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Leslie Nielsen

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Episodes featuring their films
1
Movies in this archive
1

Mentioned in discussions

Airplane! poster

Casting What-Ifs

Airplane! The Rewatchables

Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty are preferred after a long list of reported alternatives for Ted, Elaine, Rumack, Roger, and the jive translator.

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:22Read transcript
  • David Letterman auditioned for Ted Striker, but the panel prefers that he was not cast.
  • The studio reportedly pushed Barry Manilow for Ted.
  • Fred Willard reportedly declined Ted because he did not understand the script.
  • Tim Matheson reportedly could not take Ted while filming 1941.
  • Caitlyn Jenner auditioned for Ted and did not get the role.
  • Robert Hayes is preferred because he plays the absurdity straight.
  • Sigourney Weaver and Shelley Long auditioned for Elaine before Julie Haggerty was cast.
  • Dom DeLuise, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, and Jack Webb reportedly declined Doctor Rumack.
  • Leslie Nielsen is preferred for Rumack.
  • Pete Rose was wanted for Roger but baseball scheduling led to Kareem’s casting.
  • Harriet Nelson was wanted as the jive translator before Barbara Billingsley was cast.
  • Peter Graves initially rejected the script as tasteless before being persuaded to play Over.
Airplane! poster

Who Won the Movie?

Airplane! The Rewatchables

Stephen Stucker and Leslie Nielsen are the two winner choices; the filmmakers are considered before Nielsen is selected for the career the movie unlocked.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:35Read transcript
  • Stephen Stucker is chosen for an unusually funny performance preserved by the film.
  • The Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams are considered for the careers the film launched.
  • Leslie Nielsen is selected because the film transformed his career and enabled another two decades of comedy work.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Stephen Stucker
Speaker not identified
Leslie Nielsen
Airplane! poster

What’s Aged the Worst?

Airplane! The Rewatchables

Robert Stack’s rejected backend, the fading surprise of Kareem’s casting, the extra slap, and racial material are identified as dated or regrettable; the translated jive scene creates a separate localization problem.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:38Read transcript
  • Robert Stack taking an extra twenty thousand dollars instead of a percentage is identified as a costly decision.
  • The jive dialogue creates translation problems, with a Bavarian dialect used in German.
  • The original shock of Kareem appearing in the film has faded with time.
  • Leslie Nielsen returning to slap the passenger again is identified as a gag unlikely to be made now.
  • The African basketball sequence is identified as uncomfortable for contemporary children.
Airplane! poster

What’s Aged the Best?

Airplane! The Rewatchables

The durable premise, unwanted airplane conversation, hidden visual and sound jokes, repeated wordplay, score, Leslie Nielsen’s comedy turn, Air Israel gag, Lorna Patterson, and singular construction are praised.

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:09Read transcript
  • A food-poisoned crew forcing a traumatized former pilot to land the airplane is praised as a durable premise.
  • Being trapped beside a passenger who will not stop talking is called timeless.
  • Hidden details such as the newsstand label and propeller sound over the jet reward repeat viewing.
  • The repeated literal wordplay is praised.
  • Elmer Bernstein’s serious theme music is praised.
  • Leslie Nielsen becoming a comedy performer is selected as a lasting benefit.
  • The Air Israel aircraft and Jewish-sports pamphlet are praised as small visual jokes.
  • Lorna Patterson’s voice and performance are praised.
  • The movie’s rapid-fire construction is praised as singular.
Displaying all 5 discussions

Films in the archive

Airplane!

1980

Rewatchables episodes featuring their films

Airplane! poster

Airplane!

1980 film

Bill Simmons · Bill Hader

Aired September 23, 2025

Displaying 1 episode