When I first decided to launch Biff Gaut Consulting, many people advised me to choose a different company name, one that tended to evoke fewer snickers. In spite of this well-intended and probably quite correct advice, I decided to keep the name Biff Gaut Consulting. The name "Biff" has a colorful history in American culture, and although it may not inspire the same reverence as other obscure names in fiction, such as "Rhett", or "Holden", it nonetheless is a part of our heritage and I decided to wear it with pride to help rid it of any remaining stigma it might hold. Here is an partial history of the the proud name "Biff" in American culture:

Death of a Salesman

1949 Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman was probably America's introduction to the name; it is one of the earliest known references to the name Biff. As the disillusioned son who disappoints his father, this character certainly doesn't give a good first impression.

Batman

1966 In 1966, the original Batman television series premiered and garnered new publicity for the name Biff. In the opening credits, amidst sound effect balloons such as "SOCK" and "POW", "BIFF" rolled across viewers screens every week. As an added bonus, the "BIFF" would reappear in a sound effect balloon during several of fight scenes during the show. The series lasted for 3 years, but lived much longer in syndication.

Back to the Future, Parts 1, 2 and 3

1985, 1989, 1991 Probably the most disappointing cultural reference for all "Biff" fans, Biff Tannen is unfortunately probably also the most well known. No matter what the century, Biff Tannen was an embarrassment to the name "Biff."

Binary Interchange File Format

Early 90's Microsoft was the first to link Biff and technology to the masses with the introduction of the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF) for Excel files.

Seinfeld

1990-1998 Even America's most popular sitcom jumped on the "Biff" bandwagon. Jerry would often use "Biff" as a derogatory nickname for George, usually pronouncing it in an extremely dismissive tone.

David Letterman

1993 - Present (CBS) When David Letterman moved to CBS, he introduced a new stage manager, Biff Henderson. A rare positive role model for the name, Mr. Henderson's appearance rallied Biffs everywhere. For more than 50 years, "Biff" has been a mainstay of Americana. We here at Biff Gaut Consulting are proud to continue the name and add our own chapter to this history.