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!

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cubfan23 11 years ago

"That handler looks familiar to me".

[–] ibbi 11 years ago

Willard's realization that Eddie is actually Edie

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http://tinyurl.com/m746w8t

[–] Gurn_J_Blanston 11 years ago

I don't know if this qualifies as "best," but the last couple of times I've watched it I appreciated one line in particular. At the Flecks' backyard show, an older man (narrator from Guffman?) says something bland and positive about the weather, just a textbook cliche. And then a blonde woman (interviewer from For Your Consideration?) says, "I know -- I woke up this morning, I was so glad."

The banality of the exchange, coupled with the literal meaning of her sentence, that she was glad she woke up that morning. Very good. It makes you think about how good Guest's writing is and how good his actors are at improvising material that is funny without being overtly "jokey." Because I can't decide what was scripted and what wasn't, sometimes. Trying to figure out which is which is one of the best things about re-watching his stuff.

[–] zziiyy 11 years ago

If you get tired, pull over. If you get hungry, eat something!

[–] spank-my-17 10 years ago

Hahahahaha! This was one of my favorite lines and had me rolling. Probably because it reminds me a little of my mother who is genuinely concerned but gives obvious advice some times. :D

[–] information_police 10 years ago

"I got news for you - they all jump"

Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.

[–] missimin 10 years ago

My new favorite is watching the Swan's faces at the party when Harlan Pepper is going on about flies. Hamilton is busy looking at Harlan's coat and Meg is in a bored trance.

Beans are evil. Bad, bad beans.

[–] dannieboy20906 10 years ago

I'm watching this again after many viewings and having not seen it for a few years. I'm not sure that it was a throw away bit or if it was even planned, but the expression on the Weimaraner's face as it watches the owners arguing about the missing toy caught me. She looks perfectly relax, albeit a little annoyed with the woman's clumsy grooming, until the owners go spastic. Then she is moving her head back and forth with increasing confusion.

[–] grendelkhan 10 years ago

My favorite is Fred Willard, after the dog goes for the judge:

"He went after her like she was made out of ham."

Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!

[–] rdpepper210 10 years ago

I love when the preppy woman goes to the pet store, the conversation between her and the pet shop guy is hysterical,

It's reminiscent of a bee
It's a fish

Then she takes the weird bird.

[–] rochelle-rochelle 10 years ago

McKean stating he asked his EX-WIFE who Stefan was!! LOL That said SO much about his character!!

As for the two TV sets in same room - before there was channel-in-channel and remotes, people had 2-3 TV's, especially during sports seasons to watch multiple games at the same time.

You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!