‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan
May 4, 2021 · What About Bob? (1991) · Comedy · 1:22:43 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe first therapy scene with Murray and Dreyfuss ('what if my heart stops beating'), Bob waiting for the doctor to call in the diner when the Gutmans appear, and Bob sailing▶ 28:34
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsCatherine Keener's character age inconsistency - she's 26 playing a teenager who's supposed to be around 16-17▶ 30:52
Sean FennesseyCatherine Keener looks too old to be a teenager - Julie Hagerty is only 10 years older, making the family dynamic weird▶ 31:02
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsThe scene where Dreyfuss gets the call about Bob's alleged suicide and casually says 'Let's not let it spoil our vacation'; the title drop moments; Dr. Marvin's 80s Wagoneer; Dreyfuss's summer vacation outfits; the 'Don't Hassle Me I'm Local' t-shirt; and Family Conference scenes▶ 37:00
Sean FennesseyJulie Haggerty as a comic genius and consistent comedy presence; the mainstream American comedy format with movie stars that's high concept but accessible▶ 38:52
Van LathanJulie Haggerty's performance and her role as the person who tolerates Dr. Marvin; discusses how the movie's commentary on psychiatry reflects societal attitudes of the time▶ 39:23
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsWoody Allen — Presents the what-ifs: Woody Allen approached for Dr. Leo Marvin (broke his brain, doesn't know what movie it would be), Patrick Stewart also approached (different movie, doesn't think it works), Robin Williams first choice for Bob (acknowledges Williams was bigger star than Murray 1987-1993)▶ 50:26
Sean FennesseyWoody Allen — Understands the Woody Allen logic since he introduced analyst themes to American movies and had been going to analysis for years, so having him play the therapist made sense conceptually▶ 50:53
Van LathanWoody Allen — Woody Allen as Dr. Marvin would be 'fucking horrible' and 'a bad idea' - too much neurosis on screen. Could see Robin Williams as Bob and acknowledges Williams' massive star power during that era▶ 50:47
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsKathryn Erbe — Initially suggested Catherine Irby but retracted after learning she was a Law & Order star; then mentioned the telephone operator but seemed uncertain▶ 51:56
Sean FennesseyTom Aldredge — Suggested Tom Aldridge (Mr. Gutman/Mrs. Soprano's father) and Charlie Korsmo, though there was debate about whether Korsmo qualifies▶ 53:07
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsHouse explosion used 3/4 scale model; Spielberg spent $250k campaigning for Murray Oscar nomination; Murray-Dreyfuss tension details; Charlie Korsmo's post-acting academic career (MIT physics, Yale Law, now law professor); vacation house filmed at Smith Mountain Lake▶ 1:01:30
Sean FennesseyCommented on Murray's lack of Oscar recognition despite being a key movie figure for 30 years; found Murray's 'you are tolerated' insult to Dreyfuss hilarious; called Korsmo a 'legend in two games'▶ 1:01:57
Van LathanFocused on critiquing Dreyfuss's detailed description of the ashtray incident as pretentious ('modern glass blown ashtray screams Hollywood L.A. dickhead'); expressed amazement at Charlie Korsmo's MIT/Yale credentials▶ 1:05:23
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsCharlie Korsmo — Bill Murray: No, Dreyfus: No, Charlie Korsmo: Yes (as an actor), Julie Hagerty: No, Good Morning America: Yes▶ 1:09:37
Sean FennesseyCharlie Korsmo — Charlie Korsmo - notes that receiving an award from Barack Obama is probably higher than his acting peak▶ 1:09:49
Van LathanGood Morning America - agrees it could be apex because Joan Lunden was such an indelible part of the 80s▶ 1:10:15
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWas Leo a murderer/should he have gotten jail for attempted murder? Yes. Why wasn't there a sequel? Stars hated each other. Sequel idea: Leo's dead, Bob becomes Dr. Phil-like figure. Memorabilia: Don't Hassle Me I'm Local t-shirt▶ 1:15:53
Sean FennesseyStars hated each other (why no sequel). Dreyfuss sued Disney for royalties. Memorabilia: the Wagoneer car and the Lake Winnipesaukee house▶ 1:16:26
Van LathanSequel would be like Analyze That/Meet the Fockers. Wants the puppets as memorabilia▶ 1:16:35
Movies Referenced (44)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze This (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | ▶ 16:06 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:36 |
| Robin Hood (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:07 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:44 |
| Can't Hardly Wait (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 53:37 |
| Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 24:55 |
| Good Will Hunting (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:06 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:30 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:20:38 |
| Cape Fear (1991) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:51 |
| Groundhog Day (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:58 |
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:13 |
Directors Referenced (10)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 13:13 |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Hancock | ▶ 28:15 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 23:50 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Annie Hall | ▶ 50:26 |
| Barry Levinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Rain Man, Wag the Dog | ▶ 1:02:52 |
| Kosta Jokic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 56:45 | |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 1:04:02 |
| Sofia Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Godfather Part III, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation | ▶ 8:50 |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 1:02:26 |
| Wes Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs | ▶ 8:50 |
Actors Referenced (58)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Murray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 53 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey | Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom | ▶ 1:34 |
| Richard Dreyfuss | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 26 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey | Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Mr. Holland's Opus | ▶ 8:20 |
| Charlie Korsmo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Can't Hardly Wait | ▶ 53:30 |
| Kevin Hart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Ride Along, Central Intelligence | ▶ 59:09 |
| Sanaa Lathan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Love & Basketball | ▶ 1:18 |
| Frank Oz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | ▶ 18:31 | |
| Phil Hartman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Sean Fennessey | So I Married an Axe Murderer, Jingle All the Way | ▶ 9:12 |
| The Muppets | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | ▶ 55:22 | |
| Will Ferrell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory | ▶ 8:59 |
| Macaulay Culkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Home Alone, The Good Son | ▶ 54:06 |
| Sterling K. Brown | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan | Black Panther, American Fiction | ▶ 58:30 |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Van Lathan | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 12:22 |
Writers Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Sargent | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Spider-Man 2, Ordinary People | ▶ 49:12 |
| Charles Addams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Addams Family | ▶ 13:25 |
| Harold Ramis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes | ▶ 18:24 |
| James Toback | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Gambler | ▶ 1:03:02 |
| Kenneth Lonergan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Manchester by the Sea, You Can Count on Me | ▶ 18:24 |
| Neil Simon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:47 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:45 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Ackroyd | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, United 93 | ▶ 6:25 |
| Michael Ballhaus | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Goodfellas, Dracula | ▶ 36:11 |