‘Broadcast News’ With Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
March 12, 2019 · Broadcast News (1987) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1:39:55 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDebra Winger — Debra Winger was originally cast as Jane but got pregnant and was replaced by Holly Hunter. The movie wouldn't work as well with Debra Winger because she had too much history and Holly Hunter's unknown quality was perfect for the role▶ 8:05
Chris RyanHarrison Ford — Harrison Ford could have done the William Hurt role, and jokingly suggests Luke Wilson might have made it a better movie▶ 8:55
Chuck KlostermanDebra Winger — Agrees Debra Winger could have been good but wouldn't have been Holly Hunter, and the movie is hard to imagine without Hunter's specific personality. Notes the well-written script could have supported various actors in most roles▶ 8:34
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsHolly Hunter character based on person Brooks met in '84 dating two TV guys; Brooks worked on Lou Grant and Mary Tyler Moore; movie budget $15M, made $67M; 98% Rotten Tomatoes; got 0 Oscars despite 7 nominations▶ 24:34
Sean FennesseyBrooks didn't get Best Director nomination despite 7 total nominations; Michael Ballhouse cinematographer who shot Raging Bull; Fatal Attraction was nominated for Best Picture that year▶ 28:21
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsLists six nominees including first anchor scene, cabinet balcony scene, jacket trick teaching scene, Aaron's TV disaster, and the fight/confrontation scenes, but doesn't pick a definitive winner▶ 34:43
Chris RyanAdvocates strongly for the 'Bobby, Bobby, Bobby' scene with Joan Cusack running to get the tape, praising Holly Hunter's face acting and the chaotic energy▶ 37:19
Chuck KlostermanThe scene where Jane confronts Tom about the video trick - specifically loves William Hurt's authentic reaction when he realizes what she's mad about▶ 38:30
Sean FennesseyThe fight scene at Aaron's apartment after Jane leaves the correspondence dinner - calls it great authentic yelling▶ 40:21
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsWorkplace romance dynamics - specifically how the almost hookup between Holly Hunter and William Hurt would be impossible now because she's technically his boss, whereas in the 80s this made the love triangle more interesting▶ 52:14
Chuck KlostermanAgrees that workplace dating norms have changed - notes that in newspapers/magazines, many colleagues were married to each other, but now you're not supposed to date anyone you work with▶ 50:29
Sean FennesseyBelieves people still meet and get together at work due to proximity and time spent together, but there's much more sensitivity and requirement to put things out in the open now▶ 53:17
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsJames L. Brooks — Yes for Jim Brooks, William Hurt, Holly Hunter, and all main players. No for Joan Cusack.▶ 1:13:43
Chuck KlostermanJames L. Brooks — Yes for Jim Brooks, William Hurt, Holly Hunter, and all main players. Mentions Joan Cusack for 1989.▶ 1:14:01
Joey Pants Award
Chuck KlostermanChristian Clemenson — Mentions the control room character who looks like Philip Seymour Hoffman (Christian Clemenson)▶ 1:16:47
Sean FennesseyChristian Clemenson — Discusses Chris Proski extensively, praising his performance and career transition from sinister roles to 'good grandpa', highlighting specific scenes▶ 1:15:48
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsMultiple quotes including 'congratulations on history's longest winning streak' (favorite), 'wouldn't this be a great world if desperation and security made us more attractive', 'what do you do when your real life exceeds your dreams keep it to yourself', and 'does anyone win these things'▶ 1:20:37
Sean Fennesseyyou can make it less brutal by knocking a million or so off your salary bad joke i'm sorry▶ 1:21:12
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsDid Holly Hunter die alone in this movie? Also discusses whether she's 'too crazy' and her behavior at the correspondence dinner▶ 1:24:43
Chris RyanEngages in the best movie of the 80s discussion, mentions it's hard because he watched so many 80s movies repeatedly during the video store era▶ 1:28:13
Chuck KlostermanDisagrees that Holly Hunter would lie about having a guy - she's too honest. Also pushes back on her being 'too crazy'▶ 1:24:55
Sean FennesseyShifts discussion to 'What do you think is the best movie of the 80s?' as an unanswerable question, suggesting this movie exemplifies the best of 80s films▶ 1:26:23
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsHolly Hunter — Holly Hunter - because it's a performance and character so unique to her, and her height really helps her in the movie▶ 1:38:56
Chris RyanHolly Hunter — Holly Hunter - can't substitute anyone else in for this role, the movie wouldn't be as good without her▶ 1:35:55
Chuck KlostermanAlbert Brooks — Discussed Albert Brooks extensively, noting he's irreplaceable in the role despite being the movie's biggest loser character-wise▶ 1:36:10
Movies Referenced (62)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raising Arizona (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 9:12 |
| From Hell (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 30:00 |
| Aliens (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:26:31 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 29:13 |
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chuck Klosterman | ▶ 28:29 |
| Say Anything (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman, Chris Ryan | ▶ 21:02 |
| Terms of Endearment (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 7:53 |
| Back to the Future (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:30:54 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:26:31 |
| Midnight Run (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:41 |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chuck Klosterman, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:27:26 |
| The Matrix (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:35:17 |
Directors Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 13:33 |
Actors Referenced (35)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Hurt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 27 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Chuck Klosterman | A History of Violence, Lost in Space, Broadcast News | ▶ 8:58 |
| Albert Brooks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Broadcast News | ▶ 6:53 |
| Holly Hunter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman, Chris Ryan | Broadcast News | ▶ 6:13 |
| Sean Connery | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Dr. No, The Untouchables, The Rock | ▶ 0:57 |
| Debra Winger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Terms of Endearment, An Officer and a Gentleman, Rachel Getting Married | ▶ 8:05 |
| Jack Nicholson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chuck Klosterman | Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed | ▶ 7:43 |
| Joan Cusack | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman, Chris Ryan | Working Girl | ▶ 10:12 |
| Jeff Bridges | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman | The Big Lebowski, True Grit | ▶ 13:17 |
| Libya Pugh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Chuck Klosterman | ▶ 19:33 | |
| Michael Douglas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Wall Street, Romancing the Stone | ▶ 14:32 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 8:58 |
| Mary Tyler Moore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Ordinary People | ▶ 20:47 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:17 | |
| Norman Lear | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Fried Green Tomatoes | ▶ 18:18 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Van Over | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Thin Red Line, Practical Magic | ▶ 20:55 |