Home/Episodes/To Live and Die in L.A.
‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
March 17, 2026 · To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) · Action · Crime · Drama · 2:12:54 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsAgrees with the take about Petersen's missed opportunities, citing specific roles he turned down: Henry Hill in Goodfellas (for Young Guns 2 and Kennedy's miniseries), a major role in Heat, and Platoon. Could have been Costner-level star▶ 22:25
Chris RyanSupports the hottest take by acknowledging the missed opportunities in Platoon and other films, agreeing that Petersen had the potential for much bigger stardom▶ 23:08
Sean FennesseyWilliam Petersen is two movie choices away from being in the Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Jeff Bridges, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis tier of stardom - could have been in the Mel Gibson zone of fame if he had made different choices in 86-87 and 89-90▶ 21:59
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsWang Chung — Wang Chung - suggests renaming the category to 'Wang Chung Apex Mountain' because they had both this movie and Breakfast Club in the same year▶ 37:47
Chris RyanWang Chung — Wang Chung - agrees with the assessment and discusses their career impact through these movies▶ 38:21
Sean FennesseyDiscusses William Friedkin's talent for music selection across multiple films but doesn't explicitly state Wang Chung is at apex mountain▶ 41:21
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: opening credits with Wang Chung into Peterson Hotel Chase; opening credits into art burning and bungee jump; cops in bar scene; counterfeit money scene with Wang Chung music; Turturro almost getting killed in prison; Amtrak shooting and chase scene; Chance gets killed; final scene 'You're working for me now'▶ 52:03
Sean FennesseyTwo additional scenes: murder of Max Waxman getting shot in the dick, and the sex scene▶ 59:35
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWhy does the character wear a Mike Webster Steelers jersey instead of more famous players like Terry Bradshaw or Mean Joe Greene▶ 1:05:27
Chris RyanHow did Chance have time to learn about Quentin Daily's game stats between arriving at Union Station at 4:45 PM and showing up at Ruth's house around 9-10 PM, especially given the timeline constraints▶ 1:06:00
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMaking counterfeit money as viewing experience, calling people 'amigo', Jane Leaves' hot girl run, bungee jumping, villains referring to themselves in third person, 80s movie lawyers with cocktails who look like they're about to play tennis, decision to show Peterson's face but not body in dumpster, having/losing a witness trope, Jimmy being 'too old for this shit/two days to retirement' trope▶ 1:09:42
Chris RyanThe 'Dr. George Victor' alias introduction, remnants of 1960s threading through movie (ex-hippie lawyer, Vietnam veteran cops), Rick being bisexual fine artist with psychotic killer, Dean Stockwell's defense attorney having beer during lunch break at trial, various cinematography shots including Ruth at topless bar in green/red lighting▶ 1:10:08
Sean FennesseyBeing able to pretend to be businessman with glove box contents as proof, calling money 'paper', Willem Dafoe as villain, insane characters having artistic hobbies (like Rick's fine art), various cinematography including eye through windshield during car chase and Dafoe looking at burning painting▶ 1:11:29
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJohn Malkovich — John Malkovich for the Pankow part, with additional suggestions of Stanley Tucci, Will Patton, and Michael Biehn▶ 1:27:50
Chris RyanJohn Malkovich — Supports John Malkovich as a good recasting choice for the Pankow role▶ 1:29:40
Sean FennesseyKelsey Grammer — Kelsey Grammer and Bill Paxton as alternative casting suggestions for the Pankow role▶ 1:29:49
Best Quote
Chris RyanThe check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth▶ 1:40:58
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsIntroduces the category with Wayne Jenkins, Fergie the florist, and Zane Lowe as options; engages with Zane Lowe discussion but doesn't give a definitive answer; also test drives Ryan Rucco and Doris Burke calling the car chase▶ 1:55:02
Chris RyanZane Lowe — Enthusiastically supports Zane Lowe, does an extended Zane Lowe impression interviewing Chance and Rick Masters▶ 1:55:09
Sean FennesseyZane Lowe — Expresses skepticism about the Zane Lowe concept, questions the idea of Zane Lowe inviting a local cop on his show to discuss what he's investigating▶ 1:56:02
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsWilliam Petersen — Peterson - because this starts his career and eventually leads to CSI▶ 2:03:54
Movies Referenced (66)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:15 |
| Platoon (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 23:04 |
| Spider-Man (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 30:28 |
| The French Connection (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:21 |
| Lethal Weapon (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 52:16 |
| Field of Dreams (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:06 |
| In the Line of Fire (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:45:44 |
| Mississippi Burning (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:47 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 46:12 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 48:49 |
| The Artist (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:55:51 |
| The Exorcist (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 41:25 |
Directors Referenced (15)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Masters | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 37 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Born on the Fourth of July | ▶ 14:25 |
| William Friedkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | To Live and Die in L.A., The French Connection, The Exorcist | ▶ 14:08 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 21:59 |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 1:09:22 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 42:31 |
| Walt Frasier | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:58 | |
| Wes Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs | ▶ 32:10 |
| Abel Ferrara | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | King of New York | ▶ 32:21 |
| Boise Holmes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Kiss the Girls | ▶ 1:51:53 |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 1:36:33 |
| Frank Capra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night | ▶ 1:22:37 |
| Robert Eggers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Lighthouse, The Witch, Nosferatu | ▶ 32:10 |
Actors Referenced (99)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Chung | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 34 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | To Live and Die in L.A., Deadpool | ▶ 6:38 |
| John Pankow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | To Live and Die in L.A., The Secret of My Success | ▶ 7:10 |
| Anthony Defoe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 9:58 | |
| Secret Service | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 5:34 | |
| Bill Paxton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Aliens, Apollo 13 | ▶ 4:38 |
| Dean Stockwell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Married to the Mob, Dune | ▶ 1:11:54 |
| Don Johnson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Django Unchained | ▶ 1:35:47 |
| Gary Cole | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Office Space | ▶ 1:40:01 |
| John Turturro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Barton Fink | ▶ 14:32 |
| Lidia Janjic Vukovic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:33:25 | |
| Michael Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Space Jam, He Got Game | ▶ 1:06:47 |
| Lionel Richie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | The Color Purple, The Fifth Element, Super 8 | ▶ 1:56:51 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 9:43 | |
| Ted Jessup | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Ted 2 | ▶ 21:14 |
| Andrew Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:15 | |
| Andy Greenwald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:10:54 | |
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 35:46 |
| Ted Turner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Angels in the Outfield | ▶ 7:28 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Dombrowski | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Superman | ▶ 2:11:26 |
| Martin Fuhrer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Lord of the Flies | ▶ 1:41:38 |