‘The Truman Show’ With Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, and Chris Ryan
November 4, 2025 · The Truman Show (1998) · Comedy · Drama · 1:42:31 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsLists multiple scenes including the opening with Christoph, Truman's flashback with Lauren, radio frequency discovery, and the ending when he hits the wall, but doesn't pick one definitive winner▶ 38:22
Chris RyanAgrees with SPEAKER_01 - the scene when Truman discovers the set and starts to see 'the ones and zeros'▶ 42:00
Glen PowellThe scene where Truman puts it all together and discovers the truth - going through the revolving door and starting to see everything▶ 41:58
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Glen PowellDiscussed both moco cocoa coffee and chef's pal dicer/grater/peeler, noting the moco cocoa is probably the most iconic▶ 52:49
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsQuestions what was fun about watching the TV show 24 hours a day and finds the premise of constant viewership unrealistic▶ 59:23
Glen PowellThe dad storyline - thinks it could have been better cast with a more famous actor like Dennis Hopper or Tom Hanks▶ 57:26
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill Simmons1998 is in the running for the greatest 'checking all the boxes' movie year ever, citing extensive list of quality films across all genres▶ 1:06:06
Chris RyanWould have loved to see Brian De Palma's version with a more sex-crazed, paranoid Truman cutting up magazine pictures of women▶ 1:05:35
Glen PowellThe movie could have potentially been really good with Tom Hanks instead of Jim Carrey, because Hanks represents more of an everyman▶ 1:03:46
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsGary Oldman — Discussed Jim Carrey took $12M (discount from $20M rate), Sam Jackson was considered but doubted it, Gary Oldman screen tested as Carrey fallback, Dennis Hopper fired after 2 days as Kristoff, Jack Nicholson approached but declined due to friendship with Hopper, Ed Harris cast last minute▶ 1:12:37
Chris RyanBrian De Palma — Added that Brian De Palma turned down directing, Terry Gilliam and Barry Sonnenfeld were also circling as directors▶ 1:13:36
Glen PowellEd Harris — Confirmed Ed Harris was cast just days before shooting after Dennis Hopper was fired, mentioned working with Harris on another film▶ 1:13:08
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsJim Carrey — Yes for Jim Carrey - this is his Apex Mountain in 1998, right in the middle of his crazy run, his first well-received drama when he was one of the most powerful actors in Hollywood▶ 1:20:47
Chris RyanParticipated in discussion but didn't give clear definitive answers on the main Apex Mountain questions, mostly asked clarifying questions about other actors▶ 1:21:24
Glen PowellJim Carrey — Yes for Jim Carrey - agrees this is the third act of his crazy seven year run. Yes for Peter Weir over Dead Poets Society because this movie is way more complex in vision and world building▶ 1:21:10
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsLists the options (Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Mad Dog Russo, Doris Burke, Buffalo Bill, Sam Jackson, Nell, Byron Mayo, Tony Romo, Chris Collinsworth) but doesn't select any specific one, though notes Nell would be 'interesting in this community'▶ 1:29:07
Chris RyanWayne Jenkins as the Peter Krause part, doing an impression: 'Goddamn, Truman. I didn't know I was working with the BTK killer. You better stop cutting pictures of ladies up from those fashion magazines.'▶ 1:30:27
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Chris RyanSports talk shows analyzing Truman's life and performance, with shows discussing whether he's 'still got it' at his job▶ 1:31:16
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsPeter Weir — Weir (Director) - thinks the movie was so well crafted and filmed in a way that was ahead of its time▶ 1:32:03
Chris RyanAndrew Niccol — Andrew Nichol (Original Screenplay) - considers it one of the great original screenplays of that decade▶ 1:32:22
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Chris RyanNoted the irony of Christof guarding his own privacy while violating Truman's completely▶ 1:33:48
Glen PowellDiscussed Christof's psychology - sees himself as a father figure protecting Truman, justifying his actions as nurturing rather than evil▶ 1:33:10
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsThe Game — Agreed with The Game suggestion and mentioned The Running Man, calling it a great double feature▶ 1:35:43
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJim Carrey — Carrie, though acknowledges a Peter Weir case but says Carrie ultimately won▶ 1:35:53
Movies Referenced (66)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | ▶ 24:32 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Glen Powell, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:04 |
| Top Gun (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:17 |
| Moon (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Glen Powell, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:20 |
| Sunshine (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell | ▶ 28:03 |
| Hot Fuzz (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:40:34 |
| Neighbors (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 59:29 |
| A Good Year (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:24 |
| All the Right Moves (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:12 |
| American History X (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:22 |
| Coco (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 39:33 |
| Dumb and Dumber (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:08 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Weir | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Glen Powell | The Way Back, Witness | ▶ 8:25 |
| Brian De Palma | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities | ▶ 1:05:37 |
| Emma Chamberlain | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:36:45 | |
| Alfred Hitchcock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest | ▶ 29:44 |
| Barry Sonnenfeld | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Men in Black, Wild Wild West | ▶ 1:13:36 |
| Frank Capra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night | ▶ 29:44 |
| Jim Rome | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Longest Yard, Space Jam | ▶ 1:31:53 |
| Michael Bay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Glen Powell | Armageddon | ▶ 1:41:02 |
| Richard Fearless | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout | ▶ 25:19 |
Actors Referenced (55)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Carrey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind | ▶ 1:26 |
| Ed Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell | The Truman Show | ▶ 13:20 |
| Paul Giamatti | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | Sideways, Cinderella Man | ▶ 27:02 |
| Laura Linney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:08 | |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Glen Powell, Bill Simmons | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 59:10 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Glen Powell | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 17:15 |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 8:34 |
| Dennis Hopper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Glen Powell | Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Speed | ▶ 58:35 |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 19:09 |
| Jack Nicholson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed | ▶ 1:13:23 |
| Jodie Foster | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver | ▶ 1:29:20 |
| Jon Bernthal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard | ▶ 1:30:18 |
Writers Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar Wright | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Glen Powell, Chris Ryan | Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver | ▶ 1:40:34 |
| Ryan Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Glen Powell | ▶ 1:30:41 | |
| Stephen King | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Glen Powell | ▶ 1:39:57 | |
| Chris Bryant | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Don't Look Now | ▶ 17:08 |
| Jackie Files | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:07:11 | |
| Jerry Bruckheimer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Top Gun: Maverick, Armageddon | ▶ 1:16:36 |
| Patch Adams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Patch Adams | ▶ 1:07:02 |
| Philip Glass | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Glen Powell | The Truman Show, The Illusionist | ▶ 41:38 |
| Ryan Seacrest | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 46:49 |