Who knew loosing your towel on the beach could become an international sensation.  Douglas Adams premiered the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on BBC Radio 4 in 1978 to huge audiences, spawning a series of books, TV shows, movies, video games, and all the merchandise a franchise can produce.  Adams originally planned the radio show to be called "The Ends of the Earth" where the Earth was destroyed a different way each episode, but choose to create a more linear story with the end of Earth coming at the very beginning.

Earth, basically, is like a highway diner.  That highway needs to expand.  So the builders (aliens called Vogons) have to tear down Earth to make room for the highway.  Oh well.  Thankfully, all the dolphins survive (they thank us for the fish, how nice).

Hitchhiker’s Guide’s unique and absurd humor has amassed a massive following around the world and even more inside jokes from towels to 42.  Yes, geeks like their obscure references.  It makes us feel smart.