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The Rewatchables ·

There's Something About Mary

year 1998decade 90sdirector Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrellygenre Comedygenre Romance
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 27 categories

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:10:35

Ted may be the most deranged suitor

Bill Simmons: Ted is argued to be as deranged as Mary’s other pursuers

Chris Ryan: Drew Bledsoe reportedly declined the football-star cameo after a public nightclub incident

The film

There's Something About Mary (1998)

Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly · Comedy

119 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Cameron Diaz Mary Jensen
Matt Dillon Pat Healy
Ben Stiller Ted Stroehmann
Lee Evans Tucker/Norm Phipps
Chris Elliott Dom "Woogie" Woganowski, Mary's ex-boyfriend who became obsessed with her to the point where she took out a restraining order against him
Lin Shaye Magda, Mary's neighbor and friend
Jeffrey Tambor Sully, Healy's friend and contact in Miami
Markie Post Sheila Jensen, Mary and Warren's mother
W. Earl Brown Warren Jensen, Mary's intellectually disabled brother who is very protective of his ears
Keith David Charlie, Mary and Warren's stepfather
Sarah Silverman Brenda, Mary's sarcastic best friend
Khandi Alexander Joanie, another of Mary's friends
Richard Tyson Detective Krevoy
Rob Moran Detective Stabler
Willie Garson Dr. Bob "Zit Face", Ted's chiropractor and friend from high school
Harland Williams The Hitchhiker
Brett Favre himself, Mary's ex-boyfriend whom she broke up with after Tucker lied to her about him
Steve Sweeney Police Officer
Jonathan Richman Jonathan
Lenny Clarke Fireman
Richard Jenkins Psychiatrist

Everything from the episode

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

36:38

Most Rewatchable Scene

Healy courting Mary at the driving range

Healy courting Mary at the driving range

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:36:38Read transcript
  • Ted’s prom pickup, zipper injury, and escalating rescue response are nominated
  • Richard Jenkins’s therapy scene is nominated
  • Healy lying to Ted about Mary is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Healy courting Mary at the golf course is praised for comic escalation and believable chemistry — Chris Ryan
  • The hitchhiker and seven-minute-abs encounter is nominated
  • The flag-football scene is nominated
  • Dom’s pre-date advice is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • The hair-gel reveal is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Puffy’s drugged attack on Ted is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • The final convergence of Mary’s stalkers is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • The location cast singing “Build Me Up Buttercup” over the credits is praised — Chris Ryan
  • All three speakers select the Healy-and-Mary golf scene
  • Ted and Pat’s “deuce and a half” exchange is another favorite — Bill Simmons
  • Scenes in Mary’s apartment and the dog fight are offered as alternatives
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47:29

The most 1998 thing

The prominent use of Cops

The prominent use of Cops

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:29Read transcript
  • Excitement over a Tony Conigliaro signed baseball is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Brett Favre as a wholesome celebrity is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Magda smoking Kool cigarettes is nominated — Chris Ryan
  • Building the evening around televised sports highlights is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • The abundance of gay-panic jokes is identified as specific to the period — Sean Fennessey
  • Cops playing during Dom’s sex scene is selected — Sean Fennessey
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48:56

What’s Aged the Best?

Its gleeful bad taste, regional specificity, durable performances, physical comedy, and escalating lies

Its gleeful bad taste, regional specificity, durable performances, physical comedy, and escalating lies

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:56Read transcript
  • Bad taste being played for direct comedy rather than self-conscious drama is praised — Sean Fennessey
  • The rest-area joke remains effective
  • Jonathan Richman’s musical appearances are praised as an unlikely device that works
  • Rhode Island, Boston, and Miami specificity is praised — Bill Simmons
  • The comedy is said to remain laugh-out-loud funny
  • Magda’s extreme tan and Markie Post’s performance remain running references — Chris Ryan
  • Pre-date masturbation and Pat Healy’s capped teeth remain running jokes — Chris Ryan
  • A small lie escalating into a huge cover story is praised as a durable comedy engine — Chris Ryan
  • Casting the adult stars as teenagers is praised for preserving sweetness — Chris Ryan
  • Mary’s meat-on-sticks theory is appreciated
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59:12

Frat Boy Number One Award for Most Unexpected A-List Cameo

Brett Favre

Brett Favre

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:12Read transcript
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59:12

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The binocular reveal of Magda

The binocular reveal of Magda

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:12Read transcript
  • A binocular point-of-view that unexpectedly reveals Magda is selected — Chris Ryan
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1:00:06

Chest Rockwell / Brock Landers Award for Best Character Name

Magda

Magda

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:06Read transcript
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1:00:26

The Slow Ride / Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness Award for Best Needle Drop

“Build Me Up Buttercup”

“Build Me Up Buttercup”

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:26Read transcript
  • “Every Day Should Be a Holiday” is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • “Build Me Up Buttercup” over the ending is selected — Bill Simmons
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1:00:26

Brandy Booth Award for Best Performance by a Pet

Puffy

Puffy

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:26Read transcript
  • Puffy is selected as an exceptional comic dog performance — Bill Simmons
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1:02:49

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

The movie’s dense exchanges and Pat Healy’s elaborate deception supply the quoted favorites

The movie’s dense exchanges and Pat Healy’s elaborate deception supply the quoted favorites

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:49Read transcript
  • A belated best-quote prompt introduces several dialogue exchanges
  • Healy’s escalating false identity and injury story is praised — Chris Ryan
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1:06:18

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Matt Dillon’s heightened Pat Healy performance

Matt Dillon’s heightened Pat Healy performance

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:18Read transcript
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1:09:15

What’s Aged the Worst?

Brett Favre’s cameo

Brett Favre’s cameo

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:15Read transcript
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1:10:07

When I Would Have Died

Ted’s freeway encounter with the hitchhiker

Ted’s freeway encounter with the hitchhiker

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:07Read transcript
  • The zipper injury and confrontation with Mary’s father are rejected as the fatal point — Sean Fennessey
  • The hitchhiker encounter is selected as the point where the speaker would have died
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1:10:35

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Ted may be the most deranged suitor; Drew Bledsoe passing on the cameo was pivotal

Ted may be the most deranged suitor; Drew Bledsoe passing on the cameo was pivotal

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:35Read transcript
  • Ted is argued to be as deranged as Mary’s other pursuers — Bill Simmons
  • Drew Bledsoe reportedly declined the football-star cameo after a public nightclub incident — Chris Ryan
  • Bledsoe declining is called an underrated break for Patriots fans — Chris Ryan
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1:12:30

Casting What-Ifs

The Drew Bledsoe cameo possibility and alternate Ted and Healy actors

The Drew Bledsoe cameo possibility and alternate Ted and Healy actors

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:30Read transcript
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1:16:35

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Richard Tyson

Richard Tyson

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:35Read transcript
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1:18:55

Recasting Couch

Norm Macdonald as Tucker and a lurid-thriller version

Norm Macdonald as Tucker and a lurid-thriller version

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:55Read transcript
  • Norm Macdonald is proposed as Tucker, potentially without the English accent — Chris Ryan
  • The same plot is proposed as a lurid thriller
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1:23:26

Apex Mountain

Cameron Diaz, Chris Elliott, “franks and beans,” and Jonathan Richman: yes

Cameron Diaz, Chris Elliott, “franks and beans,” and Jonathan Richman: yes

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:26Read transcript
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1:28:43

Cruise or Hanks?

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:43Read transcript
  • Tom Cruise is proposed as Healy or the hitchhiker
  • Tom Hanks is proposed as Ted or Healy and ultimately selected
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1:29:07

Scorsese or Spielberg?

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:07Read transcript
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1:29:20

Catherine Tramell Award: Would You Throw Your Life Away for This Obvious Stay-Away?

Mary: her history attracts dangerous stalkers

Mary: her history attracts dangerous stalkers

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:20Read transcript
  • Mary is selected because dating her would invite conflict with obsessive former suitors
  • A speaker says he would accept the risk anyway
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1:29:37

Picking Nits

Mary’s living and work arrangements, Dom’s plan, Brett Favre’s availability, and Tucker’s long game

Mary’s living and work arrangements, Dom’s plan, Brett Favre’s availability, and Tucker’s long game

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:37Read transcript
  • Why an orthopedic surgeon shares a modest balcony complex with Magda is questioned
  • Mary’s apparently light patient and surgery schedule is questioned
  • Ted failing to connect Dom with his high-school identity is questioned — Chris Ryan
  • Dom helping Ted while planning to pursue Mary himself is questioned
  • Ted reaching Brett Favre during game week is questioned
  • Pat Healy’s long-term plan to sustain his lies is questioned
  • Tucker’s long-term deception is called baffling
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1:33:48

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

No remake

No remake

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:48Read transcript
  • A sequel, remake, or all-Black recast is rejected in favor of leaving the movie untouched
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1:34:08

Is This Movie Better With…?

Fergie

Fergie

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:08Read transcript
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1:35:37

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The successor to 1990s rest areas, Ted and Mary’s future, and the missing sequel

The successor to 1990s rest areas, Ted and Mary’s future, and the missing sequel

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:37Read transcript
  • What replaced rest areas as the era’s clandestine meeting place is questioned
  • The podcast equivalent of clearing one’s head before a date is jokingly debated
  • Whether Ted and Mary married is questioned, with a short relationship predicted — Chris Ryan
  • Why the hit movie never received a sequel is treated as the largest unanswered question
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1:38:47

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Mary’s golf bag, Warren’s earmuffs, and the prop-maker’s case of hair-gel samples

Mary’s golf bag, Warren’s earmuffs, and the prop-maker’s case of hair-gel samples

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:47Read transcript
  • Mary’s signature golf bag is selected
  • Warren’s red earmuffs are selected
  • The prop briefcase containing many hair-gel samples is selected — Chris Ryan
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1:40:38

Best Double Feature

Kingpin, American Pie, and Dumb and Dumber

Kingpin, American Pie, and Dumb and Dumber

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:38Read transcript
  • Kingpin is proposed for a Farrelly brothers pairing
  • American Pie is proposed as the following summer’s comedy companion
  • Dumb and Dumber is proposed
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1:40:50

Who Won the Movie?

Disputed: Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, and the Farrelly brothers

Disputed: Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, and the Farrelly brothers

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:50Read transcript
  • Matt Dillon is selected for being the viewing’s funniest surprise — Chris Ryan
  • Ben Stiller is selected for the long comedy-star run the film launched — Chris Ryan
  • Cameron Diaz is selected because the title, poster, and cultural impact center her
  • The contemporary 1998 winner is framed as Diaz while Dillon is the retrospective winner
  • The Farrelly brothers are credited with the film’s construction and immediate promise — Craig Horlbeck
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More from the conversation

The screenplay’s callbacks and interlocking stalker reveals are praised as unusually precise comedy construction.
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:33Read transcript
Practical physical set pieces are credited with preserving comic humanity that later CGI-heavy comedy can lose.
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:46Read transcript