Curtis Armstrong's book describes Cruise and Sean Penn socializing during their simultaneous Chicago shoots, and Cruise disappearing from Armstrong's life after filming.
De Mornay was dating Harry Dean Stanton, who received the script for Guido and encouraged her audition. Armstrong recounts a developing Cruise–De Mornay romance while Stanton stayed in Chicago swimming laps.
Warner Bros. put the project in turnaround; Avnet and Tisch struggled to sell it after Night Shift, until Geffen backed it with Lana aged to twenty-one.
The happier ending tested much better for Geffen, while Brickman and Avnet objected; the dispute reportedly prevented a premiere.
Cruise reportedly trained daily, lost weight, then stopped and ate fatty food to soften his face for a teenage appearance.
Joel's Highland Park house is near the Ferris Bueller location, prompting speculation about the characters being neighbors.
The crystal egg came from Steuben Glassworks in Corning, New York; Armstrong's book describes Cruise's active dating during the shoot.
Brickman opposed a raunchy cartoon marketing concept; the hosts admire the final iconic poster but would also buy the rejected one.
Four 1978 Porsche 928 s were used; a surviving car reportedly rose from $49,000 in 2012 to about $2 million nine years later, an investment the hosts doubt will hold its cultural value.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:32:00Read transcript

Ebert awarded four stars, praising the film's perceptive satire and earned comparison with The Graduate.

Car-repair timing, Guido’s pursuit, neighbors, Princeton admissions and party finances.

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 00:47:24Read transcript

Could a small nudge really release the parked Porsche? The hosts cannot determine the gear and parking-brake mechanics.
A college interviewer arriving around 9 p.m. on Friday without clearer scheduling seems implausible.
Restoring a submerged Porsche before the parents return seems implausibly fast.
Guido cannot plausibly retrieve his car and catch the Porsche after such a head start.
Miles's claim that he does not need to pay for sex seems judgmental, but the interaction's meaning remains unclear.
Neighbors would tell the parents about both the loud party and the household belongings spread outside.
Joel's 1090 SAT and 3.1 GPA give him no plausible Princeton chance; the counterargument is that his weak resume is the point, but closer scores would create suspense.
Joel's 1090 SAT, 3.1 GPA and lack of substantial extracurriculars make Princeton implausible; tutoring would be available to this family.
The party's $8,000 gross, worker splits, car repairs and furniture buyback do not reconcile cleanly. At $100 per transaction it would require roughly 80 transactions across about 12 workers, before other costs; the hosts speculate about higher takings, tips and Lana skimming.
Craig questions whether teenagers would attend the sex-worker party, the supply of workers nearby, oblivious neighbors and a Saturday-night Princeton interview. — Craig Horlbeck

Hutton, Lowe and other Joel candidates; Pfeiffer for Lana; the Sinatra-as-Guido rumor doubted.

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:32Read transcript

Timothy Hutton reportedly declined Joel for Daniel; Rob Lowe claimed he declined it, and Sean Penn, John Cusack, Kevin Bacon and Tom Hanks are among reported auditioners. One additional name is unclear in the transcript.
Michelle Pfeiffer reportedly declined Lana; Sharon Stone, Kim Basinger and Brooke Shields are named as alternatives, but the Basinger claim is treated skeptically.
The Michael J. Fox rumor is strongly rejected as a poor fit; Pfeiffer's fame and different sensuality would also change the film.
Frank Sinatra was allegedly considered for Guido, with age and physical demands cited against him; the host does not believe the story.

Sean Penn as Glenn; Nelson, Estevez and Howell also proposed.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:16:43Read transcript

Replace Glenn with Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell or Sean Penn; Penn is especially appealing if available for a short shoot.

Tony Romo and Cris Collinsworth.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:14Read transcript

Both Collinsworth and Romo riff on the train sex, symbolism, hurried furniture return and Jackie surprise.

Joel’s virginity and sexual confidence; dream logic; Lana’s con; Miles’s cruelty.

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:20Read transcript

Joel is assumed to be a virgin, but his first encounter seems unusually confident and prolonged; Lana's later quickness remark complicates the impression.
The dream framing and extravagant first sex scene leave room to read the story as Joel's fantasy; Lana's possible manipulation remains unresolved.
Miles may be sadistic rather than helpful: the Jackie setup and subsequent treatment of Joel seem designed to undermine him. His Harvard admission and possibly preppy conception contrast with Armstrong's older-looking performance.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:39:32Read transcript

Eyes Wide Shut; All the Right Moves for a 1983 Cruise pairing; Ferris Bueller's Day Off for a contrasting Chicago teenager who resists adulthood and work.