You can imagine the google results I get when asking for Mickey Mouse synonyms, so I'm gonna need to ask you again. I'm having a character call a TV show a "Mickey Mouse production" but I don't really want to use Mickey's name. Apparently the term isn't as common as I thought, and it doesn't feel right anyway. Do we have any interesting alternatives? I can use regular words, but I'd prefer a derogatory though slightly amusing euphemism or colloquialism.
Dammit. That would have been excellent. I work in TV and nickle and diming is basically spot on, were it not for there apparently being an actual Nickle & Dime Productions in New York. It's not off the table, though.
So, you're looking for a way to say "of inferior quality" How about - "Crap-filled toilet of a production" "A cheap suit" "The dog under the underdog" "A shoestring production and the laces are untied" "Amateur hour" "As polished as Jack the Ripper"
"Two-bit" has an air of betrayal about it, I think. While the MC is being screwed over by the network, it's not the message I'm looking for in her reply. Shoestring sounds close. Smells a little like nickle & dime. Get as much as possible for as little as possible, is that about the gist of it? First time I ever heard that word, but I like it. Can it be considered a fancy word? Something an educated person would use? MC was hired for looks and just got called "eye-candy." Figured it would be nice to juxtapose it against high intelligence (even though that makes it just harder for someone of average intelligence to write her. ;o)
Nugatory is my word of the day since I never heard it before today. I like it and I do think it must be one of those words intelligent people throw out to confuse us lesser mortals.
Nougatry production? (I'm not sure if that pun would work in Dutch, though). If MC was hired for her looks, and just called "eye-candy" (despite her high intelligence), that could actually be easier. The person who calls her this is underestimating her, so she could give him a sweet smile, and -- pretending to play dumb -- say something like ... e.g. "I have never heard this term before, kind sir. Will you be good enough to explain how you expect me, simultaneously, to perform my current duties as well as those of a ophthalmologist and a chocolatière? You must be quite astute, indeed, to have created such a unique and unheard-of profession." (The "dumb girl" act is giving way to sarcasm, bordering on contempt). While this guy tries to work this out (cue his blank face; blink, blink), she gives him another sweet smile and says in crystal-clear tones (crystal enough to cut glass): "I ain't your eye-candy. Call me that again and you'll father no more children. Understand ... sugar?" Just a suggestion ...
That's why I write in English. Nothing really works in Dutch. The characters I'm using are a carry-over from my very first attempt at writing -- because the characters were literally the only thing good about that -- and I know them pretty well after 800 pages of drivel and breasts. It's not something she would do. Not at this point. There was always mutual respect between her and the producer, despite the eye-candy thing, which aren't actually his words in the first place. You basically literally quoted another character I didn't think of reintroducing. Southern belle, loves to pretend she's all sorts of classy, will show you the hillbilly swamp queen when you rub her the wrong way. I haven't got room for all the characters I had, but I hope I do find a place for her somewhere. Actually, I hope I can get this story to work at all, but I'll worry about that later.
