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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

year 2006decade 00sdirector Adam McKaygenre Sportsgenre Comedy
host Craig Horlbeckhost Danny Heifetzhost Danny Kellyproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 42 categories

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:17:44

NASCAR is better than expected

The first take is framed as starting a NASCAR podcast and settles on NASCAR being better than expected.

The second calls Talladega Nights the funniest sports movie and compares it with Caddyshack, Happy Gilmore, Waterboy, Kingpin, The Longest Yard, Blades of Glory, Kicking and Screaming, and Semi-Pro.

The film

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Directed by Adam McKay · Sports

108 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Will Ferrell Ricky Bobby
John C. Reilly Cal Naughton Jr.
Sacha Baron Cohen Jean Girard
Gary Cole Reese Bobby
Michael Clarke Duncan Lucius Washington
Leslie Bibb Carley Bobby / Naughton
Jane Lynch Lucy Bobby
Amy Adams Susan
Andy Richter Gregory
Greg Germann Larry Dennit Jr.

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

5:40

Five-Word Description of the Movie

The real development pitch was the six-word description “Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver.”

The real development pitch was the six-word description “Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver.”

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:05:40Read transcript
  • The panel says the show formerly used a five-word-pitch flex category, but this movie was greenlit from a six-word pitch without a script. — Craig Horlbeck
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1:24:05

Casting What-Ifs

John C. Reilly’s Cal role and Sacha Baron Cohen’s Jean Girard role had several reported alternatives.

John C. Reilly’s Cal role and Sacha Baron Cohen’s Jean Girard role had several reported alternatives.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:05Read transcript
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1:33:28

Recasting Couch

Keep Adam McKay and the existing cast

Keep Adam McKay and the existing cast

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:28Read transcript
  • Christopher Nolan directing a serious racing version is treated as a joke rather than a replacement. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Tim Robinson, Sam Richardson, and Danny McBride are imagined in a remake, but no actual change is endorsed.
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1:34:41

Half-Assed Internet Research

The production’s NASCAR access, unpaid brand placement, the stars’ first race-car experience, cast ages, and improvis...

The production’s NASCAR access, unpaid brand placement, the stars’ first race-car experience, cast ages, and improvisational filming

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:41Read transcript
  • The movie used real NASCAR locations, drivers, commentators, and details. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Sony reportedly did not charge Wonder Bread, Old Spice, Perrier, or other brands for product placement; the brands promoted the movie. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Will Ferrell’s father Roy Lee Ferrell played with the Righteous Brothers and has a song in the film.
  • Ferrell and John C. Reilly were frightened by their first short track runs but returned rather than leave early.
  • Gary Cole and Jane Lynch were only eleven and seven years older than Will Ferrell.
  • The dinner scene took a day and produced ruined takes because the camera operator laughed.
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1:48:45

Picking Nits

The panel questions Ricky’s missing fortune and the ownership transition at Dennett Racing.

The panel questions Ricky’s missing fortune and the ownership transition at Dennett Racing.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:48:45Read transcript
  • Ricky has to deliver pizza despite a stated $21.6 million income; the panel jokes Carly and Cal took the money. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The cougar’s implausibility is dismissed as part of the movie’s comic rules.
  • Dennett Sr. disappears without explanation and Dennett Jr. rejects a winning driver over a points-title dispute.
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1:55:07

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The unanswerable questions cover Carly and Cal’s future, the slingshot, Ricky’s parents’ conception, Cal’s Playgirl s...

The unanswerable questions cover Carly and Cal’s future, the slingshot, Ricky’s parents’ conception, Cal’s Playgirl spread, and praying to baby Jesus.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:55:07Read transcript
  • The panel imagines Carly leaving Cal, staying with him, or entering a larger relationship involving Ricky and Susan.
  • They debate whether aerodynamic drafting can create the movie’s slingshot.
  • Other questions concern a steakhouse bathroom, the existence of Cal’s Playgirl photos, and Ricky’s chosen form of Jesus.
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2:02:52

Best Double Feature

Anchorman is the final double-feature choice after debate with Blades of Glory.

Anchorman is the final double-feature choice after debate with Blades of Glory.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:02:52Read transcript
  • Blades of Glory is proposed for another Will Ferrell sports movie.
  • Anchorman is preferred for another Ferrell–McKay comedy, while Step Brothers, Cars, and Days of Thunder are alternatives.
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