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‘Shampoo’ With Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, and Sean Fennessey

December 9, 2025 · Shampoo (1975) · Comedy · Drama · 2:11:17 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsDiscusses the planned epilogue showing everyone's life still a mess in 1975, and Ashby's perspective that everyone was selling out - the upper class doesn't care about anybody▶ 40:03
Cameron CroweIs Warren Beatty's character just emotionally and spiritually dead and has given up - is he too a sellout?▶ 39:51
Sean FennesseyNotes that Nixon's resignation 10 days after the film's release provided the real-life epilogue they needed▶ 40:42

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsGeorge makes peace with Lester scene - where they bond over complaining about women and housekeeping▶ 1:02:52
Cameron CroweThe stare down bistro scene with Nixon getting reelected, Jackie getting drunk, and all the interlocking relationships▶ 1:01:51
Sean FennesseyThe scene where Lester and George bond near the end, discussing women and revealing their attitudes▶ 1:02:46

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsThe LA portrayal and how hairdressers like John Peters gained power through relationships with celebrity clients connected to powerful people▶ 1:15:23
Cameron CroweThe psychological dynamics of George's intimate relationships through hairdressing and how he understands people's feelings in that vulnerable state▶ 1:15:37
Sean FennesseyThe casting choices and meta-Hollywood elements, particularly Carrie Fisher (Debbie Reynolds' daughter) representing generational change, and the focus on hairdressers as intimate power brokers in Hollywood culture▶ 1:14:04

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill SimmonsHairdressers were the original podcasters▶ 1:16:38

Dion Waiters Award

Bill SimmonsShe gets the Dion Waiters award for Best C-Check▶ 1:20:31

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsThe 'I'd like to suck his cock' scene - thinks it's too crazy and that the character was too classy to do that▶ 1:24:39
Sean FennesseyJulie Christie's drunk acting performance - criticizes her portrayal as unconvincing▶ 1:25:01

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsPaul Simon soundtrack being corny and weird, Carrie Fisher revelation about Warren Beatty trying to get with her, Warren Beatty's overacting in the crying breakup scene▶ 1:27:06
Cameron CroweIt's the least rewatchable of Hal Ashby's three-picture run despite being the most successful▶ 1:30:26
Sean FennesseyJay Robinson's overacting as Norman, the salon owner character who pushes it too hard▶ 1:29:42

Casting What-Ifs

Apex Mountain

Cameron CroweWarren BeattyAgrees it's Shampoo - Beatty was more 'feral' and had his teeth in it more than later films▶ 1:35:34
Sean FennesseyWarren BeattyQuestions whether Beatty peaked higher at Heaven Can Wait or Reds instead of Shampoo▶ 1:34:34

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill SimmonsYes for Robert Towne (Chinatown back-to-back run), no for Goldie Hawn, no for Jack Warden, yes for Triumph Motorcycles as character, yes for late 60s party scenes with Russell Hammond Topeka party as apex▶ 1:36:17
Cameron CroweAgreed on party scenes, describing the Topeka party as a good party where everyone's having a good time and Russell participates like he's one of them▶ 1:37:22
Sean FennesseyRussell Hammond in Topeka, Kansas 'Golden God' party scene▶ 1:37:10

Picking Nits

Bill SimmonsValets get cars too quickly at the party, motorcycle mysteriously appears at last party when he arrived by car, Denver wanting to trade for Frank Cushman when they had John Elway, Dorothy quitting with health benefits and a child, timeline issues with getting from Monday Night Football game to divorced women's support group meeting▶ 1:45:39
Cameron CroweDefends the movie's choices - suggests parallel universe for Jerry Maguire issues, argues Dorothy's move fits the theme of unexpected people showing up when you need them, jokes about divorced women's group going late because 'they have problems to work through'▶ 1:46:48
Sean FennesseyReacts dramatically to the motorcycle inconsistency ('Should we delete this episode?'), suggests maybe someone brought the motorcycle over, agrees Dorothy was inspired to quit despite the risks▶ 1:46:13

Just One Oscar

Bill SimmonsLee GrantLee Grant (who actually won the Oscar) or the script▶ 1:49:28
Cameron CroweSuggested Best Supporting Actor for the guy doing Indian chant at bistro or woman's reaction at table during Jackie's explicit comment▶ 1:49:12

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill SimmonsEveryone sells out▶ 1:54:01
Cameron CroweJill represents that there's a way out of the sellout generation - optimism and hope can triumph, showing what a 70s woman could be with more control and independence▶ 1:54:28
Sean FennesseyThe movie represents the highest arc of ending where everyone loses, like an acid burn takeaway similar to how Jaws changed movies▶ 1:54:12

Who Won the Movie

Movies Referenced (47)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Jerry Maguire (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗15Cameron Crowe, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 22:21
Almost Famous (2000)IMDb ↗Lb ↗14Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean Fennessey▶ 0:58
Carrie (1976)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:01
Harold and Maude (1971)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Cameron Crowe▶ 3:35
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:37
Good Time (2017)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe▶ 1:33:51
Say Anything (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Cameron Crowe, Bill Simmons▶ 51:27
The Little Things (2021)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Cameron Crowe▶ 24:57
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Cameron Crowe▶ 1:18:00
Chinatown (1974)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 47:06
Days of Thunder (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 48:05
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Cameron Crowe, Bill Simmons▶ 22:50

Directors Referenced (10)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Warren BeattyIMDb ↗Lb ↗63Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean FennesseyHeaven Can Wait▶ 3:02
Hal AshbyIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Sean Fennessey, Cameron Crowe, Bill SimmonsIn the Heat of the Night, Harold and Maude▶ 3:28
Billy WilderIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Cameron CroweThe Apartment, Some Like It Hot▶ 28:46
Joe DanteIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyGremlins▶ 8:53
Iyi TubiIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsEx Machina, World War Z▶ 44:42
Jean RenoirIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Cameron Crowe▶ 1:55:44
Ruby StillwaterIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Cameron Crowe▶ 25:29
Tony BellIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Cameron CroweGoldenEye▶ 15:13
William CastleIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 1:22:33
Woody AllenIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyAnnie Hall▶ 32:48

Actors Referenced (66)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Goldie HawnIMDb ↗Lb ↗28Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean FennesseyPrivate Benjamin▶ 14:58
Jack WardenIMDb ↗Lb ↗18Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean Fennessey12 Angry Men, All the President's Men, While You Were Sleeping▶ 6:25
Jerry O'ConnellIMDb ↗Lb ↗18Cameron Crowe, Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyStand by Me▶ 22:21
Crazy TownIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean FennesseySomething's Gotta Give▶ 39:37
Julie ChristieIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsDon't Look Now▶ 13:14
Steven SeagalIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill SimmonsUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory▶ 1:12:15
Carrie FisherIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean FennesseyStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi▶ 1:00:01
Jack NicholsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Cameron Crowe, Sean FennesseyChinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed▶ 13:21
Paul SimonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Cameron Crowe, Bill SimmonsThe Graduate▶ 11:11
Debbie ReynoldsIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:14:06
Lee GrantIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyIn the Heat of the Night, Mulholland Drive, Damien: Omen II▶ 51:56
Meg RyanIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyWhen Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail▶ 1:31:34

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Robert TowneIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Cameron CroweChinatown, Mission: Impossible▶ 3:28
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 52:01
Bruce SpringsteenIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Cameron Crowe, Bill SimmonsThe Wrestler, Philadelphia▶ 1:27:29
Paul SchraderIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsFirst Reformed▶ 1:35:04