A quarter century
Theme show alert. Theme show alert.
Did you know that Tommy Boy turned 25 this spring. Yeah, I feel old too.As Jules noted in the conversation about quotable movies, Tommy Boy is wicked underrated in that category, and not unlike some of the beloved comedies of my lifetime, Tommy Boy was a theatrical flop before becoming beloved on cable and VHS/DVD.
Not sure why Tommy Boy jumped into my head this morning, but it did. As I approach my 50th birthday later this year – again, feeling old this morning – I think it started with a Holy Schnikees when I saw this video. Yes, that video is Terrell Owens – who will be 47 in December and last played in the NFL a decade ago – racing and not looking all that out of place against Tyreek Hill, who is only the fastest WR in the NFL. Again, Holy Schnikees.
So, why not a theme show, right? Right? Who’s with me? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Heck no. (Can’t you see Spy and Chas playing the roles of Otter and Boone? Spy: “Germans?” Chas: “Forget it. He’s rolling.”)
It then made me look around and gang, the 1995 movie catalog was KERRR-razy surreal.
Toy Story. Braveheart. Seven. Apollo 13. Usual Suspects. Casino. To Die For. Babe. (Side note: All of those are great, but in terms of quotable lines, I bet I have said “That’ll do pig” more than the other seven movies listed combined.)
I can keep going. Comedies: Billy Madison. Friday. The Brady Bunch Movie. Fringe action movies that are entirely rewatchable: Outbreak, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Crimson Tide. And because 1995 was 1995, it even did bad movies bigger and badder than just about anyplace else. Hello, Showgirls.
It was Thursday night must-see TV at its apex as Seinfeld was in season seven and changing gears as it sped toward being one of the best sitcoms ever. Friends was in Season 2 and ER was smoking.
It was – on my 25th birthday no less – the year OJ was found not guilty. The Macarena happened in 1995 too.
And if you think the world has not completely spun around the universe and into places never imaginable, we’ll end the 1995 look back with this spanning of time: