The Rewatchables Podcast Episode Summary: "A 2025 Rewatchables Mailbag"

Release Date: January 21, 2025
Host/Author: Bill Simmons and The Ringer Team

Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Rewatchables, host Bill Simmons along with co-hosts Chris Ryan and Craig Horbect dive deep into a listener mailbag, exploring a wealth of audience-suggested categories, theme months, and insightful musings about beloved rewatchable films. Stripping away advertisements and intros, the conversation centers around enhancing the podcast's interactive segments and refining the way they celebrate and analyze iconic movies.

Mailbag Overview

At the onset of the episode, Bill Simmons introduces the concept of the mailbag, discussing its previous iterations and expressing excitement about the diverse array of listener contributions. The team acknowledges the longstanding relationship with their audience, emphasizing the value of fan engagement in shaping the podcast's content.

Listener-Suggested Categories

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to exploring new category ideas submitted by listeners. These categories aim to add layers of depth and humor to the discussions surrounding rewatchable movies.

1. The Chris Ryan Award: "Would This Movie Be Better If a Main Character Smoked?"

   • Bill Simmons [03:45]: "I've been thinking a lot about the categories because we had a bunch from the last thing too."
   • The team debates the merits of whether the inclusion of smoking would enhance certain films, citing examples like Sean Penn's insistence on smoking in interviews as a potential criteria for excellence in on-screen smoking.

2. The Dan Campbell Scale:

   • Will Hanselman suggests [10:06]: "A category called the Dan Campbell scale, given to a character or scene that makes you think, holy shit, are they really going for this."
   • This category evaluates the plausibility of characters' actions within movies, rating scenes based on their perceived commitment to the plot's believability.

3. Five-Word Summaries:

   • Jordan Grimmer proposes [15:10]: "Panelists offer their best or worst five-word summary of the movie."
   • The hosts experiment with concisely describing films, aiming to capture the essence or humorous shortcomings of movies in just five words.

4. The Lieutenant Weinberg Award:

   • Jordan Grimmer suggests [25:12]: "A category for characters unnecessarily calling someone out."
   • Inspired by characters like Colonel Jessup, this award highlights moments where characters' confrontations clash with the movie's tone or logic.

5. The Jules Winfield Award:

   • Jake Oakman introduces [27:14]: "Named after the greatest lines in history, like those from Samuel L. Jackson."
   • This award recognizes actors who deliver iconic lines that transform their characters from ordinary to legendary.

6. The Steven Seagal Hard to Kill Award:

   • Rob Shire's suggestion [28:32]: "Did the sex scene in the movie need a better intimacy coordinator?"
   • Focusing on delicate or poorly executed scenes, this category assesses whether a film could benefit from professional guidance to enhance authenticity.

7. The Carl from The Walking Dead Award:

   • Daniel C.'s idea [62:17]: "Award for what character would survive the longest in the zombie apocalypse."
   • This category speculates on character survivability in hypothetical disaster scenarios, adding a fun, analytical twist to character evaluations.

8. The Sideways Merlot Award:

   • Kevin Paulman's proposal [61:32]: "Presented when something ridiculous in the movie unexpectedly gains a cult following."
   • Named after the impact of Sideways on Merlot sales, this award explores how certain film elements inadvertently influence real-world trends.

9. The Barney Cousins Award:

   • Zach Smith suggests [76:07]: "For the most inexplicable accent work in a film."
   • Highlighting peculiar or inconsistent accents, this category critiques character portrayal nuances that may detract from a movie’s authenticity.

10. The Ridge Rumble Award:

    • **Michael Connor's This includes scenarios such as:_
      "Would this movie work in another genre?"
    • This category examines how films might transform if reimagined within different genres, encouraging creative reinterpretations of storylines and styles.

Theme Months Suggestions

Listeners also proposed several theme month ideas to organize future podcast episodes around specific motifs or film genres.

1. Rotten Rewatchables Month:

   • Logan Van Winkle's idea [34:18]: "A month dedicated to rewatchable movies that deserve better Rotten Tomatoes scores."
   • Examples include Billy Madison, Ace Ventura, and Rat Race, offering a platform to advocate for underrated films.

2. Comeback Month:

   • Josh Bro's suggestion [40:23]: "Celebrating movies that revived the careers of actors or the franchise itself."
   • Films like The Wrestler and Night of Professor Underrated could be highlighted for their role in revitalizing star power and cinematic narratives.

3. Unwatchables Month:

   • Mitchell Moore's proposal [43:07]: "A selection of films that are acknowledged as flawed but remain compelling enough to rewatch."
   • Titles such as Bugsy, Indian Summer, Another 48 Hours, and Angel Heart showcase the paradox of unwatchable yet rewatchable cinema.

4. Much to Bill Chagrin Month:

   • Josh Lento's idea [40:25]: "Different hosts select movies of their choice without Bill's veto power."
   • This month allows co-hosts to introduce personal favorites, fostering a diverse range of discussions.

5. Dog Month:

   • Various suggestions [73:34]: "Celebrating films where dogs play pivotal roles or contribute significantly to the storyline."
   • Movies like Marley and Me and Turner and Hooch exemplify the season dedicated to canine-centric films.

Specific Movie Discussions

The episode delves into specific films, exploring listener insights and the hosts' personal anecdotes related to rewatchable classics.

1. Heat:

   • Listener Maria Hill's Insights [03:45-24:00]: Heat serves as a recurring focal point, with discussions on character dynamics, memorable scenes, and hypothetical scenarios such as the addition of new characters or alterations in plotlines.

2. Rollerball:

   • Listener Kevin O'Connell's Request [11:38]:
     • The host team examines Rollerball's place within sports movie parodies, pondering aspects like plot twists and the integration of current athletes into the narrative framework.

3. Aliens:

   • Elijah's Suggestion [89:27]:
     • The Aliens sequel is celebrated for its status as a quintessential sci-fi action film, with the hosts sharing their anticipation and personal experiences watching the movie on various occasions.

4. Rocky Series:

   • Listener Paul McCabe's Nitpick [97:00]:
     • The team reflects on continuity issues within the Rocky series, particularly the chronological placement of Rocky III and Rocky IV before the original film’s Oscar success, leading to discussions about narrative coherence and viewer reception.

Fantasy Draft: Building the Ultimate Heist Crew

A standout segment involves a creative exercise where the hosts collaboratively draft an ultimate heist crew using characters from various heist films. Starting with iconic leaders like Neil McCauley from Heat and Jim from Heat, the team considers roles such as the calm strategist (Rust from Ocean's Eleven) and the wild card (Mr. White from Reservoir Dogs). This imaginative discussion highlights each character’s strengths and how they would synergize in executing a flawless heist, blending the strategic with the spontaneous.

Additional Category Enhancements

The conversation also covers tweaks and expansions to existing categories, ensuring they remain relevant and engaging. For example:

• "Would This Movie Work in Another Genre?" prompts discussions on how films like Room for Paradise or Mrs. Doubtfire could transform if reimagined within different cinematic genres.

• "What Is the Perfect Age to See This Movie?" from Michael Morrison [76:04] encourages the hosts to evaluate films based on optimal viewing ages, considering how audience perspectives and life stages influence the reception of certain movies.

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Bill Simmons and his co-hosts express gratitude towards their listeners for the plethora of creative ideas and heartfelt suggestions. They tease upcoming episodes, hinting at tackling fan-favorite films like Hunt for Red October and Aliens, and emphasize their commitment to continuously enhancing the podcast experience based on audience feedback.

By thoughtfully integrating listener contributions into their discussions, The Rewatchables not only celebrates timeless films but also fosters a dynamic, interactive community of movie enthusiasts eager to revisit and reinterpret their favorite cinematic moments.

Notable Quotes

• Bill Simmons [03:45]: "I've been thinking a lot about the categories because we had a bunch from the last thing too."

• Chris Ryan [11:08]: "I feel like there should be a promotion and relegation system for the."

• Craig Horbect [28:32]: "That's how we'll decide who gets to pick the movie. The other people have to watch. We'll do a coin toss live on camera."

• Bill Simmons [37:01]: "I think we. Maybe we need to do the canceled Rewatchables month."

• Chris Ryan [73:34]: "We can add Sam Darnold just to mix it up. I like the system actor idea."

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Rewatchables is a testament to the podcast’s vibrant community and its dedication to exploring the multifaceted nature of rewatchable films. By embracing listener feedback and continuously evolving their categorization system, Bill Simmons and his team ensure that every episode remains a nostalgic yet fresh celebration of cinema’s enduring classics.