The Legend of Billie Jean LIVE!

25:29Jason Mantzoukas:let's just call him the rapist the rapist yeah so so I didn't question that because I was like he hates her so much yeah his son hates her so much that that is the narrative of that moment that she caused this when they're in the yearbook they're looking at their pictures in the yearbook yes and it's like she caused this she caused this because she didn't have sex with him right it is her fault and so that is sort of the narrative that's presented to the press and then gets picked up so he doesn't want to say to the press like so you think on some level he said she shot me because he's more nervous that she could come out and say the thing he tried to rape me yeah he's saying she shot me she had me shot or she shot me basically I mean that guy is a dirt bag and this is oh he's much worse than a dirt bag oh he's I mean I have no I don't like Mr.

26:19Jason Mantzoukas:Piot I do think what I'll say about him great business sense I mean in the world before social media oh yeah those posters are great they're very kind of like cool they're very like Obama-esque like Pope you know it's like Shepard Fairey style I was watching the movie and it took everything like I want that merch more than I want any I think that we have to make that merch if it doesn't exist I want every bit of it I want every it was like when we went to see Joni Mitchell and I was like how do I buy everything that's available in this tent. Yes, and the answer was you couldn't because they wouldn't let you because I got to the front of that line and they said, you can only have one of these shirts, one of these, and a tote bag.

27:05Or a beret, which I bought. I did get the beret. I'm not kidding. I just love the design of it. Let's wear a beret some night. Absolutely. I love the design of all of those hats, the hats, the t-shirts, everything. You got that going. When you talk about local business coming together to support he's getting the artisans from the community what style do you have? you make the posters it started as him hanging a sign to say have you seen her? she needs to be busted and then teenagers are coming to be like I want that she's an icon to me and it's a great scene because he's like these kids you gotta get them I hate these kids it's not for sale and I'll give you more and then he's like okay now it is for sale and then he scales up immediately So fast that it seems like he would be actually okay with her staying on the run to make more money.

28:01It's a money maker. The longer she's on the lam and loose, the posters are moving. What I love about this movie is it starts immediately. Before the opening credits are done, the bike is ruined and we are in motion. so it is we're being rocketed through all of these elements because what I love about it is it is yes it is this kids on the run movie but then it's also like this weird like the the chunk it's all vignettes right and the vignette where they go into the abandoned what they think is the abandoned house and it's Lloyd's

28:37Jason Mantzoukas:house this is one of the and again I love that actor I love their relationship I love the way he supports her why should I do well you're Billie Jean love all that I'm on it but but I do have some questions about this house what was he setting up why were there so many cameras and what was the plan for the night because it seems like for him or for him it seems like he had set up a haunted house for one that he was not expecting visitors to come into i mean what luck and i'll be honest if if you don't mind i'll be honest paul this seems like something you would have done Jason Set up On a night A Friday night Set up in your house A haunted house For one And then God damn it If the most beautiful woman Didn't just walk Through the door To eat your chocolate cake And get chased around By you Everything about that Is true Except for the beautiful woman Coming into my house I did At many times I had blow up skeletons I set them around My kitchen table I had some shrunken heads That would hang from the wall What?

29:43Jason Mantzoukas:I was a big fan of cobwebs So I was putting that all up in the house on a Friday night. Can we just get it? Not for the episode. A big fan of cobwebs, Paul Scheer t-shirt. Big fan of. So I had. I was. I'm there. I'm doing haunted house. But so the cameras. I'll be kind and say the cameras are to kind of give us a sense that his dad may be up to some shady shit. Who knows? Because the cameras. I think the dad was checking on him. So the dad's watching that live feed? I don't think he's watching it in that moment. I think it's Lloyd spying on the house. Okay. For what purpose? Because he's like, I don't know, he's got the equipment.

30:24Okay. Okay, so then the other question is, was that food a trap? Was that a hot girl trap? Like if we put enough chicken in the window, girls will come in and eat it. If it had been on a windowsill, and if putters had been like, whoop. they do kind of they do kind of see it and they go in and they have the best sign of all time which is rich food isn't supposed to taste like what it is yeah great line I love that I love the class warfare depicted in this movie I love that it is they are constantly being dismissed because they are trailer trash they are they are and it's all the rich people who are like fuck you fuck them they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt Dean Stockwell basically being like fuck shoot him fucking shoot him.

31:11Who cares? The sharpshooters coming in and not just one. Multiple sharpshooters to kill someone who has not killed anyone who has done no violence. Well, there's also, there's an incredible moment. This is a beautiful film. There's an incredible moment at the police station when she first goes to report that her brother's bike has been assaulted. I mean, it was really something very terrible happened to that bike. and she wants it back. I'm sorry, and Binks. Binks gets his ass kicked. She goes to report to the cop and he says, I promise you, if that bike's not on your front lawn in two days and she goes, I don't have a front lawn.

31:51I live in, I was about to say Widow's Bay and I know that's not right but whatever the trailer park is. Take us back to the bay. Whatever the trailer, she says, I live in the trailer park and he sort of recognizes it and readjusts And I was like, wow, this movie is way more than you think it is.

32:15Jason Mantzoukas:All I'm thinking is this. All I'm thinking is this. This is seriously what I'm thinking. Peter Coyote worked for the government. And he fucking finds out, hey, there's a disturbance at this fucking house in California. You got to go. Gets involved in the whole E.T. thing. He's like, you know what? I'm out. I am out of this business. I don't want to terrorize kids anymore. I fucking did that. I fucking killed their dog alien. I'm upset. I'm moving to Texas. I'm going to work a desk job. He gets there and she walks in the door. He's like, fuck, here I go. I'm fucking drunk. Every time I think I'm back, every time I'm out, these fucking kids are pulling me back in to their bullshit.

32:56And I'm looking at Peter Coyote. He's like, I should have hung up those keys.

32:59Jason Mantzoukas:I should have gotten out. And I'm looking at Peter Coyote. I think this is a sequel to E.T. for Peter Coyote's character is what I'm saying. I liked also that he sussed everything that was going on with her. And then when he's talking to Hubie's dad, he also immediately susses out that he was a sketchball to her. Yes. He's like, she's an attractive woman or a girl or something. You know what I mean? Like he's like also gets that this guy's looking at me. When I say I like Peter Coyote before everyone's like. Now we're talking about Peter Coyote. Because it was the first thing you said. The best.

33:31One of the best characters in the movie because he's the bridge. He is a great character. To what? Kids to adults. See, there it is. He wants the movie to be about adults. We kids got to stick up for the rest of the kids, right? No.

33:48Jason Mantzoukas:No, what I actually, no, what I love about this movie is every adult is bad. Except for Peter Cagliari, right? Every adult is, well, all right, a couple in that aren't. The guy with the belt is okay, I guess. I don't think their mom is bad. I think their mom is doing the best she can. But I will say. I loved when their mom was getting ready for a date. And she, at first I thought she put a white mouse down her blouse. And then I realized it was just, everybody was so sweaty. Also the sweat, the heat, the way that it was portrayed. Oh, beautiful. And the way they talk about, they talk about Vermont, like it's some promised land.

34:19It's hilarious.

34:20Jason Mantzoukas:I do, I do want to just take a moment to talk about Vermont because I get it. Paul's doing his nitpick stance now. I get it. It's the eighties. We don't, we have encyclopedias. We can't see everything. This movie does posit, though, Binks gets shot, obviously, later in the movie. When we're in Vermont at the end, they're in knee-deep snow in Vermont. Now, I know climate change is real, but it feels like we're in the dead of summer, and he's still got that cast on. I'm like, it's not snowing in Vermont in August. Come on, guys. We'll just see a nice Vermont. I want the audience at home to recognize that this audience didn't give that anything.

35:03Here, you know what? No, no, no. Because we know that they earned that snow. Every inch of it. Yeah. Snow. Fair is fair. Fair is fair. Fair is here. Snow is just white heat. I'm going to give you, Paul, what you seem to want and need, which is an adult reading of the movie or an adult framework or lens through which to look at it. I see it as a kid movie. Okay. Because there is one. Which is how you looked at Drop Dead Fred as well. That's absolutely right, which is interesting. But I will give you actually an adult lens because I think this is such a fair reading of the movie. And there were many times during it, I was reading the movie this way, which was about motherhood.

35:50Now, she is a mother figure to her younger brother. And she is taking care of his mistakes left and right and trying to do right by him because he is continually getting them into trouble. And at a certain point, as so many mothers can relate to this, she does fucking lose it. and I was like absolutely I understand this you've gone insane because you are over you know worked and tired and all of it and I was like this is a beautiful portrayal of an older sister but is really about a mother figure well I'll get I'll go to me I agree and the note that I made in this was I loved their found family of misfit kids who run away together and are on the road and it reminded me of Red Dawn and the Wolverines and that group of teenagers who have to come together and be their own version of the family.

36:52Never seen Red Dawn? No.

36:58Put it on the list. Put it on the list immediately. I saw Rising Sun with Sean Connery and... Oh, I think you... Oh, can we do Red Dawn for the show, please? I mean, but that's a good movie. So is this. So is this. I didn't understand why we were doing it. I will just say this. When she walks into Kenny's house, she did what, again, so many women, adult women do, which is, I know a child is hurting, and I don't know what to do, and what is expected of me there, and what's so beautiful about that scene is she's scared, and she doesn't know what's going to happen, and she does it anyway. She doesn't, it's not like she always acts like a badass.

37:42She's not. This is what's so cool about the movie. She is not a badass. Nope. She is meeting these moments in the best way she can. And she has a kind heart. And she's doing the best she can. But this is not a superhero. Well, every scene, she's trying to end the chaos that is spiraling out of control. And protect and take care of the younger people around her.

38:03Jason Mantzoukas:What I think, I mean, look, now to go not funny for a moment, I'll say what I think is really interesting about this is a lot of the times when we see strong women, the idea is that they'll kick somebody's ass, right? So if that scene is in a movie right now, she'd go in there and beat the fuck out of this old man and be like, never touch that kid again. But she doesn't. She just kind of looks at him and stares at him. And she is scared in that moment. Right, but he also knows that I've been caught. Just by being seen, he's been caught, which is what she's doing over there. And I also think you have a lot of moments here where an older woman is looking out for a younger boy, which is very much not the case in any 80s movie where it's always like the older brother's looking out for the younger sister.

38:45Jason Mantzoukas:So that's cool. But now I'll go back to my other part of this movie where I go, now let me ask you this. No, this is a subversive tale. This is new. This is a revolutionary narrative. But it's afraid of its own self. They go to the fucking mall. Here's a radio guy out talking to people, right? And they're like, huh, how do we drill in feminism. And he goes, well, that's a woman's perspective. Yeah, no shit. You interviewed a woman. There is a woman's perspective. But I think that is relevant to the times this movie was made. Yeah, those were the questions that were being asked. Where you could dismiss a woman's perspective.

39:22You think he was dismissing it? I thought he was underlining it for the audience. I felt like a studio note. Let's make sure that we are... Absolutely. I can't imagine that was a studio note in any... This movie, I think, is just making its own rules.

39:39Jason Mantzoukas:Oh, you're gonna All right, let's hear it. Well, I mean, I don't... See, now he's going to go to his notes. No, no, I won't go to my notes. I'll just tell you that you'll be upset. I'll reveal it later. Okay, great. But no, but here's what I will say. This director who came in, I think fought very hard to unpack a script that was very 80s. And I think that these are all the little moves that he did that makes her strong. And I think, look, honestly, it's$600 that much. And I did do some research. And it's about$1 ,860 now And fair is fair. Fair is fair. It could have been$34. For a kid, how old is Christian Slater in this movie?

40:17I want my$2. $2. Wait, but Paul, it sounds like you're saying that like it's a low amount. Yeah, what are you saying? Are you saying that's not much money? I think that Mr. Piat should have paid it.

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41:54Start with five samples for just$10 and get$50 toward your rug when you order. Visit Ernesta.com today. That's E-R-N-E-S-T-A dot com. And just to go back to her Not being extraordinary And how that was such a powerful choice Even when she changes into her Joan of Arc Yes, when she becomes Joan of Arc When she cuts her hair and the first shot Is in the reflection of the pool I was like, this is cinema I could not handle it Now this is Honestly, put it in IMAX This is a very controversial moment

42:30Jason Mantzoukas:The haircut Why? Because this movie was made by Peter Gruber, I believe, right? The producer who was like Barbara Streisand. John Peters and Peter Gruber. Right. And one of them was a hairdresser who became like the head of a studio. John Peters. Right. So a producer. He is Mechanical Spider in Wild Wild West. Yes. That's John Peters. So the director and the actors felt like she should have cut her own hair. It should not have been this stylized or cool. now I will argue that I thought when she came out it was a very cool moment and I did not see that reading of it but he was so obsessed with the hair and the haircut and that people were like oh you make her more masculine to come like there's a lot of talk about that this haircut reveal like honestly it's the best reveal I've ever seen on a film it is the single greatest haircut ever the Rachel can get fucked as far as I'm concerned I couldn't believe it and this You're talking about Jennifer Aniston's haircut in movie Cake?

43:33Yes. Not only that, but the one-two punch of this and Mary Stewart Masterson's short blonde bob in Some Kind of Wonderful locked in a type for me that I was like, rebel girl, short hair, plays drums.

43:52Jason Mantzoukas:Crazy. Yardley Smith would not cut her hair for the movie. She's like, I will never do that haircut. That's all wig. Okay, so... I'm okay with that. I'm fine with that. But so at the, are you saying that she wanted to, that Hanslater wanted to, the haircut to look more jagged and like she had cut it herself? I think that they wanted, I think that the, a lot of the people involved were like, we want her to take scissors to her own hair and cut it to look like, like the way, So that it looked like Joan of Arc. So messy, not cool. Right. Yes. And I think that, Because it looks cool as hell. It looks, well it looks like she went to a fucking salon.

44:26Like I mean, and by the way, I'm not picking up on that. That's in my research afterwards. That didn't bother me at all. No, I'm like, this is cool. The outfit is cool. But I'm also on board for the movie. I'm in the bag for the movie, so something like that doesn't bother me.

44:38Jason Mantzoukas:I think they are too good. I think they're like, oh, you're being so true to the moment. Because I do think that that scene is also like the sex scene that's not a sex scene. Like when they're in the final hole of the mini-go. I don't know where they're living, but they seem to be living in the final hole. I don't like you saying the final hole repeatedly concerning what goes on in that castle. It feels like it's the final hole. But here's the interesting thing about the movie. And this is why. That's where you have the most bed space. Even though I loved, I love that this movie is about children.

45:07I did strongly connect to it as a piece about motherhood because it wasn't, there was no teen sexuality in here. There was no, the chemistry between the two of them was sweet at best, but it never felt like. Corny. No. In a way that it's about that. Did you think she was sexy? Yes, but then there were other times I was like, oh, I think she is a lesbian. And there's chemistry between, I'm serious, but there's another very queer reading of the movie where it's like, oh no, there was something going on. There's one moment where she's looking at one of those girls when she's in the Underground Railroad of Billie Jean.

45:46I cried. I cried. And then she's taken away. I cried throughout the Underground Railroad. between the two of them. And I was like, oh, is this why her chemistry with what's his face is with Lloyd is very kind and very lovely and I love his relationship to her, but it is not sexual. It's not. I agree.

46:07Jason Mantzoukas:But do you think that he is sexy? Yeah. I actually thought he played that really well because I feel like that is the right person for her to be attracted to in the sense that he is not like a straight up like hunky. 80s guy. What I also liked about it is she, even while accumulating people along the way, she remains like the leader of the whole group. It's not like some guy comes in and is like, okay, you love me now, so I'm the guy. Here's the thing that I was upset about. This could have been shitty. I don't know who said that, but I think it was Alfred Hitchcock. It says, when you establish a wolfman mask in the first act, you have to pay it off in the third act.

46:47Jason Mantzoukas:Why didn't we get that wolfman mask in the third act? My version of that is if you twice hit on the head that he needs to take asthma pills, mustn't there be a moment in the third act where he has an asthma attack and needs attention? Now, I will also say... But I didn't care. I didn't care. It's a flaw. It's a flaw. I will say to June's point, the queer reading of the movie, I think you could further it by saying, than by having Binks dress up as a woman. That's a very powerful moment too. Very powerful moment. But then he's fucking willy-nilly with that gun. No, but can I tell you, it's not about the gun.

47:26It's not about the gun. He gets shot because he is in women's clothing.

47:31Jason Mantzoukas:Okay, can I say? I'm serious. That is why there's something very homophobic about what's happening in that moment and where their masculinity is like, everybody is thrown into masculine chaos. all of the men of this community. Because they're waving around their guns. Yes, and that is why they shoot him. It is not because they think he's a real, he is a real threat with that gun. Well, they've already been told Binks' gun isn't real. Yes. They've been told without a shadow of a doubt, Binks' gun is not real. I know I'm going to take heat for this. Uh-oh. You can just pot our mics down. but man oh man they don't make fake guns like they used to i i well it did make me think i agree and it did make me think because of like you're saying like he's flashing it around guns were so prominent i had a little gun in my belt all the time i had a gun back of my in the back like magnum a gun yeah i had guns all over my house i had them in a drawer and then there was a moment where i liked a girl and i was like i have to throw away my boy things to become a man and i remember collecting all my guns and walking out to the dumpster behind my apartment very emotionally manipulative was that girl was that girl june was that girl june no but now i'm feeling for you But I got all my guns together, but I had so many guns, and none of them had any orange on them in any way.

49:12Jason Mantzoukas:So much so that my mom would tell me a story that, look, I don't know, maybe my parents are liars, but this story I want to believe is being true. I can't wait to read your mom's book. that um that i had left a gun on the back seat of my grandfather's car and the cops came into a restaurant in which he was eating and pulled a gun on him thinking that he had a gun out in his car and then he had to explain it was his grandson's gun and all i'm saying is those guns were fun well i will say so i watched this with our oldest son and at that part he was like but why why were the guns in that store? And I was like, oh, he's like, isn't it a toy store?

49:57And I was like, yeah, it is. He's like, but, but like, why were they selling guns there? And I was like, those are toy guns. And he's like, but they don't look like Nerf guns. I'm like, they're not Nerf guns. So it was a real, he was blown away by those guns. Yeah. And how, and what was, what you prized so much about them was their authentic look. They looked really real. Yeah. You know, that, that. I had a Walter PPK that looked great. It was a James Bond gun. Now, are you two going to start some sort of a campaign to bring back realistic children's guns? Why not? Yes. Absolutely. But I can tell you that every one of these movies fucked up.

50:36How did this get made guns? We are making guns. Toy guns. Realistic looking toy guns. From our favorite How Did This Get Made... From a film podcast. I loved that Lloyd's house has a water slide into the pool. And they all go, this is what's great about the movie is that yes, it is like you start the movie and it's like, it jumps in straight away. He tries to rape her. He gets shot. They're on the run. They go on so many different things. Then they get to Lloyd's house and it stops down and it almost becomes a John Hughes movie for a little while. Except she never goes on the slide. That's what I was about to say.

51:15That he gets down there, Lloyd, and he looks up and she's rapturously watching Joan of Arc and the rest of the movie is her becoming Joan of Arc. And then they burn an effigy of her at the end. And I was like, this is cinema. It's crazy.

51:34Jason Mantzoukas:But all I could think of while there was a powerful moment was all those local artisans, all their work destroyed. All those adults? All those adults being harmed? I think that, look, everything I know about Mr. Piedt, All I think about Mr. Piot is that he is using the local youth art scene to his advantage. Those are great kids. That's a young shepherd fairy out there who got abused by Mr. Piot. Yeah, he's going to rape you one way or the other. And that's true because that's, no, no, no, because that was why. That is not a pull quote you want out there. But he is right. And that's what's so sophisticated about the movie is that he's not a mustache twirly villain.

52:14He is. Got a mustache though. He does have a mustache, but he is victimizing this young woman and then making money off of her. And then profiting off of her image. It's so fast. I'll be thinking about it for a long time. I loved all of this. And I know I'm a broken record. Apologies. But I love how much the movie exists just from the children's point of view, including when they make the videotape. They send like a five-year-old into the police station. My favorite moment. And by the way, though... And then he watches it with them. I was like, fuck yes! But didn't you feel like when they said, didn't you feel like when they said who gave this to you, that he just, he knew, but he wasn't going to tell them.

53:00Yes, because all the kids know everything. Because they all hang out at the headquarters of the Billie Jean Underground Railroad. I didn't know what that place was, but I loved it regardless. I loved it.

53:11Jason Mantzoukas:I want to watch her tape. This is her video. Great. Here we go. So hot. I'm Billie Jean Davey. Can you pause, Paul? Pause. This is just a wetsuit she cut the sleeves off of. The single dangly earring. This is actual sexuality right here. This is my mind exploding as a teenager. As you're saying it, I'm seeing it, but I thought that was a pair of glasses that she fashioned into an earring. No. I thought she popped out the lenses and she's like, earrings. I'm assuming the armband is the sleeve that she cut off. I'm not sure, but the color matches. The only thing I was upset by, because I was so taken with this too, but then I was like, did Katy Perry model her entire brand and look off of this?

54:05I could get lost in Helen Slater's eyes. Those beautiful pools of green.

54:12Jason Mantzoukas:Ay, ay, ay. I do feel bad because Helen Slater is great, and she had Supergirl, which we did on the show, and this. And can I, my favorite performance, and she means a lot to me from City Slickers. Yes. Thank you. That is such a beautiful performance. Recently just got her doctorate in mythology. No surprise. But let's just watch the tape because I do have a couple. And Helen Slater and Christian Slater unrelated. Unrelated. Unrelated. Christian Slater thought it would be so cool to marry her because then they wouldn't have to change names. Okay. Well, also because she's absolutely gorgeous. Sure.

54:53I'm not a liar. I'm not a thief. And neither is my brother. Hello, Mom. Sorry, that's him. Mom, I don't know when we'll be coming home, but we love you. I know people are making up stories about us. Don't you believe them? As for you, Mr. Piant, you are so sleazy. Yeah! You think that you can do anything you want and then lie about it, and we just have to take it, because what are we? Just a bunch of kids. Well, not this time. From now on, we're doing this our way.

55:28Jason Mantzoukas:I'm going to pause it for one second. I guess the thing that was frustrating to me is I'm going through the kid's point of view. You're mad. You've been wronged. You're on the run. This motherfucker at a gas station saying that you robbed him. You didn't fucking rob him. So that's fine. But why is she respecting Mr. P, whatever the fuck his name is, by not saying, this guy tried to rape me? Why don't we hide that away? I'm like, just say it. Say it so everyone hears it. It's so under the table. I think it was maybe it was that. We never fully said out loud. And it's like, why are you protecting this monster?

56:05She says it at the end. She says it at the end in front of everybody. Right. She calls him sleazy in this. but she does not say it in the video. But here's what I'm saying. You want to get an army.

56:15Jason Mantzoukas:You say, this guy tried to rape me and he died. I don't know if you'll get an army. I don't think if you're from the, in the trailer park in 1980, whatever. My reading of it is just that she's, it's not even, that's not even available to her. To say that. To say that because she's not worried about her own needs in that way. So I go back to her as a caretaker because she is trying to get her brother's bike. Right, so this might have happened to her numerous times. Like, or like she might've had a lot of creepy guys. So that's like not the lead story. The lead story is that, yeah, this guy got shot because.

56:48And at the beginning they do, I mean, the bare minimum of a little bit of work where Hubie and his friends are multiple times bullying and harassing them. Right.

56:57Jason Mantzoukas:There's a lot, there's a reading to say that like when maybe in that, in that harassment that he may have died, it could be a Jacob's ladder situation all through blinks. Wait, who could have died? Blinks. Binks? Binks. Wait, who's blinks? Jar Jar Blinks. Jar Jar Blinks? blinks. Jar Jar Blinks. The senator from Nablu? Here's what I... Admiral Piot from Star Wars? It's a trap. I wanted to know more about what happened to the dad. Oh, yeah. Did... I don't know. We just know what we know. We don't ask those questions on the Texas Riviera. He went out to mine oil on a deep sea rig. And that was that.

57:35Jason Mantzoukas:He was pulled up to a moon mission to go... He's a land man out in Texas. Part of why I think it goes back to your question of like, why didn't she say anything about this guy? Because it seemed to me from everything, the way she's been interacting with the teenage boys, the way she's been interacting with like the lore around her father seems like a deadbeat, that men are, it's not even to be dealt with. They are who they are. And she has her head down and is trying to live her life. I think that's true. I think another reading on it is I think all of the children in this movie operate from the point of view of we will not be believed.

58:13Like our stories will not be, but adults control our lives and we will not be, justice will not be happening.

58:22Jason Mantzoukas:And how cool would it have been in the final scene for that dude with the fucking belt, the child abuser to be like, and I got one final belt weapon coming up for you. and he fucking gets in there for a final scene. To who? To the man, to Mr. Piotr. Not her. I'm not a fucking sick old crazy person. I'm just saying, I'm just saying. They all, just I want to, they all, you've primed them. I know. To think that that's what you want. No, no, no, no. How great would it have been if finally Belt Guy gets to punish Billy G? I would have like, I would have like. Because finally someone's got to keep these kids in line.

59:01why not belt dad i would have liked this episode and you are ending pro belt dad i would have liked belt dad to be like this watching that video on tv he's like yeah fuck yeah billy jean and then he

59:17Jason Mantzoukas:goes i'm gonna find i'm gonna go to that beach and i'm gonna i'm gonna now be a part of the army i'm not a child anymore but maybe i'm acting like a child because i don't know how to actually verbalize how to treat a child so i'm not an adult so i am a child but i'm fucking i gotta take out my anger on an adult. I'm so mad at my job. And then he goes there. You think Belt Dad has a job? He's lost his job because his wife left him and he's taking it all out of his son. He's taking it all out of his son because his wife is fucking some guy at the bar that she works at. So it's the woman's problem?

59:50No. Just so you know. He's a single dad. He doesn't have the tools. When Gus and I were watching this part with Belt's guy, we were screaming at the TV, kill him, kill him. Oh, I loved when the dad first starts yelling at Billie Jean. Yeah. Then he looks and all the kids are in the window. Right? It's an amazing, it's amazing. It is so good.

1:00:14Jason Mantzoukas:It was like weapons. It was like, oh shit, the kids are here. Let's go to the audience because I know they probably all agree with me. No, all right. Everybody, welcome to the part where you remember, you know, this is a show. You don't have to attack me. But we're going to talk about Billie Jean. We're going to ask you or answer your questions. Let's see what we got here. Hi, I have a question all the way back here. What's your name? I'm Kristen. First, I want to let June know the reason that Binx's dad is not there is because they mentioned he's dead. They got the bike from the insurance. It's a very throwaway line in that.

1:00:47But my question is, why did they, when they were announcing what the car they were in, why did no one ever mention, hey, we're looking for a car that has a giant trailer park? Yes. Yeah. I did wonder about that. That is a defining feature of it. is so identifying and they don't seem to be going far from Corpus Christi at all. They seem to be, they really do seem to be, one of the things I did love about it and like I love that kid logic of it, there's a scene where they go, they're in a late model sedan and she's like, late model my ass. It's like, I didn't know what, yeah, the station wagon. But I loved, I loved, and we talked about it a little bit in the part where they do the car chase and then it goes straight into putter getting her period.

1:01:24The same thing is like they shoot Mr. Rapist guy, they jump in the car, they go, and she immediately pulls into a gas station because she's got to get gas or her dad's going to be mad. And I was like, yes, this is kid logic. It's like, fuck, we just shot somebody, but my dad's going to be mad if I don't get gas. Go, go, go, go, go.

1:01:43Jason Mantzoukas:All right, your name, your question. Evan, and if the whole point of the revolution is to kind of revolt against the rapist actions, then why are they buying T-shirts from him? They don't know. They don't know. They don't know. The people buying the merch didn't know that he was the villain. And when Billy, that is the combination. But what do they think he is? Because that's the question that I have. What could he have been? He was shot. So he's like, I'm profiteering off of her. Like, what is his point of view? He's like, get her. But also buy this merch. I don't get what, like, where the connection is.

1:02:19Like, you're buying it from the victim who is using the person who hurt. it's a weird does anybody out here want to get Paul while he's out there but I mean but I do I mean the lot he's the victim that's really interesting no no no no hold up to everybody in tech we can all agree that everybody sees him as the victim he was shot by this person but yet his store is packed he's selling tons of merch well maybe it's sort of sending up like consumerist culture and how we just, we will buy.

1:02:58Jason Mantzoukas:So it's a satirical take. I do think the point is valid. John Wilkes Booth selling Lincoln hats. They do know, they do know, they don't know he's a rapist, but they do know he was shot by them. Right, right. Right. But we're rallying around her. So if we're rallying around her, he is bad. Yeah. I'm sorry. I think I think that he is profiting off of her because he is saying this person shot me. All right. That's the thing. I think he's kind of changed his narrative and we see it in the moment where he's trying to upsell those posters like he is. He will tell them whatever they want to hear and he's excited to be a part of the story.

1:03:44I don't think people think like, oh, he's trying to get her. I don't think kids, teenagers buying the shirt think they're financing a rapist. Well, we know that they don't. Right. But we are excited that he was shot for reasons unexplained.

1:04:01Jason Mantzoukas:We, the audience are. Yes. Right. Well, no. I'm going to say Texas. Like, Texas, based on the radio reports and stuff like that, story is man is shot by a woman. She's a hero. Like, there's no more to the story. I'm just like, I'm not even trying to be funny on this. I'm like, really, that is like the narrative of the movie. Right? Wrong. Wait, wait, tell me how. Tell me how. Just wrong. Tell me how. This guy over here has got it. Yeah, just wrong. Oh, it's Tim. Well, I trust Tim. Tim's got it. Guys, everybody can relax. Tim's going to school, Paul. I would love it. I'm just saying this. The logic of the movie states that all the people know is that she shot this person for no reason.

1:04:48uh well they don't know that it's for no reason the the reason it's not just he shot her there's a whole conspiracy he comes downstairs and says these kids had this whole plan to rob me it was her job to get me upstairs and distract me while the two of them opened the register okay but the reason why it's it's not like yay she's a hero it's more like a bonnie and clyde situation like these kids are on the run for shooting an adult cool but like in a bonnie and clyde okay so there

1:05:16Jason Mantzoukas:Okay, I like that. So it's like natural born killers. Again, it's kid logic. It's kids versus adults. Now, by the way, this is, we'll talk about this in a little bit. It is based on a true story. And what I think is interesting is the majority of the kids that are in the movie are young kids. It's not like it's a bunch of 19 years old. It's not like River's Edge. Let me go back to Tim just because I don't want to say something and walk away from you and say,

1:05:42but would you buy, in the Bonnie and Clyde situation, you would be supporting the person robbed? Kind of. Okay. All right. I mean, I guess. Well, that's where it was. Supporting the person robbed? Well, yeah, because that's what they're doing, right? Also, by the way, but I think you're putting the lens of like this moment we're in right now where we feel powerless as just citizens and so buying things intentionally from people we think are good and want to support is even a concept. I guess in a way when Trump gets shot in the face,

1:06:17Jason Mantzoukas:we are buying those fucking coins with him getting shot in the face. But we're not buying it. We're buying it from Trump. You mean we're buying those coins? When you say we're buying those coins, the we I'm assuming is you in June? You never know what's going to go up in value. Funko pops, Trump coins. No, but I guess it would be like, I just have never seen, I get it. I mean, I get it. I get... You are... It's interesting. For this movie, you are unwilling to suspend disbelief for certain logical elements. This movie is supposed to be straight and narrow. This could have happened. Why? It's not fantasy.

1:06:56What? It's not fantasy, this movie. How is this different from Pump Up the Volume? Oh, that's a good question.

1:07:02Jason Mantzoukas:Well, Pump Up the Volume does have some real-world stakes where they come and they kind of break in the house with the... How is this different? Like, we're rooting for Christian Slater in that. Well, because Christian Slater is running a pirate radio station. He's not like running around shooting people. I mean, he's like, hey, everybody, listen to Sonic Youth. It's like, well, yeah, sure. I mean, it's like, cool, but I'm not. Breaking the law is breaking the law. All right, I guess. Yeah, he's on the FCC. I love that movie. Anyway, I haven't rewatched it in years. All right. Hi, what's your name?

1:07:33Jason Mantzoukas:What's your question? I'd love to do that. Are we going to start doing good movies now? I guess so. We got to do Seven Minutes in Heaven. We got you. Seven Minutes in Heaven. Yes. Hi. Hi. David, so the mall scene Why did the cops The whole Billie Jean task force is there And then the shop owner And his son decide to jump in And chase Why is that what did they not do Wait, you're not on our side here This is another moment I had where all adults are dumb And at that moment you go Peter Coyote has to be like We gotta fucking cut this guy loose He does basically He always thinks he's a bad guy But what was the plan Why did he need to bring his son in there to tackle her when it was full of cops?

1:08:16He's on the news later saying, I didn't trust the cops. I wanted to do it my way, basically.

1:08:23Jason Mantzoukas:He says, literally on the news. They should have all worn cups. It's a lot. She becomes a legend because of basically pretty privilege that that creepy guy taking all the photos, if there hadn't been the hot photo of her coming out of the water like Phoebe Cates and Fast Times, they wouldn't care about her being a hero. That's what it was. I see, I see. Now we're talking some truth. Sure, sure. No, it was a really important photo. Yeah. Hi, what's your name? Sure. I'm Jane. In answer to your question about why she didn't say in the tape he tried to rape me, because it's not her responsibility.

1:09:03Thank you. Are you asking why women don't come forward more? Thank you so much.

1:09:07Jason Mantzoukas:No, no, no.

1:09:12Thank you so much for saying that. I was... Do you want to sit here for two hours and listen to an honest discussion of this movie? I'm providing a point of view that's necessary for the show. Now, here's the thing. What I was going to say was that... But I did feel at that point,

1:09:29Jason Mantzoukas:as this guy's growing in this world, why be coy? Why protect that guy? And I understand your point of view, that she doesn't have to do it. She's not protecting him. She's not protecting him. She's not protecting him. No. I think, you know. She's protecting herself. She's protecting herself. Yes, she's a kid. He's an adult. He has all the power. She has none. But yet she does it in front of everybody at the end. Well, and honestly, at the moment, I had the same question. Yeah. But then I realized that I was, like, playing into that whole, like, victim shaming. Right. So, yeah. She can do with her story of what happened in that attic annex whatever she cares to do with it.

1:10:03She can never speak about it again. She can speak about it as every day. she can do with it whatever she pleases. That's it, Paul. Guys, I'm trying to keep it like this is not a... I know you want to, but you keep on walking us right there. Alright, yeah.

1:10:28Jason Mantzoukas:Hey, what's your name? What's your question? Hey, my name's Chris. I may have to rethink the way I saw this movie if this doesn't land, but did anyone else think that the Slaters were dating in the first 10 minutes? Yeah. Everybody did. Everybody did. Well, I just, I thought Zooks would bring it up. No, he can't. You thought I would bring it up? He's locked himself into this position. Oh, no, because I saw this at such a young age, and it imprinted on me that they are just brother and sister. Before you know it, they're brother and sister. But that scene where they're going swimming. You don't see him, and then they're swimming.

1:10:58I hear you, man. I hear you. Playing around in the water with her finger. I hear you. But you do know that Yes, I thought it was hot, Zooks, yes. Thank you. Finally, one person just a little bit. I'm fucking alone out here. Can I tell you, though, that... Check out that guy's Google search history. Can I tell you... I actually thought it was yet another breathtakingly beautiful scene when he thinks she's been eaten by an alligator. Yes. And the length of time they spent with that and the fear. And you see, he's a little kid and she's his protector. and he doesn't know what life is going to be like.

1:11:33And she's terrorizing him. And I thought it was breathtakingly beautiful that she wasn't wearing a bra and was swimming in a crop top. The movie can be read so many and received so many ways.

1:11:45Jason Mantzoukas:All right. What's your name? What's your question? I'm Jill. I just want to comment. Jason, I squealed when you mentioned this movie the other day on the show. I remember I watched this with my mom as a teenager and when it was over, she's like, I think we need to watch this again. Yes. That's so awesome. It's just such an important, nice movie. It is wild. Wild to me that this movie was made and got as far as it did. Because there's so many different things. Even in that scene, I know we haven't talked about it too much. But that, I don't want to call it a sex scene, but the scene inside the last hole.

1:12:20Jason Mantzoukas:Like, I think that that's a really powerful moment. It's super sweet. When she says, I don't know who I am. Yes. And he goes, you are Billie Jean. I feel like that's a really like. For that, for again, this movie is very subtle in so many ways. Like what it is to be a teenager who becomes an icon just trying to do the right thing. And what is kind of even more interesting about it to a certain extent is how it was hated. This movie was hated when it came out. Like ripped apart in reviews and just like destroyed. And it's so interesting that like in a time where this is 80, whatever it is, 85, it's Back to the Future, it's Indiana Jones, like all so many things.

1:13:03Jason Mantzoukas:This is a kind of this lost movie, but it is, it does feel like one of those movies that like collectively we're like, nope, not ready for this story. Well, it's also, it's interesting because the framework of it could look like you mentioned Natural Born. Killers earlier, Badlands is an example, Bonnie and Clyde was mentioned. It could be a that, but it's not. They are not on a gleeful shooting spree. They are not holding up places. They are being framed for and represented as if that's what they are. But they are always trying to just end this by getting justice. I would argue in a way by having her not shoot him, it's a more powerful movie because it actually makes it more complicated in an interesting way.

1:13:46Jason Mantzoukas:Like she is just protecting her brother who did commit the crime. and even though people don't know the exact relationship of all that sort of stuff. I mean, that's just a more complicated choice. Again, yes, this is why the fact that she is not extraordinary to extract Kenny from that home, which is a detour the movie kind of takes, there is nothing extraordinary about that act. Those fucking kids, they're all hanging around listening to this kid getting beaten. They're like, we're not going to do anything. Because that is what she inspires. That is what she inspires, that we're stronger together, that they become the threat.

1:14:21Oh, that one kid's hanging on the tree. That's what kids used to do. You used to be out in the streets together running around. That's what it was. There was just kids in the streets. Not on phones, not being watched.

1:14:36Jason Mantzoukas:Racing scooters without helmets. Okay, hi, what's your name? What's your question? My name is Daniel. I think the movie also posits that the people buying all the stuff are not the real ones. The real ones are out there cutting the sleeves off of their wetsuits. and supporting her. Also, I had that exact scooter growing up and it was straight bitching. Wow. But can I, let me ask you a question. Can I just say something? How do you do that much damage? Like, what were they doing to the scooter? Well, here's the thing that, the scooter is such a charged object in this movie because they don't have a lot of money.

1:15:11And I remember the feeling of being a kid and wanting something so badly and her knowing how important that thing was to him. It wasn't, and this is why fair is fair. It's not about the scooter. It's about his sense of feeling he should have it and that he deserves to have the scooter. Not just that, but as we were just reminded, it was bought with the money that was a result of his father passing away. The scooter is a representation of his lost father.

1:15:44Jason Mantzoukas:And the dad does talk like Kit from Knight Rider sometimes in the scooter, which we don't hear because it's not really part of the main one. What's his name from St. Elsewhere does the voice? Yes. Oh, make sure. No. Ouch. Ouch. Put me back. Bring me back to my son. That scooter was awesome. Can we get our singers to come down to that corner? Yes, your name and your question. My name is Amy, and is this all just anti-capitalist propaganda? You know, this is so – I do believe that this movie is hiding some of these thoughts because at the end of the movie, they're burning the merch. There's so much in this movie that's way ahead of its time.

1:16:20It's no surprise to me that it wasn't received when it came out critically because it is very progressive. It is, and that basic idea, which by the way, I feel like we could learn from right now that she doesn't have, she doesn't resort to violence, but she is not an extraordinary human being. and she is very very average in a beautiful way because she just continues to show up and try to

1:16:50Jason Mantzoukas:do the right thing and i want to talk just for a second say like hubie you know look he gets a lot of grief and listen and sure he fucked up the bike but he he's a kid kids will be kids and here's the thing hubie what hubie hubie fair is fair you're right and that's why we need to celebrate his artistry of light bulbs and shells we didn't talk he seems so like yeah he's a my god i gotta be a monster with my dickhead friends but i really like putting light bulbs and shells and when he's a He's a monster until the very end of the movie when he watches his dad spiral out and he kind of like slinks away like the meme of Homer Simpson going into the bushes.

1:17:39But like even up until the end at the beach, he's like, it's her brother. It's not her. He runs out. He's the one that gets him shot, basically. I think Hubie starts the movie a villain, ends the movie a villain. He is really not redeemed until 40 years later during his Halloween. and then he really now i've not seen hubie halloween but i'm assuming it's a sequel to this movie following the character of hubie all right well this is amazing i love all the shirts i love

1:18:13Jason Mantzoukas:all the opinions and you know i still think that last scene where that belt guy comes in and fucking whips the shit out of mr fiat i would i would have liked to see a little guy on guy fighting too. Like, you know, why not? She, you know, she doesn't need to do it. Who are you? So this movie didn't have enough guys getting one over on the gals for you. I just would have liked to see these... You'd like to see the men win. No, I would like to see the men, the men never learn. They're still... And she goes, you shouldn't whip them. It's not about that. And then he's like, oh, and then he's like, fuck, I can't catch a break.

1:18:52Man. I am impressed by your commitment to Belt Dad. Same. As your touchstone for this movie. Much like Phoebe Cates' mom was your touchstone for Drop Dead Fred. Belt Dad. Belt Dad is a mega bitch. We're all Belt Dad. No, no. No, we're not. We're not all Belt Dad. All right, obviously, some people have a different opinion. Some people don't. But now it is time for Second Opinions.

1:19:32Hi, my name is Sabrina. I'm Amanda. I come home in the morning light. My brother says, come on, we got to get back my bike. Oh, brother, dear, we're not the fortunate ones. Girls just want to kick nuts. Oh, girls just want to kick nuts We're on the run In the middle of the night We got a hot hostage Who won't put up a fight Oh, brother dear, please Put down that damn gun Girls just want a haircut Oh, girls just want a haircut That's all they really want Haircut When the outlaw day is done Oh, girls, they want to kick nuts Oh, girls just want to kick Haircut Wait, one more version We watched this movie, was told that it sucked But boy, there's no need for second opinions Oh, Jason, dear, you kind of really fucked up Oh, girls, they want to kick nuts Oh, girls just want to kick nuts Yes, amazing Amazing, great job, thank you both I have a question, I have a question How did I fuck up?

1:20:45We wrote this before the show. We didn't think you guys would have anything negative to say about it. That's right. We thought it shouldn't have been on the podcast. But shouldn't you have changed it to Paul? You really fucked up? No. They're saying this is not a movie for this show. So you fucked up by picking it. My take isn't fucked up. It's just that the movie doesn't belong on the show. Aren't you happy we watched it? Yes, yes, yes. I mean, I feel really attacked. And we're sorry about that. Get used to it. All right, so Legend of Billie Jean has... But can I just say, all of those were amazing.

1:21:25That was incredible. I thought for sure we would get all Pat Benatars. Yeah. Or, I'm shocked, none Michael Jackson, Billie Jean. I was hoping for that, too. I also thought that would be what we have.

1:21:39Jason Mantzoukas:By the way, after I thought it was about Billie Jean, the tennis... Billie Jean King. Billie Jean King. That is incredible. Right. But now watch where I did the next split. I worked in a video store and I was like, oh, this is a fucking Michael Jackson movie. I'm over Michael Jackson. I don't want to watch that. And so I had two. Even though Helen Slater on the cover looking red hot. I thought it was like, oh, the music of Michael Jackson with this. Because it's like she was in that leather. I will say this. Had you seen this movie as a child, you would be obsessed with it the way that I am. I mean, here's what I'm going to tell you.

1:22:14Jason Mantzoukas:These are the movies that I loved as a kid, 100%. I just avoided it because of the title. And I will say this. The director did try to change the title. He's like, that Michael Jackson song is pretty popular. Oh, yeah. Let's call it something different than Billie Jean. And the studio's like, what? Are you kidding? We're bigger than Michael Jackson. And they did not change it. It is weird to have two Billie Jean things in current popular culture. All right, so 6 ,881 total reviews. 87 % are five-star. Yeah. Now, 0 % are one-star. Now, normally you would say, like, well, these can't be funny. Watch out.

1:22:58Jason Mantzoukas:They're great. They are great. In 2011, P or T Review wrote, having watched this twice already, I borrowed it from a friend. I loved it equally both times. Definitely one that will be in my collection. As a pioneer for equality, this movie was ahead of its time. But my question is, why did Pat Benatar hate it? And why did it flop in theaters? Everyone seems to have an opinion about this film. Some good, some bad. Oh, well, another film that critics didn't like for reasons that most audiences shouldn't care less about. Yes, I consider myself a freelance critic, but even... I'm not always right, but I am entitled to my opinion, even when others don't agree.

1:23:49Now, I won't go into detail about the plot. Everyone has done plenty of that. Suffice it to say, though hardly original, it's still well acted, especially by Ellen Slater as Billie Jean,

1:24:01Jason Mantzoukas:and enjoyable and sends a message for people who have been bullied or pushed around or just want to stand up for themselves can't wait to own it five stars why did pat benatar hate this film jim mason writes this is one of my favorites maybe in all the history of the show jim mason writes uh in 2022 title love this movie for personal reasons

1:24:32because he usually likes movies for professional reasons

1:24:37Jason Mantzoukas:and jim goes on to say this film was shot in corpus christi texas my favorite place in the world my wife and i were 30 and 31 years old and working for a boat dealership some of our boats were used for background items it was the best time of my life sailing, racing, and fishing for a living. Couldn't wait to get to work each morning. For almost 19 years, couldn't get to work fast enough. It was beyond beautiful. Five stars.

1:25:17I love when people leave in one of these reviews like an autobiographical diary entry about themselves. it's a review of a movie on Amazon it's like when I was 31 and my wife was what? good movie, bad movie that's what we're doing here it's not about you yeah I'm not looking for reviews of Corpus Christi this is an odd one one star

1:25:46Jason Mantzoukas:Max wrote this in 2018 titles it Fair is Fair this was strictly an Illuminati movie to encourage the single androgynous male-female young person. Other things in this movie as well, such as the quasi-Satanist candle ceremony at the creepy dude's mansion about at the halfway mark, yet still a cult classic. Also, the amount of times a male got racked in the nuts was to signify the taming and or destruction of the white male penis. Strictly a movie to promote an agenda from those who crave power and debauchery. still a cult classic. Five stars. Fair is fair.

1:26:33Fair is fair. Fair is fair. And finally, we'll end on Spock Jenkins, who writes, it was a movie. I watched it on my TV. Five stars. Title, a movie.

1:26:52I do want to say, even though, because it was mentioned in those, and you mentioned it earlier, It is a shame that Pat Benatar said it was a bad movie because A, I think it's an incredible movie, and B, the song Invincible, the Pat Benatar song Invincible, not only is it so iconically used in the movie, it is teased throughout in an instrumental form, and then the payoff of it starting to play was a fucking orgasm of audio beauty. It's a great song that is, like, threaded throughout, and then when it lands and it plays in full, unreal. Great. The whole soundtrack, dynamite.

1:27:28Jason Mantzoukas:Here's where I want to just give you some interesting side notes, right, about the film. The original writers of this movie, Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Conner, are mad at this movie. Their script was taken by the director, Matthew Robbins, and Matthew Robbins took somebody who was a writer, and I'm forgetting that writer's name, but went through, like, the McCarthy hearings, right? So he really— Like a blacklisted writer? Blacklisted writer took, and I think the way that Matthew Robbins describes it, really brought that into it, feeling an outcast, feeling like he didn't have power, feeling like he was in a system, but he couldn't act on a system.

1:28:04Jason Mantzoukas:And that was like this rewrite of the movie. Mark and Lawrence have written essays on how they— What is the original—are you going to tell it? Well, I'm going to tell you. Okay. So the original titles were Fair is Fair or Legend, and Legend was abandoned because Tom Cruise had a movie, Legend, coming out. But it was an interesting thing because, I have it right here, the feminist themes were not there at all. As a matter of fact, there were many gratuitous nudity scenes. There wasn't feminist themes in the two guys that wrote the movie? Yes. From the movie written by the two guys? Although, but Matthew Robinson and the other man who wrote the movie, they were two men as well.

1:28:41Jason Mantzoukas:Although, Helen Slater has said that Matthew Robinson is very in touch with that side of himself and brought a lot from that. So it said it contained many scenes of female nudity, and Putter and Ophelia are described as typical generic teen beauties. That's from the script. The early versions of the script open with Billie Jean topless in her bedroom. They go skinny. I mean, I'm not mad at it. Binks and her are skinny dipping. Billie Jean takes off her clothes to go swimming in that pool. There's a lot of swimming nude in the movie. There's more sex scenes in the movie. but it was all based on this which i thought was really interesting this is based on fulan devy an indian icon so after being married off at the age of 11 and being sexually abused by various people she joined a gang of armed gang robbers and those gang robbers they robbed like rich villages and held up trains and vehicles and then when she uh and then she basically evaded capture and then she became this kind of robin hood figure and an eventual member of indian parliament so So it is based in some truth.

1:29:49Jason Mantzoukas:I mean, very far removed. But it was at least based in this amazing Fool and Debbie. So I thought that was really interesting. That's cool. All right, final thoughts. Final thoughts. Things we didn't bring up. Anything we'd recommend this movie? Well, I mean, should I address it? Boy, this, I mean, just like a 10 out of 10 for me. This is, in the 15 years, 16 years we've been doing this show, there are certain movies uh face-off con air uh the movies that to me are not the movies we typically do because we're here being like this is a problem that's a problem there's a problem that this is just a gangbusters absolute stone cold classic i loved this top to bottom would i recommend it i would recommend everybody watch it once a year wow this yeah i didn't know what time of year this is a summer movie baby it is we're in a heat wave right now watch this movie it's funny because i i think that yeah i'm not i'm not taking the point of view tonight of like oh this is a great movie for all the movies we watch it's like no this is an important movie i loved it so much the other movie i felt this strongly about was drop dead yeah this is a really wonderful movie i mean i'm just thinking about the scene where she's talking to her mom through the video and like that is, she's talking to her like mother to mother.

1:31:12There's no sense of like, oh, I know we're children and I'm away. It's like, mom, you, mom, me, don't worry, we've got it. Like it's, she has the energy of a single mom, which granted many young teenage girls did at that time, but it was just, it was just so special. I loved it so much. Part of my like, like obsession and fascination with it is that it is a representation of contemporary for me being this age. But can I ask you a question?

1:31:43Jason Mantzoukas:Because this is a time where I grew up in movies like this, but I did not live a life like this, but yet it was like, that's what I should be doing. Were you hanging out in trees like that and waiting for people to come by and scoop you up? In trees. I wasn't waiting around in trees. You were writing checks for this. different utilities. I was absolutely writing checks once I was a stock boy at age 12 at the village store. So like you wanted a bag of chips and like maybe some gum. That's a check. Putting a note in the notes section, chips.

1:32:28Yeah. Oh, I'm out in these streets. I'm still writing checks. Wow. No, I truly like that. Still got that condom. I want to. I want to host a screening of this movie. I want to see it with an audience. I want to watch it a couple times a year. I didn't know we were just going to watch our favorite movies because I guess Anne of Green Gables is next. I mean, we are kindred spirits. That's an Anne of Green Gables reference. It is. Yes, it is. You guys suck.

1:33:01Jason Mantzoukas:We don't normally do this, but we do have a special guest tonight. Belt Dad, come on out Belt Dad? and he's gonna hit oh, he's gonna give you all little takes your own medicine why do I feel like why do I feel like before I know it somehow we're gonna have a Belt Dad t-shirt I'd rather have No Dad than Belt Dad or a Belt Dad I'd rather have a Belt Dad than No Dad No Dad better than Belt Dad I don't know something in here well, I have a feeling because people have amazing merch already out there that there probably is some Billie Jean merch We will look and see where we can kind of figure out our own spot in this world.

1:33:40Jason Mantzoukas:So we're not profiteering. Or we can maybe have a shirt that says Pat Benatar is wrong. Yes. Oh, I love that. I personally go, I will be on Etsy tonight and I will be purchasing. I'm certain it's there. I will be purchasing that t-shirt and probably the hat. Wait, did the duo of women who sang with those Billie Jean shirts, did you make or did you buy them? You made them. Wow. Do you have an Etsy store? You're about to be rich. Maybe if Molly can get a picture of them, we can make you the artist of this shirt, and then you'll get a cut of that profit. Perfect. I mean, the reality is, this movie, and I felt like this with Drop Dead Fred, this movie is so genuinely fantastic, and I mean it when I say, I've had a long week, but I sobbed through so much of this movie.

1:34:32There is something about a movie that is about kids alone off on their own trying to right the wrongs that adults are doing to them. That just hits me right in the heart. And I was sobbing throughout from Underground Railroad until the end. I was like, game over. I was doing, I was going, yes! I was standing, I'm 53 years old. By the way, speaking of the Underground Railroad, I didn't understand where she was going. It seemed like maybe she was going in a circle. I think she was. I was fine at that. I feel like she never got more than 25 miles away from where the movie started. I think that's absolutely right.

1:35:14Totally fine at that. I think she never leaves Corpus Christi. No. The greater Corpus Christi area. Fine by me. And by the way, if you'll notice. She's in the mini golf fucking place for the majority. Like her home base is the mini golf place. Yes. Which I also loved as a where the kids would go, the abandoned mini golf. And if you want to go visit it, it's now an aquarium. Oh, is it really? Oh, that's funny.

1:35:36Jason Mantzoukas:I didn't take a single note. Maybe I took two. I did walk by you when you were watching it, and I just saw the notebook far away from you. I closed it, and I put it down, and I just watched it. I did that for a long time. I caught myself, and I was like, I haven't taken a note in a while because I'm just loving this. Yeah, I just have to enjoy this. My only disappointment in... My only disappointment in you, the audience, is that no one showed up with a Billie Jean haircut. I really was sure somebody was going to be like, I did it! And I will say I'm proud of you. I would have proposed. Well, June, Jason, anything you want to promote, June?

1:36:22Well, Elle is on Prime Video. all the episodes are streaming it's a really sweet show

1:36:29Jason Mantzoukas:I love that now do you think that your character would have watched Billie Jean The Legend of Billie Jean oh that's a great question yeah but I don't know that she would have liked it interesting as much as yeah she would have been on that that other side she would have been not on your side felt that side yeah no no no no I don't think she would have felt as strongly as I do okay Jason anything you want to promote I'll promote this summer we did a 10th anniversary of the Chris Gethard One Man's Trash episode that I believe is going to be released somehow soon. It is being edited right now. Yeah, I think it's being edited right now.

1:37:06But if you've never seen it, it's on YouTube. Paul and I are guests on the Chris Gethard Show. It is one of the best episodes of television ever, I think. So go watch that. And I'm still promoting Taskmaster Season 19 just because. I'm locked in, everybody. I'm locked in.

1:37:23Jason Mantzoukas:I want to let everybody know that I am going to be on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with Rob Hubel and it's Wait, is it team? It's team now or against each other? No, it's team now so it's like Larry David and Kazzy David and it was everybody is really fun pairs Rob and I of course have Dark Web every Monday on YouTube check it out if you've not checked it out yet Alright, so this is a thank God it got made thank you everybody for coming out here to Largo Thank you to our amazing staff. We love being at Largo. Our producers, Scott Sonny and Molly Reynolds, our entire production team, for putting this show together.

1:38:02Eat shit!

1:38:05Jason Mantzoukas:Okay, whether you are Team Billie Jean or Team Belt Dad, the only team to be, thank you so much for listening. We're doing something special this week. We have two special t-shirts for this episode that were designed by one of our second opinion song singers. That's right, Sabrina designed one that says Billie Jean and the other one says Pat Benatar was wrong. Now you can snag both of these shirts by clicking the merch link at hdtgm.com and all proceeds from these shirts will go to Sabrina. Now, if you're in Los Angeles in October and want to see June and I live doing a improvised multi-cam sitcom created by Marta Kaufman, the creator of Friends, we have tickets available for you at that same link, hdtgm.com.

1:38:51Jason Mantzoukas:Just click there and tell us what dates you can come see the show. It is going to be an absolute blast. Dinosaur Improv will be back at Largo on September 11th. And if you are a fan of trivia, check me and Rob Hubel out on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on Hulu. And you can watch the 10th anniversary of Chris Gethard's one-man trash anniversary show that Jason and I did in New York just a few months ago, also on YouTube. And if you're on YouTube, why don't you check out the dark web? We have so many good things, but you know what? We know that you are a super fan and you have a lot to say. So if you have a correction and omission from this episode about Billie Jean, you can leave us a voicemail by going to speakpipe.com slash HDTGM or write to us on our discord at discord.gg slash HDTGM.

1:39:39Jason Mantzoukas:We are also still accepting corrections and omissions for our triple X episode as we get ready to launch a supersized last looks. We love being at Largo. Our pals Flanny Griffey and Skills in the booth are just the best. If you're ever in LA, come support Largo. And a big thank you to our recording engineer, Rich Garcia, who's coming out to do these live shows with us. Remember, if you listen to us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, please make sure you are subscribed into our feed and have automatic downloads turned on in the show settings. It helps us, and we appreciate it. Always make sure you're telling people about the show and check out our Instagram page where you can watch videos from our live show.

1:40:20Jason Mantzoukas:And lastly, I have to give a huge thank you to our behind-the-scenes team. I'm talking about our producers, Scott Sonny and Molly Reynolds, our engineer, Casey Holford, and our social media manager, Zoe Applebaum, as well as our intern, Emily Gelbard. We will forever be thankful to the one and only April Halley. And you know what, people? That's all I got. I'll see you next week on Last Looks. Bye for now.

1:41:06with us. Courtside. You can listen to Courtside Club wherever you get your podcasts. Uwe and ah.

1:41:36Your job's done well. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find a pro for your project at Angie.com.