The Rewatchables: ‘Quiz Show’ with Bill Simmons & Brian Koppelman (October 21, 2025)

Overview

Theme & Purpose:
Bill Simmons and guest Brian Koppelman (screenwriter/producer of “Rounders” and “Billions”) convene to dissect Robert Redford’s 1994 film Quiz Show—the final entry of Rewatchables’ "Redford Month." Anchored in one of the most sensational television scandals of the 1950s, the episode explores Quiz Show’s significance as both a sharply written character drama and a timeless commentary on media, class, and the corruption of American innocence. Through personal reflections, industry anecdotes, and rigorous scene-by-scene breakdowns, Simmons and Koppelman reaffirm Quiz Show’s status as one of the best screenplays of the last 30 years—while discussing performance, context, and the film’s lingering resonance.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Quiz Show’s Place in Movie History

• Contextualized by 1994’s Movie Year: Released in a two-week span with Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption, Quiz Show was overshadowed in the awards race (03:08).
• Redford’s Passion Project: Redford’s personal connection—he watched the scandal unfold live—drew him to telling this story ("The scandal was really the first in a series of scandals that have left us numbed" – Redford quote, 16:25).

2. The Movie’s Enduring Themes

• Media Manipulation: The film anticipates modern anxieties around reality TV, manipulation, and public trust ("We used to believe what was on TV... but maybe I shouldn’t trust everything" – Simmons, 05:32).
• Class & Outcasts: The dichotomy between Van Doren’s patrician old money world and Herb Stempel’s striving outsider is explored as a metaphor for American ambition and exclusion (11:22).
• Innocence Lost: Koppelman describes it as a “human movie” about “deeply flawed people trying to get outside their own limitations” (06:33).

3. Screenwriting "Clinic"

• Paul Attanasio’s Script: Both hosts rave about the “crispness” and economy of the script—"not a scene wasted," "a clinic on how to write a two-hour movie about something that happened 40 years earlier" (09:05).
• Notable Attanasio Run: Attanasio’s run also included Donnie Brasco, Disclosure, and Homicide (07:15).

4. Performances & Casting

• Ralph Fiennes as Van Doren: Described as acting primarily “in the eyes” and "one of the absolute greatest" for capturing inner conflict (18:58).
• Rob Morrow as Dick Goodwin: Both praise Morrow’s intelligence and presence but ponder why his career didn’t launch into stardom (25:15, 59:54).
• John Turturro as Herb Stempel: Turturro’s committed, “self-destructive” performance is acclaimed, but Simmons says it "hurts the rewatchability a bit" because “Stempel’s not a fun hang” (19:36).
• Incredible Supporting Cast: Through Bonnie Timmerman's casting, the movie lands “deep bench” character actors—David Paymer, Hank Azaria, Christopher McDonald, Scorsese, and Barry Levinson (22:50).

5. Authenticity, Inaccuracy & Oscar Fortunes

• Artistic Liberties: The film compresses timelines, emphasizes Goodwin’s role, and fictionalizes some events for drama ("somewhere between when they do 'based on a true story,' but clearly liberties taken" – 17:32, 57:58).
• Oscar Discussion: Quiz Show lost Best Picture to Forrest Gump—with Koppelman and Simmons sure the film would have dominated in a less stacked year (61:45).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On TV’s Corrupting Power

“I thought we were gonna get television. The truth is television is gonna get us.”
— Bill Simmons (01:45)

On Innocence and Character

“Everyone wants to think the best of you, Charlie... people were still trying to think the best of each other and that it was possible.”
— Brian Koppelman (06:33)

On Paul Attanasio’s Script

“It’s just so crisp... not a scene wasted. It’s kind of a clinic on how to write a two-hour movie about something that happened 40 years earlier.”
— Bill Simmons (09:05)

On Class

“There’s shades of Mr. Ripley in this—the kind of semi-outsider coming into the world of class. The movie does class so well.”
— Bill Simmons (11:24)

On Fiennes as Van Doren

“There’s so much going on in his eyes... he really acts where the camera picks up so much.”
— Brian Koppelman (18:58)

Scene-by-Scene Breakdown

(Key Scenes and Highlights with Timestamps)

• [09:05–11:54] — Class and Outsiderness: Discussion on how Van Doren and Goodwin represent different sides of American society.
• [14:30] — The Chocolate Cake Scene: “That’s one of my favorite movie scenes ever... every line is mind-boggling” (Koppelman).
• [22:43] — Barry Levinson & Scorsese’s Cameos: Applauded for how “director gods” understood the world they’re acting in.
• [39:02] — The ‘What Would You Do?’ Moment: Both hosts discuss the moral dilemma at the heart of the film.
• [56:44] — Geritol Rabbit Hole: Simmons investigates the fate of the once-iconic tonic, highlighting how products and scandals fade.

Running Awards & Fun Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

• Contenders:
  • The initial game show scenes (35:45)
  • Van Doren v. Stempel showdown (“I love movies with a ‘what would you do’ moment”—Simmons, 37:56)
  • Chocolate cake father-son scene (14:30, 40:09)
  • The Van Doren confession (40:43)
• Winner(s): The "almost friends" Goodwin/Van Doren scenes and the father-son Connecticut scenes (41:23, 42:14)

Best Use of Food or Drink

• Chocolate Cake ("Big Kahuna Burger" award, 40:09), with a special shout to Geritol’s odd pop culture legacy.

What’s Aged the Best

• The subtle portrayal of class and father-son dynamics (47:15)
• The legacy of rigged reality TV—“It’s all rigged now. Nobody would care now” (47:21)

What’s Aged the Worst

• Rob Morrow’s Boston accent (55:28)
• The diminished importance of products like Geritol (55:28–56:51)
• Factual inaccuracies and the Hollywoodization of historical events (57:58)

Best “That Guy” Award

• Hank Azaria (at the time), David Pamer, and especially Barry Levinson for cameo impact (65:12–67:36)

Hottest Take Award

• If Quiz Show had been released a year later, “it wins Best Picture and Best Director” (61:45)

Half-Assed Internet Research

• Production trivia, including Paul Scofield’s recruitment from a silent retreat (29:09), and recasting what-ifs (62:52)

Notable “Rewatchables” Segments

• CR’s “Hottest Take”: Rob Morrow should have become a major movie star (59:53)
• Legacy & Double Feature: "Donnie Brasco" recommended as a thematically linked companion (88:20)
• Coach Finstock Life Lesson: “Speculation in our society has a way of becoming fact” (88:09)
• Best Line on Innocence: Roger Ebert’s reflection on innocence and tempting versus being tempted (32:59)

Final Thoughts, Resonance & Reflection

• The episode closes with praise for Quiz Show’s timelessness: its themes—media trust, class, TV’s influence—are more relevant in 2025 than ever (90:29).
• Koppelman calls Paul Attanasio’s script a “truly rare accomplishment,” putting him in a league with Goldman, Frank, and Gilroy (91:53).
• The film is characterized as “a human movie about deeply flawed people,” whose characters are “trying to get outside their own limitations” (06:33).

Essential Quotes & Timestamps

• On TV’s corrupting nature (01:45):
  “The truth is television is gonna get us.”
• On innocence & ideals (06:33):
  “Everyone wants to think the best of you, Charlie. ...It was possible... it’s such a human movie.”
• On class and seduction (11:09):
  “He goes to the perfect, perfect rich people, 1950s outdoor party... this is the life I’ve always dreamed of being a part [of].”
• On the screenplay (09:05):
  “It’s just so crisp. ...Not a scene wasted. ...A clinic on how to write a two-hour movie about something that happened 40 years earlier.”
• On Attanasio’s legacy (91:53):
  “He is one of the titans of screenwriting... this movie and Brasco together are really a very rare accomplishment.”

For Further Viewing/Reading

• Double Feature Suggestion:
  “Donnie Brasco”—for Attanasio’s parallel story of the enticements of insider status.
• Roger Ebert’s Review:
  Described as “one of the best reviews I’ve read from him”—a deep thematic analysis (32:59).
• Charles Van Doren’s 2008 New Yorker Article:
  Essential for anyone wanting the “real story” behind the movie (58:49).

Conclusion

Quiz Show stands as a taut, brilliant examination of integrity, privilege, and manipulation—one that looks backward at the creation of TV’s spell and forward at our own susceptibility. Simmons and Koppelman’s infectious admiration for the film’s craft, themes, and performances makes this Rewatchables episode a must-listen for movie lovers and media skeptics alike.