What About Bob? (1991)

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Wikidata Q998377, film, IMDb tt0103241, TMDB 10276: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by episode credits Bill Murray as actor, Bob (An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens); 1 more episode agrees.

What a model would be handed about it, for corpus:ask.

In the store as #524, What About Bob? (1991).

The Rewatchables' awards

From ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan (2021-05-04):

Most rewatchable scene

  1. floated The opening credits, which establish how nuts Bob is right away
    “Um, I really like the opening credits.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:27:19
  2. pick The first therapy session with Murray and Dreyfuss (what if my heart stops beating)
    “I have the 1st therapy scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:27:29
  3. pick Bob waiting at the diner for the doctor to call, and the Gutmans who own the diner
    “Next rewatchable scene when he's, when Bob's waiting for the doctor to call in the diner, the guy uses the phone.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:29:05
  4. pick Bob sailing with the family
    “To me, this is when, right here is when the movie takes off.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:31:59
  5. pick Dr. Marvin breaking out the puppets to talk to his daughter
    “I also love when Dreyfus is talking where they're after and he breaks out the fucking puppets and it's like, oh, you're a lunatic.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:31:13
  6. pick Bob teaches Siggy how to dive and Siggy pushes Murray into the lake
    “Now, the next rewatchable scene, he teaches Siggy how to dive.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:32:01
  7. pick Bob at dinner (the hand shucked corn)
    “Um, Bob at dinner.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:32:13
  8. pick Bob saves Travis from choking and they all gravitate to him
    “And then when he saves them, they all gravitate to Bob.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:32:56
  9. pick The GMA interview crash and the diner people celebrating
    “Bob crashed in the GMA interview, the GMA interview, the whole thing, the diner people celebrating.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:33:09
  10. pick Dreyfuss kicking Bob out (he's never gone)
    “Um, the Dreyfus kicking him out.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:33:15
  11. pick Leo tries to blow up Bob and Bob's house pulls up
    “And then, uh, Leo tries to blow up Bob, but Bob's house pulls up.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:33:21
  12. pick The chicken (dinner) scene
    “The chicken scene is my favorite scene.”
    unknown · 0:33:27
  13. pick Bob gets off the bus and finds Leo by screaming his name in the middle of town
    “I do love it also, when he gets off the bus and his idea of tracking down Leo is just to stand in the middle of town and scream, Dr. Leo Marvin, and it works.”
    unknown · 0:33:28
  14. pick The Bob and Siggy diving scene, and every Bob and Siggy scene including the bed conversation
    “I really, I like that scene a lot more watching it the 2nd time around, but I feel like every scene between Bob and Siggy is really good”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:34:47
  15. pick Siggy in bed with Bob, shot like a horror scene
    “But my favorite scene is scaring the shit out of me.”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:34:59
  16. pick Dreyfuss blowing his top: he's never gone, then opening the door
    “My favorite scene is definitely Dreyfuss just blowing his top and doing the he's not gone.”
    unknown · 0:35:23
  17. pick The dinner, Bob being annoying
    “I have the dinner.”
    unknown · 0:35:32

Roger Ebert review · Bill reads what Roger Ebert (and Gene Siskel) thought of the film.

  1. pick What About Bob?: Ebert gave it 3 stars and called it Murray's best since Ghostbusters; Siskel thought Dreyfuss was too angry. The hosts disagree with Siskel.
    “Roger Ebert, 3 stars. Said it was Bill Murray's best movie since Ghostbusters in 1984.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:25:48

What ages the best · The parts of the movie that hold up best.

  1. pick Dreyfuss getting the call that Bob allegedly killed himself and saying let's not let it spoil our vacation
    “It fucking kills me when Dreyfus gets the call that Bob allegedly killed himself.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:36:02
  2. pick The characters saying the title (What about Bob?) in the movie
    “Uh, you know I love when they say the title in the movie.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:36:39
  3. pick Dr. Marvin's 80s station wagon
    “Dr. Marvin's Wagoner. So great to see those 80s wagoners.”
    unknown · 0:37:15
  4. pick Julie Hagerty as Lila Marvin: Comic genius, one of the most consistent comedy presences; wishes she had more to do.
    “I mean, comic genius, like the mom of our lives from airplane to Lost in America to this movie, she is like one of the most consistent comedy presences”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:37:48
  5. pick Dreyfuss's summer vacation outfits
    “I have Dreyfuss's clothes in what stage the best.”
    unknown · 0:39:06
  6. pick Bob's Don't Hassle Me, I'm Local t-shirt
    “I have the don't has to me on local t-shirt as as a wood stage the best.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:39:30
  7. pick Dr. Marvin's family conference with the puppets: Shows he is no less a maniac than Bob.
    “And then I love family conference.”
    unknown · 0:39:37
  8. pick The era of high-concept star comedies, 25 of them between 1987 and 1994
    “I just, I do miss a period of mainstream American comedies with movie stars that is like a little high concept, but not too high concept”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:43:23

Casting what ifs / Recasting couch · Who was almost cast, and who the hosts would recast today.

  1. pick Woody Allen as Dr. Leo Marvin: Approached to play Marvin and considered to direct; said no. The hosts say it would not work.
    “Woody Allen was approached to play Dr. Leo Marvin, was also considered to direct, which is bizarre, and possibly co-write the script.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:47:34
  2. pick Patrick Stewart as Dr. Leo Marvin
    “They also approach Patrick Stewart.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:48:13
  3. pick Robin Williams as Bob Wiley: First choice for Bob, before Murray.
    “And then Robin Williams was the 1st choice for Bob.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:48:19
  4. pick Tiffani Amber Thiessen as Anna Marvin: Recast the daughter with a real high schooler instead of a 26 year old.
    “If we wanted to intentionally go high school age for the daughter and not have a 26 year old.”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:54:34
  5. pick Sterling K. Brown as Dr. Leo Marvin: All-black cast recast.
    “Richard Dreyfuss character, Sterling K. Brown.”
    Van Lathan · 0:55:38
  6. pick Sanaa Lathan as Lila Marvin
    “Um, his wife is played by Sana Lathin.”
    Van Lathan · 0:55:54
  7. nominee Kevin Hart as Bob Wiley: The obvious choice for Bob, but one host says he can only play himself.
    “Well, can we just can we just say my fear would be Kevin Hart here?”
    unknown · 0:56:21
  8. winner J.B. Smoove as Bob Wiley: A Bob-like figure in Larry's life; he would charm the whole family.
    “My other bob is JB Smooth.”
    Van Lathan · 0:57:00
  9. nominee Keenan Thompson as Dr. Leo Marvin
    “I was thinking to him as Dr. Marvin.”
    unknown · 0:57:36
  10. nominee Tracy Morgan as Bob Wiley: Others agree Tracy Morgan as Bob might be even better.
    “I think there's a there's a Tracy Morgan possibility here.”
    unknown · 0:57:53

Best That Guy (Joey Pants Award) · The best that-guy actor in the movie.

  1. nominee The telephone operator
    “I guess the telephone operator is the other one I was looking at.”
    unknown · 0:49:25
  2. nominee Aida Turturro as Tony Soprano's sister, in one scene
    “Uh, maybe they're not that guys, but uh, Tony Soprano's sister is in one scene.”
    unknown · 0:49:30
  3. winner The actor from The Wire who played Carcetti's aide (and Querns on Oz), in one scene
    “Yeah, he wins.”
    unknown · 0:49:54
  4. nominee Tom Aldredge as Mr. Gutman: Also Mrs. Soprano's father on The Sopranos.
    “Tom Aldridge is Mr. Gutman.”
    unknown · 0:50:15
  5. nominee Charlie Korsmo as Siggy Marvin
    “The other one is, the other one is, um, is Charlie Corzmo?”
    unknown · 0:50:38

Vincent Hanna Award · Who dialed it up and maybe overacted.

  1. winner Richard Dreyfuss as Dr. Leo Marvin
    “It's got to be Dreyfus. I mean, as much as I love Dreyfus.”
    unknown · 0:51:46

Jed Nelson Award · The person who seems to be in a completely different movie.

  1. nominee Dr. Marvin's sister as Fran Brill: Not really a winner: an unexplored character who just shows up and marries Bob.
    “Although, the sister... is just an unexplored character, the Dreyfus, she just kind of shows up.”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:52:01

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

  1. winner Fran Brill as Dr. Marvin's sister: A puppeteer and friend of Frank Oz.
    “Dion Waiters is just a layup.”
    unknown · 0:53:50
  2. winner The Gutmans, the diner owners: Co-winners.
    “The diner owners. We have co-winners.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:53:56

Apex Mountain · Whether this movie is the peak of someone's career.

  1. pick Bill Murray: Not his apex.
    “Bill Murray, no.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:46
  2. pick Richard Dreyfuss: Not his apex.
    “Dreyfus, no.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:48
  3. pick Charlie Korsmo: Yes as an actor, though his post-acting career may top it.
    “Charlie Korsma, I'm going to say, I'm going to say yes as an actor.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:50
  4. pick Julie Hagerty: Not her apex.
    “Julie Haggerty?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:07:03
  5. pick Death therapy / patient-shrink movies: Maybe the apex of the genre idea, though Analyze This is probably the apex.
    “This was probably the apex of death therapy.”
    unknown · 1:07:10

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a movie they love.

  1. pick Bob's OCD comes and goes depending on the scene: A host answers that Bob is getting better as he pursues Dr. Marvin.
    “Bob's OCD craziness. Kind of comes and goes depending on the scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:08:21
  2. pick How the Gutmans are always around, even in a boat with no fishing poles
    “How are the Gutmans just always around?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:10:06
  3. pick Dr. Marvin's plan to blow Bob up and call it suicide
    “I guess I I don't really know what Dr. Marvin's plan was really like ever.”
    unknown · 1:10:39
  4. pick Psychiatrists would treat a patient's suicide as an emergency, not wait out a vacation
    “The therapists, uh, that I know, the psychiatrists I know are deeply deeply committed to their patients.”
    Van Lathan · 1:11:12
  5. pick A vacation from July 31st to Labor Day is too long
    “I'm just wondering, is is July 31st all the way to Labor Day a little bit too long of a vacation?”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:17:51

Sequel, prequel or TV show · Whether and how they would continue the story.

  1. pick A 10 episode Netflix remake: Answer: it is a movie, one joke that is hard to sustain over 10 episodes.
    “I think it's a movie, not a not a show.”
    unknown · 1:11:52
  2. pick A 2021 sequel where Leo is dead and Bob is a Dr. Phil-type TV therapist who unravels
    “Can I give you an idea for the sequel?”
    unknown · 1:13:22

Probably unanswerable questions · Questions the movie never answers.

  1. pick Was Leo a murderer, and should he have gone to jail for attempted murder?: Hosts agree: yes.
    “Probably unanswerable questions. Was Leo a murderer?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:12:25
  2. pick Was Bob's previous doctor foisting Bob on Dreyfuss?
    “was Bob's previous doctor foisting Bob on the Dreyfus, one of the all-time best voice that's ever happened.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:12:38
  3. pick Why wasn't there a sequel?
    “Why wasn't there a sequel?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:12:56

Memorabilia · A piece of memorabilia they would want from the movie.

  1. pick The Don't Hassle Me, I'm Local t-shirt
    “I would I would take the t-shirt, the Game Warren, Bill Murray.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:14:32
  2. pick The puppets
    “I want the puppets.”
    unknown · 1:14:42
  3. pick The lake house
    “But honestly, like, it is my life's aspiration to have a home like that house.”
    unknown · 1:14:51

Hottest take · A hot take offered in the Leo DiCaprio aside.

  1. pick The famous Fresh Prince scene was ripped off from a Growing Pains episode with young Leo
    “One of my hottest takes of all time.”
    unknown · 1:05:59

Who won the movie · Who came out on top.

  1. winner Bill Murray as Bob Wiley: Unanimous.
    “Who won the movie Bill Murray? unless you guys disagree.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:17:19

Who talked about it

Blank Check with Griffin & David

The Rewatchables

Came from

What the speakers say it drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

No line says it drew on another film or person.

Led to

What the speakers say drew on it, marked the same way.

No line says another film or person drew on it.

Connected to

Analyze This: 1 line theme ×1

  1. theme (talent on silly premise): What About Bob? → Analyze This. Both are silly-seeming comedies staffed by hugely accomplished crews, which makes them better.
    “a ton of people that are incredibly accomplished working on a movie that seems really silly and it makes the movie that much better.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:17:15 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)

As Good as It Gets: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (OCD treatment): What About Bob? → As Good as It Gets. Bob's improvement by pursuing the doctor is compared to Helen Hunt making Nicholson less OCD.
    “So it's almost like Helen Hunt and as good as it gets, making Nicholas and less OCD.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:09:56 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)

Bugsy: 1 line industry ×1

  1. industry (Oscar year): Bugsy → What About Bob?. The loaded 1992 Oscars (Hopkins, De Niro, Nolte, Williams, Beatty) explain Murray's lack of a nomination for Bob.
    “we've talked in previous episodes about how loaded the 1992 Oscars was.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:59:16 · Sean Fennessey (0.60 sure it was them)

Frank Grimes: 1 line theme ×1

  1. theme (character comparison): What About Bob? → Frank Grimes. Dreyfuss's therapist is likened to Frank Grimes, the lone person who sees the intolerable guy for what he is.
    “He's the only one who understands that this person is intolerable.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:34:07 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

Ghostbusters: 1 line career ×1

  1. career (career benchmark): What About Bob? → Ghostbusters. Ebert called it Murray's best movie since Ghostbusters in 1984.
    “Said it was Bill Murray's best movie since Ghostbusters in 1984.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:25:50 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

Good Will Hunting: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (therapist movies): What About Bob? → Good Will Hunting. Bill's therapist Mount Rushmore includes both, along with Analyze This and Ordinary People.
    “Movies that had to include a therapist used in some profound way in the actual plot.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:15:01 · Bill Simmons (0.95 sure it was them)

In Treatment: 1 line lineage ×1

  1. lineage (remake format): What About Bob? → In Treatment. A 10-episode remake would be hard; In Treatment is the nearest show, tracking patients over years.
    “I mean, in treatment was the show and treatment was kind of sort of like this.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:12:11 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)

Kiss of Death: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (podcast wishlist): Kiss of Death → What About Bob?. Sean would want in on a Kiss of Death rewatchables episode.
    “That's a fucking hilarious movie.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:30:58 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

Lost in America: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (rewatchables wishlist): Lost in America → What About Bob?. Van pitches Lost in America as an episode; the group has not done it.
    “Albert Brooks and Gary Marshall talking in the casino is like one of my 5 favorite scenes of all time.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:38:59 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)

Lost in Translation: 1 line industry ×1

  1. industry (Oscar snub): What About Bob? → Lost in Translation. Murray's one nomination came for Lost in Translation; the group disputes who beat him.
    “Who beat him for Lost in Translation?”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:00:34 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

Meet the Fockers: 1 line lineage ×1

  1. lineage (sequel jokes): What About Bob? → Meet the Fockers. Bill's sequel idea: Analyze That, Meet the Fockers.
    “Analyze that, meet the Fokkers.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:13:09 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

Michael Ballhaus: 1 line craft ×1

  1. craft (craft): Michael Ballhaus → What About Bob?. Sean says Ballhaus shoots the scene of Siggy scaring Bob like a horror scene, with two heads in the frame, one in back and one in front.
    “that's Michael Bauhaus. He's shooting that scene like it's a horror scene, you know, like the 2 heads in the frame, like one in the back and one in the front.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:35:13 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)

Mr. Holland's Opus: 1 line people ×1

  1. people (actor's heel turn): What About Bob? → Mr. Holland's Opus. Both are Richard Dreyfuss movies where he plays an asshole; Sean traces his heel turn from nice-guy hero to the worst guy in the movie, starting here.
    “No one has had a heel turn. Like Richard Dreyfuss. And it starts with what about Bob?”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:23:30 · Bill Simmons (0.80 sure it was them)

Mrs. Doubtfire: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (prior episode): What About Bob? → Mrs. Doubtfire. Williams's 1987-93 run as one of the two biggest stars was discussed on Mrs. Doubtfire.
    “We did this when we did Mrs. Doubtfire.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:42 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)

National Lampoon's Vacation: 1 line craft ×1

  1. craft (era tone): What About Bob? → National Lampoon's Vacation. Both reflect a time when comedies let protagonists do outrageous things; Clark Griswold kidnaps people at the end of Vacation.
    “Well, vacation was like that too. Remember, at the end, Clark Chris, like he kidnaps people.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:45:12 · Van Lathan (0.70 sure it was them)

Ordinary People: 1 line people ×1

  1. people (shared writer): What About Bob? → Ordinary People. Alvin Sargent, who wrote Ordinary People, provided the story for What About Bob?, which signals respect for therapy.
    “the story for the movie comes from Alvin Sargent. Alvin Sargent was the writer of ordinary people.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:46:20 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)

Pacific Heights: 1 line lineage ×1

  1. lineage (genre lineage): What About Bob? → Pacific Heights. Sean calls What About Bob? a logical successor to Pacific Heights, part of the late-80s/early-90s 'from hell' subgenre where a transactional acquaintance won't leave your life.
    “Think of this movie as a logical successor to Pacific Heights. It is it is the same thing.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:46:51 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)

Parenthood: 1 line craft ×1

  1. craft (era tone): What About Bob? → Parenthood. Parenthood used a school-shooting imagery as a comedic device, another example of things no longer made.
    “Or even parenthood where they use a school shooting for a comedic device.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:45:21 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

Patrick Stewart: 1 line what-if ×1

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Patrick Stewart → What About Bob?. Patrick Stewart was also approached for Dr. Marvin.
    “They also approach Patrick Stewart.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:13 · Bill Simmons (0.80 sure it was them)

Phil Hartman: 1 line what-if ×1

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Phil Hartman → What About Bob?. In a reboot Van would cast Phil Hartman as the Dreyfuss character.
    “I actually would cast Phil Hartman as the Richard Dreyfuss character.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:08:27 · Van Lathan (0.90 sure it was them)

Robin Williams: 1 line what-if ×1

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Robin Williams → What About Bob?. Robin Williams was the first choice for Bob; he was a bigger star than Murray in 1987-93.
    “Robin Williams was the 1st choice for Bob.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:19 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

Steven Spielberg: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (champion): Steven Spielberg → What About Bob?. Spielberg paid out of pocket to campaign for Bill Murray for best actor.
    “Steven Spielberg like paid out of pocket to run a best actor campaign for Bill Murray”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:34:32 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (year context): What About Bob? → Terminator 2: Judgment Day. 1991 box office: Terminator 2 was number one, with What About Bob? in the top 16.
    “Terminator 2 is the number one movie from that year, which we've done on there.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:12:10 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

The Bourne Identity: 1 line theme ×1

  1. theme (skill comparison): What About Bob? → The Bourne Identity. Bob's pretending to be someone else to track the doctor is likened to Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt spycraft.
    “Jason Bourne, like CIA detective skills to go in there and pretend to be somebody else, Ethan Hutt skills”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:09:39 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)

The Cable Guy: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (vibe): What About Bob? → The Cable Guy. Annoying-houseguest dynamic similar to The Cable Guy.
    “It's sort of a cable guy vibe, right?”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:33:08 · Griffin Newman (0.40 sure it was them)

The Good Son: 1 line theme ×1

  1. theme (house comparison): What About Bob? → The Good Son. Bill says the lake house is one thing, but the house in The Good Son was probably made up; leads to Culkin evil-kid horror.
    “Here's here's where this game ends when you see the house from the good house from the good son.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:16:00 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

The Great Outdoors: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (80s wagoner / lake-house comedy): What About Bob? → The Great Outdoors. The 80s station wagon shows up in many comedies, including The Great Outdoors and Harry and the Hendersons; also lake-house small-town dreaming.
    “there was one in the gray outdoors”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:37:24 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

The Odd Couple: 1 line unmapped ×1

  1. unmapped (straight man / crazy man): What About Bob? → The Odd Couple. The premise is another straight-guy-vs-crazy-guy movie like The Odd Couple and The In-Laws, but Murray makes it special.
    “We've seen movies like this before, the odd couple, the in-laws.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:04:16 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)

Will Ferrell: 1 line what-if ×1

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Will Ferrell → What About Bob?. Only Will Ferrell, in his view, could also have played Bob over 35-40 years; but Murray has a character-actor gear Ferrell may lack.
    “I actually think Will Ferrell would have also crushed this part.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:08:08 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

Woody Allen: 1 line what-if ×1

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Woody Allen → What About Bob?. Woody Allen was approached to play Dr. Marvin, direct, and possibly co-write; he turned it down.
    “Woody Allen was approached to play Dr. Leo Marvin, was also considered to direct, which is bizarre, and possibly co-write the script.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:47:34 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

Where it came up

What was said about it, by kind

career (1)

  1. career (career benchmark): What About Bob? → Ghostbusters. Ebert called it Murray's best movie since Ghostbusters in 1984.
    “Said it was Bill Murray's best movie since Ghostbusters in 1984.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:25:50 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

craft (3)

  1. craft (craft): Michael Ballhaus → What About Bob?. Sean says Ballhaus shoots the scene of Siggy scaring Bob like a horror scene, with two heads in the frame, one in back and one in front.
    “that's Michael Bauhaus. He's shooting that scene like it's a horror scene, you know, like the 2 heads in the frame, like one in the back and one in the front.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:35:13 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)
  2. craft (era tone): What About Bob? → National Lampoon's Vacation. Both reflect a time when comedies let protagonists do outrageous things; Clark Griswold kidnaps people at the end of Vacation.
    “Well, vacation was like that too. Remember, at the end, Clark Chris, like he kidnaps people.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:45:12 · Van Lathan (0.70 sure it was them)
  3. craft (era tone): What About Bob? → Parenthood. Parenthood used a school-shooting imagery as a comedic device, another example of things no longer made.
    “Or even parenthood where they use a school shooting for a comedic device.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:45:21 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

industry (2)

  1. industry (Oscar year): Bugsy → What About Bob?. The loaded 1992 Oscars (Hopkins, De Niro, Nolte, Williams, Beatty) explain Murray's lack of a nomination for Bob.
    “we've talked in previous episodes about how loaded the 1992 Oscars was.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:59:16 · Sean Fennessey (0.60 sure it was them)
  2. industry (Oscar snub): What About Bob? → Lost in Translation. Murray's one nomination came for Lost in Translation; the group disputes who beat him.
    “Who beat him for Lost in Translation?”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:00:34 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

lineage (3)

  1. lineage (genre lineage): What About Bob? → Pacific Heights. Sean calls What About Bob? a logical successor to Pacific Heights, part of the late-80s/early-90s 'from hell' subgenre where a transactional acquaintance won't leave your life.
    “Think of this movie as a logical successor to Pacific Heights. It is it is the same thing.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:46:51 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (remake format): What About Bob? → In Treatment. A 10-episode remake would be hard; In Treatment is the nearest show, tracking patients over years.
    “I mean, in treatment was the show and treatment was kind of sort of like this.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:12:11 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (sequel jokes): What About Bob? → Meet the Fockers. Bill's sequel idea: Analyze That, Meet the Fockers.
    “Analyze that, meet the Fokkers.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:13:09 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)

people (2)

  1. people (actor's heel turn): What About Bob? → Mr. Holland's Opus. Both are Richard Dreyfuss movies where he plays an asshole; Sean traces his heel turn from nice-guy hero to the worst guy in the movie, starting here.
    “No one has had a heel turn. Like Richard Dreyfuss. And it starts with what about Bob?”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:23:30 · Bill Simmons (0.80 sure it was them)
  2. people (shared writer): What About Bob? → Ordinary People. Alvin Sargent, who wrote Ordinary People, provided the story for What About Bob?, which signals respect for therapy.
    “the story for the movie comes from Alvin Sargent. Alvin Sargent was the writer of ordinary people.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:46:20 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)

theme (4)

  1. theme (character comparison): What About Bob? → Frank Grimes. Dreyfuss's therapist is likened to Frank Grimes, the lone person who sees the intolerable guy for what he is.
    “He's the only one who understands that this person is intolerable.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:34:07 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)
  2. theme (talent on silly premise): What About Bob? → Analyze This. Both are silly-seeming comedies staffed by hugely accomplished crews, which makes them better.
    “a ton of people that are incredibly accomplished working on a movie that seems really silly and it makes the movie that much better.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:17:15 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)
  3. theme (skill comparison): What About Bob? → The Bourne Identity. Bob's pretending to be someone else to track the doctor is likened to Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt spycraft.
    “Jason Bourne, like CIA detective skills to go in there and pretend to be somebody else, Ethan Hutt skills”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:09:39 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)
  4. theme (house comparison): What About Bob? → The Good Son. Bill says the lake house is one thing, but the house in The Good Son was probably made up; leads to Culkin evil-kid horror.
    “Here's here's where this game ends when you see the house from the good house from the good son.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:16:00 · Bill Simmons (0.70 sure it was them)

unmapped (10)

  1. unmapped (vibe): What About Bob? → The Cable Guy. Annoying-houseguest dynamic similar to The Cable Guy.
    “It's sort of a cable guy vibe, right?”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:33:08 · Griffin Newman (0.40 sure it was them)
  2. unmapped (champion): Steven Spielberg → What About Bob?. Spielberg paid out of pocket to campaign for Bill Murray for best actor.
    “Steven Spielberg like paid out of pocket to run a best actor campaign for Bill Murray”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:34:32 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. unmapped (straight man / crazy man): What About Bob? → The Odd Couple. The premise is another straight-guy-vs-crazy-guy movie like The Odd Couple and The In-Laws, but Murray makes it special.
    “We've seen movies like this before, the odd couple, the in-laws.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:04:16 · Sean Fennessey (0.90 sure it was them)
  4. unmapped (year context): What About Bob? → Terminator 2: Judgment Day. 1991 box office: Terminator 2 was number one, with What About Bob? in the top 16.
    “Terminator 2 is the number one movie from that year, which we've done on there.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:12:10 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)
  5. unmapped (therapist movies): What About Bob? → Good Will Hunting. Bill's therapist Mount Rushmore includes both, along with Analyze This and Ordinary People.
    “Movies that had to include a therapist used in some profound way in the actual plot.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:15:01 · Bill Simmons (0.95 sure it was them)
  6. unmapped (podcast wishlist): Kiss of Death → What About Bob?. Sean would want in on a Kiss of Death rewatchables episode.
    “That's a fucking hilarious movie.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:30:58 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)
  7. unmapped (80s wagoner / lake-house comedy): What About Bob? → The Great Outdoors. The 80s station wagon shows up in many comedies, including The Great Outdoors and Harry and the Hendersons; also lake-house small-town dreaming.
    “there was one in the gray outdoors”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:37:24 · Bill Simmons (0.60 sure it was them)
  8. unmapped (rewatchables wishlist): Lost in America → What About Bob?. Van pitches Lost in America as an episode; the group has not done it.
    “Albert Brooks and Gary Marshall talking in the casino is like one of my 5 favorite scenes of all time.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:38:59 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)
  9. unmapped (prior episode): What About Bob? → Mrs. Doubtfire. Williams's 1987-93 run as one of the two biggest stars was discussed on Mrs. Doubtfire.
    “We did this when we did Mrs. Doubtfire.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:42 · Sean Fennessey (0.70 sure it was them)
  10. unmapped (OCD treatment): What About Bob? → As Good as It Gets. Bob's improvement by pursuing the doctor is compared to Helen Hunt making Nicholson less OCD.
    “So it's almost like Helen Hunt and as good as it gets, making Nicholas and less OCD.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 1:09:56 · Van Lathan (0.60 sure it was them)

what-if (5)

  1. what-if (casting what-if): Will Ferrell → What About Bob?. Only Will Ferrell, in his view, could also have played Bob over 35-40 years; but Murray has a character-actor gear Ferrell may lack.
    “I actually think Will Ferrell would have also crushed this part.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:08:08 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)
  2. what-if (casting what-if): Phil Hartman → What About Bob?. In a reboot Van would cast Phil Hartman as the Dreyfuss character.
    “I actually would cast Phil Hartman as the Richard Dreyfuss character.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:08:27 · Van Lathan (0.90 sure it was them)
  3. what-if (casting what-if): Woody Allen → What About Bob?. Woody Allen was approached to play Dr. Marvin, direct, and possibly co-write; he turned it down.
    “Woody Allen was approached to play Dr. Leo Marvin, was also considered to direct, which is bizarre, and possibly co-write the script.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:47:34 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)
  4. what-if (casting what-if): Patrick Stewart → What About Bob?. Patrick Stewart was also approached for Dr. Marvin.
    “They also approach Patrick Stewart.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:13 · Bill Simmons (0.80 sure it was them)
  5. what-if (casting what-if): Robin Williams → What About Bob?. Robin Williams was the first choice for Bob; he was a bigger star than Murray in 1987-93.
    “Robin Williams was the 1st choice for Bob.”
    The Rewatchables · ‘What About Bob?’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Van Lathan · 0:48:19 · Bill Simmons (0.90 sure it was them)

Fun items about it

  1. fun, about What About Bob?: Spielberg bought print ads and held screenings to run a best-actor campaign for Bill Murray.
    “he held screenings and he like bought print ads.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · An Angel at My Table with Dana Stevens · 1:34:40 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Who the speakers said made it

As said on the shows, not checked against the real credits.