Eddie and the Cruisers poster
Eddie and the Cruisers

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

More great songs; the band’s rise; delay On the Dark Side; Frank as secret villain

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:53Read transcript
  • A hottest take asks whether more great songs could elevate the film; the missing account of Tender Years’ release, commercial success and Frank’s role leads to a proposal to replace other material with the band’s rise.
  • Another take would delay the full On the Dark Side performance until after its creation, perhaps opening with Tender Years; the objection is that the existing opening immediately sells the band.
  • A deliberately speculative hottest take imagines Frank killing Wendell and trying to kill Eddie out of jealousy, with his trashed apartment staged and Eddie’s sequel pseudonym explained as fear of Frank.