MovieChat Forums > Best in Show (2000) Discussion > Best Throwaway Bit

Best Throwaway Bit

posted 15 years ago by maasai1066
33 replies | jump to latest

Amidst so many great lines and sight gags a favorite of mine is Fred Willard's wacked out reference to "American history," wherein Columbus and the Mayflower landed at Philadelphia; and Balaban's nonplussed dismissal of Willard's version of history...

Favorite throwaway line (that hasn't been mentioned in the gag thread): The whole exchange between the Flecks and their friends at the departure party, with the square husband and his wife (who also played the Blaine descendant in "Guffman") laughing way too hard at their interplay is priceless. But the capper for me is when Cookie tries to ameliorate her husband's jealousy over the couple they will hilariously visit in Akron and the uncredited blonde woman interjects, "See? That's why it works--" "it" being the Flecks' Cracker Barrel marriage -- to the enthusiastic assent of Mr. & Mrs. Bland who have already been mentioned. Peerless satire, and probably my favorite scene in the film.

For anyone who bothers to read this post-- do any of you have an idea why the Akron home of Cookie's ex-flame has two televisions on the floor? It's surely a deliberate sight gag but I can't discern its meaning. Thx!

[–] bednorz 15 years ago

In response to the two televisions reference, I may be able to shed some light on it. I noticed it too and here's what came to my mind....

During the 60's & 70's big bulky console televisions were quite popular. When the TV eventually died (generally sometime in the 80's), many lower income families kept them to use as a piece of furniture. Since the cabinets generally matched your furniture, it was hard to let such a valuable piece go. They were commonly used as stands for the newer "portable" TVs or as a makeshift credenza. Growing up in this time period, I saw it more often than I care to admit. Fortunately my parents had the good taste to have ours hauled off upon it's death. It was Spanish Mediterranean style....yikes!

So to me it was representational of just how trashy the Bermans were.

You can even catch this gag in "Back to the Future" in the 80's McFly household. Check it out during the dinner scene when they're watching "The Honeymooners" rerun. The working TV is resting on top of an old console TV.

[–] Buckleigh 12 years ago

Re: two TVs (personal story)

Our first color TV was one of those big console sets. Several years later the tube (yes, tube) went out. We put a smaller one on top that didn't have any sound. Soooooo, we used the smaller one for the picture, and the console for sound....yeah, kinda white trash. :)

"She's in the Attic!!" - Bea Arthur

[–] benc1169 15 years ago

I think one of the funniest throw-away bits is (and I didn't see it in the other lists) when Fred Willard's Character calls Jane Lynch's character a "Handsom fella" ... cracks me up everytime.

[–] WadesWiddleYellowBoxes 14 years ago

So many crack me up, but I'll give these three that get me every time:

Buck Laughlin : "Excuse me if this off the subject a little bit, but just take a guess at how much I can bench press."

Harlan Pepper : "And Hubert used to be able to make the sound, he couldn't talk, but he'd go "rrrawr rrawr" and that sounded like Macadamia nut"

And the exchange between Laughlin and Trevor Beckwith when Laughlin said "I don't think I could ever get used to being poked and prodded like that. I told my proctologist one time, "Why don't you take me out to dinner and a movie sometime?" to which Beckwith hit back with "Yes, I remember you said that last year."
I just thought that was quality if it was improv because it stopped Laughlin in his tracks...

[–] EmmaPopell 14 years ago

My favorite couple in the movie is the preppy couple, for some reason.
All about their yuppie catalogs, starbucks, etc, is a crack up.

Also, the repartee between the commentators at the dog show.
Fred Willard is priceless as the blurting, yet confident ignoramus!!
He is a great comic.

[–] comradepurple 12 years ago

for me anything buck laughlin says is gold.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] MikeO_64 9 years ago

After the judge checks the 'testicular area' of one of the dogs, "I'd hate to go on a date with judge Edie Franklin, have her judge me!'

[–] JaySherman7 14 years ago

I love when Harlan Pepper is getting ready to leave and he has that whole back and forth with Will Sasso about how he won't have any time to fish, and then as they're leaving Sasso yells, "Catch a big one!" like he wasn't even listening.

also, when John Michael Higgins is hanging up a quilt or whatever in the hotel room and he turns the hammer on Michael McKean like a gun and says 'gotcha'. I don't know why I always crack up at that.

also, the blonde 'See? That's why it works" lady is actually Rachel Harris. From The Hangover among other things.

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 13 years ago

I love when Harlan Pepper is getting ready to leave and he has that whole back and forth with Will Sasso about how he won't have any time to fish, and then as they're leaving Sasso yells, "Catch a big one!" like he wasn't even listening.

My fave blink-and-you'll-miss-it gag is in that very same scene when the guy hands Harland a tape of "That guy that does all them funny songs." and Harland pockets it with something less than enthusiasm.

I also love the scene where Parker Posey's reaction to Ed Begley informing her that there is a pet store right downstairs when she's freaking out about Busy Bee's disappearance. "What are you, a f'ckin wizard?!! Thanks a lot Mr Stupid Hotel Manager!!!"

[–] MikeO_64 9 years ago

...and as they start to pull away...he smiles broad and claps "Who's gone catch a big fish? Who's goin' fishin'?"

[–] missimin 13 years ago

I always look forward to laughing again at Harlan Pepper trying to rope for his senior audience. The look on his face is priceless as he's flinging that rope around him.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] hodie 12 years ago

Jane Lynch's character talks about her dad being the disciplinarian and her mom giving her kids unconditional love, providing a perfect, idyllic life for the kids. "It worked for our family, until my mom committed suicide in '81."

Black humor, but Lynch is so good, it works.

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

[–] gretz-569-323863 10 years ago

this is also my favorite throwaway line in the movie. it's the kind of funny you don't laugh at because your jaw is hanging open too wide.

[–] lubin-freddy 12 years ago

As I wrote on a "funniest line" thread (but it's also a great "throwaway bit":

The Swans are talking to their dog. He says: "When mommy and daddy are making live, it's a beautiful thing". She says, under her breath, unnoticed by him: "Sometimes".

Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul