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‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

August 8, 2023 · National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) · Adventure · Comedy · 1:35:38 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 20:08Anthony Michael Hall is the greatest teenage actor ever, citing his resume of Vacation, 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, and Weird Science
Chris Ryan▶ 21:35Disagreed with Bill's take, stating that River Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio are better teen actors than Anthony Michael Hall
Van Lathan▶ 20:33Questioned the take by bringing up other contenders like Robert Downey Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio, and suggested River Phoenix's movies were more ambitious

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:17Multiple scenes including buying the station wagon with Eugene Levy, start of road trip with Mockingbird singing, Clark falling asleep at the wheel, and St. Louis scene
Chris Ryan▶ 32:20Buying the station wagon scene with Eugene Levy

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 34:32The East St. Louis scene where Clark says 'fuck you, mama' - initially thought it was hilarious but now recognizes it has aged poorly
Chris Ryan▶ 34:45References the East St. Louis scene and quotes lines from it but doesn't clearly state his position on whether it has aged poorly
Van Lathan▶ 34:57The East St. Louis scene is 'obviously overtly racist' but argues there's deeper commentary since Clark becomes a criminal by the end, making it more complex than just racism

Dion Waiters Award

Van Lathan▶ 42:09Randy Quaid — Cousin Eddie - calls him a repeat winner and the quintessential Dion Waiters

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 57:00The Hamburger Helper scene and suggests it might be the best food movie for comedy with multiple food moments including stirring Kool-Aid with hands and Rust drinking beer
Chris Ryan▶ 58:11The full lunch that falls off the car because Clark doesn't want Ellen to put it in the window due to new interior
Van Lathan▶ 58:26The pate sandwiches scene where Clark uses the sandwich to woo Christie Brinkley and then spits it out, followed by Edna eating the sandwich

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:37Doesn't think there is a weak link, could nitpick Clark being too dumb sometimes or Audrey, but has no real notes
Van Lathan▶ 59:46Likes Audrey and thinks Russ does more for the kids in the movie, doesn't identify a clear weak link

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:50Suggests people call it 'The Griswolds' or 'National Lampoons' but doesn't clearly state these are better titles
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:41The Griswolds

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:59Is this your idea of a good meal? Dog killer! And then, this is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:11She's a pool waitress! I was ordering some fish for you and Audrey!
Van Lathan▶ 1:03:15Acknowledges Chris Ryan's quote and responds to it but doesn't offer his own specific best quote pick

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:35Kim Cattrall was originally considered for Ellen; John Landis was wanted to direct but was busy with An American Werewolf in London; Harold Ramis' daughter played Cousin Eddie's tongueless daughter; John Candy got paid $1 million for 3 days of shooting; original ending had Griswolds holding Roy Wally's family hostage and hijacking a plane, but test audiences hated it
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:43Noted Kim Cattrall would have been overpowering as Ellen and was at peak career around Big Trouble in Little China/post-Porky's; pointed out hijacking storyline wouldn't play well in the 80s; identified John Candy's background from SNL and SCTV
Van Lathan▶ 1:09:05Questioned John Candy's career status at the time and emphasized that $1 million was an enormous amount of money for an actor in 1983, comparing it to Jennifer Lopez being the first Latina actress to earn $1 million 14 years later

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:42Imogene Coca — Initially suggested Christie Brinkley but then agreed to give it to Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca)
Van Lathan▶ 1:10:34Imogene Coca — Aunt Edna - 'She screams the entire movie'

Movies Referenced (29)

We're the Millers (2013)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 28:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 54:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ghostbusters (1984)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Miami Vice (2006)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 54:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Seems Like Old Times (1980)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 12:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stand by Me (1986)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 22:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Weird Science (1985)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 20:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Captain Ron (1992)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 29:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Coco (2017)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Die Hard (1988)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Funny Farm (1988)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 13:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Summer Rental (1985)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 5:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (3)

John Hughes

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club▶ 24:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Hancock▶ 15:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Landis

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Blues Brothers▶ 1:07:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (59)

Chevy Chase

22 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation▶ 3:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christie Brinkley

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for National Lampoon's Vacation, Vegas Vacation, Jack and Jill▶ 3:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Murray

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom▶ 2:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Candy

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs▶ 3:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beverly D'Angelo

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Vegas Vacation, National Lampoon's Vacation, National Lampoon's European Vacation▶ 3:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

River Phoenix

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast▶ 20:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony Michael Hall

7 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for War Machine, Live by Night, Foxcatcher▶ 18:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ellen Barkin

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension▶ 19:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joseph Van De Yacht

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 55:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Road

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 56:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eugene Levy

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman▶ 32:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Billy Joel

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Game Night, A League of Their Own▶ 33:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Harold Ramis

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes▶ 23:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Danny McBride

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Underworld▶ 24:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lorne Michaels

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 24:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Lotfi El Gorda

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Aquaman, Noah▶ 59:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗