Ask 411 Movies for 10.13.08: I am a Prince of the Universe!

Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 10.13.2008

Leonard Part 6, Bobcat Goldthwait, The Amazing Randi, celebreality, Queen songs in movies and Owen Wilson: wordsmith

To continue with the recent theme of animated cartoons getting a Big Lebowski dub we now have Teenage Mutant Ninja Lebowskis.



Q: The reference to Johnny Carson, above, implies that I was never asked back to the Carson show. Johnny and I stayed in contact long after his retirement, and I did a total of 22 appearances on the show. He was dismayed - as I was - when Popoff returned to TV and is now doing even better than ever...! People just never learn!
-Guest 1731

A: The person didn't sign their name, so not show sure who this is, but I would assume it's James Randi. I edited the entry last week, but I meant that Geller and Popoff had no further "Tonight Show" appearances, not that I could find record of. Randi did make several appearances on "The Tonight Show" and was known to be a friend of Johnny Carson's. Randi has made numerous other television appearances, including on "Penn & Teller's Bullshit" and toured with Alice Cooper in the mid-seventies, performing in Cooper's show as a dentist and executioner along with designing many of the rocker's props.

The Amazing Randi, 80, started out as a stage magician and is known as a debunker of paranormal, supernatural and occult claims. He is the head of the James Randi Educational Foundation, which is offering a $1 million reward to anyone who can display authentic paranormal abilities under conditions agreed upon by both parties. No one has ever collected.

Below is the "Tonight Show" incident mentioned last week with Geller with narration by James Randi.



Q: Adam Carolla has claimed he has been banned from Conan O'Brien's show and does not know why.
-Huell Howser

A: From a blog I found of Adam Carolla's radio show for Oct. 25, 2007, Robert Schimmel was the guest and said he was banned from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," because his act freaked out the staff and sponsors. Carolla then said he was banned and didn't find out about it until he was hanging out with Jimmy Kimmel and he received a call to do Conan. Kimmel offered to bring Carolla along and they said no. The reason given being that they don't book pairs. Hey, maybe that was the truth. Anyone remember seeing dual guests on Conan? Of course, he does have the couch space.

Q: Howard Stern has endorsed Barack Obama. He prefers John McCain, but he HATES Palin, so she swayed his vote.
-Mr. C

A: If you google Howard Stern and Ron Paul together you will find many entries of Stern giving support or saying he agrees with Paul on several issues. Upon double checking, it appears that Stern endorsed Paul during the primaries from the articles I found.

Q: I might be wrong but I thought Bobcat Goldthwait(???) was banned from the Tonight Show for setting the set on fire.
-Lucky

A: Bobcat Goldthwait was banned from "Hollywood Squares" after he was asked the question "What does Michael Jackson do in his spare time?" and he said "Blows Bubbles." Really? He got banned for that.

As far as the "Tonight Show" goes, on May 9, 1994, he did set a couch on fire during an appearance that apparently resulted in him being banned from the show and charged with arson. The show has not confirmed this or released footage of the incident. Goldthwait later parodied this in appearances on "Mad TV" and "The Larry Sanders Show." In the below clip he discusses an earlier incident on "Tonight Show" when Joan Rivers was hosting.



Q: When I was a young child I asked the video clerk if she had Leonard parts 1-5. She looked at me like I was retatded. I wipped the drool from my chin and got back on my short yellow bus and went home. True Story! All except for the part about drool and busses. Point of the story? Leonard part 6 is the mother fucking shit. Its a Cosby sweater!
-Jboy

A: They explain at the beginning of the movie that parts one through five are still classified and have not been released. They haven't been to this day, so that must be some top secret junk. How do you think I felt as a kid? My name was in a movie title. I was jazzed.



In the movie from 1987, Bill Cosby plays the title character, a CIA agent whose career cost him his marriage. He retired to open a restaurant and win his wife back. However, his old superiors call him into action when Medusa Johnson (Gloria Foster) attempts to take over the world by brainwashing small animals. Cosby wasn't happy with how the movie turned out and warned people not to see it in personal appearances before the film's release. After it won Razzies for worst film, worst actor and worst screenplay Cosby agreed to accept the awards on "The Fox Late Show" if they were made of 24 carat gold and Italian marble, which Fox footed the bill for.

Q: I see I answered my own question about Frank Whaley...he must be buds with the Wilson brothers.

And while I am totally straight, I guess I would have to admit that I find Owen Wilson amusing...hell, him and steve coogan were the funniest things in Night at the Museum.

So to continue this line of questioning, apart from the Wes Anderson classics, does Owen have any other screenwriting credits? After seeing Anderson go from Tenanbaums to Hotel Darjeeling, I think Owen may have been the ringer in that screenwriting relationship.
-Luthor

A: When Owen Wilson was announced as a former Oscar nominee on the last Oscars telecast I about spit by White Russian across the room, but then remembered him and Wes Anderson being nominated for The Royal Tenenbaums screenplay. The pair also collaborated on Bottle Rocket and Rushmore.

Q: Dear Leonard,
I noticed the question about most used songs in film and got me thinking about the early 90's. Remember all those disposable Pauley Shore movies? They were put out by a Disney company and used a TON of Queen music seeing as how they just got the US distribution rights to the band. I mean they were using album tracks that the average movie goer wouldn't know. For example in Encino Man they used "Keep Yourself Alive" and "Seven Seas of Rhye." Both were singles in the early 70's that never went anywhere. Gotta count for something.
-Charles

A: Without a doubt my favorite use of a Queen song is "Don't Stop Me Now" from Shaun of the Dead. According to imdb, the most popularly used Queen songs are "Under Pressure," "Somebody to Love," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," "We are the Champions," "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" after Wayne's World broke it open. Also according to imdb, Encino Man used "Stone Cold Crazy" and "Keep Yourself Alive," but doesn't list "Seven Seas of Rhye."

Q: Hi,
There is a movie I remember from the 80s about a kid who runs away from home and I was wondering if you could help me figure out what it was called. All I remember is that the kid some how got a nice and drove it using these weird blocks similar to what Short Run uses in Temple of Doom. I also remember the kid wanting to return to his old life and throwing the blocks in a lake. If you could help me figure out what this movie was, I would really appreciate it.
-Joel

A: The character from Temple of Doom is Short Round.



Two people on the imdb I Need to Know boards peg the movie as Motorama from 1991. Gus (Jordan Christopher Michael) is a ten year old boy who leaves his abusive life behind after breaking his piggy bank and stealing a Mustang. As he travels cross country he plays a game where he collects pieces from gas stations and if he can spell out Motorama he wins $500 million. Several notable faces cameo in the film including Michael J. Pollard, Robert Picardo. Meat Loaf, Flea, Drew Barrymore, Martha Quinn, Allyce Beasley and Dick Miller.

Q: Who's the biggest star to do a reality show? How about for a competition show? Who's the A-lister most likely to be able to be talked into appearing on one? And if you had to cast a celebreality show who would you get (keeping it somewhat realistic)
-Stan

A: Ben Stiller and Jack Black both appeared on celebrity editions of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Jodie Foster appeared on "Celebrity Jeopardy." Game shows have the best shot at landing top celebrities, because of funds going to charities. The Baldwin brothers have done tons of game shows and appearances as fund raising for their mother's breast cancer research fund.

Jessica Simpson and Brittany Spears both had reality shows of their life and marriage during the heights of their fame. Currently, I would say the highest profile celebreality show is "Dancing with the Stars" and they would have the best chance at scoring an A-list star, especially one with a background or interest in dancing.

As far as casting my own reality show, it would depend on the show to see who I could get or would want. To make it real general, let's cast a season of the "Surreal Life," which VH-1 hasn't done a fresh season of in a while.



Robert Culp
Known for: "I Spy," "Greatest American Hero," Hickey and Boggs, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice
Role: Crusty geezer former TV and movie star
Possible episode: Culp is good friends with Hugh Hefner so everyone takes a trip to the Playboy Mansion for a party.



George Takei
Known for: "Star Trek"
Role: Gay dude
Possible episode: Everyone goes with George to a Star Trek convention and is weirded out.



Butch Patrick
Known for: "the Munsters"
Role: Former child star who has battled addiction
Possible episode: Patrick has a few too many and touches one of the girls inappropriately. He feels really bad about it the next day and apologizes profusely.



Charlie Murphy
Known for: "Chapelle's Show," brother of Eddie Murphy
Role: Relative of someone super famous.
Possible episode: Charlie takes a phone call from his brother, but we can't hear the other end of the conversation, even though we do for all other calls.



Johnny Fairplay
Known for: "Survivor"
Role: Former Reality TV star, shit disturber
Possible episode: Fairplay gets his ass handed to him by Charlie Murphy…literally. Charlie will physically remove Fairplay's ass from his body and hand it to him.



Warwick Davis
Known for: Willow, Leprechaun series
Role: Midget
Possible episode: Verne Troyer will guest star and they will recreate the fight scene from They Live.



Annie Potts
Known for: "Designing Women" Ghostbusters
Role: ‘mother'
Possible episode: consoles girl after getting felt up by Patrick. Stops fight between Fairplay and Murphy.



Sophie B. Hawkins
Known for: one hit wonder "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover"
Role: one hit wonder, crazy bitch
Possible episode: There will be some sort of music related challenge that she will totally blow.



Tiffany Shepis
Known for: B-movie scream queen
Role: Slutty naked chick, crazy bitch
Possible episode: Breaks down at some point about being abused as a child, gets felt up by Patrick, kicks Fairplay in the nards.



Kellie Pickler
Known for: "American Idol"
Role: Former reality TV star, naïve hot chick
Possible episode: Will be completely ignorant of something everyone knows, will try to befriend Fairplay and he will lick her.



Missy Hyatt
Known for: wrestling valet
Role: Super crazy queen bitch (basically what you would get if you could morph Tawny Kitean and Chyna into one person)
Possible episode: Will get naked and jump in the pool, will contemplate having sex with Davis, will attempt to turn Takei straight

David wanted to talk about election movies, but we'll hit those next week.

Don't die.

"Clever, but dumb."