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‘Singles’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

September 13, 2022 · Singles (1992) · Comedy · Drama · Music · 1:55:58

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 40:31When we meet Janet for the first time and she's talking about how much she loves Cliff, then it cuts to Cliff playing guitar on Jimi Hendrix
Chris Ryan▶ 41:17The mime scene leading into Alice in Chains

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 44:58newsstands

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Van Lathan▶ 45:43The super train concept that almost everyone who matters to the main character dismisses - they tell him his train won't work because people love their cars

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 48:44Grant Williams because he's so annoying on the court it would actually make me hold off
Van Lathan▶ 48:27Kobe - 'Mamba mentality, don't nut. Stay locked in.'

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:21The historic chili dog scene with close-up shot
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:27Linda eating the chili dog at 1 o'clock

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:03Considers both Javastop and DeSoto club, leans toward the club but finds Javastop pretty cool
Van Lathan▶ 1:07:17Javastop

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:31When Linda's crying after Luis' bones are over, she's being consoled outside the club with 'love bone' written on the wall visible, and the wide shot after Historic Chili Dog when they're on the bench with Power Plant in the background

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:57The characters are a little too old - wishes they were younger, particularly Campbell Scott who was 30 but should have been playing a late 20s guy
Chris Ryan▶ 1:08:15Discusses casting concerns about Campbell Scott vs John Cusack but ultimately says he likes Campbell Scott in the role
Van Lathan▶ 1:08:46Defends the casting and ages, arguing that the characters work as mid-to-late 20s people with established careers and maturity

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:30Video dating has aged the worst because who would do a video date now

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:42Answering machines as a plot device and answering machines breaking

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:41Bobby Van reference that nobody knows anymore, and Nirvana not being in this movie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:10Luis is a fucking psycho - his manipulative behavior toward women
Van Lathan▶ 1:13:11Mel Gibson reference (wanting a guy who's a combo of Holden Caulfield and Mel Gibson) and the fax machine

Ron Burgundy Flute Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:09Not giving out this award - doesn't think you should pee during this movie because it's fantastic

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:39No way - the original title is perfect, rejecting the studio's suggestion of 'Come as You Are'

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:55Steve don't come yet

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:01Johnny Depp — Discusses Johnny Depp and Matt Dillon turning down Steve Dunn (too good looking), Cameron Crowe wanting Chris Cornell as Cliff Ponce, Paula Abdul as runner-up for Debbie, and various other casting alternatives including Eric Stoltz potentially as Steve
Chris Ryan▶ 1:24:16Johnny Depp — Agrees Johnny Depp was too good looking and never played normal guys, vetted Jennifer Jason Leigh rumors, discusses Josh Hamilton and River Phoenix as alternatives to Campbell Scott
Van Lathan▶ 1:24:23Johnny Depp — Agrees Johnny Depp wouldn't work because too good looking to be believable as someone who can't get women, discusses Jennifer Jason Leigh casting rumors wouldn't have worked

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:21Suggested multiple options: Citizen Dick, Super Train, Historic Chili Dog, and Super Chili Dog

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:41Kathryn Hahn — Catherine Hahn as Ruth, Philip Baker Hall as the mayor, Steve Buscemi as Luis
Chris Ryan▶ 1:40:44Kathryn Hahn — Catherine Hahn as Ruth
Van Lathan▶ 1:40:46Kathryn Hahn — Catherine Hahn would be great, Steve Buscemi as Bailey or as the mime

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:24Paul Westerberg — Soundtrack - specifically Paul Westerberg for 'Waiting for Somebody' as Best Original Song
Chris Ryan▶ 1:41:41Discussed soundtrack eligibility but questioned whether 'Waiting for Somebody' was original to the film

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:05Reality Bites — Reality Bites or kicking and screaming
Chris Ryan▶ 1:47:09Say Anything — Say Anything as prequel - Seattle coming of age high school, then Singles as post-college
Van Lathan▶ 1:47:30Jerry Maguire — Jerry Maguire (after considering Love Jones and jokingly mentioning Action Jackson and Vanilla Sky)

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:31love is finding someone who says, God bless you when you sneeze

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:50Bridget Fonda — Initially suggested Bridget Fonda, then agreed with Van that Grunge won the movie, and later suggested the 90s won the movie
Van Lathan▶ 1:50:52Either Steve or Grunge won the movie

Movies Referenced (30)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 21:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Home Alone (1990)

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jerry Maguire (1996)

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 14:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Reality Bites (1994)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 9:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Action Jackson (1988)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 57:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Almost Famous (2000)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 9:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jackie Brown (1997)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 36:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Few Good Men (1992)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 43:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Before Sunrise (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 9:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dying Young (1991)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

In the Line of Fire (1993)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 43:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

Cameron Crowe

26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 4:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Gibson

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Braveheart, Conspiracy Theory▶ 1:13:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tim Burton

6 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Edward Scissorhands▶ 52:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Horton

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 22:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Scorsese

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 52:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ari Gold

1 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 51:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (75)

Campbell Scott

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Big Night, Singles▶ 4:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pearl Jam

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Big Fish▶ 26:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nirvana

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The Batman, Captain Marvel▶ 28:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bridget Fonda

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for A Simple Plan, Point of No Return, Single White Female▶ 4:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Dillon

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for There's Something About Mary, Crash, Drugstore Cowboy▶ 4:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Pullman

9 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Independence Day, Spaceballs▶ 55:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeremy Piven

8 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 51:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Westerberg

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Singles, Open Season, Tank Girl▶ 31:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Citizen Cope

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Battleship, The Lincoln Lawyer▶ 27:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Xavier McDaniel

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Singles▶ 8:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eddie Vedder

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Into the Wild, Big Fish▶ 39:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kurt Cobain

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Black Widow, The Batman▶ 59:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Andy Greenwald

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 3:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Crane

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 38:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗