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39 Bits of Classic Movie and TV Trivia to Inspire Some Long Overdue Rewatches

Some comfort reading before some comfort watching

39 Bits of Classic Movie and TV Trivia to Inspire Some Long Overdue Rewatches

October 04, 2024

It really sucks that life gets in the way of rewatching all of our old favorite movies and TV shows. We chip away at lengthy films or a few episodes at a time, but things like sleep, work and “quality time” with loved ones always get in the way.

So tell Aunt Wendy that we’ll be up in a minute, mom! Multiple seasons of our favorite shows aren’t going to rewatch themselves!

39

Scarface

Filming Scarface took almost monk-like dedication on Michelle Pfeiffer's part. She had to be super thin for the end of the movie, and filming that scene was pushed back over and over she kept herself so thin for it, people brought her bagels. CRACKED.COM — Source: CinemaBlend

38

CRACKED.COM YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN USED THE LABORATORY FROM THE ORIGINAL FRANKENSTEIN. Mel Brooks' opus nailed the look and feel of the lab from 1931's Frankenstein-because it was the same lab. For authenticity, Brooks sought out Kenneth Strickfaden, who had designed the set of the original movie. As it turned out, Strickfaden had kept most of the props in his garage. — Source

37

I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING ESTELLE REINER CRACKED.COM 'When Harry Met Sally' director Rob Reiner cast his mother Estelle for that one legendary line. After Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm in the deli, Mrs. Reiner button's the scene with, I'll have what she's having forever landing on countless Best Lines In Cinema lists. — Source: whatculture

36

The Godfather's Johnny Fontane was based on Sinatra (who hated that). Sinatra hated it so much that, when he was introduced to Godfather writer Mario Puzo, he just said I don't think so. I don't want to meet him. CRACKED.COM — The Hollywood Reporter

35

Toto's Paycheck

CRACKED.COM In The wizard of OZ, Toto made more money than the Munchkins. Hollywood has never been fair, but it's mind-boggling that the actors portraying the Munchkins were paid $50 per week, while Toto and his trainers got $125 per week. — Source: Grunge

34

MORK & MINDY WOUND DOWN WITH A THRee-PART STORY. YeT THE PAIR STILL WOUND UP STRANDED FOR eTeRNITY. What's regarded as the series finale of Mork & Mindy found the title characters running from an evil, gun-wielding alien. Pretty dark stuff for a fish-out-of water romp. Anyway, Mork decided to use time-travel shoes to escape, sending himself and Mindy back in time. The shoes malfunctioned, first dropping them in a prehistoric cave, then throwing them into a time vortex. Roll credits. CRACKED.COM http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1vvrzl_mark-and-mindy-gotta-run-part-3_fun — Source

33

Happy Days Love HAPPY AMERICAN STYLE DAYS CRACKED COM THE PILOT THE SHOW Originally called New Family in Town, the show's pilot was shot three years before the first episode aired. In the interim, ABC chucked the pilot up on the anthology series Love, American Style. — Source

32

Breaking Bad

Walter White's wardrobe in Breaking Bad S5 reflects Gus' influence. According to the costume designer, it's almost like he takes on Gus's sartorial fussiness ... he puts a little bit more thought into his clothes. I think he picks that up from Gus; it's almost like Gus is channeling through Walter White a little bit.URACKED.COM — Source

31

All in the Family

COMEDY NERD Archie Bunker from All In The Family was originally called Archie Justice. And the show was called And Justice For All-and that was just the first of the show's three pilots. CRACKED.COM — Source: 13 Sitcoms Whose Pilots Were Different From Later Episodes

30

LAURA CRACKED COM PALMER wasn't meant to be much more than a corpse. Shery Lee was only hired for a few days' work on Twin Peaks to play a corpse and

29

ROBERT REED BRADY BUNCH CRACKED COM A classically trained actor, Reed hated being America's dad. He complained about scenes sO unfunny that even a la — Canoe

28

COMEDY NERD Turns out, Alex Trebek had a cameo on Cheers! - he was in a 1990 episode. In What Is ... Cliff Clavin?, Trebek winds up going to Cheers to get a drink and, among other things, is propositioned by Carla Tortelli. CRACKED.COM — Source

27

CRACKED.COM Raymond Cruz had to bow out early from BREAKING BAD due to other commitments. Deprived of Tuco Salamanca, Vince Gilligan decided to replace him with an antagonist who was Tuco's complete opposite - eerily calm instead of a raging maniac. So Gus Fring was born. — Source

26

Gilligan's Island is based on the seven deadly sins. Each one of the castaways symbolizes a sin: Skipper is Anger, Professor is Pride, Ginger is Lust, — Source: The 7 Most WTF Origins of Iconic Pop Culture Franchises

25

TV Firsts

The First Live Studio Audience SHARP I Love Lucy beat All In The Family to the punch by 20 years. CRACKED.COM — Source: 20 TV Groundbreaking Firsts (That Seem Pretty Mundane Now)

24

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The signs in Star Trek: The Next Generation are full of nonsense. OPTICAL DATA NET SERVICE ACCESS JUST T RIGIT UACK ANDB YOU'LL EARA TALE A TALE OFA F — Source: 7 Secret Jokes You Never Noticed In The Background Of Movies

23

Iconic Movies You Didn’t Know Reused Their Props And Sets - Star Trek used The Andy Griffith Show's set (while it was still on air). — Source: 6 Sets That Were Recycled From Other Movies And Shows

22

Ghostbusters (1984) was conceived and written for Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Belushi's untimely death forced massive rewrites and recasting.

21

Charlie Chaplin was the adorable Little Tramp of the silent film era. In 1972 he received an Honorary Academy Award for the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century. He continues to be held in high regard, and his work is often ranked among the greatest films of all time. THE CRAZY: He used to throw custard pies at naked women. Chaplin invented the casting couch in the sickest way possible. He'd audition actresses by having them strip naked SO he could mime-fondle them. Then he'd pelt them with custard pies. CRACKED.COM — Source: 24 Famous (And Insane) Historical Figures

20

For a while, Robert De Niro was being considered for the lead role in The Shining. Apparently, Stanley Kubrick thought about casting De Niro, but changed his mind after seeing him in Taxi Driver. CRACKED.COM — Source: Uproxx

19

aff ewsle COMPLE eon T - LIM ! MIFF The Office Phyllis had her role made up for her. Phyllis Smith was working as a casting assistant as the show was being put together. Everyone was impressed by her performance as she read opposite other actors at the auditions, so they wrote a part for her. CRACKED.COM — Source

18

CRACKED.COM Laurence Fishburne lied about his age to secure his casting in this epic film. He said he was 16 to get the part of a 17 year old. Arcalie

17

Seinfeld

The pilot led to the smallest Truth sitcom order in TV history. SEASONS 1&2 Seinfeld DYD After initially turning them down, NBC picked up four episo — Source

16

CRACKED COM JOHN STAMOS KEPT THE COUCH FROM FULL HOUSE. johnstamos Baby safety gate or one of the most iconic couches in pop TV history? You, make the call - These days, he mainly uses it as a baby safety gate. — Source

15

Gremlins

Gremlins Gremlins is partly responsible for the PG-13 rating. C 3 7 4 5 8 O DANIEL RICE INCH STUDI Prior to 1984, movies either had a PG or an R rating. Following the release of Gremlins (with its PG rating), people were upset about the movie's level of violence, with some arguing that the film tricked kids into watching a movie that's actually meant for their parents. Spielberg said he agreed, and argued for tougher ratings. Two months later the first PG-13 rated film, Red Dawn, was released. CRACKED.COM — Source: IndieWire

14

Teen Wolf

Movie Goofs Teen Wolf adidas A person stands up to celebrate with their fly unzipped. Then they quickly realize it and try to cover it, but поре, it's already movie history (unlike Teen Wolf). CRACKED.COM — Source: Screen Rant/YouTube

13

RICK BECOMES FAMOUSLY CHUMMY WITH CAPTAIN RENAULT AT THE END OF CASABLANCA. A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP! BUT... НЕ WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ARRESTED. In the original, unproduced play, Rick is taken into custody for helping the fugitives escape, and presumably sent to a concentration camp. CRACKED.COM

12

Tom Hanks' Paycheck

CRACKED.COM Forrest Gump Tom Hanks didn't take a salary. Instead of that, he signed up for a percent share of the movie's gross takings - so he ended up getting $40 million, just like director Robert Zemeckis. — Wikipedia

11

The movie was expected to bomb. The test screening was disastrous-70 people walked out, grossed out by all the violence and blood. As a result, Warner Bros. scaled down the opening from 2,000 theaters to just 000. GoodFellas Behind the Scenes CRACKED.COM — Source: 20 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About 'Goodfellas'

10

Lorraine Bracco

BEHIND-THE-SCENESEACTS CRACKEDcO LORRAINE BRACCO COULD'VE PLAYED CARMELA SOPRANO. Sopranos Bracco was offered the role of Soprano's wife, however, she refused it because she didn't want to play another mobster's wife after Goodfellas. Instead, she fought to get the role of Dr. Melfi. — Vanity Fair

9

The Jaws shark was found in a random junkyard. CRACKED.COM The last shark made from Joe Alves's iconic mold languished for years before it was restored to hang over the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where it definitely won't seek revenge. — Source

8

The Jaws scene of Hooper in the shark cage featured a 4'9 stunt double and a shrunken cage. They did that to make the sharks look even bigger than they were. — Source: CNN

7

Bullets

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF CINEMA, REAL BULLETS WERE FIRED AT ACTORS. Before blanks, squibs, and special effects were invented, directors would hire sharpshooters to shoot over actors' heads during gunfight scenes. CRACKED.COM — Source

6

The first karate fight. 1962 CRACKED.COM Frank Sinatra has the honor of inciting the first-ever karate fight in American cinema in The Manchurian Candidate. It looks exactly like a man who is horny for a living pretending to get beat up. — Source

5

The eyes of the world are upon you.

CRACKED VULGARITY HISTORY The first audible curse words in film The 1929 Paramount film Glorifying the American Girl has the first curse words in cinema history. They say damn six times, and jackass twice. — Source

4

Bruce Lee & Jackie Chan in the 1970s

Historical Firsts in The World of Stunts The rise of martial arts 1970s in western cinema America's fascination with kung fu saw the first Asian leads in U.S movies. Bruce Lee had a formal approach, and Jackie Chan used (and still uses) a more comical Buster Keaton style. For action or comedy, their cinematic martial arts are still a gold standard. CRACKED — Warner Bros. International
/Film

3

According to Hollywood accounting, the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy was a financial loss. Despite earning $3 billion on a budget of $100 mil- lion, the Peter Jackson movies made horren- dous losses and no prof- it at all, according to New Line Cinema. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

2

Back to the Future

To get home in Back to the Future, Marty was supposed to drive into a nuclear explosion. PRINTS THE IMPROVISATION: The original plan of sending Marty into a Nevada test nuke blast would be incredibly expensive in 1985, so the writers came up with a cheaper scene at the clock tower. THE RESULT: Probably one of the most famous climaxes in film history. CRACKED.COM — Source

1

Spielberg bought the Rosebud sled for $55,000 ROSEBUD Steven Spielberg bought the Citizen Kane prop of film history in 1982. It is now in the Academy Museum. CRACKED.COM — Washington Post

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