Home/Episodes/Coming to America
‘Coming to America’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Wesley Morris
February 18, 2021 · Coming to America (1988) · Comedy · Romance · 1:53:59 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsBlack Awareness Week scene featuring Arsenio's reverend character and Eddie as Randy Watson with Sexual Chocolate - calls it 'probably going to be my winner'▶ 47:01
Van LathanStrongly supports the Black Awareness Week scene based on personal experience attending similar community events, relating to the authenticity of the crowd reactions▶ 48:26
Wesley MorrisFocuses on the presentation of the future queen scene, praising the lavish old Hollywood production values and attention to detail with 400 costumed extras▶ 42:56
What's Aged the Best
Van LathanThe Waldorf Astoria - it became the benchmark for an amazing hotel and is still kicking, still represents New York luxury▶ 1:04:36
Wesley MorrisThe authenticity of New York in the 1970s/80s - how they just shot New York as it was without dressing it up, including the Queensness of Queens and the unplowed snow during the King's arrival▶ 1:05:22
What's Aged the Worst
Wesley MorrisThe most desired woman in the movie being the lightest skinned woman (Vanessa Williams casting), and Sherry Headley's Queens accent for an African princess▶ 1:14:42
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsAllison Dean — Allison Dean as Patrice (the sister) - winner, with Paul Bates as runner-up and Madge Sinclair as candidate but noted she's more established than a 'that guy' actor▶ 1:16:23
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsAllison Dean — Nominated Frankie Faison (slumlord), Louis Anderson, and Sam Jackson, but chose Patrice McDowell (Allison Dean) as the winner▶ 1:18:04
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsShari Headley — Proposed Robin Givens or Angela Bassett as alternatives to Sherry Headley, but ultimately accepts Sherry Headley works well in the role▶ 1:22:03
Van LathanRobin Givens — Rejects Robin Givens because it would ruin her boomerang performance, doesn't think the alternatives would make it a better movie▶ 1:22:49
Wesley MorrisAngela Bassett — Questioned whether casting agents in 1987-88 would have found Angela Bassett, but didn't give a clear preference▶ 1:22:22
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsExtensive research covering McDowell's filming location, Eddie Murphy's $8M salary plus 15% film rentals, weekly expenditures, Landis feud, Art Buchwald lawsuit, Richard Pryor reference for Zemunda name, and Star Wars homage▶ 1:23:07
Van LathanProvided detailed explanation of the Twilight Zone helicopter accident involving Vic Morrow and child actors, agreed on Armand White's contrarian nature▶ 1:25:55
Wesley MorrisContributed knowledge about Armand White's contrarian film criticism pattern and the Art Buchwald lawsuit being major entertainment news▶ 1:27:29
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsArsenio Hall — Eddie Murphy: No. Arsenio Hall: Yes (1989). James Earl Jones: Might be apex-less or possibly Sandlot as belated apex. Shari Headley and sister: Yes. Rick Baker makeup: Yes. Hot tubs, jerry curls in film, Queens NY: Yes for various items▶ 1:30:58
Van LathanArsenio Hall — Arsenio Hall: Talk show era (1989). James Earl Jones: Voice of Darth Vader in the 1970s, though he has different apexes across mediums (Fences for stage). Barbershop conversations: Barbershop movie over Coming to America▶ 1:32:12
Wesley MorrisArsenio Hall — Arsenio Hall: 1989 based on talk show performance exhibits. James Earl Jones: Might not have had one clear apex, just sustained career without power roles. Barbershop scenes: Barbershop movie is apex over this▶ 1:31:33
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions: Why didn't they stay at Waldorf and get second apartment; hand job logistics with tight 80s jeans; why Arsenio Hall didn't do more movies; did Hakeem Olajuwon change his name because of this movie; did Wakanda rip off Zamunda▶ 1:45:11
Van LathanContributed to hand job discussion with 'slidey' terminology; confirmed Black Panther debuted in 1960s before this movie; asked about graffiti train authenticity▶ 1:45:50
Wesley MorrisDiscussed hand job logistics and virgin theory; suggested Chunky A character killed Arsenio's movie career; noted graffiti train question about whether they painted it for the movie▶ 1:46:04
Movies Referenced (29)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Places (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 33:47 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 6:17 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 3:31 |
| Beetlejuice (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:01 |
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:04:46 |
| Twilight (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:24:40 |
| Best of the Best (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:33:59 |
| Black Panther (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:49:17 |
| Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 3:14 |
| Your Highness (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:09 |
| Crocodile Dundee (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:14 |
| Do the Right Thing (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 12:11 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Landis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Blues Brothers | ▶ 32:52 |
| Joe Lewis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons | Little Miss Sunshine | ▶ 57:32 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 11:57 |
Actors Referenced (68)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 90 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 1:14 |
| Arsenio Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 27 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | Coming to America | ▶ 20:07 |
| James Earl Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Van Lathan, Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Field of Dreams | ▶ 34:19 |
| Lisa McDowell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | White Men Can't Jump | ▶ 17:05 |
| Rick Baker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Planet of the Apes, Men in Black | ▶ 29:20 |
| Clint Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons | Coming to America, The Firm, 48 Hrs. | ▶ 31:17 |
| Michael Jackson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:00 | |
| Richard Pryor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 9:28 | |
| John Amos | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Wesley Morris | Coming to America, Lock Up | ▶ 34:01 |
| Bill Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 3:46 | |
| Madge Sinclair | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Coming to America, The Lion King | ▶ 56:15 |
| Michael Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Space Jam, He Got Game | ▶ 19:13 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 3:14 | |
| Andrew Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:46 | |
| Art Buchwald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:29:13 | |
| Jane Austen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris | Sense and Sensibility | ▶ 16:34 |
| David Sheffield | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, Coming to America | ▶ 35:54 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Rourich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 1:12:03 |