Am I just out of touch? Do I just know nothing at all about popular culture?
I’m watching yet another one of those cable clip shows in the vein of “The 80s Strike Back,” etc. — this time, “100 Funniest Movies.” Let the rest of these shows, it’s short clips from the movies concerned, heavily padded with commentary from “celebrities.” So far, I only recognize Rob Reiner, which really tells you how deep into the barrel they scraped to get people. They seem to have loaded their cast with a bunch of people labeled “Comedian” whom I’ve never heard of, and peppered in a few producers that no one else has ever heard of.
An example of the luminaries who are featured in this show:
- Shirley Helperin, West Coast Editor of “Teen People”
- Devin Crowley, writer/director
- Savage Steve Holland, director, “Better Off Dead” (whatever that is)
- Billy Ingram, founder of TV Party… commenting on movies, not TV
- Alisan Porter, actress
- Carolyn Davis, US Weekly
- Guillermo Diaz, actor
- Michael Somerville, comedian
- Danielle Romano, editor-at-large, DailyCandy.com
- Colette Hawley, comedian
- Craig Baldo, comedian
- Liz Feldman, writer/comedian
- etc.
In addition to this half-hearted lineup, the clips are non-existent for the vast majority of the films, such as 9 to 5 or The Incredibles or What About Bob?… they’re illustrated by publicity stills, and I’m certain that the producers of this program weren’t interested in paying for clips — in short, this cheapo show is certainly not going to be mistaken for a documentary by the AFI.
I don’t know why I watch these things. Lack of anything else to do on a summer re-run Monday night. Just the demographic they were looking for, I’m sure.
“Better Off Dead” is one of John Cusack’s first films and is probably one of the funniest things to come out of 80’s cinema. Do yourself a favor and rent it sometime.
No kidding, it’s one of my favorites of ALL time.
What!? No HAL SPARKS!?! He must have been busy doing “I Love the 70’s Part VIII, Disco Strikes Back”
I skipped the 100 funniest movies; and I’m glad now; I’ve never heard of any of those people. Top 20 Villains/Superheroes/Vixens was pretty entertaining though–what I saw of it.
I was one of the half-hearted names on the list of people featured on “100 Funniest Movies.” If you haven’t heard of me, I’m not surprised. If you have heard of me then you probably watch way too much TV.
What damages your credibility on this piece is when you comment “whatever that is” in regards to “Better Off Dead” which was one of the most well-known, quotable comedies from the 80s. How old are you? 12? Rob Reiner sends his love. “When Harry Met Sally” is a classic, eh?
I don’t think that my lack of knowledge about “Better Off Dead” damages my credibility — it simply shows that I didn’t go to “teen” movies when I was, well, a teen.
I even looked this movie up on IMDB, and I still have no glimmer of recognition. Never heard of it, never saw it, and frankly — judging from the synopsis — still have no desire to. As a 39 year old.
And aside from my cousin Kirk, who defended it in the first comment, I can’t seem to find anyone else around me who remembers this movie, either.
Suddenly, I’m shaken by the thought that there is a massive “Gas Light” conspiracy going on around me, that there never was a film called “Better Off Dead” and people are trying to trick me into believing that there was…