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Animal House
Animal House
Airplane!
Fletch
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 2
- Movies in this archive
- 2
Rewatchables episodes featuring Tim Matheson’s films
Displaying all 2 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Apex Mountain
Belushi, Tim Matheson, cafeteria scenes, college movies, toga parties, and Stephen Furst
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:50Read transcript
- John Belushi is an immediate yes — Bill Simmons
- Tim Matheson is judged at his career apex after this film — Chris Ryan
- The cafeteria scene is judged an apex for food fights — Chris Ryan
- Trading Places is preferred as John Landis’s apex — Bill Simmons
- The actor playing Flounder is judged at his apex — Chris Ryan
- The actor playing Boone is judged to have a later apex in The Sopranos — Chris Ryan
- The film is judged an apex for college movies and toga parties — Chris Ryan
What’s Aged the Best?
The music, Bluto’s sports-arena rally speech, several performances, and many durable comic bits
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:19Read transcript
- “Louie Louie” and “Shout” are praised as enduring party and wedding songs
- Donald Sutherland enabling the production and his brief performance are appreciated — Bill Simmons
- Bluto’s rally speech is praised for becoming a home-arena staple — Bill Simmons
- The women’s-college visit and kiln-explosion story are praised as sharply observed — Chris Ryan
- Belushi smashing the acoustic guitar is described as an enduring party fantasy — Chris Ryan
- Tim Matheson’s Otter performance is praised as charming, funny, and star-worthy — Bill Simmons
- The ROTC students, golf scene, and opening fraternity-door gag are praised — Bill Simmons
- The film’s jokes and music are described as still effective despite dated material — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Keep Robert Hays as Ted, Julie Hagerty as Elaine, and Leslie Nielsen as Rumack
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. — Bill Hader
- The studio reportedly pushed Barry Manilow for Ted. — Bill Hader
- Fred Willard reportedly declined Ted because he did not understand the script. — Bill Hader
- Tim Matheson reportedly could not take Ted while filming 1941. — Bill Simmons
- Caitlyn Jenner auditioned for Ted and did not get the role. — Bill Simmons
- Robert Hayes is preferred because he plays the absurdity straight. — Bill Hader
- Sigourney Weaver and Shelley Long auditioned for Elaine before Julie Haggerty was cast. — Bill Hader
- Dom DeLuise, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, and Jack Webb reportedly declined Doctor Rumack. — Bill Hader
- Leslie Nielsen is preferred for Rumack. — Bill Hader
- Pete Rose was wanted for Roger but baseball scheduling led to Kareem’s casting. — Bill Simmons
- Harriet Nelson was wanted as the jive translator before Barbara Billingsley was cast. — Bill Simmons
- Peter Graves initially rejected the script as tasteless before being persuaded to play Over. — Bill Hader
What’s Aged the Best?
Tim Matheson's casting; Mr. Underhill; Kareem's IMDb page; the 'Who's Frida?' exchange; Harold Faltermeyer's score; Fletch's apartment; Michael Ritchie
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:14Read transcript
- Tim Matheson plays the villain Alan Stanwyk, which mirrors Animal House: Otter was written for Chase, so Matheson did a Chevy impression there and now plays the lookalike who wants Fletch dead. — Bill Simmons
- Mr. Underhill's two scenes hold up: shredding the waiter over a gratuity and exploding at the bill; he is like Judge Smales crossed with Hitler. — Bill Simmons
- Kareem's IMDb page (Game of Death, Airplane, Fletch, 21 Jump Street, D2, Diff'rent Strokes, Saved by the Bell) makes him arguably the most successful athlete-actor. — Bill Simmons
- The claim is about how the IMDb page looks at a glance, not actual acting success. — Bill Simmons
- Rival athlete-actor contenders: Jim Brown (Mars Attacks, Any Given Sunday, The Running Man, The Dirty Dozen) and O.J. Simpson (Towering Inferno, Naked Gun).
- The secretary exchange ('I'm Frida's boss.' 'Who's Frida?' 'My secretary.') is another pick. — Bill Simmons
- The list of pseudonyms is read out, including Dr. Rosen, John Cocktoe Stone, Mr. Poon, Igor Stravinsky, Gordon Liddy, Don Corleone and Harry S. Truman. — Bill Simmons
- Harold Faltermeyer's score is amazing 80s music with a Thomas Dolby influence, alongside his Beverly Hills Cop work; the Alpha Romeo chase song gets an honorable mention and Stephanie Mills sings the theme. — Bill Simmons
- Siskel's point: once Beverly Hills Cop hit, action sequences and Faltermeyer music could turn a wry comedy into an easier-to-sell action comedy. — Sean Fennessey
- Fletch's apartment, with the life-size Magic and Bird poster and the hoop on the wall, is the perfect bachelor pad for a guy who only cares about the paper and the Lakers. — Chris Ryan
- His faded purple Lakers jersey is praised, but the 1985 Lakers-Celtics Finals prompt a joking 'I recant my statement' and talk of cancelling the pod. — Bill Simmons
- Michael Ritchie is called the best sports-movie director ever, with a run including Downhill Racer, The Bad News Bears, Semi-Tough, Fletch and Wildcats; he only produced Bad News Bears Go to Japan, did not direct Shampoo, made the messy Golden Child, and The Candidate is recommended. — Sean Fennessey
Displaying all 4 discussions
