The Rewatchables: ‘When Harry Met Sally’ With Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, and Amanda Dobbins

Published 2019-07-09; 1:36:34 by the feed.

Awards and segments (82)

Most rewatchable scene

  1. pick The museum scene at the Met, Temple of Dendur, the pecan pie, when Sally says she is going on a date
    “I choose the Temple of Dendor scene when he's up in the Met when he when she says she's going on the date, the pecan pie scene.”
    Juliet Litman · 0:35:43
  2. pick The first diner scene, from the chef's salad order through Sheldon and the days-of-the-week underpants
    “I choose the 1st diner scene going from the ordering the chef's salad all the way through Sheldon and the underpants.”
    Amanda Dobbins · 0:36:04
  3. pick The wagon wheel coffee table scene, Jess and Marie's apartment, six years later singing in front of Ira
    “I'm choosing the wagon wheel coffee table scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:36:24
  4. floated The four short 1977 scenes, the car rides and first dinner, with the grape spitting as the best of them
    “I thought the grape spitting is kind of the best of those only because we're learning who he is.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:21:12
  5. floated Harry and Sally on the plane in 1982: taking someone to the airport, the white man's overbite, and the 30 seconds to all night talk
    “Next one is Harry and Sally in the plane in 1982, which has 3 crucial moments that immediately infiltrated pop culture.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:22:02
  6. floated Carrie Fisher's first scene leading into Bruno Kirby's first scene at the ball game, counted as one long scene
    “I'm lumping those 2 together.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:25:17
  7. floated The museum scene with the pecan pie and the wear a skirt exchange
    “Fourth one, the museum scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:25:32
  8. floated The double date aftermath, with Jimmy Breslin, and the friend hopping into the cab
    “My next scene, most rewatchable, the double date in the aftermath.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:28:01
  9. floated Surrey with the Fringe on Top at Sharper Image
    “Sorry, with a fringe on top at Sharper Image.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:28:49
  10. floated The split-screen phone call, three phones in three locations
    “And then last rewatchable until unless you want to count the ending that they hooked up.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:33:37
  11. floated The deli fake orgasm scene (I'll have what she's having), missing from the list but called the most iconic moment
    “I notice, and I agree with you, but I think we should talk about the fact that I'll have what she's having is not in this list.”
    unknown · 0:34:37

Ebert Review · The reading of Roger Ebert's review of the film.

  1. pick When Harry Met Sally...: Ebert is read as praising Rob Reiner as one of his best comedy directors and the Crystal and Ryan chemistry; no star rating is given.
    “Roger Ebert, called Rob Ryan or Wood of Ho, his very best directors of comedy.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:17:21

What's Aged the Best · What about the movie holds up best 30 years later.

  1. pick Nora Ephron's script: The screenplay is named as the obvious one.
    “Well, the obvious ones are the script, which is just in terms of basic screenwriting and also Nora Efron is a voice in romance.”
    unknown · 0:36:46
  2. pick The tight runtime, no wasted minute
    “Like, there's not like a minute wasted in this movie.”
    unknown · 0:37:12
  3. pick There is no villain, all the tension comes from the two leads
    “I think that's another thing that's would sage the best for me is there's no villain in this movie.”
    unknown · 0:37:43
  4. pick The friends who get together concept
    “Just the friends who get together concept, which this started and is still in movies and in our lives all the time.”
    unknown · 0:38:09
  5. pick The Harry Connick Jr. soundtrack
    “This feels classic.”
    unknown · 0:39:17
  6. pick Sally's early 1989 loose-waved hairstyle, before the perm
    “The 1989 range, right before the perm, whatever that hair was before, was a really nice, nice look.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:39:59
  7. pick Sally's complicated food orders
    “Meg Ryan's ordering is really funny and is another one that really became influential over the next 30 years”
    unknown · 0:40:11
  8. pick Harry's Knicks joke
    “Harry's joke about winning the Knicks, their 1st championship since 1973 has aged wonderfully”
    unknown · 0:40:46
  9. pick We should have never slept together: The slept-with-a-friend regret moment and the ruined friendship.
    “I have the whole, the whole, we should have never slept together moment, which has happened, I think, to just about everybody”
    unknown · 0:41:13
  10. pick How frankly the movie talks about sex and sexual politics
    “But this is like very frank and direct and all of the lessons still apply and it's not gross and mostly not offensive.”
    unknown · 0:41:46
  11. pick The old movie references, Casablanca especially
    “I like all the old movie references.”
    unknown · 0:43:20
  12. pick Opening up the conversation about faking orgasms
    “I feel that this movie opened up the dialogue about faking orgasms in a way that's been productive to both sexes and to the sexual experience of all people.”
    unknown · 0:44:50
  13. pick The practical relationship advice, he's never going to leave her
    “And then I also feel like that he's never going to leave her, but also great relationship advice embedded in this movie.”
    unknown · 0:45:30
  14. pick The I spy a family scene, a real-life talk with room to breathe: Said as something forgotten when the category was open; praised as a scene with real meat that modern rom-coms rush past.
    “That scene when, um, the I spy a family.”
    unknown · 1:17:58

What's Aged the Worst · What about the movie feels dated or has not held up.

  1. pick The deli fake orgasm scene: Still iconic, but the shock is gone and it feels long.
    “I think only because the shock value of it is gone.”
    unknown · 0:47:33
  2. pick Sally's perm in the crying scene: Bill had flagged it earlier: his wife gasped out loud at it.
    “Meg Ryan's perm in the crying scene for what's age the worst.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:49:30
  3. pick Sally's very 1989 aerobics class
    “Sally has an aerobics class in this?”
    unknown · 0:49:38
  4. pick Two people falling in love with Casablanca: Nobody would do that anymore, a kid today would not know the film.
    “Two people falling in love with Casablanca.”
    unknown · 0:50:11
  5. pick Sharper Image prominently displayed
    “Sharper image being prominently displayed in a movie.”
    unknown · 0:50:42
  6. pick Jess's mean wedding toast
    “Jess's wedding speech was kind of mean.”
    unknown · 0:51:46
  7. pick Sally's I hate you, Harry speech: Called bad acting, though the writing is liked.
    “I think that's some bad acting.”
    unknown · 0:53:31
  8. pick Harry's hairline and college wig
    “I almost think his wigs are worse than any of her various hairstyles.”
    unknown · 0:53:57
  9. pick The fetishization of coupledom: A made-today version would center being single.
    “Fetishization of like... of coupledom.”
    unknown · 0:54:39
  10. pick Only heterosexual couples and no Black people
    “Yeah, there'd be a lot of angry thing pieces about how there were only heterosexual couples in the movie and...”
    unknown · 0:55:26

Best Movie-Related Fantasy Football Team Name · A one-off category for the best fantasy football team name drawn from the movie's quotable phrases.

  1. pick Sheldon the Wonder Schlong
    “I mean, it's Sheldon the Wonder song.”
    unknown · 0:46:27
  2. pick Don't Fuck with Mr. Zero
    “I was thinking it was don't fuck with Mr. Zero would be the funniest.”
    unknown · 0:46:32
  3. pick Sheldon the Wonder Schlong
    “I like the Sheldon one, though.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 0:46:36
  4. pick Miss Hospital Corners
    “I like Miss Hospital Corners, because I like that moment in that fight a lot.”
    unknown · 0:46:45

Favorite Old Married Couple · Which of the six interview couples the hosts like best.

  1. pick The couple who worked in the same building, nine extra floors
    “I like the couple that worked in the same building and then finally met in Chicago and he stayed on the elevator a few extra floors.”
    unknown · 0:55:46
  2. pick The older Asian couple with the white stripes in the hair
    “I also like the old Asian married couple just because I love the latest hair.”
    unknown · 0:56:04
  3. pick The couple who worked in the same building, nine extra floors
    “I think the person who jumped into my mind was the night extra floors as well.”
    Amanda Dobbins · 0:56:14

Casting What Ifs · Who else was considered or turned down the roles.

  1. pick Albert Brooks as Harry Burns: Turned the part down because the film felt too much like Woody Allen.
    “Albert Brooks turned down the role of Harry.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:56:24
  2. pick Susan Dey as Sally Albright: Rob Reiner's first choice for Sally, per the host.
    “Susan Day.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:56:58
  3. pick Molly Ringwald as Sally Albright: Considered but had a scheduling conflict; one host is glad she missed it.
    “They had Molly Ringwild and she had a scheduling conflict.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:57:10
  4. pick Meg Ryan as Shelby: She would have had her first leading role in Steel Magnolias but gave it up to be Sally.
    “Meg Ryan's 1st leading row would have been Shelby and Steel Magnolias.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:57:41

Hottest Take · The most provocative opinion floated during the episode.

  1. pick Molly Ringwald: Says she is a real negative in the John Hughes movies, so it is good she missed this one; Bill agrees to add it to hottest take.
    “I think that she is a real negative in the John Hughes movie, so I'm glad she's done in this.”
    unknown · 0:57:19

Dion Waiters Award · Best supporting player with a small role who makes a big impact.

  1. winner Carrie Fisher as Marie: Announced as the lone nominee and later called the perfect winner, in about five scenes.
    “There's only one. nominee. Carrie Fisher.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:57:58

Apex Mountain · Whether the movie was the high point of a person's career.

  1. pick Billy Crystal: Not the apex; City Slickers puts him at a higher level.
    “I don't think so, Billy Crystal.”
    unknown · 1:05:43
  2. pick Meg Ryan: Not the apex; she ruled the 90s, with a lower batting average than remembered.
    “Meg Ryan definitely not.”
    unknown · 1:05:50
  3. pick Rob Reiner: One host says yes, another says no because Misery and Castle Rock and Seinfeld come two years later.
    “I'm going to go no, and here's why.”
    unknown · 1:06:30

Joey Pants Award · Best that guy, the actor everyone knows but not by name.

  1. winner Bruno Kirby as Jess: Known as Billy Crystal's friend from this movie; also played young Clemenza.
    “I think it's Bruno Kirby, right?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:07:32

Saul Rubinek Award · Best overacting in the movie.

  1. nominee Meg Ryan as Sally Albright: Nominated for the crying scene after Joe's engagement; called over the top and floppy.
    “No, it's not that scene, but I am going to nominate Mega.”
    unknown · 1:08:17

Picking Nits · Nitpicks about a movie they love.

  1. pick Harry looks too old in college
    “Harry in college looks way too old.”
    unknown · 1:09:50
  2. pick Sally drops Harry off at an odd spot in the park in 1977: Came from his wife watching the night before.
    “This came from my wife last night watching.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:09:54
  3. pick New York to Chicago would not take 18 hours
    “It does not take 18 hours.”
    unknown · 1:10:31
  4. pick We never see Harry and Sally at work
    “Why didn't we see Harry and Sally ever working at a job and did it matter?”
    unknown · 1:10:42
  5. pick Why Harry broke up with Aunt Emily
    “Why would Harry ever break up with Aunt Emily?”
    unknown · 1:12:02
  6. pick Harry's panic after sleeping with Sally
    “Why was Harry that freaked out after sex with Sally?”
    unknown · 1:12:28
  7. pick Marie and Jess with two phone lines by the bed
    “Why did Marie and Jess have 2 phones, one on each side of their bed with 2 different phone lines?”
    unknown · 1:13:25
  8. pick No best man speech from Harry
    “How did we not get Harry's best man speech?”
    unknown · 1:14:27
  9. pick Why Marie and Jess did not meet Harry and Sally sooner
    “Why didn't Marie and Jess get to meet Harry and Sally sooner?”
    unknown · 1:15:25
  10. pick Picky Sally uses the hot food bar tomato tongs
    “Also, yeah, someone as picky as Sally would absolutely never do that.”
    unknown · 1:15:50
  11. pick The dating timelines, I love you after a month
    “The dating timelines in this movie are just absolutely unacceptable.”
    unknown · 1:16:20

Best Quote · The standout lines of dialogue.

  1. pick Well, that symptom is fucking my wife
    “Well, that symptom is fucking my wife.”
    unknown · 1:20:57
  2. pick Thin, pretty big tits, your basic nightmare
    “Thin, pretty big tits, your basic nightmare is just such a good Carrie Fisher lad.”
    unknown · 1:21:07
  3. pick Baby fishmouth is sweeping the nation
    “Oh, but baby fishmath is sweeping the nation.”
    unknown · 1:21:12
  4. pick Harry's New Year's Eve speech, I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out
    “And then his whole speech at the end.”
    unknown · 1:21:21
  5. pick Restaurants are for people in the 80s, what theater was in the 60s, and pesto as the quiche of the 80s
    “It's just so good.”
    unknown · 1:18:29
  6. pick It's too bad because you were the only person I knew in New York
    “Um, I also really like, it's too bad because you were the only person I knew in New York.”
    unknown · 1:22:41

What If It Were Made Today · How the movie would be remade now.

  1. pick A 10-episode Netflix remake: Would not work set in 2019 because everyone would be texting; a period piece or a stuck-together premise might.
    “I feel like if Netflix dropped it and it was called when Harry Met Silent is a 10 episode show, we would all at least watch the 1st episode.”
    unknown · 1:23:20

Unanswerable questions · Open questions about the movie.

  1. pick Is the movie better if they never get together at the end?: The hosts agree the happy ending is better and gives weight to the old couple interviews.
    “My 1st one we talked about a little bit, is this movie better if they never get together at the end?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:23:55
  2. pick How far did Harry have to run at the end?: A host's research puts it at about half a mile, a six-minute run.
    “How far did Harry have to run at the end?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:24:35
  3. pick Does Seinfeld happen without this movie?: Relays Mark Harris's Grantland argument that the film's success led to more Seinfeld episodes being ordered.
    “Does Seinfeld happen without this movie?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:25:17

Who Won the Movie · Who came out of the movie the biggest winner.

  1. winner Billy Crystal as Harry Burns: For the final speech and the stand-up touches that make it more than a normal rom-com.
    “I am going Billy Crystal because he gets to give the final speech and it's just like such an incredible rom-com moment.”
    unknown · 1:26:59
  2. winner Nora Ephron: For establishing her as a force before Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail.
    “I mean, I'm obviously going with more.”
    Amanda Dobbins · 1:27:41
  3. winner Nora Ephron: For creating the structure that dominated rom-coms for 30 years.
    “I'm going to say her.”
    unknown · 1:28:24
  4. nominee The chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan
    “I just think the combo...”
    unknown · 1:29:32

Sequel, Prequel or TV Show · The sequel they would or would not want to see.

  1. pick A sequel where Harry and Sally are the old couple and the interstitials are about their grandkids
    “I would like for them to be the old couple, but like all the interstitials and it's about like their grandkids or something like that.”
    unknown · 1:30:53
  2. pick Their 35th wedding anniversary with their grown kids
    “I think it would be a 35th wedding anniversary for them.”
    unknown · 1:31:16
  3. pick Natalie Portman as Sally character in a remake
    “For some reason, I just feel like if we're doing a remake of this movie, Natalie Portman should play the Sally character.”
    unknown · 1:31:56

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