‘Working Girl’ With Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, and Joanna Robinson
June 10, 2025 · Working Girl (1988) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 2:17:20 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Amanda DobbinsHarrison Ford is the hottest he's ever been in Working Girl - hotter than Han Solo or Indiana Jones▶ 30:49
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening credits with Carly Simon song and Statue of Liberty showing New York, and Bob from Arbitrage in the limo with Tess▶ 51:21
What's Aged the Best
Amanda DobbinsThe dialogue including Sigourney's line 'I really don't think that's a variable' and the costuming throughout the film, particularly how Tess looks great compared to other women in business suits▶ 53:47
Bill SimmonsMike Nichols' perceptive direction, the typing scene with 'sleazoid pimp' insult, Sigourney's office scenes showing her pompous boss character, and Harrison Ford's romantic scenes including the bar meeting and post-coitus bed talk▶ 52:43
Joanna RobinsonHarrison Ford and the line 'I have a head for business and a bod for sin' as an all-timer▶ 54:01
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Amanda DobbinsDoreen DiMucci's fake crying when caught in the bedroom - her acting is not believable▶ 1:20:17
Bill SimmonsThe absurd premise that Tess is able to pull off a merger while pretending to be her boss - rates it 9.6 out of 10 on the 'no fucking way' scale▶ 1:21:18
Casting What-Ifs
Amanda DobbinsMelanie Griffith — Horrified by the idea of Demi Moore replacing Melanie Griffith, says it's hard to imagine anyone but Melanie Griffith in the role▶ 1:30:18
Bill SimmonsDemi Moore — Discusses multiple alternate casting possibilities including Demi Moore (which he thinks could have worked due to her 80s baggage), mentions Molly Ringwald was too young, and notes other candidates like Michelle Pfeiffer, Madonna, Shelley Long, and Lorraine Bracco. Also suggests young Marissa Tomei or Mira Sorvino for the Dorian role▶ 1:29:54
Joanna RobinsonWhoopi Goldberg — Adds additional casting what-ifs from research including Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn (too old), Meg Ryan, and Cher. Generally contributes factual information about alternate casting rather than strong opinions▶ 1:32:54
Apex Mountain
Amanda DobbinsMelanie Griffith — Yes for Melanie Griffith, argues Devil Wears Prada is apex for female workplace movies, yes for Staten Island Ferry, maybe for shoulder pads and 80s fashion elements▶ 1:37:56
Bill SimmonsMelanie Griffith — Yes for Melanie Griffith, maybe for Sigourney Weaver (though thinks Aliens might be her peak), no for Harrison Ford, no for Mike Nichols (The Graduate is his peak), no for Carly Simon (You're So Vain was bigger), yes for Staten Island Ferry▶ 1:37:55
Joanna RobinsonSigourney Weaver — Agrees Sigourney Weaver's peak is somewhere in the Aliens to Working Girl range, suggests maybe for 80s hair in movies as a non-extreme version▶ 1:38:35
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsWilford Brimley — Wilford Brimley (from The Firm) - showing the photos to Catherine about her fiancée▶ 1:52:17
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Amanda DobbinsDisagreed with dumpling criticism and Tess villain theory - argued Tess didn't steal the job but got a different one, and defended her actions against her boss's deception▶ 2:01:41
Bill SimmonsThree questions: 1) Dim sum dumplings at an office party (impractical), 2) Does Harrison Ford ever actually have sex in movies? (only in Presumed Innocent), 3) Are we sure Tess isn't the villain of this movie? (she steals her boss's boyfriend and job)▶ 1:56:06
Joanna RobinsonMixed positions - agreed dumplings could work if not piping hot, acknowledged the Tess villain question is legitimately unanswerable while defending Tess's actions due to her boss's lies and patronizing behavior▶ 2:01:52
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsYou don't get anywhere in this world by waiting for what you want to come to. You make it happen. Even if you have to steal identity in somebody's van. Check the milligrams for Valium.▶ 2:05:13
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsMelanie Griffith — Melanie Griffith - quotes Roger Ebert saying 'this is Melanie Griffith's movie in the same way The Graduate belonged to Dustin Hoffman'▶ 2:07:04
Movies Referenced (56)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 4:30 |
| Aliens (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 4:14 |
| Rain Man (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 45:05 |
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:40 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 5:07 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 27:09 |
| Cinderella (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 3:05 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 4:35 |
| Anyone But You (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:08:07 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:39 |
| Identity (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:03:39 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:21 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Nichols | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 26 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Joanna Robinson | The Graduate | ▶ 18:35 |
| Celine Song | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | Past Lives | ▶ 44:06 |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 22:07 |
| AFI | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 42:49 | |
| Barry Levinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Joanna Robinson | Rain Man, Wag the Dog | ▶ 45:53 |
| Bridget Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 2:10:16 |
Actors Referenced (96)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 53 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 2:00 |
| Sigourney Weaver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 48 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | Avatar, Alien | ▶ 2:00 |
| Melanie Griffith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 37 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | Working Girl, Body Double, The Bonfire of the Vanities | ▶ 2:00 |
| Alec Baldwin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | The Departed, It's Complicated, Glengarry Glen Ross | ▶ 10:57 |
| Carly Simon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | All Good Things | ▶ 40:52 |
| Joan Cusack | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | Working Girl | ▶ 14:43 |
| Kevin Spacey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons | L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty | ▶ 10:35 |
| River Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast | ▶ 49:41 |
| Sandra Bullock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, Speed | ▶ 1:13:10 |
| Don Johnson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Django Unchained | ▶ 17:36 |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Joanna Robinson | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 36:19 |
| Brittany Staten | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:40 |
Writers Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nora Ephron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally... | ▶ 39:49 |
| Elaine May | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Joanna Robinson, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 38:35 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 50:11 | |
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 1:04:27 |
| Bruce Springsteen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Wrestler, Philadelphia | ▶ 43:58 |
| Kevin Wade | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Working Girl | ▶ 43:19 |
| Lorne Michaels | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 41:42 | |
| Robert Easton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Joanna Robinson | Working Girl | ▶ 1:35:43 |
| Virginia Woolf | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 38:46 |