The great American tradition of preppy-jerk villains returned last week with the debut of “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp.” The Netflix series, which consists of eight 30-minute episodes, is a prequel to the 2001 comedy film of the same name (minus the last part).
Over the past 14 years I’ve somehow managed to miss the film, which apparently has a cult following (generally a sign that it’s not particularly good). That’s probably because I don’t watch a lot of comedies. I love golf, but I don’t think “Caddyshack” is funny. I’m interested in ’60s college life, but I don’t think “Animal House” is funny. I think I’m funny. And cats. And I still think “Skin Deep” has the funniest physical comedy sequence in movie history.
But I’ve started watching the series, which is set in 1981 and features actor Josh Charles of “Dead Poets Society” as a preppy villain who wears three popped polo shirts at once, which, you must admit, is pretty funny.
Watched this over the past few days and while I’m one of the few people who didn’t like the original film, thought the series was great. Glad the clothes are getting featured here.
But dude..”the film, which apparently has a cult following (generally a sign that it’s not particularly good).” Come on, son.
Haven’t seen the series, and will give it a chance, but found the movie – like its protagonist Jeannine Garofalo – painfully and gratingly unfunny, and made worse by: a) how obviously hard it & she are *tryjng* to be funny; and b) how desperately hipster comedy nerds have tried to convince me that it *is* funny. It’s the comedy equivalent of the band Wilco: people so earnestly love it, but for me there’s no *there* there.
Although Molly Shannon in a very close-fitting early-80s Lacoste & preppy headband does, indeed, ignite some part of my deep, lizard brain (and maybe other parts) …
Ms. Garafalo is truly grating on the nerves. I will probably give it a miss for that reason. Making the Grade, however, was good at times. Am I alone in finding the character Muffy sexy? I believe hers were the teeth featured in the M Magazine article about neurotic WASPs and our finding large teeth attractive.
@Paul I have never heard of Wilco, but the same could probably be said about Falco?
@Dave
Did you mean Molly Ringwald? I am unaware of any preppy characters Molly Shannon may have played. Following a train of thought, how about a twenty year old Barbara Eden in a khaki skirt, loafers, and a tight fitting Lacoste shirt and head band…offering me a gin and tonic…in slow motion…when is my wife going to hurry up and get home?
I think we’re on the same page here gentlemen: the Muffy character in Making the Grade; Penelope Witherspoon (Dan Akroyd’s fiancé in Trading Places), and yes, Molly Shannon in the original “Hot, Wet Summer” movie.
I’m as puzzled as @Dave. By any reasonable metric (which really means any one that I would agree with), Caddyshack and Animal House are hilarious. And I’m actually very funny, of course, and I get funnier after a few drinks. Sexier, too.
Its easy to grin
when your ship comes in
and you’ve got the stock market beat.
But a man worthwhile
is a man who can smile
when his shorts are too tight in the seat.
Skin Deep…Not my cup of tea. I am sure you are very funny. Cats should generally be kicked, with a few exceptions. However, you must check out the death scene of Weasey Joe in a little known movie staring Katherine Zeta-Jones and George Clooney called Intolerable Cruelty. Weasey Joe is an asthmatic hit man and, well he gets confused and, well just watch it. It was hilarious.
Katherine Zeta-Jones in a plaid skirt in black pumps with a white OCBD and pearls…offering me a gin and tonic…in slow motion…will my wife never get home?
Yes, Barbara Eden, what a doll. Although, not a preppy movie, but I found Kelly Lynch in “Road House” EXTREMELY attractive. In “Desperate Hours”, she could definitely sneak in a .380 under her skirt for me. Don’t think I’d want her as a defense lawyer, though.
Caddyshack and anything else with our beloved Chevy Chase is the essence of true comedy. Animal House isn’t hilarious but still amusing. The picture you featured reminds me of the guy suburbanites in “Valley Girl.”
Mr. Richardson, your Zeta-Jones predilection is a burden we all must bear.
Kelly Lynch is great looking. Uma Thurman is great and weird looking at the same time. Brooke Shields was wholesome and great looking at the same time. The girl I saw pumping gas at the Shell station the other day is great looking. Put them all in trad clothes and they look even greater. What a nerd I must be to imagine them is such clothing (sometimes) before thinking about them in the nude.
I have a vivid imagination, but in the end, I love my wife.
When I think of Caddyshack, I think of 80s era “funny,” whatever that means. Which is to say: not funny. For some reason the phrase makes sense to me. But, then, there’s so much that’s ‘supposed’ to be funny that I don’t find funny. I still don’t get the obsession (among many) with Seinfeld. The original The Office was mostly funny. Flight of the Conchords is funny, especially the meetings with Murray. Aside from a handful of Belushi-led moments (“Little Chocolate Donuts”), SNL has almost never been funny. Here endeth the snark.
A friend told me of a recurring part Brooke Shields has on a show called The Middle. Ms. Shields plays a redneck yahoo with a muddy, messy yard with a penchant for sitting in her front yard in a bikini with her feet in a kiddy pool. I saw an episode. There was a double wide living, El Camino driving, tube top wearing dream girl. I believe she is a couple of years older than me but she looks great.
Christian, you know owe me 30 minutes of my life back. this post tempted me, I tried it out and I have never been more in shock with the amount of stupidity
Still waiting for an insightful post on Owen Labrie, but perhaps CC is more interested in the look of privilege onscreen and not on the front pages in the real world. Or do we lack the critical thinking skills that one actually develops at an ivy league school?
Watched this over the past few days and while I’m one of the few people who didn’t like the original film, thought the series was great. Glad the clothes are getting featured here.
But dude..”the film, which apparently has a cult following (generally a sign that it’s not particularly good).” Come on, son.
Haven’t seen the series, and will give it a chance, but found the movie – like its protagonist Jeannine Garofalo – painfully and gratingly unfunny, and made worse by: a) how obviously hard it & she are *tryjng* to be funny; and b) how desperately hipster comedy nerds have tried to convince me that it *is* funny. It’s the comedy equivalent of the band Wilco: people so earnestly love it, but for me there’s no *there* there.
Although Molly Shannon in a very close-fitting early-80s Lacoste & preppy headband does, indeed, ignite some part of my deep, lizard brain (and maybe other parts) …
So Caddyshack and Animal House AREN’T funny, but you and cats ARE funny? With all due respect, you might want to consider a comedy recalibration.
Ms. Garafalo is truly grating on the nerves. I will probably give it a miss for that reason. Making the Grade, however, was good at times. Am I alone in finding the character Muffy sexy? I believe hers were the teeth featured in the M Magazine article about neurotic WASPs and our finding large teeth attractive.
@Paul I have never heard of Wilco, but the same could probably be said about Falco?
@Dave
Did you mean Molly Ringwald? I am unaware of any preppy characters Molly Shannon may have played. Following a train of thought, how about a twenty year old Barbara Eden in a khaki skirt, loafers, and a tight fitting Lacoste shirt and head band…offering me a gin and tonic…in slow motion…when is my wife going to hurry up and get home?
Pardon me. Last comment was for Paul
I think we’re on the same page here gentlemen: the Muffy character in Making the Grade; Penelope Witherspoon (Dan Akroyd’s fiancé in Trading Places), and yes, Molly Shannon in the original “Hot, Wet Summer” movie.
I’m as puzzled as @Dave. By any reasonable metric (which really means any one that I would agree with), Caddyshack and Animal House are hilarious. And I’m actually very funny, of course, and I get funnier after a few drinks. Sexier, too.
“I love golf, but I don’t think “Caddyshack” is funny. I’m interested in ’60s college life, but I don’t think “Animal House” is funny. ”
What in the world?!?!?!?!?!
Its easy to grin
when your ship comes in
and you’ve got the stock market beat.
But a man worthwhile
is a man who can smile
when his shorts are too tight in the seat.
Judge Smails
@Christian
Skin Deep…Not my cup of tea. I am sure you are very funny. Cats should generally be kicked, with a few exceptions. However, you must check out the death scene of Weasey Joe in a little known movie staring Katherine Zeta-Jones and George Clooney called Intolerable Cruelty. Weasey Joe is an asthmatic hit man and, well he gets confused and, well just watch it. It was hilarious.
Katherine Zeta-Jones in a plaid skirt in black pumps with a white OCBD and pearls…offering me a gin and tonic…in slow motion…will my wife never get home?
@Dave
Getting you to take that bait is pretty funny.
A safe guess is that the guys featured in the above photo aren’t wearing bit loafers and the proud owners of new convertible Audis.
Rather, ‘are.’
@ William
Yes, Barbara Eden, what a doll. Although, not a preppy movie, but I found Kelly Lynch in “Road House” EXTREMELY attractive. In “Desperate Hours”, she could definitely sneak in a .380 under her skirt for me. Don’t think I’d want her as a defense lawyer, though.
Paul
“I think we’re on the same page here gentlemen: the Muffy character in Making the Grade; Penelope Witherspoon”
She was an early Ralph Lauren model.
Caddyshack and anything else with our beloved Chevy Chase is the essence of true comedy. Animal House isn’t hilarious but still amusing. The picture you featured reminds me of the guy suburbanites in “Valley Girl.”
Mr. Richardson, your Zeta-Jones predilection is a burden we all must bear.
@Wriggles
Kelly Lynch is great looking. Uma Thurman is great and weird looking at the same time. Brooke Shields was wholesome and great looking at the same time. The girl I saw pumping gas at the Shell station the other day is great looking. Put them all in trad clothes and they look even greater. What a nerd I must be to imagine them is such clothing (sometimes) before thinking about them in the nude.
I have a vivid imagination, but in the end, I love my wife.
William Richardson
I met Brooke Shields in the 80s, film doesn’t do her justice. Her face was jaw dropping beautiful.
When I think of Caddyshack, I think of 80s era “funny,” whatever that means. Which is to say: not funny. For some reason the phrase makes sense to me. But, then, there’s so much that’s ‘supposed’ to be funny that I don’t find funny. I still don’t get the obsession (among many) with Seinfeld. The original The Office was mostly funny. Flight of the Conchords is funny, especially the meetings with Murray. Aside from a handful of Belushi-led moments (“Little Chocolate Donuts”), SNL has almost never been funny. Here endeth the snark.
@MAC
A friend told me of a recurring part Brooke Shields has on a show called The Middle. Ms. Shields plays a redneck yahoo with a muddy, messy yard with a penchant for sitting in her front yard in a bikini with her feet in a kiddy pool. I saw an episode. There was a double wide living, El Camino driving, tube top wearing dream girl. I believe she is a couple of years older than me but she looks great.
Christian, you know owe me 30 minutes of my life back. this post tempted me, I tried it out and I have never been more in shock with the amount of stupidity
Still waiting for an insightful post on Owen Labrie, but perhaps CC is more interested in the look of privilege onscreen and not on the front pages in the real world. Or do we lack the critical thinking skills that one actually develops at an ivy league school?