The Rewatchables: ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin

Published 2024-05-28; 1:47:04 by the feed.

Awards and segments (95)

Double feature

  1. pick Valley Girl: Stays in the same early-80s teen-movie lane as Fast Times.
    “I had either Valley Girl or Last American Virgin.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:39:36
  2. pick Last American Virgin: Same year and same recipe of teen sex comedy with a heartbreak and well-placed music.
    “I had either Valley Girl or Last American Virgin.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:39:36
  3. pick American Graffiti: Heckerling acknowledged it as a huge touchstone for Fast Times.
    “American graffiti, just because it's, she, heck really acknowledged that that was a huge touchstone for her.”
    unknown · 1:39:43
  4. pick Dazed and Confused: Pairs it for the high school stoner tie, and says not Clueless.
    “Yeah, I would either do American graffiti or like dazed and confused for the high school stoner tie.”
    unknown · 1:39:48

Most rewatchable scene

  1. pick The opening credits at the mall, with We Got the Beat
    “The intro is unbelievable.”
    unknown · 0:39:50
  2. pick First day of Mr. Hand's class, Spicoli arriving late
    “First day, Mr. Hands class is the next rewatch.”
    unknown · 0:40:59
  3. pick Linda teaches Stacy on a carrot in the cafeteria
    “Yeah, really. The blowjob carrot scene I wrote down.”
    unknown · 0:41:54
  4. pick Brad's mirror monologue and breakup with Lisa
    “Brad breaking up with Lisa with the mayor that says big hairy pussy on it.”
    unknown · 0:43:19
  5. pick Brad arguing with a customer about a refund, then getting fired
    “Iconic. Arguing with a customer about a refunding. I fired.”
    unknown · 0:43:23
  6. pick Damone's five-point plan at the record store
    “Damone's five-point plan.”
    unknown · 0:45:59
  7. pick Spicoli crashes Jefferson's car, cut to Jefferson's football game
    “Um, Spicoli crashes Jefferson's car right into the football scene.”
    unknown · 0:48:01
  8. pick The pool scene: Rat and Damone at Stacy's house, Brad, and Phoebe Cates
    “The pool scene.”
    unknown · 0:48:58
  9. pick Brad shows up for Stacy on abortion day
    “This is a weird thing to write my rewatchables notes, but the abortion day scene is really good.”
    unknown · 0:50:58
  10. pick Mr. Hand shows up at Spicoli's house to square the account
    “Mr. Hand shows up at Spicoli's house.”
    unknown · 0:52:01
  11. pick The closing-credits montage of what happened to everybody
    “But the closing montage is fantastic.”
    unknown · 0:53:26
  12. pick Damone and Stacy in the changing room: Didn't you feel it?
    “You can't have the movie without that moment.”
    unknown · 0:53:58
  13. pick Rat's date with Stacy: sitting in the big chairs, ordering two more Cokes
    “The only one I have that you didn't have is rats date with Stacy.”
    unknown · 0:54:16

Roger Ebert review · The hosts read Roger Ebert's review of the film.

  1. pick Fast Times at Ridgemont High: One star; Ebert says the film wastes Jennifer Jason Lee in a scuzz pit of offensive vulgarity. The hosts are baffled and point out he walked it back later.
    “Roger, but one star.”
    unknown · 0:36:30

What's aged the best · What about the movie holds up best.

  1. pick the soundtrack, the genre, girls as horny as the guys, the mall, the cast, Spicoli
    “We had a lot of them, the soundtrack, the genre, the girls being just as horny as the guys, the mall, as the setting, the cast, Spicoli.”
    unknown · 0:55:44
  2. pick the handwritten notebooks, Damone's abortion note and Stacy's pro and con list
    “Oh, the notebook, getting glimpses of like kids who have notebooks that they're writing in by hand.”
    unknown · 0:55:50
  3. pick Damone's bedroom and its posters: Calls it maybe the most realistic teenager's room he has ever seen.
    “And it's like, Demones' room, maybe the most realistic teenager room I've ever seen.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:56:51
  4. pick Mike Damone as Hall of Fame sleaze
    “Mike Damone, I had, for what stage, the best, just the Hall of Fame sleaze.”
    unknown · 0:57:10
  5. pick the cast sniffing the Xerox copies
    “But then the last one I had for would say the best is they all sniff the Xerox copies.”
    unknown · 0:59:23

Great shot, Gordo · The best shot or visual moment in the film.

  1. pick Brad's monologue into the mirror with the graffiti on it
    “Oh, man. Judge Reinhold doing a monologue into a mirror with a graffiti that says big hairy pussy.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:55:12
  2. nominee Stacy's-eye shot of the stereo guy, Ron Johnson, arching his neck: Attribution inferred from the Stacy's-perspective framing and the nominee reference.
    “and I think also the, um, from Stacy's perspective, shot of stereo guy Ron Johnson, like, like, like, transforming into a basket, because he arches his neck and head at the point is genuinely, genuinely wonderful.”
    Mallory Rubin · 0:59:58

Best music moment · The best needle drop or music moment.

  1. pick American Girl, as Spicoli pulls into the parking lot
    “American Girl. I got American really strong.”
    unknown · 1:00:21

Big Kahuna Burger award · Best use of food and drink in the film.

  1. pick the pizza delivery to the classroom
    “Big Kahuna Burger, where, best use of food and drink, the pizza delivery. Because we get to see the pizza.”
    unknown · 1:00:28

Butch's Girlfriend Award · The weak link of the movie.

  1. pick not enough sports in the movie: She has no weak link, but wants more football and sports in the high school picture.
    “I love the spirit bunnies mention, but there's not been enough sports in the movie to have that sports presence.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:01:19
  2. pick Mike Damone as the premature ejaculator: Attribution inferred: the pick leads straight into Bill's own premature-ejaculator Mount Rushmore.
    “My weak link, um, to pump Mike Damone.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:02:14

Premature ejaculator Mount Rushmore · A Mount Rushmore of movie characters who finish far too fast, off Damone's scene.

  1. pick Forrest Gump: Ranked number one, the MJ of the group.
    “Forrest Gump, obviously, which we broke down in detail.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:02:36
  2. pick Mike Damone
    “Mike, Mike Damone.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:02:40
  3. pick Jim Carver as The Ice Storm key party
    “Jim Carver and Ice Storm and the key party.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:02:42
  4. pick Jim Levinston as American Pie
    “And then Jim Levinston.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:02:49

What's aged the worst · What about the movie has aged badly.

  1. pick going back to high school undercover as an adult
    “What's age the worst?”
    unknown · 1:05:31
  2. pick a 19-year-old nude multiple times in a major movie
    “You could probably say the idea of having a 19 year old be nude multiple times in a major Hollywood movie probably wouldn't have it.”
    unknown · 1:05:54
  3. pick the 1982 abortion, $75 and a ride: The hosts add the movie takes abortion at face value, more directly than later films.
    “1982 abortion, $75 and a ride.”
    unknown · 1:06:16
  4. pick Linda as her blowjob advice: Says the counsel Linda gives Stacy is lacking, using the skinny carrot lesson as the example.
    “We would be derelict in our duty if we made it through this podcast without saying out loud that Linda's blowjob advice is lacking.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:07:55
  5. pick ticket scalpers, wiped out by the internet
    “Scalpers anymore.”
    unknown · 1:10:05
  6. pick teenage girls named Linda
    “Teenage girls named Linda?”
    unknown · 1:10:39
  7. pick band circle pins on Damone's jacket: Offered as an I'm-older-than-you item: a 1982 and 1983 fad that came and went.
    “This was a big thing specifically in 1982 and 1983.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:11:38
  8. pick the 1986 television series titled Fast Times
    “There was a 1986 television series titled Fast Times.”
    unknown · 1:12:07

Vincent Hanna / Saul Rubinek overacting board · The most over-the-top performance in the film.

  1. winner Kelly Maroney as the cheerleader
    “I got Kelly Maroney, who's the cheerleader, who's like, we're gonna kill Nick. We're gonna kill Lincoln next week.”
    unknown · 1:13:35
  2. nominee James Russo: Named as the runner-up.
    “But the runner up would be James Russo.”
    unknown · 1:13:52
  3. nominee Mark Ratner as getting mad at Damone in the locker room
    “I had Mark Ratner getting mad at the moon in the locker room.”
    unknown · 1:13:57

Most memorable quote · The most memorable line of the movie.

  1. pick Relax your throat muscles. It's no huge thing. It's just sex.
    “Relax your throat muscles.”
    unknown · 1:14:18
  2. pick Spicoli: if we don't get some cool rules ourselves pronto, we'll be bogus too
    “I had what Jefferson was saying is, hey, you know, we left this England place because it was bogus.”
    unknown · 1:14:24
  3. pick Spicoli: all I need are some tasty waves of cool buzz, and I'm fine
    “All I need are some tasty waves of cool buzz, and I'm fine.”
    unknown · 1:14:37

Hottest take · The spiciest opinion about the movie.

  1. pick Mr. Hand as a pretty good teacher; more Mr. Hands, less Montessori
    “And I think that maybe we got away from what worked in American education and we should have more Mr. Hands.”
    unknown · 1:15:02
  2. winner Jeff Spicoli as a genius and a scholar: She expects to win the category; Craig is floated as the judge for future episodes.
    “like a foil take to yours, which is just that I think Spicoli is a genius and a scholar.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:15:19
  3. pick Ron Johnson as the stereo salesman, a predator who deserves jail
    “Ron Johnson?”
    unknown · 1:16:43

Casting what-ifs · Almost-castings and a different director.

  1. pick David Lynch as the director Universal recommended: A much darker version of the movie.
    “You mentioned the David Lynch thing.”
    unknown · 1:17:39
  2. pick Justine Bateman as Linda Barrett: Offered the part and turned it down because of Family Ties.
    “Justine Bateman was offered Linda Barrett and turned it down because she had family ties.”
    unknown · 1:17:57
  3. pick Nick Cage as Brad Hamilton: Auditioned and was judged too young.
    “Um, Nick Cage was supposed to be Brad Hamilton.”
    unknown · 1:18:25
  4. pick Matthew Broderick: They liked him but could not figure out a part; the Spicoli story is probably not true.
    “So there's a Matthew Broderick piece of this.”
    unknown · 1:18:33
  5. pick Jodie Foster as Stacy: Offered it, and decided to stay at college.
    “The big one for me was Jody Foster as Stacy.”
    unknown · 1:19:01
  6. pick Fred Gwynne as Mr. Hand: Turned it down because he thought the movie was too nasty.
    “And then they offered Fred Gwyn the role of Mr. Hand, but he thought the movie was too nasty.”
    unknown · 1:19:28
  7. pick Brad's girlfriend, Lisa: Never understood the actress's appeal in 80s movies; wants a real quarterback instead.
    “I don't love Brad's girlfriend and she's been in a bunch of movies from the 80s and I never got it.”
    unknown · 1:20:19

Best that guy · The best that-guy actor in the movie.

  1. winner Vincent Schiavelli as Mr. Vargas
    “Vincent Skate Valley, okay.”
    unknown · 1:19:48
  2. nominee Taylor Negron as the pizza guy
    “Would you go with Taylor, Taylor, the pizza guy or Vincent Skiavelli?”
    unknown · 1:19:42

Dion Waiters Award · A small role with a big impact.

  1. nominee Forest Whitaker as Jefferson
    “I got Whitaker...”
    unknown · 1:19:57
  2. nominee James Russo
    “Russo or Stoltz.”
    unknown · 1:20:00
  3. nominee Eric Stoltz
    “I have Stoltz.”
    unknown · 1:20:02
  4. winner Jefferson
    “I vote for Jefferson.”
    unknown · 1:20:06

Apex Mountain · Where a star's career or a genre sits on the mountain.

  1. pick Sean Penn as young Sean Penn, Taps to Bad Boys: The hosts decide this is bigger than Bad Boys.
    “I'm not giving Sean Penn, but what about young Sean Penn?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:25:35
  2. pick Phoebe Cates
    “Phoebe Cates.”
    unknown · 1:25:55
  3. pick Jennifer Jason Lee: A hard one; guesses Single White Female, Rush and Backdraft, with the early 90s as her moment.
    “Early 90s, I felt like, was her moment.”
    unknown · 1:26:27
  4. pick Mall Rats: Apex mall movie, with Boogie Nights floated for Valley movies.
    “It's this mall rats.”
    unknown · 1:26:49
  5. pick Dazed and Confused: Apex of high school movies; Fast Times is the most influential, the Dr. J to Dazed's Jordan, with Breakfast Club also argued for.
    “I mean, I think days is still my apex bound for high school movies.”
    unknown · 1:46:31

Cruise or Hanks · Which role is a Tom Cruise part and which is a Tom Hanks part.

  1. pick Tom Hanks as Brad Hamilton: Cruise as Ratner floated as more interesting.
    “Yeah, it's Hank's.”
    unknown · 1:28:09

Racehorse, rock band, wrestler, fantasy team name · A name from the movie that would make a racehorse, rock band, wrestler or fantasy team.

  1. pick All American Burgers
    “All American burgers.”
    unknown · 1:28:19
  2. pick Ron Johnson, Audio Consultant
    “I got Ron Johnson audio consultant as my racehorse.”
    unknown · 1:28:20

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a film they love.

  1. pick Why Rat did not go for it with Stacy after the first date
    “Why didn't Rat go for it with Stacy after the 1st date?”
    unknown · 1:28:34
  2. pick Linda and Stacy as the age gap and why Linda has no friends her age
    “What was the age difference between Linda and Stacy and would Linda actually hang out with Stacy?”
    unknown · 1:29:18
  3. pick Mike Damone as operating on credit with no cash backstop: Attribution inferred: Bill asks Mallory and the answer follows.
    “Uh, I just think Damone's got to have more of a cash backstop.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:30:06
  4. pick Rat as forgives Damone far too quickly
    “Just rat forgiving him way too quickly.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:30:36
  5. pick Stacy as too calm about being pregnant at 15
    “I, this is a little, one is a little bit more serious, but I do think Stacy seems quite... Quite calm about being pregnant at 15.”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:30:43
  6. pick Would employee of the month Brad be fired for how he treated the customer
    “Would employee of the month, Brad Hamilton be fired for that interaction with the customer?”
    unknown · 1:31:15
  7. pick The Led Zeppelin song is on Physical Graffiti, not IV
    “There's some some picking nets with the Led Zeppelin song because it's not on Led Zeppelin 4.”
    unknown · 1:31:53
  8. winner The football season stretches past Christmas in a Southern California summer-weather timeline: Attribution inferred: he calls it his biggest one and says the others missed it. Tied to the bit that football season ends in early November and the pool day is 100 degrees after Christmas.
    “Here's my biggest one.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:32:18
  9. pick Why does Linda have enough carrots
    “Why does Linda have enough carrots? I feel like we would have had it 5 years ago when we were all at our peaks.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:32:25

Sequel, prequel, prestige TV · The sequel, prequel or TV show they would make.

  1. pick Friday Night Lights at Ridgemont with these characters
    “Well, you should, the sequel prequel answer should be like Friday night lights, but at Ridgemont with these characters.”
    unknown · 1:01:59
  2. pick Spicoli goes to college, the follow-up Universal wanted and Sean Penn refused
    “Universal wanted us, Spicoli goes to college follow-up immediately, and Sean Penn said no.”
    unknown · 1:34:53

Is this movie better with… · Whether an iconic bad guy or character actor dropping in would improve the movie.

  1. pick Wayne Jenkins working at All American Burger: Does a Wayne Jenkins impression berating Brad. Attribution inferred from the impression and that he asks everyone to dial it up.
    “I thought Wayne Jenkins, if he had been working at All American Burger.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:35:40

Who won the movie · Who came out on top in the movie.

  1. winner Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli: A host asks about Jennifer Jason Lee and is waved off.
    “Pen.”
    unknown · 1:36:10
  2. pick the women who talk about sex while the men only imagine it: Craig loves how the movie shows the women as more mature than the posturing men; he warmed to Sean Penn.
    “What I loved about this movie was how they depicted like men and women.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:43:03

Unanswerable questions · Open questions about the movie that cannot be settled.

  1. pick Doug, Linda's boyfriend: did he exist: The hosts agree no; the boyfriend from Kansas is fake and Doug keeps boys at bay.
    “Did Doug exist?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:36:18
  2. pick Do kids still sneak out of the house after bedtime, or did Find My iPhone kill it: Attribution inferred: the question was for the parents on the pod.
    “Do kids still sneak out of the house after bedtime or is like find my iPhone killed that?”
    Mallory Rubin · 1:37:36
  3. pick Jefferson's final stat line against Lincoln, and where he went to college
    “My only other possibly, probably an answerable question was what was Jefferson's final stat line against Lincoln?”
    unknown · 1:38:42
  4. pick The line on the big game was 14 points but the odds are 5 to one; the movie's gambling is weak
    “They say the line was 14 points.”
    unknown · 1:39:06

Memorabilia · A prop or piece of merchandise from the movie they would want.

  1. pick The Kill Lincoln t-shirt and merch
    “I really like the kill Lincoln t-shirt.”
    unknown · 1:40:16
  2. pick Spicoli's checkerboard Vans
    “Um, I would want, I think Spicoli's checkerboard.”
    unknown · 1:40:24
  3. pick Jefferson's varsity jacket with the 33 on it: He loves the number 33.
    “I would have Jefferson's varsity jacket with the 33 on it, obviously, because I love the number 33.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:40:47

Coach Finstock Award for best life lesson · The best life lesson from the movie.

  1. pick Lock your door
    “Lock your door.”
    unknown · 1:41:10
  2. pick Spicoli: we make our own rules
    “Oh, I would, I was just going to reiterate Spicoli's point about Jefferson, that we mediate our own rules, dude.”
    unknown · 1:41:28
  3. pick How to cheat on exams: Attribution inferred from the host teasing Bill for revealing his methods. He says it was college, not high school.
    “My best life lesson, which I actually took from this movie, was had to cheat during the exams.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:41:35

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