1 hr 14 min
The Private Eyes (1980) Mostly Murder (But Sometimes Not)
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- TV & Film
New episode out now! We watched the 1980 mystery comedy The Private Eyes, starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. We debate what the movie was aiming for between mystery and satire, wonder who the audience was intended to be, have issues figuring out if things were jokes or clues, and perhaps read too much into the actual plot. We learn the script was written in two days, and then subsequently wonder if the casting of two beloved comedy actors did a lot of the work in pumping up the humor of the film. We also feel that the Biltmore Estate lent a lot to the visuals, have issues with the casual '70s racism, think Mel Brooks was a big influence, and really like the Scooby-Doo of it all - with the epitome of a mysterious cloaked figure. Katy worried that ghosts were real, Carrie doesn't think Don Knotts is funny, Maddy has Biltmore blindness, and Mack knows who Richard Nixon is. We talk about Vulcan humor and what is unintentionally funny about old Star Trek, lament that it's difficult for kids today to learn about older pop culture, pitch The Carol Burnett Show TikTok, and channel The Mickey Mouse Club. We also cover castle architecture, funny pigeon bits, air quotes, Old Glory, and secret passages. Give it a listen and enjoy!
TW: Racist stereotypes, tongue mutilation, Santa Claus mythology, harm to animals, sexism
Show Notes:
Link: The Dentist Sketch from The Carol Burnett Show
Link: Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on breaking up on-camera
Link: Carol Burnett discusses Harvey Korman and Tim Conway 1:21 - “I think Conway’s goal in life is to destroy Harvey.”
TikTok link to the men reenacting the French taunter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
New episode out now! We watched the 1980 mystery comedy The Private Eyes, starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. We debate what the movie was aiming for between mystery and satire, wonder who the audience was intended to be, have issues figuring out if things were jokes or clues, and perhaps read too much into the actual plot. We learn the script was written in two days, and then subsequently wonder if the casting of two beloved comedy actors did a lot of the work in pumping up the humor of the film. We also feel that the Biltmore Estate lent a lot to the visuals, have issues with the casual '70s racism, think Mel Brooks was a big influence, and really like the Scooby-Doo of it all - with the epitome of a mysterious cloaked figure. Katy worried that ghosts were real, Carrie doesn't think Don Knotts is funny, Maddy has Biltmore blindness, and Mack knows who Richard Nixon is. We talk about Vulcan humor and what is unintentionally funny about old Star Trek, lament that it's difficult for kids today to learn about older pop culture, pitch The Carol Burnett Show TikTok, and channel The Mickey Mouse Club. We also cover castle architecture, funny pigeon bits, air quotes, Old Glory, and secret passages. Give it a listen and enjoy!
TW: Racist stereotypes, tongue mutilation, Santa Claus mythology, harm to animals, sexism
Show Notes:
Link: The Dentist Sketch from The Carol Burnett Show
Link: Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on breaking up on-camera
Link: Carol Burnett discusses Harvey Korman and Tim Conway 1:21 - “I think Conway’s goal in life is to destroy Harvey.”
TikTok link to the men reenacting the French taunter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1 hr 14 min