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‘Singles’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

September 13, 2022 · Singles (1992) · Comedy · Drama · Music · 1:55:58 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsWhen we meet Janet for the first time and she's talking about how much she loves Cliff, then it cuts to Cliff playing guitar on Jimi Hendrix▶ 40:31
Chris RyanThe mime scene leading into Alice in Chains▶ 41:17

Apex Mountain

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Van LathanThe super train concept that almost everyone who matters to the main character dismisses - they tell him his train won't work because people love their cars▶ 45:43

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsGrant Williams because he's so annoying on the court it would actually make me hold off▶ 48:44
Van LathanKobe - 'Mamba mentality, don't nut. Stay locked in.'▶ 48:27

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill SimmonsThe historic chili dog scene with close-up shot▶ 1:06:21
Chris RyanLinda eating the chili dog at 1 o'clock▶ 1:06:27

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill SimmonsConsiders both Javastop and DeSoto club, leans toward the club but finds Javastop pretty cool▶ 1:07:03

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill SimmonsWhen Linda's crying after Luis' bones are over, she's being consoled outside the club with 'love bone' written on the wall visible, and the wide shot after Historic Chili Dog when they're on the bench with Power Plant in the background▶ 1:07:31

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsThe characters are a little too old - wishes they were younger, particularly Campbell Scott who was 30 but should have been playing a late 20s guy▶ 1:07:57
Chris RyanDiscusses casting concerns about Campbell Scott vs John Cusack but ultimately says he likes Campbell Scott in the role▶ 1:08:15
Van LathanDefends the casting and ages, arguing that the characters work as mid-to-late 20s people with established careers and maturity▶ 1:08:46

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsVideo dating has aged the worst because who would do a video date now▶ 1:10:30

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsAnswering machines as a plot device and answering machines breaking▶ 1:10:42

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsBobby Van reference that nobody knows anymore, and Nirvana not being in this movie▶ 1:11:41
Chris RyanLuis is a fucking psycho - his manipulative behavior toward women▶ 1:11:10
Van LathanMel Gibson reference (wanting a guy who's a combo of Holden Caulfield and Mel Gibson) and the fax machine▶ 1:13:11

Ron Burgundy Flute Award

Bill SimmonsNot giving out this award - doesn't think you should pee during this movie because it's fantastic▶ 1:14:09

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsNo way - the original title is perfect, rejecting the studio's suggestion of 'Come as You Are'▶ 1:14:39

Best Quote

Bill SimmonsSteve don't come yet▶ 1:14:55

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsJohnny DeppDiscusses Johnny Depp and Matt Dillon turning down Steve Dunn (too good looking), Cameron Crowe wanting Chris Cornell as Cliff Ponce, Paula Abdul as runner-up for Debbie, and various other casting alternatives including Eric Stoltz potentially as Steve▶ 1:24:01
Chris RyanJohnny DeppAgrees Johnny Depp was too good looking and never played normal guys, vetted Jennifer Jason Leigh rumors, discusses Josh Hamilton and River Phoenix as alternatives to Campbell Scott▶ 1:24:16
Van LathanJohnny DeppAgrees Johnny Depp wouldn't work because too good looking to be believable as someone who can't get women, discusses Jennifer Jason Leigh casting rumors wouldn't have worked▶ 1:24:23

Racehorse Name Award

Bill SimmonsSuggested multiple options: Citizen Dick, Super Train, Historic Chili Dog, and Super Chili Dog▶ 1:34:21

Is This Movie Better With

Bill SimmonsKathryn HahnCatherine Hahn as Ruth, Philip Baker Hall as the mayor, Steve Buscemi as Luis▶ 1:40:41
Chris RyanKathryn HahnCatherine Hahn as Ruth▶ 1:40:44
Van LathanKathryn HahnCatherine Hahn would be great, Steve Buscemi as Bailey or as the mime▶ 1:40:46

Just One Oscar

Bill SimmonsPaul WesterbergSoundtrack - specifically Paul Westerberg for 'Waiting for Somebody' as Best Original Song▶ 1:41:24
Chris RyanDiscussed soundtrack eligibility but questioned whether 'Waiting for Somebody' was original to the film▶ 1:41:41

Best Double Feature

Bill SimmonsReality BitesReality Bites or kicking and screaming▶ 1:47:05
Chris RyanSay AnythingSay Anything as prequel - Seattle coming of age high school, then Singles as post-college▶ 1:47:09
Van LathanJerry MaguireJerry Maguire (after considering Love Jones and jokingly mentioning Action Jackson and Vanilla Sky)▶ 1:47:30

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmonslove is finding someone who says, God bless you when you sneeze▶ 1:50:31

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsBridget FondaInitially suggested Bridget Fonda, then agreed with Van that Grunge won the movie, and later suggested the 90s won the movie▶ 1:50:50
Van LathanEither Steve or Grunge won the movie▶ 1:50:52

Movies Referenced (41)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Pulp Fiction (1994)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 21:35
Say Anything (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 3:54
Home Alone (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:11
Jerry Maguire (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 14:00
Almost Famous (2000)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 9:06
Jackie Brown (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 36:14
Neighbors (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 49:32
A Few Good Men (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 43:41
Before Sunrise (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 9:34
Elvis (2022)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 50:44
Fargo (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:01
In the Line of Fire (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 43:41

Directors Referenced (6)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Cameron CroweIMDb ↗Lb ↗26Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanAlmost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 4:09
Mel GibsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsBraveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory▶ 1:13:04
Tim BurtonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill SimmonsEdward Scissorhands▶ 52:04
Peter HortonIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 22:50
Martin ScorseseIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsTaxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 52:09
Ari GoldIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Van Lathan▶ 51:24

Actors Referenced (76)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Campbell ScottIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanSingles▶ 4:04
Pearl JamIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanBig Fish▶ 26:07
NirvanaIMDb ↗Lb ↗16Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanThe Batman, Captain Marvel▶ 28:44
Bridget FondaIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van LathanPoint of No Return▶ 4:04
Matt DillonIMDb ↗Lb ↗12Bill Simmons, Van LathanThere's Something About Mary, Crash▶ 4:04
Bill PullmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsIndependence Day, Spaceballs▶ 55:18
Chris CornellIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill SimmonsCasino Royale, Man of Steel▶ 27:10
Jeremy PivenIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 51:15
Paul WesterbergIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Chris RyanSingles, Open Season▶ 31:36
Citizen CopeIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris RyanBattleship▶ 27:16
Xavier McDanielIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Van LathanSingles▶ 8:25
Eddie VedderIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Van LathanInto the Wild, Big Fish▶ 39:51

Writers Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Andy GreenwaldIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 3:06
David CraneIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:40
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 38:09