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‘Coming to America’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Wesley Morris

February 18, 2021 · Coming to America (1988) · Comedy · Romance · 1:53:59

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 47:01Black Awareness Week scene featuring Arsenio's reverend character and Eddie as Randy Watson with Sexual Chocolate - calls it 'probably going to be my winner'
Van Lathan▶ 48:26Strongly supports the Black Awareness Week scene based on personal experience attending similar community events, relating to the authenticity of the crowd reactions
Wesley Morris▶ 42:56Focuses on the presentation of the future queen scene, praising the lavish old Hollywood production values and attention to detail with 400 costumed extras

What's Aged the Best

Van Lathan▶ 1:04:36The Waldorf Astoria - it became the benchmark for an amazing hotel and is still kicking, still represents New York luxury
Wesley Morris▶ 1:05:22The authenticity of New York in the 1970s/80s - how they just shot New York as it was without dressing it up, including the Queensness of Queens and the unplowed snow during the King's arrival

What's Aged the Worst

Wesley Morris▶ 1:14:42The most desired woman in the movie being the lightest skinned woman (Vanessa Williams casting), and Sherry Headley's Queens accent for an African princess

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:23Allison Dean — Allison Dean as Patrice (the sister) - winner, with Paul Bates as runner-up and Madge Sinclair as candidate but noted she's more established than a 'that guy' actor

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:04Allison Dean — Nominated Frankie Faison (slumlord), Louis Anderson, and Sam Jackson, but chose Patrice McDowell (Allison Dean) as the winner
Van Lathan▶ 1:17:44Frankie Faison — Agreed with Frankie Faison as the slumlord

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:03Shari Headley — Proposed Robin Givens or Angela Bassett as alternatives to Sherry Headley, but ultimately accepts Sherry Headley works well in the role
Van Lathan▶ 1:22:49Robin Givens — Rejects Robin Givens because it would ruin her boomerang performance, doesn't think the alternatives would make it a better movie
Wesley Morris▶ 1:22:22Angela Bassett — Questioned whether casting agents in 1987-88 would have found Angela Bassett, but didn't give a clear preference

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:07Extensive research covering McDowell's filming location, Eddie Murphy's $8M salary plus 15% film rentals, weekly expenditures, Landis feud, Art Buchwald lawsuit, Richard Pryor reference for Zemunda name, and Star Wars homage
Van Lathan▶ 1:25:55Provided detailed explanation of the Twilight Zone helicopter accident involving Vic Morrow and child actors, agreed on Armand White's contrarian nature
Wesley Morris▶ 1:27:29Contributed knowledge about Armand White's contrarian film criticism pattern and the Art Buchwald lawsuit being major entertainment news

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:58Arsenio Hall — Eddie Murphy: No. Arsenio Hall: Yes (1989). James Earl Jones: Might be apex-less or possibly Sandlot as belated apex. Shari Headley and sister: Yes. Rick Baker makeup: Yes. Hot tubs, jerry curls in film, Queens NY: Yes for various items
Van Lathan▶ 1:32:12Arsenio Hall — Arsenio Hall: Talk show era (1989). James Earl Jones: Voice of Darth Vader in the 1970s, though he has different apexes across mediums (Fences for stage). Barbershop conversations: Barbershop movie over Coming to America
Wesley Morris▶ 1:31:33Arsenio Hall — Arsenio Hall: 1989 based on talk show performance exhibits. James Earl Jones: Might not have had one clear apex, just sustained career without power roles. Barbershop scenes: Barbershop movie is apex over this

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:45:11Multiple questions: Why didn't they stay at Waldorf and get second apartment; hand job logistics with tight 80s jeans; why Arsenio Hall didn't do more movies; did Hakeem Olajuwon change his name because of this movie; did Wakanda rip off Zamunda
Van Lathan▶ 1:45:50Contributed to hand job discussion with 'slidey' terminology; confirmed Black Panther debuted in 1960s before this movie; asked about graffiti train authenticity
Wesley Morris▶ 1:46:04Discussed hand job logistics and virgin theory; suggested Chunky A character killed Arsenio's movie career; noted graffiti train question about whether they painted it for the movie

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:51:12Eddie Murphy — Eddie Murphy (agreed, said 'Let's not overthink this one')

Movies Referenced (31)

Trading Places (1983)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 33:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 6:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Die Hard (1988)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 3:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beetlejuice (1988)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 25:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Home Alone (1990)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Best of the Best (1989)

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Black Panther (2018)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:49:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Big Chill (1983)

3 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 39:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Golden Child (1986)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 3:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Your Highness (2011)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

2 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 3:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (3)

John Landis

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Blues Brothers▶ 32:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Lewis

10 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Little Miss Sunshine▶ 57:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spike Lee

6 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 11:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (65)

Eddie Murphy

90 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan · Known for Harlem Nights, The Nutty Professor▶ 1:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arsenio Hall

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan · Known for Coming to America, Harlem Nights▶ 20:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Earl Jones

12 mentions · Van Lathan, Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons · Known for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Field of Dreams▶ 34:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lisa McDowell

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for White Men Can't Jump▶ 17:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rick Baker

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Planet of the Apes, Men in Black▶ 29:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Smith

10 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Coming to America, The Firm, 48 Hrs.▶ 31:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jackson

10 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 15:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Pryor

10 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Silver Streak▶ 9:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Amos

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Wesley Morris · Known for Coming to America, Lock Up▶ 34:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Cosby

7 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 3:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Madge Sinclair

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Coming to America, The Lion King▶ 56:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jordan

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Space Jam, He Got Game▶ 19:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Roger Ebert

7 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 3:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andrew Cosby

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 3:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Art Buchwald

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jane Austen

3 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Sense and Sensibility▶ 16:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Sheffield

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, Coming to America▶ 35:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Bet Rourich

1 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 1:12:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗