

But be careful and be aware that this scene from the famous dark movie Sybil depicts a multiple-personality patient being talked to and treated by her psychiatrist about severe real painful punishment enemas her sadistic (real sadism stemming from mental illness, NOT consensual BDSM) ”mother” gave her. This is not a fun movie, though ultimately hopeful.

Eric

There’s a number of discussions of the movie Sybil and the real life person the book was based on. Apparently Sybil faked the multiple personalities to gain favor with her psychoanalst - who either didn’t catch on or just went along with her. You can search for Sybil in the discussions. I’m sure the movie enhanced the depraved “treatments”.

https://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141514464/real-sybil-admits-multiple-personalities-were-fake

There’s a number of discussions of the movie Sybil and the real life person the book was based on. Apparently Sybil faked the multiple personalities to gain favor with her psychoanalst - who either didn’t catch on or just went along with her. You can search for Sybil in the discussions. I’m sure the movie enhanced the depraved “treatments”.

https://www.npr.org/2011/10/20/141514464/real-sybil-admits-multiple-personalities-were-fake

@Rigel as usual is exactly right. I’d heard about the later confession and revelations about her manufactured faked illness, but haven’t read much about it.

Eric

Recently I was watching Shakespeare and Hathaway, a British crime drama and twice while trying to say enigmatist or something like that, Frank said enema. I thought it was a nice touch.

In the movie “Look Who's Talking” Kristie Alley is asked “have you ever had a barium enema”. Here's the clip.

https://youtu.be/HRTQ9HLepPI