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The Rewatchables ·

Working Girl

year 1988decade 80sdirector Mike Nicholsgenre Comedygenre Romancegenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Amanda Dobbinshost Joanna Robinson
All 35 categories

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:27:35

Working Girl deserved Best Picture

Amanda Dobbins: Working Girl should have won Best Picture over Rain Man.

Bill Simmons: I’m So Excited is proposed as the most important pop-culture song of its era.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 2:04:23

Make opportunities happen

Bill Simmons: Do not wait for what you want; make it happen is selected.

The film

Working Girl (1988)

Directed by Mike Nichols · Comedy

113 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Melanie Griffith Tess McGill
Harrison Ford Jack Trainer
Sigourney Weaver Katharine Parker
Alec Baldwin Mick Dugan
Joan Cusack Cynthia
Philip Bosco Oren Trask
Timothy Carhart Tim Draper
Nora Dunn Ginny
Oliver Platt David Lutz
James Lally Turkel
Kevin Spacey Bob Speck
Robert Easton Armbrister
Amy Aquino Alice Baxter
Olympia Dukakis personnel director
Ricki Lake Bridesmaid
David Duchovny Tess's birthday party friend

Everything from the episode

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

51:14

Most Rewatchable Scene

End elevators; bar meet-cute; opening; wedding.

End elevators; bar meet-cute; opening; wedding.

In the discussion (16)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:14Read transcript
  • The opening credits, ferry, Statue of Liberty, and New York skyline are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • The Spacey limo encounter and Tess’s typed insult are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Tess’s early office exchange with Katharine is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • The bar meet-cute is a final choice. — Joanna Robinson
  • The fight after the party is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • The luau wedding, bathroom scene, cameos, and Trask dance are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Jack changing his shirt in the office is proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The postcoital conversation is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Jack visiting Katharine while Tess hides is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • The boardroom and elevator showdowns are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Tess meeting her new assistant is proposed.
  • Jack caring for an unconscious Tess is proposed for its physical comedy despite later objections. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The boss-secretary impersonation farce is proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The elevator ending is a final choice. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The wedding is initially selected and then withdrawn for the elevator. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The bar is another final choice. — Amanda Dobbins
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1:03:01

The most 1988 thing

Hair, makeup, and eye shadow.

Hair, makeup, and eye shadow.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:01Read transcript
  • Hair, makeup, and eye shadow are the leading answer. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Visible shoulder pads under a translucent blouse are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The wedding tuxedo, Twin Towers, and women calling themselves secretaries are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Lark cigarettes, print media, and radio are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Katharine’s exercise bike is proposed as the strongest runner-up. — Bill Simmons
  • Computer monitors, printouts, and email are proposed.
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1:06:48

What’s Aged the Best?

Let the River Run and its score; supportive work husband; clothes; underestimated heroine archetype.

Let the River Run and its score; supportive work husband; clothes; underestimated heroine archetype.

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:48Read transcript
  • Let the River Run, the score, and their repeated use are selected. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Jack as a supportive work husband is proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The late-film roundtable is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Jack ordering tequila before it became common is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Harrison Ford’s clothes and the character-defining costume design are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The underestimated hot-mess but intelligent heroine archetype is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Guessing which scenes followed a late night is proposed as a rewatching game. — Bill Simmons
  • The short-lived Sandra Bullock television adaptation is discussed as an enduring curiosity. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Never burn bridges because today’s junior employee may become tomorrow’s senior partner is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • The Officer and a Gentleman homage at the end is proposed. — Bill Simmons
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1:13:52

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Final office pullback; opening; nighttime ferry shot.

Final office pullback; opening; nighttime ferry shot.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:52Read transcript
  • The opening credits are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The final office pullback is proposed for expressing the movie’s larger idea. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The nighttime ferry and skyline shot after the breakup is proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
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1:19:27

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Doreen’s implausible reaction; the premise’s extreme implausibility.

Doreen’s implausible reaction; the premise’s extreme implausibility.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:27Read transcript
  • Doreen’s fake crying during the affair is proposed as unbelievable. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Tess secretly executing a merger from her absent boss’s office is rated nearly impossible. — Bill Simmons
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1:22:23

What’s Aged the Worst?

Remote work breaks the plot; workplace treatment; hair; Jack undressing Tess; paper trails.

Remote work breaks the plot; workplace treatment; hair; Jack undressing Tess; paper trails.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:23Read transcript
  • Remote work and LinkedIn would prevent the broken-leg absence from enabling the plot. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Most hairstyles and workplace treatment of women are proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Reading Motor Trend in bed and gloomy ferry shots are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The hot dog crumb on Jack’s mouth is debated and ultimately defended. — Bill Simmons
  • Jack not washing his hands is criticized. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Sleeping together before closing the deal is proposed but disputed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Hard-copy records, dictation, and day planners are proposed as obsolete plot machinery. — Amanda Dobbins
  • Jack removing Tess’s dress is criticized as unnecessary. — Amanda Dobbins
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1:26:28

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Kevin Spacey.

Kevin Spacey.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:28Read transcript
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1:27:35

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Working Girl deserved Best Picture; I’m So Excited is a defining pop-culture song.

Working Girl deserved Best Picture; I’m So Excited is a defining pop-culture song.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:35Read transcript
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1:33:42

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Philadelphia law-firm employee; Trask actor; Caroline Aaron; Oliver Platt.

Philadelphia law-firm employee; Trask actor; Caroline Aaron; Oliver Platt.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:42Read transcript
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1:34:43

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Nora Dunn.

Nora Dunn.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:43Read transcript
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1:37:17

Apex Mountain

Melanie Griffith: yes; Sigourney Weaver: near peak; Harrison Ford: no.

Melanie Griffith: yes; Sigourney Weaver: near peak; Harrison Ford: no.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:37:17Read transcript
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1:42:09

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Jack begins as creepy and sleazy.

Jack begins as creepy and sleazy.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:09Read transcript
  • Jack is proposed as creepy and sleazy early in the film.
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1:43:41

Cruise or Hanks?

Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:41Read transcript
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1:51:14

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

Untouchable.

Untouchable.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:51:14Read transcript
  • The movie is declared untouchable despite the prior television adaptation. — Amanda Dobbins
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1:51:28

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wilford Brimley in The Firm.

Wilford Brimley in The Firm.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:51:28Read transcript
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1:52:02

Just One Oscar

Melanie Griffith; Joan Cusack defended; Carly Simon already won.

Melanie Griffith; Joan Cusack defended; Carly Simon already won.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:52:02Read transcript
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2:03:41

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Warhols; dress; bunny; gorilla; novelty wedding glasses.

Warhols; dress; bunny; gorilla; novelty wedding glasses.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:03:41Read transcript
  • Katharine’s Warhols and Tess’s expensive dress are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The bunny and gorilla are proposed. — Amanda Dobbins
  • The novelty wedding glasses with straws are proposed. — Bill Simmons
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2:04:23

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Make opportunities happen; check Valium dosage.

Make opportunities happen; check Valium dosage.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:04:23Read transcript
  • Do not wait for what you want; make it happen is selected. — Bill Simmons
  • Check the milligrams for Valium is proposed. — Bill Simmons
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2:06:18

Who Won the Movie?

Melanie Griffith.

Melanie Griffith.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:06:18Read transcript
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Melanie Griffith
Speaker not identified
Melanie Griffith
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