Home/Episodes/National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
‘National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan
December 19, 2023 · National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) · Comedy · 1:31:54 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsThe tree changes sizes a couple times - the tree they're getting is bigger than his entire house but that's fine, it's a Christmas comedy movie▶ 32:34
Sean FennesseyHow did they get the goddamn tree frozen? Don't give me an unanswerable question in the first three minutes of the movie▶ 32:25
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsPrivate Benjamin — Discusses Full Metal Jacket vs Private Benjamin in context of when movies were at their Apex Mountain, noting Private Benjamin was a phenomenon when it came out▶ 42:05
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsClark slurping the eggnog after not getting his bonus and delivering the crazy monologue▶ 48:06
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsJulia Louis-Dreyfus, Juliette Lewis as Audrey, 'Shitter is full' becoming a Twitter meme, Chevy Chase's physical comedy with the Christmas tree sap, and the movie representing the early sequel era of 1989▶ 50:59
Sean FennesseyThis becoming generationally the Christmas movie - the number one Christmas movie that no one expected would last 35 years▶ 53:25
Van LathanFinding out your dad is a horny freak - the universal experience of realizing your father had a sexual past▶ 54:50
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Chris RyanMentions other strong third movies like Lethal Weapon 3, Rocky 3, and prefers International Mobiary to this▶ 57:28
Sean FennesseyPeople just love this movie regardless of quality; supports it being the best third movie▶ 57:44
Van LathanBack to the Future 2 hasn't held up as well as Christmas Vacation but has cultural impact with sports betting and hoverboards▶ 58:14
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsThe closing credits shot that stays on Clark staring up, then pans back to reveal Snots one inch away from his crotch staring at him▶ 1:00:26
Chris RyanThe network homage shot when they shoot Brian Doyle Murray down at the other end of the conference room table▶ 1:00:18
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsDiscusses the changing kids across movies as a weakness, mentions Russ's kids going backwards in age and changing every movie▶ 1:01:41
Chris RyanEngages with the discussion of changing kids but frames it as a theory about the Griswolds replacing children rather than identifying it as the weakest element▶ 1:01:55
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsPrefers keeping 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' over just 'Christmas Vacation'▶ 1:08:04
Chris RyanAcknowledges most people just call it 'Christmas Vacation' but doesn't express a clear preference for a better title▶ 1:08:08
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsChristmas is about resolving differences and seeing through the problems of petty life▶ 1:08:12
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDave Chappelle — Suggested Dave Chappelle as Clark in a 2023 version, noting he's 50 and the right age, calling it a 'brain breaker'▶ 1:14:41
Chris RyanDiscussed various character actors and made Dion Waiters award suggestions but didn't provide clear recasting picks▶ 1:12:13
Sean FennesseyDiscussed John Randolph's blacklist story and provided factual information about actors' ages but didn't offer specific recasting suggestions▶ 1:13:39
Van LathanDave Chappelle — Found recasting Clark very difficult, considered Will Ferrell but thought he's too old and 'oddly too goofy', was intrigued by Chappelle suggestion▶ 1:14:22
Hall of Fame Plaque
Chris RyanThe chainsaw scene where Clark tells Todd 'Bend over and I'll show you' while wearing a mask and waving a chainsaw▶ 1:29:01
Movies Referenced (58)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:44 |
| Full Metal Jacket (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 41:04 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:26 |
| It's a Wonderful Life (1946) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:55 |
| Back to the Future (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 56:54 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:23 |
| Frozen (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 31:23 |
| Driving Miss Daisy (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:26:07 |
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 22:17 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 4:48 |
| Seems Like Old Times (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 39:48 |
| A Christmas Story (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:04:26 |
Directors Referenced (13)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 10:11 |
| Jeremiah S. Chechik | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | ▶ 13:53 |
| Chris Columbus | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Help | ▶ 54:36 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 1:13:27 |
| George Roy Hill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slap Shot | ▶ 12:07 |
| Amy Heckerling | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Look Who's Talking | ▶ 28:31 |
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 1:15:42 |
| David Lynch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:18:03 | |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Hancock | ▶ 1:24:06 |
| John Frankenheimer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Seven Days in May | ▶ 1:14:00 |
| Lee Dreyfuss | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 50:59 | |
| Sofia Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part III, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation | ▶ 27:59 |
Actors Referenced (92)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevy Chase | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 36 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation | ▶ 4:02 |
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 34 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 6:42 |
| Bill Murray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom | ▶ 11:30 |
| Randy Quaid | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | Independence Day, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | ▶ 46:21 |
| Dave Chappelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | A Star Is Born | ▶ 1:14:41 |
| Goldie Hawn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Private Benjamin | ▶ 40:52 |
| Ivana Basic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:23 | |
| Jason Lively | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | National Lampoon's European Vacation | ▶ 5:48 |
| Wayne Newton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 29:04 | |
| Adam Sandler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Big Daddy, Little Nicky | ▶ 35:12 |
| Will Ferrell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory | ▶ 12:42 |
| Beverly D'Angelo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | National Lampoon's Vacation, National Lampoon's European Vacation | ▶ 52:25 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:34 | |
| Warren Leight | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 52:09 |
Cinematographers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 1:00:44 |
| Richard Staff | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Doctor Strange, Fast X | ▶ 33:55 |
| Scott Clark | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Night at the Museum | ▶ 44:23 |