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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me poster
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Picking Nits

Vanessa as Fembot; Number Two surviving

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:37Read transcript
  • Vanessa being a Fembot throughout the previous film is a nitpick, but the sequel's willingness to dismiss logic and wink at the camera is praised; time-travel handwaving is compared to Avengers: Endgame.
  • Number Two returning after apparently dying in the first film's fire pit is questioned, while the lack of required logic makes nitpicking difficult.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:44Read transcript
  • Number Two returning after apparently dying in the first film's fire pit is questioned, while the lack of required logic makes nitpicking difficult.
  • Get in my belly is identified as the best-known quote; Machine-gun jubblies and the foreplay reply are additional favorites.
  • Dr. Evil confusing trillions and billions and the Southern California/England joke are quote candidates.
  • The Swallows/Spitz wordplay is disliked, but Robin surviving repeated injuries and Austin landing on her are praised.
  • The smoke-after-sex joke is another quote candidate; the film is described as largely composed of quotable lines.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:30Read transcript
  • Whether mojo inspired Viagra is corrected by checking the drug's 1998 approval, preceding the sequel; mojo as a Viagra proxy is then proposed as an inference.
  • The ending's claim that Austin always had mojo conflicts with his earlier inability to perform after its theft; licking the spilled mojo off the floor is proposed as an alternative.
  • The two Austins ending is enjoyed, including its implied sexual encounter with Felicity.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:16Read transcript
  • Mike Myers receives the winner choice, with Heather Graham a personal sentimental alternative before the answer returns to Myers.
  • Myers is reaffirmed as winner; whether this was his last great moment divides the discussion between comedy specifically and Shrek's larger cultural importance.
Podcast choices
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! poster
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Half-Assed Internet Research

Television origins; box office; casting; reused scenes; baseball production

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:23Read transcript
  • The short-lived Police Squad series supplied recycled jokes and the film’s subtitle; its six-episode run, early cancellation and Nielsen Emmy nomination are recalled.
  • Ebert reportedly called Nielsen the Laurence Olivier of spoofs.
  • The film reportedly cost12million, grossed154million and ranked eighth in1988, leading to two sequels.
  • A reported Cameron anecdote says Simpson was considered too likable to play the Terminator’s ruthless killer.
  • A Spy article reportedly traced borrowed or parodied material to Get Smart, Pink Panther, Telefon and Farewell My Lovely.
  • The real queen reportedly later attended an Orioles-Athletics game and met Jackson in the dugout.
  • The film, A Fish Called Wanda and Who Framed Roger Rabbit all reportedly used steamroller deaths in1988.
  • A dancer credited as Johnny Disco reportedly performed Drebin’s umpire dancing.
  • Ludwig feeding fish reportedly parallels Game of Death; stabbing the fish with a pen is not claimed part of the original.
  • The desired Brewers became the Mariners; the Dodgers allegedly rejected team involvement but allowed the stadium. Exterior, establishing and action shots are identified as Angels, Wrigley and Dodger venues.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! poster
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Apex Mountain

Zucker team; Arbor Day; Priscilla Presley as an actress; villain toupees

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:16Read transcript
  • The film is considered the Zucker team’s pinnacle among Top Secret, Ruthless People and later spoof work.
  • Nielsen is proposed here but a later peak with the more profitable second film and ensuing roles is argued.
  • Arbor Day is affirmed.
  • Simpson is rejected.
  • Umpiring may be at its apex because the umpire names were familiar; De Niro behind the plate in The Fan is called a terrible scene.
  • Kennedy and Jackson are rejected, with Jackson’s three-homer World Series game cited.
  • Montalban is rejected.
  • The California Angels are tentatively affirmed over the1986near-miss, specifically under the California name.
  • Presley is affirmed specifically as an actress.
  • Villain toupees are affirmed, prompting a Steve Sanders’s father hairpiece tangent.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:14:07Read transcript
  • The retired flute/pee-break category is recalled; no good break exists beyond a brief Montalban-Presley conversation.
  • The Ludwig-Jane conversation is timed at about60seconds without a gag, the longest available break.
In the discussion (17)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:56Read transcript
  • Nordberg’s dock mishaps escalate through gunshots, head impact, burns, wet paint, a trapped hand, cake and a bear trap; the physical comedy is praised.
  • The hospital visit combines the collapsing bed, grotesque ways to die, giant mucus gag and an immediate meal break after promising tireless justice.
  • The live-microphone bathroom scene is favored for escalating pauses, renewed urination and the final fart; Austin Powers’s similar gag is compared but credited as later.
  • The Pier32 bribe negotiation recycles a Police Squad routine by passing the same20dollars back and forth.
  • The runaway parked car and shooting at it introduce the gadget-lab visit.
  • The anti-graffiti wall, Swiss Army shoe and tranquilizer cufflink demonstration on Ed form the gadget sequence.
  • The giant Al is only shown from the shoulders down; the use your other eye gag keeps the jokes coming.
  • The evil-doctor chase commandeers Stephanie’s driving lesson and features distinguished instructor Houseman.
  • The nothing-to-see-here fireworks disaster remains a widely usable reaction meme.
  • The falling-in-love montage moves through beach, food, tattoos, mustard and rides, culminating in laughter after Platoon and the reveal they met yesterday.
  • The anthem impersonation cuts to the real Palazzo bound in his underwear.
  • Baseball bloopers feature a struck infielder, tiger and detached head; the queen passes concessions and endures crude spectators.
  • Drebin’s umpiring escalates from unsure strike calls to crowd-pleasing theatrics, cheating checks and the rundown.
  • Jackson’s sudden assassin role supplies the I must kill the queen refrain.
  • The spectator identifying the hero as Enrico Palazzo is praised as an unnecessary extra joke that earns a huge laugh.
  • The obvious Jane mannequin and Ludwig’s car, steamroller and marching-band death provide additional climactic gags.
  • The baseball finale is the agreed winner, especially the anthem; real Mariners and Angels identities make it stronger.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! poster
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

What’s Aged the Best?

Straight acting; opening credits; refrigerator; timeless jokes; announcers; baseball authenticity

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:36Read transcript
  • Serious actors playing absurd situations straight are credited as the comedy’s essential technique.
  • The police-siren opening credits traverse a roller coaster, house, car wash and women’s showers.
  • The ancient food and iced-over freezer make Drebin’s refrigerator memorable.
  • The comedy largely avoids cheap racial or gay-character targets, with the opening world-leader scene acknowledged as an exception.
  • I was young, I needed the work and I faked every orgasm became reusable personal jokes.
  • The crowded booth of familiar baseball announcers anticipates excessive studio panels.
  • Drebin clinging to exaggeratedly endowed statues remains funny.
  • Nancy Marchand’s seriousness, the romantic voice-over interrupted by collision, bad driving and the final reconciliation are praised.
  • Throwaway jokes reward rewatches: Yasser’s name tag, Gorbachev’s mark, the gymnast lover, chalk outline, hospital name, beaver, Viking food, lost narration, tearaway suit, bingo, innocent condemned man, building contractor and rain check.
  • Convincing baseball action and authentic teams distinguish the finale.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! poster
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

What’s Aged the Worst?

Simpson; dated world-leader references; safe-sex gag; Presley’s career

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:41Read transcript
  • Simpson’s later murders dominate the aging-worst discussion; the third film’s proximity to the1994killings makes the comic role difficult to separate from real life.
  • The opening world-leader caricatures depend on once-familiar news faces that younger audiences may not recognize.
  • The full-body safe-sex condom gag is disliked even in its original context.
  • Presley’s limited later career disappoints one view of her potential; another questions whether the role demonstrated transferable acting ability, while defending her hurt reaction to the garter belt.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! poster
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Modern athlete comparisons; game validity; Palazzo’s future; older comedy leads

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:55Read transcript
  • Modern analogues for Simpson’s fame move through Peterson, Moss and Lynch before Barkley is favored for athletic greatness followed by greater post-career affection.
  • Big Papi and Griffey are suggested as modern Jackson analogues.
  • Overcrowded sports booths and the anthem Mount Rushmore are recalled as questions already covered.
  • The interrupted game should be void because an impostor umpired it; restarting later is compared with the pine-tar dispute, earthquake World Series and Hamlin cancellation.
  • Nordberg’s balcony fall is considered fatal, adding another reason play would stop.
  • Palazzo might gain talk-show notoriety but sue police and the Angels for the damage to his real career.
  • Nielsen’s popularity with children as a62-year-old comic lead is considered unusual because the film is not a senior-citizen premise.
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