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MOVIE

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Directed by Rob Reiner•1h 22m•Published Aug 16, 2022•Episode length 2h 57m
Episode 135 - This Is Spinal Tap
ComedyMusic

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Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Nigel Tufnel
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
David St. Hubbins
Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Derek Smalls
Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Marty DiBergi
June Chadwick
June Chadwick
Jeanine Pettibone
Bruno Kirby
Bruno Kirby
Tommy Pischedda
Ed Begley Jr.
Ed Begley Jr.
John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher
Bobbi Flekman
Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Mime Waiter
Sandy Helberg
Sandy Helberg
Angelo DiMentibelio

Director

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Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Director
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Overview

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

Show notes

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Tonight we're gonna rock this pod tonight. Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan, and Georgia as we're touring the United States with Britain's loudest band in This is Spinal Tap. Some call it the funniest film of all time but how did it do for 2 of us giving it a first watch almost 40 yea…

Read full show notes

Tonight we're gonna rock this pod tonight.  Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew: Ian, Liam, Ethan, and Georgia as we're touring the United States with Britain's loudest band in This is Spinal Tap. Some call it the funniest film of all time but how did it do for 2 of us giving it a first watch almost 40 years after its release?  We're cranking all the dials up to 11 in our 135th episode as we discuss:

  • How the characters for This is Spinal Tap came to be
  • Who really wrote the songs and played the instruments in the film
  • Why Black Sabbath became upset with the producers and the unbelieveable reason they got it wrong
  • Who were Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller sent to in order to polish the script up
  • Where do we know each of the 4 main characters from.  Face blindness to the extremes
  • We share about our BFE trip to London 
  • Which crazy cameos show up in this film - including one that we couldn't believe
  • We discuss the challenges of a film requiring you to be in on the joke
  • We briefly give some thoughts on the passing of Olivia Newton John
  • Whether or not This is Spinal Tap is the Best Film Ever.

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We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:

  • Rev Bruce
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Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of 'Mistake' by Luckydog.  Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor

Also massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song.  You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/

 

Timestamps for this episode:

  • 0:00 - Opening Banter
    7:05 - Reflections & Corrections
    26:15 - Shoutouts
    57:40 - Deep Dive
    2:04:25 - Endgame