Home/Episodes/National Lampoon's Vacation
‘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
Categories
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsAnthony Michael Hall is the greatest teenage actor ever, citing his resume of Vacation, 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, and Weird Science▶ 20:08
Chris RyanDisagreed with Bill's take, stating that River Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio are better teen actors than Anthony Michael Hall▶ 21:35
Van LathanQuestioned the take by bringing up other contenders like Robert Downey Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio, and suggested River Phoenix's movies were more ambitious▶ 20:33
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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▶ 32:17
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMade an ambiguous comment about something that could be in either aged best or worst▶ 34:25
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe East St. Louis scene where Clark says 'fuck you, mama' - initially thought it was hilarious but now recognizes it has aged poorly▶ 34:32
Chris RyanReferences the East St. Louis scene and quotes lines from it but doesn't clearly state his position on whether it has aged poorly▶ 34:45
Van LathanThe 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▶ 34:57
Apex Mountain
Chris RyanReferences 'Apex Mountain of the 80s' but unclear what specific person/career he's referring to▶ 39:28
Dion Waiters Award
Van LathanRandy Quaid — Cousin Eddie - calls him a repeat winner and the quintessential Dion Waiters▶ 42:09
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsThe 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▶ 57:00
Chris RyanThe full lunch that falls off the car because Clark doesn't want Ellen to put it in the window due to new interior▶ 58:11
Van LathanThe pate sandwiches scene where Clark uses the sandwich to woo Christie Brinkley and then spits it out, followed by Edna eating the sandwich▶ 58:26
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsDoesn't think there is a weak link, could nitpick Clark being too dumb sometimes or Audrey, but has no real notes▶ 59:37
Van LathanLikes Audrey and thinks Russ does more for the kids in the movie, doesn't identify a clear weak link▶ 59:46
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsSuggests people call it 'The Griswolds' or 'National Lampoons' but doesn't clearly state these are better titles▶ 1:02:50
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsIs this your idea of a good meal? Dog killer! And then, this is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy.▶ 1:02:59
Van LathanAcknowledges Chris Ryan's quote and responds to it but doesn't offer his own specific best quote pick▶ 1:03:15
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsKim 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▶ 1:06:35
Chris RyanNoted 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▶ 1:06:43
Van LathanQuestioned 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▶ 1:09:05
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsImogene Coca — Initially suggested Christie Brinkley but then agreed to give it to Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca)▶ 1:10:42
Movies Referenced (28)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We're the Millers (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 28:02 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 54:45 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:45 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 54:38 |
| Seems Like Old Times (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 12:01 |
| Stand by Me (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 22:13 |
| Weird Science (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 20:25 |
| Coco (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:10:43 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:55 |
| Sing (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:13 |
| This Boy's Life (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:51 |
| 2012 (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:12:30 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 24:27 |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Hancock | ▶ 15:37 |
| John Landis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Blues Brothers | ▶ 1:07:01 |
Actors Referenced (60)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevy Chase | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation | ▶ 3:03 |
| Christie Brinkley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | National Lampoon's Vacation, Jack and Jill | ▶ 3:14 |
| Bill Murray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom | ▶ 2:24 |
| John Candy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs | ▶ 3:12 |
| Beverly D'Angelo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | National Lampoon's Vacation, National Lampoon's European Vacation | ▶ 3:06 |
| River Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast | ▶ 20:14 |
| Anthony Michael Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | Live by Night | ▶ 18:14 |
| Ellen Barkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:47 | |
| Joseph Van De Yacht | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 55:48 | |
| Peter Road | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 56:45 | |
| Eugene Levy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman | ▶ 32:17 |
| Billy Joel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Game Night, A League of Their Own | ▶ 33:04 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold Ramis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons | Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes | ▶ 23:26 |
| Danny McBride | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Underworld | ▶ 24:54 |
| Lorne Michaels | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:39 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotfi El Gorda | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Aquaman, Noah | ▶ 59:05 |