'80s Movie Montage
Breaking down our favorite decade of flicks. Hosted by Anna Keizer and Derek Dehanke.
'80s Movie Montage
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call?! With special guest Edward Hong, Anna and Derek discuss the 1984 hit Ghostbusters.
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Anna Keizer and Derek Dehanke are the co-hosts of ‘80s Movie Montage. The idea for the podcast came when they realized just how much they talk – a lot – when watching films from their favorite cinematic era. Their wedding theme was “a light nod to the ‘80s,” so there’s that, too. Both hail from the Midwest but have called Los Angeles home for several years now. Anna is a writer who received her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago and M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. Her dark comedy short She Had It Coming was an Official Selection of 25 film festivals with several awards won for it among them. Derek is an attorney who also likes movies. It is a point of pride that most of their podcast episodes are longer than the movies they cover.
Edward Hong is an actor based in Los Angeles who has somehow etched out a working acting career for the past decade on TV/film, commercials, stage, and voiceovers. He has recently ventured into producing his own content with the horror comedy short film Make a Wish, which has currently been accepted in way too many film festivals, most notably being HollyShorts, Rhode Island International, Fantaspoa, FilmQuest, Nightmares, NYC Horror, Screamfest, and many more. He is also the proud father of three cats and has an unhealthy obsession with Cinnabons.
This is hot, right? Symmetrical book stacking. Just like the Philadelphia Mass Turbulence of 1947. You're right, no human being would stack books like this.
SPEAKER_07:Hello and welcome to 80s movie montage. This is Derek.
SPEAKER_06:And this is Anna.
SPEAKER_07:And today we are happy to talk to you about Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_05:One of my favorite lines from that film.
SPEAKER_07:There are there are so many favorite lines, which is a weird thing to say. I guess I have a list of several favorites, and I don't know which one is the top favorite.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, this this film is full of quotable lines, and that is why it happens to be one of my favorite films and my pick for this episode.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, it's a great movie.
SPEAKER_06:Great movie. And we will very shortly be talking to our very special guest, Edward Hong. We are in fact going to be cutting a little, a little short our segment, because we just had a great conversation with him.
SPEAKER_07:But um He has an exhaustive knowledge of not just the 1984 feature film Ghostbusters, but kind of the Ghostbusters world or universe.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, like I kind of feel like maybe we should have been guests on his show about Ghostbusters because he seems to be incredibly. So he is fantastic. We're excited to have him join us. And yeah, so Ghostbusters, I mean, this is I think really similar in terms of the cultural impact that it had to our previous episode about Back to the Future. I mean, this is a film that has continued up until this very day. And um, in terms of this world that has stuck with audiences, unfortunately, the newest film, uh Ghostbusters Afterlife, was supposed to be released this summer, and that is not going to happen for obvious reasons. Uh, so we'll be getting that in 2021. But um, to go back about 35-ish years, so the original Ghostbusters, it was released in 1984. And uh yeah, I mean, I'm hoping that no one out there is a stranger to this film.
SPEAKER_07:It Well, it's it's not exactly like Star Wars, and I think I bring this up later when we talk to Ed, but it it reminds me a little bit of um the fact that it's created this like whole separate like universe. There was the movie, two years later, there was the real Ghostbusters animated series, uh, video games, sequels. So it would be difficult to not know anything about this movie.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. It'd be difficult not to know anything about this movie, and also I feel like if you are anything of a movie fan, it would be difficult to not know about the the big players that are part of it. Um we will dive into the people who star in it, but as I like to do, I will start with the people behind the scenes. So here's the funny thing, though, about this film is that the people behind the scenes in some regards are also the people in front of the camera.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Namely Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. They are the credited writers on the film. So this uh this just happens to be a film that like I already kind of had a uh some knowledge of the history of it and kind of how it came about. So this this came from Dan Aykroyd. He was the one who um had this idea for a film about the supernatural, in large part. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, no, no, I think you were right about to say it. I mean, he came up with the concept, but the concept was in some ways based off of his his own life and his his family's kind of heritage.
SPEAKER_06:He he comes from a family of Ghostbusters. Not necessarily Ghostbusters, but people who do have a strong interest and belief in the paranormal. And so this is something that was, I think, very near and dear to his heart. I think he would say as much. I mean he's been interviewed saying as such.
SPEAKER_07:We we watched the DVD version of the movie prior to this podcast and remember DVDs? Yeah. Anyways, so yeah, we also watched the a couple of the featurettes where he talked quite a bit about. I mean, you could really get a sense that that this like topic of the spiritual world and ghosts, it was something that was like pretty important to him. Like he has he's got pretty strong feelings about it in a non-ironic, non-humorous way, but he was able to translate that into an amazingly funny script.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, and I mean, from what I have read, what ended up being the final version of the script is wildly different from what he originally intended. I mean, first of all, it was it wasn't going to be an origin story per se. He wanted to kind of jump into the Ghostbusters already doing their thing. And not only that, the Ghostbusters were gonna be like traveling to different worlds.
SPEAKER_07:And they're like, hold up, we need to make sequels. Let's just start with the origin story.
SPEAKER_06:Well, okay, so Ivan Reitman, the director of the film, uh, when he came in, and this is this is still related to the writing of the script because as much as he loved the idea, he felt like it just needed to be reined in a touch. And so that's when he brought in Harold Ramis to collaborate with Ackroyd on it, and that's how it kind of took its final shape. And um, we have mentioned this before, the movies that uh shaped us. Is that what it's called? Movies that made us. Movies that made us. That makes a lot more sense. Um, it's a Netflix series, it's great. And outside of the episode on Dirty Dancing, which we've already mentioned, they do one on Ghostbusters. And they go into length about how at some point uh the three of them and their families, I believe, all uh kind of huddled up in I want to say um Long Island?
SPEAKER_07:Somewhere on the If you want to say it, then I say just go ahead and say it. Just say it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, in any case, they hunkered down and they punched out this script, and it is largely what we all know it to be now. So um outside of this film, though, I mean, most people do know Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis for their amazing comedy performances in numerous films. I'm not going to go over those films.
SPEAKER_07:I want to point out the We do not have the time to go over them because there are so many of them.
SPEAKER_06:There's way too many of them. But but there's some overlap here because uh they have really amazing writing credits as well. I don't think people give them enough acknowledgement as really excellent screenwriters. Um it it it sincerely makes me um a little sad because Harold Ramis is no longer with us and and he was just simply simply amazing. And among the writing credits, I mean Dan Aykroyd, he was the writer behind the Blues Brothers, uh, which came from the Saturday Night Live skit.
SPEAKER_07:Yep.
SPEAKER_06:Um Spies Like Us, which he also was in, Dragnet, which he also was in.
SPEAKER_07:Well, no, that was overrated. I was gonna say Spies Like Us, underrated film.
SPEAKER_06:But Dragnet overrated film? It's rated. It's rated. Um, he also has the writing credit on Ghostbusters 2.
SPEAKER_04:All right.
SPEAKER_06:Uh because uh, and this is much like when we were talking about Back to the Future, because he is the creator of the story in the characters and such, he has credits well beyond for anything that's like kind of Ghostbusters related because you retain those characters and you largely retain that story. So he has a credit on the um animated series, The Real Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. I mean it's similar. I I understand the similarity with Back to the Future, but I guess the difference would be he certainly does not it doesn't seem like he's had quite the same like tight control over it.
SPEAKER_06:He's he's allowed that universe to expand in ways that that's I I mean this is without me speaking to the guy and knowing this for sure, but uh I feel like he has kind of just said, okay, you know, like do do what you want to do.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, yeah. He's had possibly a lighter touch on some of those things. But I think Back to the Future is probably more of the outlier as far as how how like restricted it has been over the course of its history. Ghostbusters, though, is I I think whether you like some of the sequels or spin-offs or animated series or games, I think it's like overall a better universe for having all of that different content out there.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I I would agree with that. And Harold Ramis. So, I mean, he he was a fine actor, but um of the two of them, I think, you know, his his writing genius is is unquestionable, um, in my opinion. And among some of his writing credits, National Lampoons Animal House.
SPEAKER_07:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. Uh Meatballs. I love that movie so much.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that movie inspired me to go running.
SPEAKER_06:Did it? Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I could see that. Um, he is the writer behind Caddyshack and Caddyshack 2.
SPEAKER_07:Well, half of that is awesome. And then the other half is Caddyshack 2.
SPEAKER_06:Uh, Stripes.
SPEAKER_07:That is another really great movie.
SPEAKER_06:Which he also is in.
SPEAKER_07:Where he's kind of like, if you had the Egon character who wasn't quite as smart and maybe a little bit more of a slacker, he would be a- Exactly, totally.
SPEAKER_06:Like Egon's kind of um like slacker brother.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Back to school.
SPEAKER_07:Really? Oh, he's a professor in that, right? No.
SPEAKER_06:Well, I'm talking about his writing credits.
SPEAKER_07:Okay, he wrote Back to School. Rodney Dangerfield. Did he he worked with him a lot then?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, as you can imagine, all of these guys work together a lot.
SPEAKER_07:I suspect that him being the writer is the only reason that we're going to actually cover Back to School on this podcast.
SPEAKER_06:Perhaps.
SPEAKER_07:It's got much comparatively little to do with Rodney Dangerfield.
SPEAKER_06:I'm just gonna do a deep dive into Harold Ramis and in the process of him writing back to uh back to school. So beyond that, as well, uh he has a writing credit on the real Ghostbusters and all the other iterations of Ghostbusters material. Groundhog Day, great film. Yeah, which I believe he also directed that one. And then Analyze This and Analyze That. Alright. Yeah. He has other credits.
SPEAKER_07:Those were, yeah, those were great movies that I just didn't really watch onto, but I know that they're good movies.
SPEAKER_06:They're great movies. They're actually very funny. And I already mentioned him, the director, Ivan Reitman. So this this is gonna begin to show you just kind of the very like um what's the word I'm looking for? Just like interlocking ways that these guys cross paths with each other time and time again in their professional lives, because he was the director of Meatballs, the director of Stripes. Yep. So there you go. And then um after that early 80s time, he kind of uh made other relationships, like, and and you'll see what I mean. He was director behind Twins.
SPEAKER_07:Oh, okay. Kindergarten cop, all right, Junior. Well, so I'm sensing like a big Arnold Schwarzenegger vibe. There you go.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So so they seem to have a good relationship. Yeah. He also did come back for Ghostbusters 2, so he directed that as well.
SPEAKER_07:Why not?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, and then um actually I think well, I don't know if it's underrated, I think a lot of people appreciate it. Uh Dave, which has super weaker.
SPEAKER_07:Uh Kevin Klein. Yeah, that was a good movie.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, it is a great movie.
SPEAKER_07:Has nothing at all to do with the FX show by the same name.
SPEAKER_06:No.
SPEAKER_07:Very different.
SPEAKER_06:Very different. And then some of the other credits, six days, seven nights.
SPEAKER_07:That was okay. That was a uh a fun, entertaining kind of movie with Harrison Ford. Right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And no strings attached.
SPEAKER_07:I'm less familiar with that.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. That's one of those, like it came out at the same time as um, what was it, Friends with Benefits? You know how like that happens, where like two different movies with the same story kind of just end up coming out at the same time. So it's like one of those deals.
SPEAKER_07:I wish one of them had been called Strings Attached.
SPEAKER_06:Strings Attached. So, okay, so I I've brought this up before in terms of like, like I remember very clearly mentioning this with the Goonies, where I think everybody, you know, it's a beloved movie, people think it's hilarious, and uh, you know, people love watching it, but I don't think sometimes they acknowledge it for the really talented individuals that are part of it behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And I think the same could be said for Ghostbusters, um, as far as you know, cinematographer, editor, composer. So the guy who shot Ghostbusters, his name is Laszlo Kovacs, if I'm saying that correctly.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I choose to believe you are. I have no reason to think otherwise.
SPEAKER_06:Close enough.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So this guy, I mean, this guy's had a career, and among some of his earlier credits, this was the guy who shot Easy Rider.
SPEAKER_07:Wow. Yeah, that is impressive.
SPEAKER_06:Easy Rider, five easy pieces. Uh, this one I adore. It's hilarious. What's up, Doc? What's up, it is it's so funny. It's with uh Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neill. All right. So that's a great film. Paper Moon, also with Ryan O'Neill and his daughter Tatum O'Neill.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that sounds that that title at least sounds familiar.
SPEAKER_06:It's uh we have it. Okay. We I am looking at it right now. Um so Paper Moon Shampoo Mask with uh Eric Stoltz.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Cher.
SPEAKER_07:And uh the guy from the uh Doritos commercials.
SPEAKER_06:Correct. Mm-hmm. Uh I am photo. There you go. I was like, oh man, I'm blanking on his name. Say anything, another great 80s film, which we will absolutely cover. And he kind of so he he's really broad in his expertise because like easy writer, five easy pieces, these like dramatic films, but then obviously Ghostbusters, that sort of thing. And then he kind of comes back to that later in his career because he did my best friend's wedding.
SPEAKER_07:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:And also, again, what it's not an 80s film, but I adore this movie, Miss Congeniality.
SPEAKER_07:You do, you really do.
SPEAKER_06:I really love that movie. Um so yeah, so this guy, amazing skill and and talent that he brought to this film, you seem to like have a question in your eyes.
SPEAKER_07:No, no, I I agree. There's nothing that I can uh argue with any of that. It's impressive that he worked on so many different films and so many different types of films.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I uh I I didn't know any of this. Uh we intentionally keep some information from each other part of the podcast, and occasionally try to keep a relationship going.
SPEAKER_06:Surprises.
SPEAKER_07:Sometimes some information hits me so hard that I literally am speechless.
SPEAKER_06:And uh so moving on to the editor of the film. So, okay, so there are two people who are credited, uh, just to give you know proper credit. What? So one is Sheldon, excuse me, Sheldon Khan. And we're gonna go over his credits, but there is an additional credit given to David Blewitt. So I I again I haven't talked to either of these fellows. Don't know who really did the majority. My guess, my guess is Khan, and they brought in Blewitt to um to do some some cleaning up. Because Khan, again, comes with um amazing credits. This is the guy who edited One Flew Over the Kook's Nest.
SPEAKER_07:That's not bad.
SPEAKER_06:Not bad. Um, a great film, Private Benjamin, great comedy film.
SPEAKER_07:Uh Goldie Han.
SPEAKER_06:Good call. Uh Out of Africa.
SPEAKER_07:Uh yeah, Meryl Streep and uh Robert Redford. There you go. This is not a this isn't a game, but I'm turning it into one.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, you're doing you're doing great. La Bamba?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I don't you got me.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, with um oh my gosh, now I'm Lou Diamond Phillips. Yes, well, Lou Diamond Phil Phillips was um the He was Mr.
SPEAKER_07:La Bamba.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, well, it's about the three the three musicians who all passed in that plane accident. Yeah, okay. So we'll keep going. Um so here's here's what's interesting, because then there's some overlap here, and this happens a lot where like directors come to find that they like a certain editor, they like a certain cinematographer, like Steven Spielberg works with works with the same cinematographer all the time.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, so this guy also edited Twins and in Kindergarten Cop.
SPEAKER_07:Alright.
SPEAKER_06:And Dave, for that matter.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, him and Reitman.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_07:They're like this, and for those who can't see me, I'm just doing that thing with my fingers saying they're gonna be like, crossing your finger.
SPEAKER_06:Like they're they're tight. Yeah. They're tight. He also came back to edit Ghostbusters 2.
SPEAKER_07:Alright.
SPEAKER_06:And then just a couple more of his credits, Space Jam.
SPEAKER_07:Space Jam.
SPEAKER_06:Space Jam.
SPEAKER_07:Oh, the the the basketball and uh Yeah, with Michael Jordan.
SPEAKER_05:Hello.
SPEAKER_07:I'm looking forward to the sequel.
SPEAKER_05:With uh with what's his face?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I'm not looking forward to it. Uh, but I did appreciate that Bill Murray was uh in the world. Yeah, Bill Murray's in it too.
SPEAKER_06:Lots of people are. And Road Trip, which is a funny movie. It is, yeah. It wouldn't be made today, but a funny movie.
SPEAKER_07:No, it it probably wouldn't be, mostly because um the curfew.
SPEAKER_06:We should do we should do I mean it's not really 80s related, but I think it would be interesting because we talk often about could this one particular 80s movie be made today? That being said, we've had several conversations where a lot of early 2000 films were made in this like really specific era where like they also just I don't think could be made today.
SPEAKER_07:Oh, for sure.
SPEAKER_06:Especially a lot of like early 2000s, Tat Phillips, um, yeah, like there's Farrelly Brothers.
SPEAKER_07:I mean, within the first 30 seconds of old school, you're like, yeah, they wouldn't make that now.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. So anyway, moving on.
SPEAKER_07:We'll we'll put a pin in that and we'll Ghostbusters, though, not only would they make it again, they also and they will continue to do so.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. So, okay, so final guy I want to bring up um as far as behind the scenes, the composer. This guy, the definition of heavy hitter.
SPEAKER_07:Ray Parker Jr.
SPEAKER_06:No.
SPEAKER_07:I know although that's a great song.
SPEAKER_06:Um Elmer Bernstein. All right. So I don't know if that name's familiar to you. It is overwhelming to look at his IMDB page. He had a crazy successful career. Uh, he has 257 credits.
SPEAKER_07:Holy cow.
SPEAKER_06:Um, and that's just and and so if you're not familiar with IMDB, you can be credited for any number of things that you know you you did for a film. And while he is overwhelmingly known as composer, he has other kinds of credits. So this is just his composing credits. Oh wow, okay. Um, but so this gives you an idea of the the pedigree. Okay. The pedigree of this guy. He was the composer on To Kill a Mockingbird.
SPEAKER_07:Oh. That's that's a super serious and cultural culturally relevant and important movie.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. Like great, great film. Yeah. The Great Escape.
SPEAKER_07:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:So so here's what's funny. I kind of skip ahead several decades uh because he also then I I appreciate this about him. He he from what I'm sensing didn't have any kind of ego in terms of like, well, I only do important films. Because this guy was also the composer behind Meatballs. I mean, look, music's music. Music's music. Airplane, Stripes, okay, Creating Places, Spies Like Us.
SPEAKER_07:Fair amount of comedy.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, lots of comedy. Three Amigos.
SPEAKER_07:Oh my god, I forgot about that movie.
SPEAKER_06:And then I decided to put in these credits to show, again, sometimes people kind of like bounce back and forth before between different genres.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So he also did Devil in a Blue Dress.
SPEAKER_07:Oh, okay. Um, oh geez. Then Joe Washington, yeah.
SPEAKER_06:The Rainmaker. Okay. Bringing out the dead. So he has had, um, he's no longer with us quite quite a resume.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that's quite the prolific career.
SPEAKER_06:Mm-hmm. The very definition of. So, okay, we're I don't know if we're gonna really go into uh the backgrounds of the actors here, but they are just so world-widely known. Um chief among them, Bill Murray.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Who I adore. Um, this is a guy who not to get too I try not to get too personal per se in these podcasts, but my dad uh wasn't a huge film guy, but he loved Bill Murray.
SPEAKER_07:Which is funny because there's like I feel like he kind of looks like Bill Murray.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, yeah, he did kind of look like Bill Murray. Um so Bill Murray, he plays one of the three scient, well, scientists is a questionable term for these guys, but um He's got a PhD in parapsychology and psychology. Yeah, there you go. So uh so technically, yes, Peter Vinkman. And so again, I find I find it really fascinating the way that these relationships between actors and other creatives come about where they like to work together again and again. And we see this even today with people like um, oh gosh, like the guys from Knocked Up, you know, like those guys always work together. Um Seth Rogan. Yeah, Seth Rogan and Jed Apatel likes to work with the same people quite a bit. Um, and then you have the other side of things Adam, yeah. You have the other side of things like um right now, Big Mouth, um, the people who work on that show, they work together quite a bit. So it it happens a lot, especially in comedy.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, and so Bill Murray came out of Saturday Night Live, and you know, these guys were very familiar with each other in many regards because he was in Meatballs, he was in Caddyshack, stripes, um a very understated performance, which I loved in Tootsie.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, yeah, I think that's it's easy to forget that because there are so many other strong performances, but he's great as Dustin Hoffman's roommate, basically, right?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, he's great in that. And then he he does like a little bit of a Tom Hanks thing where he goes from being this like a comedy actor and swer uh kind of pivots a little bit later in his career to do more, I guess you would say, um dramatic pieces that have a little bit more weight to them.
SPEAKER_07:Even his dramatic works though have like it's there's always humor. It's impossible to take all comedy out of Bill Murray in whatever he's in. Yeah. It's always in there in at least some moment, even if it's and kind of in the same way that uh for instance, like Marce Corsair is a guy who loves working with Leonardo DiCaprio.
SPEAKER_06:And Bill Murray, I think, has been in almost every single one of Wes Anderson's films at this point.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, no, I think you know, a lot of people might identify him as much, if not more, with those Wes Anderson films than some of his early work, you know, yeah. Earlier work, which doesn't seem like the earlier work to us because those are movies that we grew up with. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. But um, I mean, some of his other so like since we mentioned Wes Anderson, two of my favorites that he's in, Rushmore. He's yeah, he is so good in Rushmore. I mean, that is maybe one of my top three Bill Murray performances. Love him in that. Also, really it's a smaller role, but I also really love him in the Royal Tenant Bombs.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:He's great in that. Um, I think he got a considerable amount of attention for Lost in Translation. That's a Sophia Coppola film.
SPEAKER_07:Yes, he did.
SPEAKER_06:That with Scarlett Johansson.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I think that was, well, I can't think of the chronology of all of it now, but that was kind of around the same time. Yeah, I think that was a big transition from kind of like more of the goofy slapstick, traditional Bill Murray comedy to something that again had comedic elements, but was also more of like just a personal human story with drama in it.
SPEAKER_06:And then bouncing back, because I kind of think that these two roles fall somewhere in the middle between his just broad comedy performances and then his more understated performances, and they fall kind of in the middle of his career as well. So Scrooge did Groundhog Day. Because there are elements where he has like some gravitas to the performances.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, those I I mean I wouldn't they kind of exist. And Scrooged in particular is closer to like some of the goofier stuff.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, but he kind, you know, he has like a real much like the real Scrooge. He has life and the whole thing. So um, but yeah, that one is definitely more outlandish than I would say Groundhog Day is, but they both have like really similar messages.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, there's you're gonna learn something by the time you finish that movie, and it's gonna make you a better person. Yeah. And it did for him.
SPEAKER_06:So Danny Aykroyd, Raymond Stance, the heart of the Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_07:He is really.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. I mean, Venckman calls him that.
SPEAKER_07:I don't know how these guys all got together, but I'm just glad they did. But yeah, he's he's clearly smarter or more on top of things than Vankman, but not quite as just insanely genius as Egon. He's kind of like he he keeps those two.
SPEAKER_06:He keeps up with Egon, though. Like anytime Egan's like, oh, da da da, he's like, oh yeah, yeah. Like, especially their spirit guides, and anytime Egon's, you know, sputters out like some kind of like mathematical. He follows along with it, no problem. He knows what he's talking about.
SPEAKER_07:He also likes to slide down fireman poles in condemned buildings.
SPEAKER_06:He has like an innocence about him.
SPEAKER_07:There's like a childlike innocence about him with Egon. Um, I don't know if he ever had a childlike anything.
SPEAKER_06:Anything.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So also came out of Saturday Night Live.
SPEAKER_07:Yep.
SPEAKER_06:And basomatic. Yeah. So he uh kind of in kind of in the same way a little bit. He starts his career with just a lot of just straight comedies. So Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Spies Like Us, Dragnet that we already mentioned. So started in a lot of the things that he wrote. And then oh Great Outdoors. I don't want to. Oh, yeah, John Candy.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Great film. And then he also makes a little bit of a pivot. So he was in Driving Miss Daisy.
SPEAKER_07:That's right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:He was in My Girl, which when I first sobbed, saw that, sobbed. Absolutely. I don't want to give away spoilers, but there is it's been out long enough.
SPEAKER_07:I think uh if you want to dies.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. And it is a heartbreaking uh an Anna Chlumsky who was she eventually grows up to work in the White House. Yeah, I mean, I love where her career went. She's amazing in that show. But um, so she's in that. And then one of my favorite acroid roles, do you know what it is?
SPEAKER_07:No, I don't. It's not gross point plank.
SPEAKER_06:Yes, it is. Is it? Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:I think he's amazing in that film. So uh, and of course, he's still still working to this day. Moving on to Dana Barrett. Otherwise known as Ripley. Otherwise known as Sigourney Weaver. There you go. Yeah. But that is how people know her.
SPEAKER_07:That's yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I don't even know what her name is in the uh Avatar movie, and I don't know if she's gonna be in the sequels. Yes.
SPEAKER_06:Uh thank you for taking me there because that is on her IMD. Apparently, she is going to be, so she was an Avatar. Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. Will be an Avatar 2, 3, 4, 5.
SPEAKER_07:I might be 95 goddamn years old before those movies are out.
SPEAKER_06:They're claiming that they're all gonna be released within the next decade.
SPEAKER_07:And I'm only 20 right now.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:No, but still, I'm not 90.
SPEAKER_06:20 plus a couple years. Um, so but we're we're getting a little bit ahead of the curve here. So even though she has like just again, a really impressive uh resume. Most people know her as Ripley from the Alien franchise. I kind of choose not to acknowledge a lot of the alien films. Really, I just love Alien and Aliens.
SPEAKER_07:Well, those two are great. Three is not given the appreciation that it probably deserves. Four is a hot mess, and then I think after that you get into the Yeah, she's not in the Prometheus and Covenant and um moving on.
SPEAKER_06:Moving on. Uh she has done some really great work outside of that. Uh, as I mentioned, Gorilla's in the Mist.
SPEAKER_04:Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_06:I remember seeing that way too young, and it is a great film, but it is it is really um disturbing. Just saying.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, she's been in she's been in, I mean, everything from that to The Defenders and Um Iron Fist, one of the some of the Marvel series. Yeah, on Netflix.
SPEAKER_06:The Village and Night Shalom.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, she's been she's been in a lot.
SPEAKER_06:And I'm also holding out on one of my favorite of her performances. It happens to be a comedy.
SPEAKER_07:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:Do you know what I'm talking about?
SPEAKER_07:Does it include um Melanie Griffin?
SPEAKER_06:You know, I'm not a huge working girl fan.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, no, neither am I. That's the only one I could think of.
SPEAKER_06:Um no, think a little bit later on. Alan Rickman.
SPEAKER_07:Okay, uh uh I don't I don't have it.
SPEAKER_06:Galaxy Quest!
SPEAKER_07:Oh shit, that's right. Okay.
SPEAKER_06:She's so I mean that is such an underrated film. People go see it. It's not an 80s film.
SPEAKER_07:I don't think it's underrated. You don't think so? I don't think so.
SPEAKER_06:I think it's that makes me happy.
SPEAKER_07:It's a great movie, and I see references to it all the time. I Okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Fair. Uh so we already talked about Harold Ramis a little bit. He's so he wasn't as prolific as an actor as he was, I think, as a writer.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, who knows what he could have done had he not left us too soon. Um, but he plays Egon Spinkler.
SPEAKER_07:He's I mean, he's good enough to where anything he's in, he's super funny. And I think for him, it's the relationship and the the chemistry he has with some of the other uh people who he has like had worked with for all of his life, with Second City. So I do. I do think that writing was his strength, but like anyone could hope to be as good, like to be references, like, oh yeah, no, he was he was good in all of these movies that he was really funny in. It's just that he was that much better of a writer, even.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. And what's really interesting is so he came out of something called SC TV, which is essentially.
SPEAKER_07:Second City TV, right?
SPEAKER_06:Uh I guess so. That's interesting. I guess I never put that together. But it's Canadian. It's a Canadian show.
SPEAKER_07:Sappy Circuit TV. I don't know. I thought that's what SC stood for, but maybe not.
SPEAKER_06:Uh I gotta because like we'll check on that later. Now I'm questioning it. Um not not that he was part of it, but what it stands for. But in any case, the reason why I found that interesting is because Ramus is from Chicago.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And he was part of this um Canadian uh comedy troupe. Okay. Whereas Aykroyd, he's Canadian, and then he was part of Titan Night Live. So I don't know, it was just kind of funny how that works out. Um but in any case, let me let me really quickly because SC TV does in fact stand for Second City Television. Well, that's so weird. Because it's okay, well, anyway, moving on.
SPEAKER_07:So sometimes my mind glip gets blown.
SPEAKER_06:And sometimes my mind gets blown up. It just happens, it happens. Uh he has a bit part, but it's really good in Baby Boom. Okay. Which uh I believe you. I know it's not really your film. Another small but good part in As Good as It Gets. Yes. Yeah. And then he's also uh randomly we had already mentioned it, knocked up.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, he's he is the doctor.
SPEAKER_06:I thought he's Seth Rogen's dad.
SPEAKER_07:I'm going to reference him as the doctor in almost every movie where he's older until I get it right.
SPEAKER_06:Is he a dad? He might be the doctor. Is he a doctor who is because I know he's Seth Rogan's dad, right? I mean, we own that movie. We should yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_07:We as you can tell, we put together a lot of preparation for this.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, we do. It's just that anyway, there's too there's too much.
SPEAKER_07:Um Welcome to 80s movie montage unscripted.
SPEAKER_06:Rick Morenas.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Uh so he took a lot of time off. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:He's coming back.
SPEAKER_06:Is he?
SPEAKER_07:He is.
SPEAKER_06:You know this for sure.
SPEAKER_07:I I feel like I have read that this was confirmed that he's gonna be coming back to participate in. I don't know if it's like something that's gonna be on like Disney Plus or or what exactly he's gonna be in. I haven't heard that he was gonna be in the like the next Ghostbusters. I think it's been confirmed that Bill Murray is gonna be part of it.
SPEAKER_06:Actually, mo most of the original cast. So Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Gourney Weaver, they all I think Ernie Hudson, uh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I think I think I have heard somewhere that he was gonna be because he kind of went into this not really semi-retirement. He just was retired from acting.
SPEAKER_06:Um, yes. It's uh I feel like, you know, to to respect the privacy of these individuals, even though they're public figures, they still have private lives. And um he found himself uh a a single parent.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And and so he thought that it was and and I really respect him for for making that choice of deciding that he wanted to be there for his kids. So so that is what prompted the retirement.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, but he also out of SC TV, a a movie that okay, na maybe I overuse the term like underrated, I don't know, but Strange Brew.
SPEAKER_07:Oh man.
SPEAKER_06:So good. So good.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that that movie kind of like blends together some of my favorite things, which would be like really awful synth music and ice hockey and Canadian beer.
SPEAKER_06:I mean, you do know what Strange Brew is based on, right?
SPEAKER_07:No.
SPEAKER_06:Hamlet.
SPEAKER_07:That's awesome. Right? I I've never heard that. That is wild. No, I just w I just enjoyed watching it because uh it's just like a super silly bizarre movie, but I I've never heard that Strange Brew was like it features a dog that drinks like this beer and then is flying, and like I don't remember that from Hamlet, but you could convince me.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, they took some creative liberties, sure, but it is based on Hamlet. Um Brewster's Million, Little Shop of Horrors, Space Balls, which is which is one of my favorite roles of his.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Uh Honey, so everybody knows him from Honey I Shrunk the Kids.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:He also came back. So uh pretty much everybody from the original cast came back from for Ghostbusters 2. So uh he was in that as well. Parenthood, My Blue Heaven are some of his other credits.
SPEAKER_07:With uh Steve Martin both times.
SPEAKER_06:Correct.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Yes. So I want to give a shout out to Annie Potts because she has a small role in Ghostbusters as Janine Melnitz, uh the secretary, but she does Administrative Assistant. Yeah. A bang up job of just bringing so much life to this role.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, she's really great. I love how, like, from the viewer's perspective, these guys are like saving the world, and for her, it's like just a job, and she's like defiantly says, I've quit better jobs than this. Yeah, you know.
SPEAKER_06:She's great. I mean, a big part of that is the way that they wrote it. So I really appreciate that Akyroid and Ramus didn't like skimp on that character because she could have kind of been a nothing character.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And they gave her just so much rich material to work with. So I I really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_07:And I thought Chris Emsworth did a good job of of uh duplicating that role in the uh 27 years.
SPEAKER_06:He had his own twist on it, but he did a great job. I love her in Pretty in Pink. She is yeah, she has a great, great role in that. And she does the same thing. I mean, I think that is really the mark of a great actor. You know, they there's that very cliched saying where there are no small roles, just small actors.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And she really takes whatever she has and makes it her own. So I I think she's fantastic.
SPEAKER_07:We'll talk about that phrase that you just brought up, no small role like Winston. Yeah, that'll come up with what sometimes is literally the next person we're gonna talk about. Sometimes there are huge roles that sometimes become less so. But Winston.
SPEAKER_06:So also came back for Ghostbusters 2. And then she she has done a ton of TV. So she was on Designing Women.
SPEAKER_07:Okay, that's I think I recognize her from that show that my daughter was.
SPEAKER_06:She's one of the main characters.
SPEAKER_07:Parents loved that show. They loved it. Yeah, that was th I was too young to And let me tell you, when you're grown up in a time when you may not have like TVs everywhere, you're not watching Netflix on your phone. When your parents want to watch Designing Women, that's what you're watching. That's what's on, and you just gotta suffer through it.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. So Designing Women, Joan of Arcadia. She had a stint on uh Lore Law and Order SVU.
SPEAKER_04:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. The foster's Young Sheldon, I guess she is on now.
SPEAKER_04:Okay.
SPEAKER_06:And then I wanted to circle back because uh arguably out of any of these people, Annie Potts, she has said, and you know why I say that? I don't know Two words. Toy Story. Okay, who what? She plays Bo Peep. Oh, she does. Okay, that's awesome. So she's doing fine. Um, even though she wasn't in Toy Story 3, according to the credits, she was in the original and she was in two and four.
SPEAKER_07:So there's like what, eight of those now?
SPEAKER_06:Um so she's doing great. Ernie Hudson. I wanted to make a point of also listing that this gentleman has 243 IMDB acting credits.
SPEAKER_07:That's quite impressive.
SPEAKER_06:Quite impressive. He is a arguably workaholic. This guy, he he has done a lot outside of Should we get him help? Oh, for being a workaholic?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:No, I mean this guy, he's doing it. He's up to this very day because one of the things that I love him on right now is Grace and Frankie.
SPEAKER_07:It's a good show.
SPEAKER_06:It's a good show.
SPEAKER_07:So I get the name reversed every single time.
SPEAKER_06:I do too. I do too. Um, but this guy, uh so I had to severely uh condense down and and pick some of the highlights of his uh amazing career. But um, you know, some of he started again on TV. Um he was on Saint Elsewhere. He was on I don't I don't know this show, The Last Pre Precinct.
SPEAKER_07:I'm not familiar with that either.
SPEAKER_06:But um also came back for Ghostbusters 2.
SPEAKER_07:Yep.
SPEAKER_06:Uh he had roles in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle as well as Airheads. Okay. Two very different films. Um coming back to one of my favorite films, Miss Congeniality. He has a great, great role in that. And he came back for the sequel of that film as well. And then uh, you know, we mentioned that he he kind of also came back to TV. So even though currently he is on Grace and Frankie, he also has had roles on Oz, Desperate Housewives, and Law and Order.
SPEAKER_07:Gray's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, somebody's on IMDB.
SPEAKER_07:Ton of stuff. A ton of stuff. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So so he and he is uh, in case we haven't made it abundantly clear, he plays Winston Zedmar.
SPEAKER_07:Sadly, he was also in the 20th century Fox film Dragon Ball Evolution, and I'm just happy that his career survived that because that was not good.
SPEAKER_06:Not not good. Can't say can't say I've ever seen it.
SPEAKER_07:So no, well, you're better for that.
SPEAKER_06:Um lastly, and we're just gonna wrap this up real quick, but we have to give a shout out to our buddy William Atherton.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, he shows up in virtually every movie we cover.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, so we already we already talked about this dude in Real Genius.
SPEAKER_07:He's almost like the same guy. Like, look, he after his home was destroyed with popcorn from a giant space laser that his own team built, he left that, got a job with the EPA, and now he's busting down the doors of the Ghostbusters. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I'm gonna do that. And he plays just a re reporter version of the same guy. Yeah. And and look, that okay, this that might come across as um diminishing his his performances, and that's not what we're saying.
SPEAKER_07:No, he's great. Like he's he's great at what he does. He's great at what he does. Like you need to make the EPA the bad guy. Yeah. Bring this guy out. Yeah, exactly. Because he will make you easily believe, wow, these EPA guys are a bunch of dicks.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah. If you like I'm dickless. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:They're dick lift dicks. It's contradiction. Yeah, there you go. Um because I think in most cases, you, especially now, would probably be on the side of the EPA when you have a group of quasi-scientists using unlicensed and unregistered nuclear proton. Unregulated. Yeah. Yeah. With this like massive thing that's like storing all of the spirits after they're caught.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:That's a problem.
SPEAKER_06:That's a problem.
SPEAKER_07:So how do you get on the side of the Ghostbusters? You bring in William Atherton.
SPEAKER_06:Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_07:And now you hate the EPA.
SPEAKER_06:So he does he's great. I mean, he is the per perfect foil in this film.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So he did a great job. All right. All right. We we got through all the awesome people who are part of this film. Like we were saying, you are probably very familiar with the story of Ghostbusters, so I don't know if we really need to go down that rabbit hole, but what we do always do is talk about the IMDB film synopsis.
SPEAKER_07:Okay, let's see what they say.
SPEAKER_06:Okay. Shall shall I? Let's do it. Okay. Three former parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service. That's it.
SPEAKER_07:I it it's unclear to me that they actually were professors, but I guess that makes sense if they were uh working out of that university. That I like you never really know that they teach anything, but that's all besides the point.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, it's I feel like okay, it gives you kind of an idea of what this film's about, but I feel like it's really kind of like lacking in nuance.
SPEAKER_07:It's tough because like, especially when this movie first came out, it's it's like, what what even is this? Like, okay, it's a ghost story kind of movie, but it's a comedy and it's a sci- sci-fi, like special effects movie.
SPEAKER_06:Like, and that's why it actually was kind of a hard sell.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, it was a hard sell. They were given a really accelerated timeline to get everything made. I don't know that it would have even been possible to get it made had it not been put together by people that had already worked so much together. Uh but yeah, it's you know, to draw another parallel to Star Wars, it's like nothing people had really seen when it first came out. And it's like I remember I don't remember seeing it for the first time. I just like it it's almost like Ghostbusters has just always been like a part of my childhood, you know.
SPEAKER_05:It's just always collective unconscious, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:And it made it okay to not be afraid of ghosts because like when we were younger, like my parents at least would let me watch anything. Like my dad watched The Exorcist with me.
SPEAKER_06:Being a child of the 80s, uh there was a lot of latitude.
SPEAKER_07:Watching The Exorcist as a small kid is a psychologically damning thing to do. So going from that, and then like other like actual kid shows like Scooby-Doo, there were never actually really any ghosts. There was just a person who was gonna get a mask taken off at the end. So you really still didn't feel good about ghosts, you just thought like they weren't real. But then Ghostbusters are like, oh, they're real, but like you're not helpless, and it's kind of fun.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I mean, we talk about this with Ed in terms of like kind of first impressions, and I will say that I was young enough that Ghostbusters uh the things that I do remember from like initial viewings were were the scarier parts because I I was a kid, you know, and so like that's that that stuck with me.
SPEAKER_07:And um when Dana is pulled into like what is it, the closet? Yeah, the closet opens up a la original polter poltergeist style, and she is like dragged into this Yeah, don't go into closets, man.
SPEAKER_06:Closets are bad, bad news.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that that really scared me, notwithstanding the fact that it was overall a pretty fun movie. But when I saw that, I was pretty freaked out.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, so they and they walk that line really well. Uh okay, so like we said, we have an amazing guest that's coming up, and the last thing I just want to bring up before we dive into our conversation with him is Montage.
SPEAKER_07:Oh, yeah, this movie, we're back to montages.
SPEAKER_06:It actually has, I think, one of the strongest montages we've seen so far.
SPEAKER_07:Is it up to uh blood sport standards?
SPEAKER_06:I think it may even exceed blood sport standards. All right. I don't think it's very hard to exceed. Anyway, it comes in about 40 minutes into the film. Here's the reason why I think this montage is great. Um, first of all, they cue up the signature song of the film. Uh you mentioned him earlier, Ray Parker Jr. So great song. Everybody knows this song, it's awesome. And they play it during the sequence where it it is really impactful on the storyline because it takes us from the Ghostbusters getting their first completing their first job successfully to uh very quickly gaining both uh business and and fame for what they're doing. And so it very quickly moves us from them being this kind of like wide-eyed, hopeful, oh my god, are we gonna pay our rent type individuals to being exhausted by the volume of work that does it end with Winston getting hired?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah. It takes you it it goes through all of that process and you see kind of like how they become more um adept at their skills of busting ghosts.
SPEAKER_06:And kind of jaded, kind of kind of like, oh man, I just like I just need to sleep.
SPEAKER_07:Like because we go from the the opening scene in the library where there's this like fascination and amazement to man, I just wish I could go to sleep. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Like they're so bored with it by the And they talk about how like like Vakeman's like, you don't look good to the stand, you know, like you look better. And you don't normally look like this. Yeah, exactly. So it is actually a really effective montage in moving the story along.
SPEAKER_04:I agree.
SPEAKER_06:And and it's highly entertaining because also while the song is playing, you're seeing these really funny clips of them um, you know, both like doing doing actual work, but then you know, there's this like kind of uh adult-rated things where stance has this dream and this ghost anyway.
SPEAKER_07:If you're so obsessed with ghosts that you are dreaming of them unzipping your pants, holy cow.
SPEAKER_06:Right.
SPEAKER_07:That's that that's something that I I certainly did not fully grasp when I watched it as a kid. I was I was very confused by that scene. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So um, and then there's like just some fun stuff. Like you hear uh Casey Kaysom uh talking, so he has like kind of a voice cameo in the film. His his wife actually has a cameo in the film. She is at uh Lewis's party. She's the one that dances with him. That's Casey Kaysom's wife.
SPEAKER_07:That's amazing. And then there's someone else too, right?
SPEAKER_06:Um, well, uh what's his name?
SPEAKER_07:Larry Larry King, who is credited as Larry King.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. So that was like I think his like first film uh cameo.
SPEAKER_07:I don't know how many times that looked like it it looked like he was so young and he still had like the hunched over shoulders thing going on.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, right? I know. Um so yeah. Uh it it was a highly effective montage.
SPEAKER_07:And I like the second one too.
SPEAKER_06:Say that again.
SPEAKER_07:I like the other montage too.
SPEAKER_06:What's the other one?
SPEAKER_07:The other montage is when the um the it's I think a little bit briefer.
SPEAKER_06:It's not as long, but it's them getting ready to fight like the final fight.
SPEAKER_07:When the uh when the grid is turned off and all of them explode. Oh, yeah. Okay, okay.
SPEAKER_06:Fair, fair, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Um the song that plays during that montage is it's a good song. Yeah, it's it's very uh different tone than Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_06:It it's like this almost like dreamlike type of uh especially like the shot of Sigourney Weaver and like the her apartment's basically blown out. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um that's a very, very kind of dreamy sequence happening right there. So yeah, I mean I'm I'm looking over our notes, and I think honestly, like we did a bang up job of kind of knocking through everything so that we can get to this awesome.
SPEAKER_07:I have crossed everything off on my list except for one thing which has been underlined twice and circled three times, and that is to talk to Ed.
SPEAKER_06:Can I say just one last thing? Yeah. It's a very selfish uh addition to all of this. Perfect. Ghostbusters was released on my birthday.
SPEAKER_07:Holy shit. That's an awesome. Yeah. Happy birthday.
SPEAKER_06:Almost. Almost. So, okay. So without further ado, we're going to jump into our conversation with great actor, great friend, and enthusiastic Ghostbusters fan, Edward Hong. All right. We are here with Edward Hong. He is an actor, he is Cinnabon Monster, and he is also the father of three cats. Welcome, Edward.
SPEAKER_07:That's amazing.
SPEAKER_01:Hi, guys. It's good to be here. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, thank you so much for being on the show. We're so excited to have you. Uh, how have you been during all the uh times?
SPEAKER_00:Man, you know, one day at a time. I, you know, all things considering, I'm very lucky, lucky, and privileged to be okay, you know, mentally, financially, you know, all that lease. So I can't complain, but you know, we're in some crazy times, and especially even crazier times and pretty unfortunate times of the past few weeks here in America. But otherwise, doing all right, in all things considering.
SPEAKER_06:Good. And I mean, I think during these strange times, that has been one thing that has made us at least me. I can't I can't speak for Derek here, but I'm gonna go off the assumption that uh he too appreciates that we can have you know lighter moments where we can fall back on beloved movies, aka Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I don't think it's a stretch to say that I would rather talk about Ghostbusters than literally anything I might find in the news right now. Right.
SPEAKER_01:I I agree. I totally agree.
SPEAKER_06:So again, thank you so much for being on the show. And now let's uh let's just dive in, shall we?
SPEAKER_01:Let's do it.
SPEAKER_06:Ghostbusters. We know that this movie came out in 1984 and you're we're doing the 1984 one. Oh ha ha.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, that's good.
SPEAKER_06:I hope you know that, Edward.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes. We're gonna talk about the 1984 original Ghostbusters, yes.
SPEAKER_06:Although that would be hilarious if we were like, we're gonna talk about the cartoon The Real Ghostbusters. I do, I did watch that as a kid. Yeah, that wasn't bad. It wasn't bad.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, yeah, we'll we'll talk about that because like I I told Anna, like, as a like, you know, as a kid, I was a huge Ghostbusters fan, and then like seeing the sequel, and then watching the real Ghostbusters, and then even watching the sequel Extreme Ghostbusters, then watching the reboot, and then oh yeah, but even before that, they had the Ghostbusters, the video game, uh, where they brought back the original voice uh actors, and now I am very excited for what it they are they considered the official sequel Ghostbusters Afterlife. So that will be something Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:I mean, I think it was supposed to be this summer, but they pushed it for obvious reasons.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, yeah, and the video game is interesting because, like you said, they brought um some of the original voices back, and I think that story was intended to uh it could have actually been another like movie sequel.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, exactly. It was it it technically chronol chronologically, it is an official canon story um of sorts. So we'll dive into all that once we discuss about the original film that started it all.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I'm super curious to get your thoughts on this new one that's coming out. But before we get there, I so one thing I usually ask, and one thing that Derek and I discuss amongst ourselves as well, is first memories. So do you have like first memories, first experiences with this film that you recall?
SPEAKER_00:Yes. Uh I I think I'm pretty sure I I watched it when I was around eight or nine, and the reason why I remember it was that specific uh age bracket was when uh I remember getting a lot of the Ghostbusters toys, because as soon as I saw the movie, I you know, there were the action figurines and like the Ecto 1 tr uh vehicle, and I remember having all of those. And so I unfortunately don't like I think you know unfort it's kind of like the sad Toy Story thing where it's like, oh, I think I donated all of them, including all my G.I. Joe's, my Transformers, my aliens, and uh, you know, when you look back at it, like, oh my god, why did I do that? There were so many. It was awesome to have them on. You know, when when you're in your adult, you start to like remember your nostalgic days, like, oh, I wish I had them, but now they are gone somewhere, probably in a dumpster fire.
SPEAKER_07:Um, but there are probably some like collectors like maybe a new life somewhere.
SPEAKER_00:I hope I hope they do. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So first thoughts of your of the movie for you when you were a kid.
SPEAKER_00:It was extraordinary. I've it was just it was so fantastic to see, you know, because at that time as a kid, you know, you're ki you're curious about all things fantastical, and Ghostbusters definitely hit the spot. And it was just a funny movie that obviously only got funnier when you get older because then you start noticing all the adult jokes they make that completely glaze of your, you know, you don't understand it all as all at all as a kid. But even as a kid, like I appreciated like you know the the world building, the characters, like Slimer. Slimer was like a huge favorite of mine. I was like, oh man, Slimer's awesome. Um and so Ghostbusters for sure definitely uh played a big part in terms of like you know building block of like childhood fantasy, world, you know, imagination. So that I remember.
SPEAKER_06:So if you were about eight, when you first saw the film, was it just like a comedy to you, or were you at all scared of any of the like ghost elements?
SPEAKER_01:Okay, if I remember, what was A Skearda?
SPEAKER_00:At first, when Slimer did appear, it was a little bit scary because it was just like it would he was so grotesque looking that it was kind of like unsettling at first to see what the heck that thing was. And then I definitely remember, let's see. Um I don't remember being that freaked out. I remember like, for whatever reason, like when I watched a sequel, I was more freaked out by the sequel, Ghostbusters 2, than I was the original film. Because I think like something about like uh the ooze and all the ghosts that came out of that, that that scared me. Oh, of course. I remember what scared me. Duh, but it's in the in it's literally the beginning of the movie when they're in the library and they meet that ghost. That was probably the scariest part of it. And I think even now, I think in terms of like if anything still kind of you know jumps, you know, gets me in a jump scare, is the librarian ghost at the beginning. Um because after that, like you know, the monsters look a little bit gaudy, and like of course the state puffed marshmallow man is not something you go, oh my god, I'm so scared, but you remember it, you definitely remember a staypuff marshmallow man for sure. But in terms of scare factors, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:That first ghost was was kind of like a great introduction of the supernatural for the movie because it was scary and it kind of made you jump out of your seat a little bit, but it was also hilarious, just like the way that they created that scene and the getter, you know, and them like kind of comically running back like it's an Abbott and Costello thing. So yeah, I think like when I think of the movie, it it kind of like makes me think of one of the first kind of like ghost-ish movies where I wasn't as scared really. It was just kind of like like cool and fun to see them kind of come up with a way to to catch them and fight them. Yes.
SPEAKER_06:Okay, so two things. One, that's so interesting because I have like a little bit of a different experience of it, because I I was probably about the same age. I was probably about eight when I saw it for the first time, and I do distinctly remember like the ghost elements as the things that I remember most and being scared. Like I wasn't I wasn't like terrified of this film the way that like poltergeist or yeah, yeah, obviously. But like I distinctly remember the the library ghost. That was very scary to me. Um, I remember the I don't even know what it's supposed to be, but like the ghost that goes through the tailpipe of the taxi and then it pans over to the driver who now is the undead taxi driver. Yep. So that that stuck with me the most of anything else that was very scary to me. Um trying to think of what else.
SPEAKER_07:The Dan Aykroyd uh sexual assault ghost.
SPEAKER_06:That um I didn't understand that.
SPEAKER_00:I was like, uh, what's what's happening? I didn't get that, and then laid on the oh my god, she's going down on him.
SPEAKER_08:Oh she hurt him?
SPEAKER_02:Now he can't see. What's happening? Why is his eyes why is his eyes going up? Like, what's happening? I hope he gets better.
SPEAKER_06:So so those were my first memories of the film. But to your earlier point, Ed, uh, that's so interesting to me that you felt that the sequel was maybe a little bit scarier to you because I read that you know the original wasn't necessarily supposed to be a kid's movie. And so there were there was a lot of adult content and not just some of the you know innuendo, but they smoke a lot in the film and smoke in every lot. And so realizing after the first came first film came out that a lot of kids did see it and enjoyed it, they tried to tone down the more adult elements for the second film. So I I think that's so interesting. And also, you would have been maybe a little bit older seeing the second film.
SPEAKER_07:So nothing is more kid friendly than crazy possessed art people like flying through the sky stealing babies. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:I do remember the kid's name, and I love that name. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:Um, that's so interesting to me. So, okay. I guess we should just maybe not not get it out of the way, but because I am like kind of uh chomping at the bit to know you're gonna spend to get out of the way? Not get out of the way, because it's like worth talking about. Okay. But so we're already kind of veering into sequel territory, but I'm guessing you did see the trailer for the newest film that's coming out next year.
SPEAKER_00:So, okay, so I would say I kinda did, but I remember when I first saw it, it was in the theaters, and like because I was so excited for it, and for films that I'm trying to be, my partner and I are trying to be like for films that are most excited about, we will do everything we can not to watch the trailer. So we knew it was Ghostbusters, and so we so we're in the theaters, and then it started playing, and we actually ran out of the theater and like oh no no no no no no no no no no no no and then uh unfortunately I heard too much because I heard Paul Rudd's voice. Um and I was like, oh man, Paul Rudd's in this? Of course, man. Oh and so, you know, obviously I got you know, even before I saw like the posters, you know, that this is supposed to be a true sequel to it, that um let's see, Ivan Ivan Ritman's son directed this with Jason Reitman, and so it's supposed to it's him honoring his father's work. And so, you know, I you know, it's like you kind of know that there's gonna be a lot of love and attention being paid to this film, and so um, and then having like as many of the original actors as possible. I'm see still secretly hoping Rick Moranis is in it, because you can't have a Ghostbuster sequel without Rick Moranis, and I'm like, I'm just hoping he's like the surprise that no one expects. But um, but the only part that keeps me wary of you know, every time they do sequels to long like franchises from long ago, it's like you know, when we see like Jurassic Park with the Jurassic World sequels coming out, is that more often than not it tends to be very nostalgic, I don't know how to put this nostalgic porn. It's like they bank so heavily on that that it almost feels like it's a retread. Like, for example, Star Wars Force Awakens, it's like, well, it's gonna be pretty much it's pretty much new hope, but with you know better special effects and like a few characters turned changed around. So I'm kind of hoping this is not the case for Ghostbusters Afterlife that it's you know it's a film that can stand on its own as opposed to just being a regurgitation of what was successful from the first film. But it seems like it's not because you have like, you know, you have um you have the kid from Stranger Things and then uh Carrie Coon as his mother. And so there's definitely like a much like a very different dynamic of it's like focusing on this family, and then like um, but then I did see enough of it before my partner and I ran out of the theater.
SPEAKER_07:It's so like you've seen all of it.
SPEAKER_00:And now that I think about it. Maybe I'm in denial, but it's just like, yeah, uh it's seeing like oh the the Ecto one being like driven or okay, you know what? Maybe I did see it. Oh boy. Um so but regardless, I'm excited for it, you know. And that being said, I didn't mind the I know a lot of people give a lot of crap about the Ghostbusters' reboot. Um I didn't mind, I didn't care that it was all female. I was just like, you know, if anything, I would have preferred that, you know, I'm one of the I I do think that you know there doesn't need to be like an all-female crew, but that you know the the women do play much more significant parts than just being like the secretary, uh, even though she was great at it. But that being said, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it for what it was, and you know, um that is a film that still needs to be acknowledged because it was like I was excited for it. It was great seeing Chris Hemsworth being a complete idiot. Um and there are aspects that that worked, and I was like, you know, um, so that's a film that I want to get out of the way and be like, even as a Ghostbusters fan, I appreciate all forms of it, even to the point of like, you know, I've seen Ghostbusters go to the weird and bizarre, like, you know, especially through the animated TV shows. So I'm not a stranger to when just people decide to take it in a different direction. I'm like, you know, it's not good to be precious about your source material. It's like let them do it. And if you don't like it, then you know, there's you can always go back to the others, and that's how I feel about that.
SPEAKER_07:I think the the reboot was I I still enjoy it more than Ghostbusters 2. I don't think I've enjoyed any of it as much as the original movie. Uh it got it came out during like a weirder time, and I think because of that, it got way more like aggressive hate than it deserved. It wasn't that good. It's like if any reboot or remake ever deserved aggressive uh hatred, it's definitely poltergeist.
SPEAKER_06:But we will bring that up, and I think that's like our goal now to bring up the reboot of poltergeist in every episode of the podcast and just like pardon me, but like shit all over it. Yeah, and we neither of us have ever seen it. We just refused.
SPEAKER_07:But um I I missed out on the sequel that never was going to be made because I thought the way that they like the the post-credit scene where they're setting up Zool. Yeah, they were setting up Zool, and I'm like, oh that's that's that would be really fun. That would have been awesome to see.
SPEAKER_06:But and and Ed, I really appreciate what you said about the reboot because I completely agree. I thought that um it it it was treated so unfairly before it was even released. And so it was never going to have a chance, honestly. I was I was it was it's the first time I can remember, honestly, on seeing that the culture and the tide of opinion was going to be against this film so uh intensely that it was never going to be a success because it it it was already just um discarded. And and so I appreciate that there are individuals who like they they see it for what it is. It I laughed, I thought it was funny, I thought it was entertaining. I love all the actors, they all are just such great comedic talents. Chris Emsworth was actually amazing, uh amazing in it. Um I could have probably done without actually the cameos you were talking about nostalgia porn. I yeah, I didn't think it was really worth having the Aykroyd and and well, I think all four of them, and it wasn't even so it was like Ernie, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Bill Murray, uh Zig Roy.
SPEAKER_08:I don't remember.
SPEAKER_07:There was a bust of Harold Ramis in it somewhere. Yeah, I mean try to get every bit of it that they could to like mix these. I guess they were intended to be like parallel universes.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. I mean, I I I didn't think that really added to it, especially Ackroyd. Like, don't get me wrong, I love Danny Ackroyd, but his version of the cabbie was just you know, in in the whole, like, I ain't afraid of no.
SPEAKER_07:I was just like, uh, that's one of the cringier moments, but it was New York, it wasn't Boston, but it reminds me of these current commercials where it's like, your cousin from Boston.
SPEAKER_06:Do you know what we're talking about, Edward?
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:They're hilarious. But that's what his accent That's what his accent reminded me of. Um I know there's a lot of people who just like don't even watch television anymore, so they don't they just like don't see commercials, but it's actually a pretty funny uh series of commercials. But yeah, so I I'm glad I saw the reboot. I am very sad that it was never really given a chance, and so like Derek was speaking of the the sequel to it was was immediately killed. But um So okay, kind of just like because I I'm very curious about this. So when you mentioned that like you and your partner ran out of theater, do you do that for like every film that you want to do?
SPEAKER_00:It was only re It was only recently, like we because it's like she you know, we were talking about like trailers and how more nowadays trailers tend to give everything away or like give the best stuff away. So um so I think starting last year we started doing it, so like we have not seen a trailer for like Wonder Woman, the sequel, because we were big fans of the first film, and then like for any for like we try to do it for like major blockbusters where I'm like, you know, if we have we're if we're like down to watch it, we're not gonna watch a sequel. So for example, fast Fast and Furious Nine, we haven't seen this trailer for it. So we're like, we're we want to be completely surprised by it. Although it can be. I mean, unfortunately, yeah. It's hard to do it anyways because it's like, you know, it even if you don't watch trades, you don't actively go on YouTube and look for it, or you know, you don't watch it in the theaters, is that you'll find people talk about it on social media. So the big part that they revealed in Fast 9 about one particular character, I'm like, oh man.
SPEAKER_06:I wish you know, yeah, it's hard to escape it.
SPEAKER_00:I was like, oh, I wish they kept that a secret, because it what a great surprise that would have been. But you know, I think that was like one of their selling marketing factors. I'm like, ah, okay, fine.
SPEAKER_07:Well, after Hobbes and Shaw, which did fine for a spin-off, but not that great for like what their expectations were in a in a like fast series movie.
SPEAKER_02:You know, we just saw that build up.
SPEAKER_00:We just saw that film, Hobbs and Shaw, like a few weeks ago, and I was like, you know, Fast and Furious is known to be silly and dumb. And then we watched Hobbs and Shaw, we're like, you know what? The Fast and Inferior series are like masterpieces compared to this.
SPEAKER_06:So you're just That's so funny. And I I must say, you're so respectful because even in speaking about that reveal, you did not give the reveal. You're so good. It's amazing. So, okay, you did mention uh when we were talking about the reboot, Rick Moranis. And he's an amazing part of actually, I mean both films, you know. Um, even though I I have to say, if this hasn't been already apparent, I'm not a huge fan of the sequel. It's it's just a little too silly for me.
SPEAKER_08:Yeah, it is.
SPEAKER_06:But uh yeah. I mean I can appreciate it for what it is. It's not meant it's not trying to be a masterpiece, but um in any case, that's one thing that I really appreciated about the sequel, at least that everybody be everybody came back.
SPEAKER_08:Yeah, yes.
SPEAKER_06:And that that's that's huge when when people love a story so much that they're willing to do that, especially it's it's even more difficult when you have a handful of big names who have busy schedules and other commitments, and the fact that they all did this does speak to the quality of the of the source material. So I can appreciate that. Um but anyway, getting back to Rick. So I think you and I had mentioned this, uh, who had been originally thought of for the role, right?
SPEAKER_01:I don't think so. I don't think we talked about this.
SPEAKER_06:Oh, really? So did you know that John Candy was originally considered for the Lewis Tolle character?
SPEAKER_00:No, I the only thing I knew was that I know that John Belushi was considered for the role of uh Peter Bankman. Um but then he died.
SPEAKER_06:So then Yeah, yeah, we can we can definitely go over that as well. But yeah, um Candy, so I mean, I think for anybody who has any familiarity with like 80s films and that whole world, like all these guys are friends, you know. Um they either come from well, they kind of all come out of Second City, yeah. Yeah, but uh and then went on to Saturday Night Live or SCTV, that's like kind of the Canadian version of Saturday Night Live, and so they're all in this world together, including Candy. And uh yeah, they originally wanted him, but apparently he just had uh like really strong opinions about how he wanted to play Tully. He was supposed to be German, he wanted to have um have him have these two little dogs, and they just felt that like actually, which is kind of hilarious to me because it is uh an absurd story in itself, but they're like, no, this is you're just taking it too far.
SPEAKER_07:That's too bad.
SPEAKER_06:So yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I mean, I I would have really the only thing I would enjoy more than Rick Moranis and Segourney Weaver hooking up in a movie would be John Candy and Segourney Weaver hooking up.
SPEAKER_02:That would have been phenomenal. Oh my god.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, so I mean, I guess, you know, I hope hope no hard feelings, but they eventually were like, sorry, dude, but this is just not gonna work for us. But to the benefit of the film, because Moranus did Yeah, he was great. He was perfect.
SPEAKER_00:Speaking of, I think, you know, anytime people talk about the original Ghostbusters film, like we're you know, we're because on the vein of what we're talking about, like, you know, possible casts that would have been if you know in the alternate universe, the big one, and I think this is like it's kind of sad also to talk about is like the role of Winston. Uh, because I know it was supposed to go for they were trying to get Eddie Murphy for the role, and he Oh, that's what it was.
SPEAKER_06:I'm sorry I misremembered that. That's what you had mentioned.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it was Eddie, it was Eddie Murphy. Um, and the role of Winston was supposed to be much bigger. He, you know, it's still still kind of like the he's supposed to be the realist of the group, and he has the military experience and all that stuff. But then Eddie Murphy turned it down, and they're like, Oh, crap, because they really wanted him. And so then they changed the role, or no, it was like the role was still there, and then they got uh, you know, uh Ernie Hudson, who was definitely not as well known, and then you know, reading his story of like he got the role, it was like, you know, a dream role is like he's never got anything that big, and then they like drastically cut down the role to what it is, which it's not a bad role, but like compared to what it was before, it's like it's so much smaller and it could have been so much better. Um, and so it it's Ernie Hudson has always been a care an actor who is like, you know, it's it's like a hard it's like a for an actor, it's a story that's hard to hear because it's like you know, you get your dream opportunity and it just gets completely butchered down until you like it doesn't become anything. So you're grateful to be part of something that's a legacy, but at the same time, it's like you know, all the heartache and all the stress and the disappointment you had to get through it, and like not getting along well with that aspect. So, you know, it's interesting to see like how like it's they don't they didn't quite give Winston the treatment that he deserved, and interestingly enough, they gave him the treatment he deserved in the animated series. Like he gets his due fair share in that. And so that was something that I appreciated in the animated series, which in many ways, like you know, I've always been a fan that like even as good as good as the live-action movies are, there's something fascinating when an animated property takes hold of it and expands on a story in ways that the live action never did. And so, well, that will be we'll talk about that very, very soon. But uh, but yeah, basically back to Winston, you know, he was a character that I appreciated because he was the realist. He was the one that didn't quite believe everything until he had to. And so, you know, it was a character I I appreciated even as a kid. I was like, Oh, I like him. He's a guy who's like, I don't understand what the heck is going on, but okay, fine.
SPEAKER_06:You bring up so many good points. I want to try to like remember all the all the things I wanted to respond with. So I don't know if you notice this. Uh I mean it's just like lightning quick, but when the four of them are in jail and they get released to see the mayor, do you recogni did you recognize the the officer who's like, hey, the mayor wants to speak to you?
SPEAKER_01:No, who's who is the officer?
SPEAKER_06:So he was also up for the role of Winston, and this was like their like conciliatory uh what's the word I'm looking for? There you go.
SPEAKER_07:I don't I don't know if that's what you're saying, but that'll work.
SPEAKER_06:It's it's good enough. Um Reginald Bell Johnson.
SPEAKER_07:Oh.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, from Die Hard and uh Family Matters.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Right, oh my god, yeah. Yeah, he was in that.
SPEAKER_06:So he um I guess was was also up for the role of Winston, and then they said, Hey, would you mind taking this role instead um after he didn't get it? And so, and also what is funny to me, at least, about him being in the film is that also William Atherton, who plays Walter Pack.
SPEAKER_07:We've covered him in several movies, it seems like, yeah.
SPEAKER_06:He's also in diehard, so a little diehard connection to Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_07:He plays the same uh guy in every thing.
SPEAKER_06:I mean he's great at it. And that's something that constantly comes up between uh Derek and myself when when we watch Ghostbusters is how they manage to make somebody from the EPA the villain.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:But I think that's amazing. And also, um, you know, when they get kicked off campus, Dean Yeager has several very valid points about why they're getting kicked off campus, and they make him also like a complete asshole.
SPEAKER_00:No, we no, we gotta yeah, we gotta talk about that, like, you know, once you it's interesting that when you re-watch films and really dissect, you know, and so you were talking about that, like those guys, especially what Peter Venckman was doing in as a professor, it was absolutely terrible. Like, you know, what he was doing to those students, I'm like, ew. Like, especially when he was hitting on the the college girl, like, oh my god, that's terrible.
SPEAKER_02:I don't think I noticed originally that the guy that he kept zapping actually did appear to have some psychic ability.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, he he did have the talent, but he was like, nah, man, you no, you don't got it. I'm like, oh my god.
SPEAKER_06:Which I I find so interesting because it's so deliberate that they want you to see Vakeman is like kind of a scummy character, but because a car salesman. Yeah, but we're getting show her. Well, actually, that was the original line. She changed it. Okay. Yeah. Um but it's only because it's Bill Murray that you still like him. Like, I mean, it could have been any other actor, and I'd be like, oh, he's he's awful.
SPEAKER_07:Well, who it would have been Belushi, right?
SPEAKER_06:It would have been Belushi. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:I could have done that, I guess. I could have seen that happening and and still kind of been on his side a little bit. But I mean, with with um Bill Murray, it's it's tough to not like whatever persona he's putting out there.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:He's it's just it's it's fascinating that it's like it's like you so speak of care uh charisma, but it's just the way he plays his that character, as well as like how you know, you know, Bill Murray acts, is just like that the whole like kind of like the cynical DGAF demeanor that you know was probably like a huge you know thing for him back in the 80s that you know catapulted his career. And you know, you watch it and you're like at first you're like, I don't know if I should like this guy, but it's just there's something so dry, he's so good with the dry humor and the understated and aspect of it that in despite his like complete asshole tendencies, because like you're saying, you know, because he does that, it to any other actor who plays it, it wouldn't be bad, but because he doesn't try to you know go, he doesn't amp that up, but instead he just goes for the extremely dry route that you just kind of go, he's a dick, but there's something slightly charming about that, I guess.
SPEAKER_07:So he's a total asshole, but I'd probably have a beer with him.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And the same could be said for Belushi. Uh I mean he yes, b uh both of you have brought this up already. He was fully intended to be the character of Peter Bakingpin, and unfortunately he passed um before the film was produced. And uh I think that it's probably also no secret that as somewhat of a homage to him, the character of Slimer is supposed to be evoking him and and more specifically his character in Animal House.
SPEAKER_07:Well, that's insulting, I think, because Slimer is disgusting.
SPEAKER_06:Well, that's why I'm saying that it's it's more so his related back to Pluto.
SPEAKER_07:It's literally his spirit animal, but not his spirit ghost is Slimer.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's so much the actor.
SPEAKER_06:I think it's not who Belushi was, so I don't think it's that much of it. What were you saying, Ed?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, I was saying it's I don't think it's so much of like Belushi, but also I think like, what was it? He had that uh was that the cafeteria scene in National Lampoons Animal House.
SPEAKER_08:That's exactly it.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so I think like the whole gluttonous aspect of us was just kind of like that's that was the homage to that, as opposed to like that's who John Belushi is, he's a slob.
SPEAKER_06:Right. And and so that I think is one interesting part of the Slimer character. And then also what I read is that Slimer wasn't Slimer, like he wasn't referred to as Slimer in the film, he only got that name in the real Ghostbusters.
SPEAKER_07:Because then he became like a sidekick comic.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah. Which that I mean, honestly, up until I read that not too long ago, that never occurred to me.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I know. Wow, I I I didn't realize that either. Oh man. I need a moment to gather my thoughts.
SPEAKER_06:I mean fact among at least like the crew, I mean, he was never going to be referred to as name because he's not really like he's a character that pops up throughout the film, but he's not, you know, he was referred to as like onion head. So there you go. That's like me sneaking in a little bit of film trivia for you all. And that's all I got. Okay.
SPEAKER_07:I mean, if if you hadn't blown us away with saying that it was unnamed until the animated series, like whatever little part of my mind was remaining was completely vaporized with the onion head comes. Yeah, I I had nothing left after that.
SPEAKER_06:So it sounds like to me that uh okay, look, I'm not a I'm not a gamer. Um, haven't been a gamer since the original Nintendo came out. But um it sounds like between the two of you.
SPEAKER_07:I've never actually played it, but I I know they did like a remaster or remake of it recently within the last couple years. Um and that's why I I've learned a little bit more about it, because around Halloween time, I will make a specific choice to try to find like Halloween or supernatural themed games. Um so yeah, you might know more about it than I do.
SPEAKER_06:Oh go ahead. Well, I was just gonna say the reason why I bring it up is because it sounds like between what Edward's always already said about the real Ghostbusters in the way that it's this actually substantial continuation of the story, and then also you've brought up the games, like would you say that like the world of the Ghostbusters has opened up far beyond the original film for the better, or how do you see like the world building with all these other subsequent like entities of of the original story?
SPEAKER_00:Um, I would say, especially in in the context of the real the real Ghostbusters, they expanded the mythology to a much considerable extreme. Like in terms of the uh Ghostbusters video game, that was kind of like if it it was entertaining, but it was still kind of like retread of what came before because it does go back to the whole aspect of Gozer. Like, you know, so they bring that back for the video game, and that's like the main plot line of that. So it's still entertaining, but in but my main focus is on the animated show, because for example, one of the like out of the there were so many episodes for that, but the ones I remember the most was um when Peter Venckman actually had to go inside the um the unit in terms of where all the ghosts were kept. So he actually went inside it. And so just to like, you know, just to see the world, like, you know, where the ghosts were being kept prisoner, like, you know, that was fascinating to see. And then like just other aspects where they were old mythology, some like the one I remember the most was when they explored the mythology of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. And I think I remember what was so cool about that episode was that the headless horseman kept pursuing Ichabod Crane and his descendants over the years, and then you see the Headless Horseman like change his mode of transportation as time went on to the point that he kind of looked like Ghost Rider at the end. Awesome. So that I remember that was pretty cool, and then like you know, we were talking about like you know, like the movies being scary. The animated show is even scarier, like some of the things that they create, like it was straight up like almost like H Lovecraft, like the monster designs. Um, and then um at one point uh Egon gets mute, like he turns into like this were chicken, it's like a werewolf chicken hybrid. And I remember being horrified by that. It was such a horrendous monster, and I was like, oh my god. Yeah, it's if you if you type in Google, like you know, Egon Were Chicken, you'll see what he looks like there.
SPEAKER_07:And then like what would have triggered that change.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I don't remember that either. But I do remember, like, you know, they had that, they had episodes about the boogeyman, uh, which also was pretty freaky. And then seeing like the episode it was no coincidence that like the most iconic real uh the real Ghostbuster episodes were written, was written by this uh, let's see, what's his name? Babylon writer J. Michael Strazinski, um, the guy he worked on Babylon 5. And so they got this guy to write for a kids TV show, and it showed. Like he, you know, his concept was that he didn't see it as a kid's TV show. He's like, we're gonna scare these kids. That's my goal. And so I think they did a great thing. So they really did respect, like, you know, the horror mythology of like, you know, that you the things that you would know, and then they incorporated their own. And then like in terms of what I mentioned before, like Winston getting his own due, there was a great episode where Winston had it was a it was a baseball game with the spirits of good and the spirits of evil, and he was on the spirit of good, and it was a baseball game, and it was a it was a Winston episode, and the other guys only came in at the end of the episode. Uh, but it was all him. And so that though those were the aspects. And then also they do bring up Winston's like military training and his background, and that is brought back multiple times throughout the show. So it's nice to see like you know, everyone getting their fair sh uh fair uh uh deal, right, especially for Winston. Um and obviously as well.
SPEAKER_06:Is that I you you informed me for the first time, I had no idea that his character was supposed to have a military background. I that did not come across to me at all. And so that's very interesting to know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it was in the original version of Winston, like that was much now, yeah, that was like definitely emphasized. And I think in the the one that we actually see in the 1984 movie, I I think they briefly mention it, or like when they were in prison, he might have mentioned that, but that I could be wrong about that. But I remember it was more of a throwaway line than an actual thing to focus on.
SPEAKER_07:Um they really portray him as just like someone looking for a job. Like I'll believe whatever if I get paid.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, and I do think that I mean, if I may say, given what you've mentioned about the character and the way that the character was originally supposed to be imagined, it's it is a a disservice to him because like it does seem like like they he it doesn't give him the kind of weight that that character should have had in terms of like being the realist and having the actual like military background to kind of deal with difficult situations. Um, you know, it's like almost like really what's happening at the end of the film is like ghost terrorism, and so like he would be in some ways the best equipped to deal with something like that. So um, so it's so interesting to hear that, and you know, I I I was I was aware that they had significantly cut down his character. I didn't know what they had cut out about him. Um so it's it's unfortunate because it could have just enriched the film all the more to have had more of him in there in that way.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, for sure. No, I agree, I totally agree with that.
SPEAKER_06:But everything that you just first of all, you have amazing recall because I do remember watching the real Ghostbusters as a kid. I do not remember that level of detail.
SPEAKER_07:I don't remember the ware chicken, but I looked it up and it's hilarious that they come out on a full moon to lay another ware chicken egg. I love that.
SPEAKER_06:That is really funny. Um I think that like what because like what's coming to mind in you bringing up the way of this like world building and and extending mythology, because our the previous episode about uh Back to the Future is kind of similar in that regard. Like these are both films that have had lives that have extended well beyond the original film in different ways. Um, but only the Ghostbusters have also continued in a like outside of like video games and you know, the cartoon series. Now more films are being put out again.
SPEAKER_07:I mean it reminds me a little bit of Star Wars and and the way that after the comparison. In between the Well I don't know when the the animated if those came out. I think the animated like the Clone Wars and and the other series, I think those came out after the prequels.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, for sure did, yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, but the way that they were able to explore like characters from the trilogy, from from the various trilogies, like Anakin, and introduce other characters, it it reminds me a little bit of what Ghostbusters did. And then I guess on the other end of the extreme, Back to the Future was much more conservative because the creators just had a much tighter degree of control and they just didn't want to expand it that much. But Ghostbusters in Star Wars, they kind of seem a little similar in the way that they've like been able to expand their their respective universes and create characters and then give credit or really flesh out stories of characters that maybe didn't get as much time in the movies like Winston in Ghostbusters or The Wear Chicken. But uh I don't know if that was intentional, if they were following like let's do the Star Wars thing, or if probably not just let's follow the money trail is probably what they are thinking, and that's fine, I get it.
SPEAKER_06:It's well then they were it's yeah, yeah, they were. Um but my question for you then, Edward, is you know, so it it it somewhat um discounts the question because we'll bring up like, you know, would this film be made today? So instead, my question to you is because it is it it is is that do you want to see the the world continued and the story continued with you know new films uh rebuilding it? Or or do do you sometimes think that it's just enough to have had the original films and and leave it as is?
SPEAKER_00:It's it's a hard one because like I'm such a huge fan of the property that you know part of me wants to say yes because you know obviously what Dan Aykroyd is doing is that they created like yeah, I'm looking at it, it's like they created like a Ghostbusters Inc. So they have an entire like corporation of sorts or so they wanna they they want to put out not only the afterlife but also like more video games, animated series, possible TV series. So they they they they're trying to create like a a bigger universe, like continue the legacy of that, but having more uh you know, like you were saying, the creative control. And so what I'm worried about, that's the negative side, is that like you know, it's like when is it when you when when is it too much? When do you when are you like draining the blood dry where it's like there's just nothing now? And so um and I rarely do I ever see it actually continue well, like you know, especially when it's been done so long. Actually, I can't really think of anything where like it's been done successfully, you know, where they like take something and they just blow it up and they make an entire franchise out of it. Like, you know, and I know people are gonna say, like, you know, you know, they're like, well, Star Wars is doing a great job. And I go, I don't know, because once Disney took, you know, couldn't be a good one.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, I would say that those have they they've been fun and enjoyable to watch, but it's also like arguable whether the quality is still.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I love it. That's that's the one I'm gonna say, okay. That's the one it felt like they took a chance and they took a risk there. But I think unfortunately, with a lot of the Disney property, is that like, you know, when we saw the Star Wars film, it's like it was like a momentous occasion. Like it didn't come out that often, and when it did, you're like, oh my god, this is amazing. And so, you know, and I know people like to like crap on the prequels, they're like, well, at least the new trilogy is better. And I'm like, okay, there's a yes and no, because at least you know, with the prequels, the dude, George Lucas, had vision, like he had like very great, fascinating ideas that just unfortunately wasn't executed well because he's not a great dialogue writer. Yeah, but um he's not at all. But in terms of ideas, like the introducing the idea that the Jedi Council is actually not that great because they're rigid and they're actually stifling, um, is new. It's like, you know, we always knew that they were supposed to be awesome and good, but to introduce that they weren't that excellent, you know, was a great idea. Unfortunately, this is where writing does come in, where I, you know, I always tell my partner, and she's always like, Come on, I heard you say this a million times. Like, well, I wish Palpatine would have been portrayed more, you know, sympathetic. Like, you know, he actually cared about as opposed to being like, I am evil, I will talk in this slow manner.
SPEAKER_07:Um incarnate with no redeeming qualities or anything that you could possibly sympathize with.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, but just being like, I'm just trying to help, and the dark side is the best way to do it. And it would make the audience really question, like, oh, maybe he's right. And then so when Mace Window does try to kill, like, you know, Palpatine, that Anakin had every reason to defend Palpatine over Mace Windu. But then, you know, then you know, we get into the territory that might be a little too morally ambiguous, and then the audience might not know what to do with that. I'm like, I'm all for morally morally ambiguous stories, which may not work as a blockbuster movie.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, unfortunately, yeah, I think you you hit the nail on the head is that when you go down perhaps the more interesting route, it doesn't appeal as much to the masses. And especially since film is just a global industry now, and it's not just about what's going to appeal to like domestic audiences, it has to like convert to to everywhere. So, um, and and I think unfortunately with the prequel, like you know, we I we're getting thank you for joining our Ghostbusters podcast.
SPEAKER_01:Ghostbusters has now turned to Star Wars.
SPEAKER_06:And you know what? And I will tie this back. Um I think one thing that and it it was completely his prerogative to do so. I mean, he he funded these films, but I think Lucas, he just always has been so enamored with technology and with like what you can do with the effects and that sort of thing, and I think to the des detriment of story, and because that that was my biggest takeaway from the prequels, is that it was just all you know uh CGI and and the whole deal, and and it took me out of the real world of of story.
SPEAKER_07:Even when it wasn't to the detriment, it did offer some distraction. And I will say, after having watched the original 1984 Ghostbusters last night, yes, that the use of a fax never took me out of it, even when it was like obviously like kind of corny, but for the most part, they still they still hold up pretty well.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, yeah. And that is how I am also tying it back, is that I'm no no no, not at all. I appreciate you you bringing us there because I I just want to see a good story. And even though when you look at the 84 film, yeah, it's corny, you can tell that I mean they they admit themselves that they were super rushed on getting those effects done.
SPEAKER_07:And you could even I love watching those big like demon dogs run.
SPEAKER_06:Like just the running animation is so like and I guess if you look at like newer prints of the film where it's just like really, really crystal clear, you can even see like um things that weren't painted out. Like, I mean it's it's it's not good, but I think it works well within the world of the film, and so I'm very curious to see what they do with that in the newest film. Because with the ghost the Paul Figue Ghostbusters, I'll just refer to it as that. Um great of facts, and I do feel like it was balanced. What do you think, Ed?
SPEAKER_00:I yeah, I mean, like uh I remember when he was making a film, he there was an interview that he wanted to make this like truly scary, like, and I think Paul Fake did accomplish that because like I remember what was that? There was oh yeah, when they were in like the mannequin factory, and then like and then that came to life. I was actually genuinely freaked out by that. I was like, oh my god. So I think in terms of like you know what he wanted to do with the ghosts, I think he did a great job with that. Um the one major complaint I remember having of the film was that like I think this is where like you know where the original film did work better was that like when you have like a team, and especially if it's a comedy film, everyone has to be very distinct from each other. And so with the reboots with the Paul Fake version, like every like most of the people seem pretty similar. Like they all were kind of crazy, a little like zany kind of thing. And then like, you know, unfortunately, this is where like you know, I do notice like when it comes to like how do films portray minority characters, and then they portrayed Leslie's character um as kind of like, oh, I'm the I'm the sassy black woman who talks loud kind of thing. And then so I was kind of like, uh, but then at the same time, like, well, the actress kind of like printed her brand as that particular character, so I'm like, you can't really knock on it too much because the literally the actress does that. So but at the same time, it's like, oh, she's someone who works in the she's like oh yeah, she's like uh the public transportation worker who joins the crew. And I think that that was kind of like that that's where the Winston effect, people that's what I've heard they call it the Winston effect, where it's like, oh, Winston wasn't he was just a dude who needed a job, and then it kind of carried over into the reboots where it was like, oh, yeah, she's just uh you know, a public transportation worker, as opposed to like, why can't she be a scientist? Why can't she be someone of like substantial background? You know, I mean that's that's a whole different uh topic right there.
SPEAKER_07:But when you bring up his um like Winston's military background that they never really went into much in in the movie, I thought her character, Wesley's character, was more about this, she had this exhaustive knowledge of like the city and the transit system and the tunnels. And so I guess at least they tried to make it a little bit more than just someone who needed a job. Like she had something to offer, and they actually allowed her to articulate that versus Winston's character, which really was just like whatever.
SPEAKER_06:But you're not wrong. I mean, I do think that that actually was probably the biggest weakness of the 2016 Ghostbusters, is that it's the exact same setup where you have like, yes, there's like this like um falling out between Kristen Wiggs' character and Melissa McCarthy, but um it's it's those two, and then Kate McKinnon, and so they're this trio that's like a tight unit, and then they bring her on board, and it that's exactly the premise of the first Ghostbusters, and so it would have been nice to see a little bit more of an innovation on that, right? And like you said, like you know, why not play against character, even if she has established herself as Leslie Jones as this, you know, kind of um working class brash kind of, I don't know, character. Like, put her in a different role, see what she can do with it, you know?
SPEAKER_07:And and so when I think of the the remake or the reboot or the the re whatever fill in the blank you would use to describe that movie, what it does is it in my mind it really highlights just how special the cast was in the original. Yeah. Yes. Because they are kind of filling in similar roles, and as great as they are, I don't know that you would ever find a cast that would recreate exactly the magic that Akroyd and Ramus and Bill Murray brought to it and and Ernie Hudson. Yeah. I mean, it was just like the what they brought to the theater, you know, and not to make another Star Wars comparison, but it's similar in the sense that you'd never seen like this space opera like Star Wars before in the mo in the uh cinema, and no one had ever really seen a movie like Ghostbusters before. It just did things like it blended genres in ways that people hadn't seen before, and it did so with like more than adequate special effects and a cast that really like brought the comedy to it. And it just is like that's that's their starting point, and that's why creating expanding that universe was always going to be difficult, uh as opposed to something like Marvel properties or DC properties, where there's just so much content that they can build off of in so many different ways with so many characters. Uh, but I still hope they try.
SPEAKER_06:Well, I I'm curious, Edward. So as Derek was like just saying, in terms of like this appeal of the actors, and I think a big part of it comes out of their really in uh intimate relationships with each other. They had known each other for years, they had already worked together on multiple projects in the past. Have you been in uh circumstances like that as an actor where do you feel like there is something to be said where you can work with somebody where you've known them and you have a level of familiarity and comfort with them? Or as a professional, do you just is it just expected that like you can you can garner that camaraderie and that intimacy regardless of previous relationship?
SPEAKER_00:I mean, ideally as a professional, that is what you're supposed to do, but there is no question that you know if you are you know how a director works or you know how you know these bunch of actors work, that you know, you could see it, like especially especially when it comes to comedy, like it's effortless. It's like it's so clear that you know it just it's everything is fluid, like you know, it's like so for example, uh other comedy teams like the one I like, Tyco, YTT, and Jermaine Clement, like you know, those two guys, like they always work with each other, like maybe not acting-wise, but like you know, in terms of writing, like you know, they're both doing uh continuing the what we do in the shadows, the FX series, and you can see you can see like you know, their minds, like they know what to expect of each other. And so when it comes to comedy, I think like you know, it is it tends to be better when uh you have a core group of people who you know work with each other. Now that can be now that being said, there is the danger of like, oh, then it starts to become sort of like a club of sorts, and it can be it can it can get stagnant, it can get like you know boring. And so the danger of that is that like you know, if you always use the same actors over and over again, then it can get boring. As opposed to I do see like collaborations where they're like, okay, let's switch it up a bit, let's have a new actor or a new lead. And I think like, you know, there or like even like um I'll bring him up, like for example, Todd Phillips. It's like he always has the same group, but then like when he made The Joker, while I was not a fan of that movie personally, it's it does show the a director doing something drastically different. And so I appreciate when you know if even if they have a core group of people or a core group of things they work on, that they can do something different and just take a risk and do that.
SPEAKER_06:So I mean, really well said, uh, first of all, and I think it segues really well into probably like our last question of uh of our amazing talk with you. So you can I I don't want to leave this too broad because I know that sometimes makes it difficult, but you can answer this however you'd like. Um, in terms of as an actor, as a comedic actor, or even just like on a personal note, like what what does this film meet mean to you? And and if it if if it's really more the the world of Ghostbusters and not just the original, that's fine too. But like how how has this film affected your life, if it has at all?
SPEAKER_00:Oh wow man, that's a good question. Um I mean, like I think as as soon as you asked that question, uh strangely enough, a sound effect came to my head, and it's the sound effect every time they turn on the machine. And that's yeah, that was the first thing that came in. So I think like in terms of how it affected my life, I think I think I appreciate more as a actor now. It's just like, you know, because it's like in terms of like, you know, nowadays we see things like you know, the supernatural and that kind of thing. And I think even like with the Ghostbuster reboot, um, that there isn't too many examples of like nowadays of like uh movies that are willing to blend the supernatural and the comedy, which I think coincidentally does plug into Anno what you are currently working on, that you are doing something of that nature.
SPEAKER_06:And so that was thank you, Ed. What a good friend you are.
SPEAKER_00:By the way, her short film is called She Had a Coming, and it will be coming too.
SPEAKER_06:I'll uh I'll send you that Vemo payment later.
SPEAKER_00:But yes, um I think yeah, it's it's a film that you know what it did is that it inspired the imagination of you know, not only the kids who maybe then they became filmmakers or creators themselves, but just the possibility of just like, you know, what these guys did is that you know, it's the classic story that we see, but done well here is just like they face insurmountable odds in terms of like, you know, and what they experienced was almost like a ghost pandemic, like the ghost just like exploding everywhere and just like going all over the place. And so I think what that does, what I do have hope in the future, especially with now that doing Ghostbusters Inc., is that like you know, I would love to see them tackle, and I've had like people I know in the Asian community, they're like, dude, if they tackle the Filipino ghost culture, like that's horror, like what they have is horrifying. Like, like, oh my god, some of the it is the stuff of nightmares. It's like, you know, if they if the Ghostbusters franchise ever decide, hey, we'll tackle ghosts from around the world because it became like a successful venture, and you see Ghostbuster teams of like different countries, like there's a potential of like exploring and exploring the roots and the mythology of so many rich, like you know, cultural stories of their supernatural. And so I think there is a possibility of something really awesome. It just depends on like how willing, how open do they want to be in terms of doing that. But that is a question that remains to be seen um in the future. But I think uh it goes back to what I'm saying of like you know, what this film has done to me is that like it does explore the possibility of like you know, the ghost in your life, like you know, you know, wherever you are, your cultural background, that there is a story to be told, and you know, it'll be it'll be it's a great imagination tool of just like kicking that ghost's butt. And that's the thing that Ghostbusters had, the appeal of it that it always had that like if you were a kid and you were afraid of ghosts, who are you gonna call Ghostbusters?
SPEAKER_06:You know, I did call that line when I was a kid.
SPEAKER_07:Wait, what? There was a line?
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, so in the commercial that they have on the show, it's like a 555 number, but then later on they changed it to like a 1-800 number that you really could call. I called it a lot. It was just like a pre-recording whatever, but like as a kid, yeah, that was really right now.
SPEAKER_07:You can dial 212-897-1964 to get a very special Ghostbusters message, but I don't know if that's still current or if it's like an offline, so please don't call that number of it.
SPEAKER_06:We are not responsible if you if you decide to call, but special rights may apply. I absolutely adore what you just said about expanding the world to you know, covering the different kinds of ghosts in other countries and cultures, and I feel like you need to like immediately go find a way to either talk to somebody who is part of the franchise or get that copyrighted. It's it's it's a great idea. I mean, I would I love that. I would I would be totally up for that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_07:Ghostbusters world tour.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, exactly. And um, and yeah, I mean, I that was the perfect answer. I appreciate so much um you I mean, just bringing so much knowledge about I mean you you taught me a lot today about about this world and this franchise. I had no idea of a lot of it.
SPEAKER_07:And that that's like good for our first hour, and then we'll have a small break, and then we're gonna come back for our next two hours of Ghostbusters discussion. But honestly, I could probably talk about this movie all day.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, we might have to have you back and just totally fine.
SPEAKER_01:We ain't going anywhere.
SPEAKER_06:But thank you again for just taking your time and your passion for this film and and letting us like tap your brain about it today. We've had so much fun talking to you.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, of course. And like I said, um, I know that uh you are you're an amazing actor, you're an amazing friend, and we would love to hear what what you're up to right now.
SPEAKER_07:Cinnabon Enthusiast.
SPEAKER_06:Yes, Cinnabon Enthusiast.
SPEAKER_00:Well, let's see. In terms of what I'm up to right now, uh in this great global pandemic time, uh we I and my partner, we have a short film that's in the festival circuit called Make a Wish. It's a delightful comedy of slightly horrific origins um that is currently in the film festival uh circuit. And other than that, uh that's uh that's what's up with me. You can find me in all the social media handles. It's literally Cinnabon Monster. That's one word. Cinnabon, like the pastry product you find in airports and malls monster.
SPEAKER_06:If you were able to go to either of those places you weren't aware.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah. Oh yeah, that's the thing. You can't actually because well, I mean, we'll see now that you know, you know, all the cities across the country of the US are opening that malls are gonna be open now. But before, you wouldn't be able to get a Cinnabon unless you bought a pretty expensive package from Harry and David. That was the only way you could get a get Cinnabons, especially if you were to deliver them. Which I did this. I researched it because I actually did it recently for a friend's birthday on the 20s a few days ago. And so it's it's definitely pricey, like you know, getting like even six classic Cinnabons uh to a person, but hey, from what she told me when her siblings ate it all in like an hour, like I guess it was worth it. It was worth to get some cinnamons out there to people in during these times.
SPEAKER_06:I mean, I'm sure that meant the world to her. I mean, that I I I I do love Cinnabon. Just putting that out there.
SPEAKER_07:As a brief aside, Harry and David, we're happy to sponsor your product if uh if you're listening.
SPEAKER_06:So well, yes, for whoever has the means, please check out Make a Wish. And Ed, we would just uh you're always welcome on this show. Um whether that means uh a follow-up to Ghostbusters or we will find another 80s movie that we all can talk about our love for. Um you've been you've been amazing.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you so much. Thank you guys. This was really awesome.
SPEAKER_06:So that was our incredible chat with Edward Hong. I thank you so much for being part of the show. We really appreciated you coming on board. And uh just to reiterate, if you have the means, please check out his short, make a wish. And now this is again a really silly question to ask because the answer is just so obvious.
SPEAKER_07:All right.
SPEAKER_06:Hey Derek, would you watch this film again?
SPEAKER_07:I mean, the funny thing is, this is it reminds me of a couple weeks ago when you did a Back to the Future, and he asked me that question, and not only did I say enthusiastically yes, but then I proceeded to watch the next two films.
SPEAKER_06:I mean, we literally were watching it again just before we recorded this.
SPEAKER_07:So Ghostbusters, yes, it just happened to be on TV before we recorded this, and I just turned it on.
SPEAKER_06:Just I mean, we just watch it. Like it's just not a non non-decision.
SPEAKER_07:It's definitely one of those movies that I could I could like pick up and watch wherever, whenever, because it's just a great fun film. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And we have mentioned that we have kind of a nighttime rotation of films that we yeah, we'll put this on sometimes, just have some background.
SPEAKER_07:Don't don't talk to us about our sleep hygiene. It's fine.
SPEAKER_06:It's it's all fine.
SPEAKER_07:So that's what, yeah, we'll we'll throw that on and and conk out. And so that's what makes it fun to watch it before one of these because usually we're just like asleep within the first five minutes.
SPEAKER_06:Um so yes, the obvious answer for me is yes as well.
SPEAKER_08:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And as far as like call to action for the people who the wonderful people who listen to this podcast, I think it only makes sense that like if they if they wanted to to chime in about like, do they believe in ghosts? Right? I mean, isn't isn't that just the question that makes the most sense for this?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, question one is do you believe in ghosts? And then question one B or one A is are you afraid of those ghosts?
SPEAKER_06:That's a great follow-up. And then I would say a follow-up to the follow-up is whether or not you do believe in ghosts, why?
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, we have a complicated list of questions.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, so if you can keep track of all that.
SPEAKER_07:So if you can arrange those and then respond accordingly, that would be amazing.
SPEAKER_06:We already have, you know, really done a deep dive into this, but like if I was to answer my own question, you know that I have stories about like places I've lived. Sure. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, that look, listen everyone listen up for our next podcast, which is Hauntings in Chicago.
SPEAKER_05:All right.
SPEAKER_07:So uh But in addition to that, uh, if you like us, rate us, like it, tell us if you have any feedback, and we will be happy to give that any consideration.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, and you can find us on just uh, you know, the big social channels. We're on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, and it's the same handle for all three. It's at 80smontage pod. So we'd love to hear from you.
SPEAKER_07:And we will try to do better next time.
SPEAKER_06:Hey! Sneak peek.
SPEAKER_07:That was my sneak peek. Trying to do better next time.
SPEAKER_06:Trying to do better next time. The sneak peek is for one of your picks. It is? Yeah.
SPEAKER_07:Okay, let me rack my brains here. Is it no, I don't know. What is it?
SPEAKER_06:You do. I really don't. E.T.
SPEAKER_07:We literally talked about this last night.
SPEAKER_06:So coming up next, E.T. the extraterrestrial.
SPEAKER_07:It does not stand for extra terrifying.
SPEAKER_06:Although I kind of feel that way about it. But uh, we'll get into that. And again, we will have an amazing guest uh here with us to talk about his love for the film and everything that he knows about it. I know that he is he's he's gonna be a fun one.
SPEAKER_07:It's yeah.
SPEAKER_06:So we'll leave you with that. Thank you so much for tuning in and hanging with us. We really appreciate it, and uh, we will we will see you next time.
SPEAKER_07:We'll talk to you next time. Stay safe.
SPEAKER_06:And stay healthy.