70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Episode 17—“Kentucky Fried Movie”

The ’70s sketch comedy juggernaut continues as ace of bassists Chad Pilieri joins Mike and Ben to discuss the form’s pants-wettingly hilarious peak, THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE (1977).

Between gasping laughs over Big Jim Slade, Willer Beer, Cleopatra Schwartz, Feel-A-Round movies, Rick Baker gorilla suit madness, and Catholic High School Girls in Trouble, the lads ponder the effect of an Andy Warhol film festival, Playboy’s annual “Sex in Cinema” feature, and cornball local TV PSAs on developing adolescent male psyches (just listen to us and YOU decide!).

Chad, Ben and Mike conclude their conversation with a run-through of what else was playing around NYC the week Groove Tube opened in theaters. Highlights include a Brando double-bill, Don Imus, Sammy Cahn, and Conrack.

70 Movies We Saw in the 70: Ep #15—“The Groove Tube” (1974)

For a yuk-by-yuk (and yuck-by-yuck) breakdown of Ken Shapiro’s pioneering, pants-dampeningly hilarious sketch-comedy classic THE GROOVE TUBE, Mike and Ben are joined by archetypal Brooklynite funnyman, ace of bassists, and former Robin Quivers massage therapist, Chad Pilieri.

Beyond Chevy Chase, Koko the Klown, and the Uranus Corporation (“You can put your trust in Uranus”), talk also incorporates Buzzy Linhart’s beautifully bobbling penis; a wayward subway lady at Downtown Beirut; the line “Babs and Ray have no genitalia” as proto-rap; “hippie sloppy” vs. “punk sloppy;” Wakefield Poole’s BIJOU; and Chad’s mom taking the whole 8th grade gang to see CALIGULA

70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Maxi-Ep—“Om That Bud, Man” with Jim Healy

UW Madison film scholar and 70 Movies ombudsman Jim Healy returns to right some straight regarding prior episode gaffes and dive deep—and way, way long—into what else was playing around NYC in November 1976, when our previous ep’s topic, TWO-MINUTE WARNING hit theaters

Other tantalizing touchstones include Pauline Kael at the mercy of FAREWELL, UNCLE TOM; Black Francis rattling off Dad Jokes; the time LOGAN’S RUN met NORMAN, IS THAT YOU?; pitting the 1976 TRACKS with Dennis Hopper vs. the 1988 TRAXX with Hollywood Squares announcer Shadoe Stevens; and the authoritarian agenda of Miss Louise on ROMPER ROOM.

70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Ep 13—TWO MINUTE WARNING (1976)

Allen Broadman—aka Fischel Bocephus of HAPPYLAND and Monster Guitarist of Traci Lords’ Ex-Lovers—joins Mike and Ben to blast ecstatic rounds of praise upon Larry Peerce’s obscenely underappreciated sniper-in-the-stadium masterpiece, TWO MINUTE WARNING.

Astoundingly directed by Peerce and showcasing the likes of Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, David Janssen, Beau Bridges and “Joe” from RHODA, the movie supplies plenty to rave about—in between recollections of taking a hammer to Selwyn Harris’s alarm clock; quaking in terror beneath the seats of the Nostrand Theater; the transcendental power of DEADBEAT AT DAWN; Andy Sidaris’s GUNS blazing on 42nd Street; Mr. Johnson the Flatbush Child Stealer; and the deathless declaration, “You know what I say: Mother, Jugs, and Speed—but especially Jugs!”

70 Movies We Saw in the ’70s: Ep 12—“Pretty Maids All in a Row” (1971)

It’s a 70 Movies/Crackpot Cinema crossover as Aaron Lee joins Mike and Ben for a sanguine good time with Roger Vadim’s sin-sopped, sick-joke high-school-homicide satire, PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW.

In addition to waxing awestruck over PRETTY MAIDS headliners Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson, and Telly Savalas, talk also turns to the hyper-prolific 1971 outputs of co-stars Roddy McDowall and Keenan Wynn; Hugh Hefner’s Bongo Board show-off skills; BARBARELLA as background visuals for Bauhaus remixes at the 12th Street Ritz; the screen-scorching might of drive-in siren Margaret Markov; and impromptu singalongs of “Petey Was a Pitbull” by Traci Lords’ Ex-Lovers and “Stars on 45” by Stars on 45 (feel them burning in your mind!).

Mike and Ben are back with another "mini" episode to tide you over. Topics include - A day at the Kingsway, Michael Pare vs Joe Dallesandro, Charlize Theron: dullard or dreamy, Anime: yay or nay, Staten Island haunts, Kings Plaza taunts, and much much more!

70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Ep 10—CAPRICORN ONE (1978)

Actor, writer, director, (and sibling of a previous guest) PAT HEALY joins us to discuss Peter Hyams’ magnificent space-faking/snake-snarfing/O.J.-elevating conspiracy thriller, CAPRICORN ONE (1978).

It’s a free-wheeling, side-splitting conversation with multiple detours into the comedy stylings of Sam Waterstron, the perfect miscasting of Telly Savalas, RUNNING SCARED (1986) vs. RUNNING SCARED (2006), Matilda the boxing kangaroo, the mid-’90s missteps of Jean-Clade Van Damme, and who should have had dibs on THE FLAMINGO KID, as well as a sprawling homage to the intro-writing genius of Frank Santopadre. Thank you again, PAT HEALY!!!!

70 Movies We Saw in the 70s: Ep 9—THE JERK

Pick out a thermos, don’t trust whitey, and come join us for Part 2 of our tribute to the late, great Carl Reiner with our salute to THE JERK. Mike, Ben, and guest Kat Ellinger take on Carl’s Steve Martin masterpiece replete with Opti-Grab eye-crossing, Mexican cat juggling, homicidal can hating, Shithead the dog, and, of course, Iron Balls McGinty. So just add your own Pizza in a Cup and listen now!

In the first installment of our two-episode tribute to the late, great Carl Reiner, the mighty Kat Ellinger joins Mike and Ben to keel over laughing in tribute to his shock comedy masterwork, WHERE’S POPPA? With Kat in the UK, it’s an intercontinental orgy of ferocious film scholarship, gigantic guffawing over grievously distasteful humor, and gushed love for Mr. Reiner (and Ms. Gordon, and Messrs. Segal and Leibman). Next week: THE JERK!