MUScoop

MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Blue Horseshoe on February 24, 2014, 11:56:30 AM

Title: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 24, 2014, 11:56:30 AM
Sad day for anyone with a sense of humor.

(http://www.morethings.com/fan/bill_murray/stripes/bill_murray-stripes1981-1040.jpg)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-harold-ramis-dead-20140224,0,2259309.story (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-harold-ramis-dead-20140224,0,2259309.story)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: GGGG on February 24, 2014, 12:46:25 PM
I'm amazed he was 69.  It makes sense of course...
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 24, 2014, 02:09:40 PM
Abe Vigoda turns 93 today.  If someone were to tell me Abe was going to have a birthday today and Harold not so much, I wouldn't have believed it.

Stripes, still one of my top 10 movies.  RIP
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Archies Bat on February 24, 2014, 02:11:38 PM
Abe Vigoda turns 93 today.  If someone were to tell me Abe was going to have a birthday today and Harold not so much, I wouldn't have believed it.

Stripes, still one of my top 10 movies.  RIP

Abe looked older 40 years ago in The Godfather.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: CTWarrior on February 24, 2014, 02:18:21 PM
Abe Vigoda turns 93 today.  If someone were to tell me Abe was going to have a birthday today and Harold not so much, I wouldn't have believed it.

Stripes, still one of my top 10 movies.  RIP

One of my favorites as well.  Who hasn't said, "Lighten up, Francis!" at least once?  Add in Animal House, Caddyshack and Ghostbusters, and he was prominently involved in some of the most enduring, fun and quotable comedies of the past 40 years.  RIP.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 24, 2014, 02:25:00 PM
One of my favorites as well.  Who hasn't said, "Lighten up, Francis!" at least once?  Add in Animal House, Caddyshack and Ghostbusters, and he was prominently involved in some of the most enduring, fun and quotable comedies of the past 40 years.  RIP.

"I once got the sh!t kicked out of me in Wisconsin"

"Hut 2, 3, 4...Black guys, help the white guys"

"Venkman, get a stool sample"

"No, we're not homosexual, but we are willing to learn."
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: GGGG on February 24, 2014, 02:34:07 PM
Abe Vigoda turns 93 today.  If someone were to tell me Abe was going to have a birthday today and Harold not so much, I wouldn't have believed it.

Stripes, still one of my top 10 movies.  RIP


Abe Vigoda is still alive???
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: CTWarrior on February 24, 2014, 02:40:12 PM
"I once got the sh!t kicked out of me in Wisconsin"

"Hut 2, 3, 4...Black guys, help the white guys"

"Venkman, get a stool sample"

"No, we're not homosexual, but we are willing to learn."

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son"
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: reinko on February 24, 2014, 02:45:08 PM
1. Vacation
2. Caddyshack
3. Ghostbusters
4. Groundhog Day
5. Stripes
6. Animal House

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 24, 2014, 02:48:46 PM

Abe Vigoda is still alive???

I know, can you believe it.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on February 24, 2014, 04:07:30 PM
Stripes, still one of my top 10 movies.  RIP

I love this movie.

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ATWizJr on February 24, 2014, 04:15:47 PM
I collect mold, spores and fungus.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 24, 2014, 04:31:00 PM
I collect mold, spores and fungus.

Tom

There are creams sold in discrete packaging for such matters
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu03eng on February 24, 2014, 04:45:43 PM
I want you guys to know, if we ever get into any heavy kind of combat...I'll be right behind you guys. Every step of the way.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: brandx on February 24, 2014, 06:12:12 PM

Abe Vigoda is still alive???

Are we sure he hasn't just been stuffed. As someone said, he looked 93 in Godfather.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: tower912 on February 24, 2014, 06:13:33 PM
Directed Caddyshack.   Starred in Ghostbusters.    A funny guy and a gifted director.    Time flies.   It catches us all.   
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChitownSpaceForRent on February 24, 2014, 07:09:30 PM
Groundhog day is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 24, 2014, 07:30:03 PM
Are we sure he hasn't just been stuffed. As someone said, he looked 93 in Godfather.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/blogs/gone-viral/os-happy-birthday-abe-vigoda-20140224,0,838097.post
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: 🏀 on February 24, 2014, 07:40:08 PM
http://www.abevigoda.com
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 25, 2014, 04:13:36 PM

Abe Vigoda is still alive???

Was Abe Vigoda ever alive?
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: BrewCity83 on February 25, 2014, 04:32:15 PM
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Convicted?  No.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 25, 2014, 05:52:36 PM
"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son"


Wait...foul...that's an Animal House quote!!
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 25, 2014, 05:58:38 PM
Wait...foul...that's an Animal House quote!!

A better movie, actually
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 25, 2014, 07:30:34 PM
A better movie, actually

Best time I ever had on a golf course in the daylight (  ;D  ) was playing a round with Bruce McGill....D-Day from Animal House.  That was a hoot.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 25, 2014, 07:39:31 PM
Best time I ever had on a golf course in the daylight (  ;D  ) was playing a round with Bruce McGill....D-Day from Animal House.  That was a hoot.

D Day was a great character. Sublimely understated.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: CTWarrior on February 26, 2014, 08:13:57 AM
Wait...foul...that's an Animal House quote!!

Not sure why foul, since you used multiple Ramis movies.  Can't say for certain if he wrote that line, though.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: NYWarrior on February 26, 2014, 08:32:46 AM
A marvelous profile on Ramis from several years ago

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/19/040419fa_fact3?currentPage=all (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/19/040419fa_fact3?currentPage=all)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: warriorchick on February 26, 2014, 08:39:35 AM
One of my favorite roles of his was in "Knocked Up".  He is onscreen for less than two minutes, but he is perfect.  Plus I can totally imagine him siring Seth Rogen.

Skip to the :45 mark:



http://www.youtube.com/v/VepWTt1DzTA?hl=en_US&amp;version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/VepWTt1DzTA?hl=en_US&amp;version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: LloydMooresLegs on February 26, 2014, 11:20:08 AM
A marvelous profile on Ramis from several years ago

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/19/040419fa_fact3?currentPage=all (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/04/19/040419fa_fact3?currentPage=all)

I remember reading that profile.  Too bad that he and Bill Murray had such a falling out.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: LloydMooresLegs on February 26, 2014, 11:26:22 AM
1. Vacation
2. Caddyshack
3. Ghostbusters
4. Groundhog Day
5. Stripes
6. Animal House



For me:

1.  Caddyshack (only role in which I can stand Chevy Chase)
2.  Groundhog Day (unlike many of these movies, which now work for me mostly on a nostalgia level, GD stands the test of time [over and over again])
3.  First half of Stripes
4.  Animal House
5.  Ghostbusters
6.  Second half of Stripes
7.  Vacation (way too much of CC)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: CTWarrior on February 26, 2014, 12:29:18 PM
For me:

1.  Caddyshack (only role in which I can stand Chevy Chase)
2.  Groundhog Day (unlike many of these movies, which now work for me mostly on a nostalgia level, GD stands the test of time [over and over again])
3.  First half of Stripes
4.  Animal House
5.  Ghostbusters
6.  Second half of Stripes
7.  Vacation (way too much of CC)
For me

1.  Animal House
2.  Vacation (Strange movie - Goes along quietly and every 10 minutes or so something hilarious happens)
3.  Caddyshack (Ted Knight in the most unappreciated funny performance ever)
4.  Stripes
5.  Ghostbusters
6.  Groundhog Day (and I really like this movie)

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu-rara on February 26, 2014, 01:14:41 PM
Having drinks with the under 30 crowd in our office.  A few of us oldsters were asking about favorite movies.  To a person, none of them had seen the Harold Ramis classics.  We were appalled to say the least.

Then we start rattling off lines from the movies.  They knew a lot of the lines, but not where they were from.

Sad.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 26, 2014, 02:51:15 PM
Not sure why foul, since you used multiple Ramis movies.  Can't say for certain if he wrote that line, though.

Fair point...I was going off lines he spoke, not necessarily wrote.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: warriorchick on February 26, 2014, 03:45:52 PM
Having drinks with the under 30 crowd in our office.  A few of us oldsters were asking about favorite movies.  To a person, none of them had seen the Harold Ramis classics.  We were appalled to say the least.

Then we start rattling off lines from the movies.  They knew a lot of the lines, but not where they were from.

Sad.

I have a sister in her mid 30's.  Apparently the big quotable movie of her generation is "Dumb and Dumber". Sad.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 26, 2014, 04:44:05 PM
Having drinks with the under 30 crowd in our office.  A few of us oldsters were asking about favorite movies.  To a person, none of them had seen the Harold Ramis classics.  We were appalled to say the least.

Then we start rattling off lines from the movies.  They knew a lot of the lines, but not where they were from.

Sad.

I just held my staff meeting and fired off a few movie items.  For example, legal was saying they needed to get an old contract (15 years +) out of the record archives and I quipped it's in a warehouse next to the Lost Ark, sealed in a crate.   One person got the reference....most of the others are under 35.  Harold Ramis....80% of my staff had no idea who he was. Millenials....
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on February 27, 2014, 07:11:07 AM
I just held my staff meeting and fired off a few movie items.  For example, legal was saying they needed to get an old contract (15 years +) out of the record archives and I quipped it's in a warehouse next to the Lost Ark, sealed in a crate.   One person got the reference....most of the others are under 35.  Harold Ramis....80% of my staff had no idea who he was. Millenials....

Even Steven Spielberg himself paid tribute to the the Lost Ark, sealed in a crate in the 4th Indiana Jones movie.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: reinko on February 27, 2014, 07:16:05 AM
For me:

1.  Caddyshack (only role in which I can stand Chevy Chase)
2.  Groundhog Day (unlike many of these movies, which now work for me mostly on a nostalgia level, GD stands the test of time [over and over again])
3.  First half of Stripes
4.  Animal House
5.  Ghostbusters
6.  Second half of Stripes
7.  Vacation (way too much of CC)

To each his own for sure...

"I think you're all f*cked in the head. We're ten hours from the f*cking fun park and you want to bail out. Well I'll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. You're gonna have fun, and I'm gonna have fun... We're all gonna have so much f*cking fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your a$$holes! I must be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Sh!t!
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mugrad2006 on February 27, 2014, 07:54:40 AM
I just held my staff meeting and fired off a few movie items.  For example, legal was saying they needed to get an old contract (15 years +) out of the record archives and I quipped it's in a warehouse next to the Lost Ark, sealed in a crate.   One person got the reference....most of the others are under 35.  Harold Ramis....80% of my staff had no idea who he was. Millenials....

That's just sad. Almost all of Ramis' classics came out before I was born or in my infancy yet any time I hear training I can't help but think "Bbbblarmy training, sir".  Genius lost.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu03eng on February 27, 2014, 09:20:50 AM
I have a sister in her mid 30's.  Apparently the big quotable movie of her generation is "Dumb and Dumber". Sad.

Interesting.  I'm early 30s and Dumb and Dumber and the South Park movies were the two drunk movies we watched all the time in college.  However, Caddyshack is a MAJOR movie for my age group, more so than any other Ramis movie.  This may also be because everyone I know plays golf but who knows.

I would rank Ramis movies in this order

1.  Groundhog Day
2.  Stripes
3.  Caddyshack
4.  Ghostbusters
5.  Animal House
6.  Ghostbusters II
7.  Vacation is ok but I didn't see it until I was like 26 so I think it lost some nostalgia via....and CC had gone insane by then
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Lennys Tap on February 27, 2014, 09:30:32 AM
For me:

1.  Caddyshack (only role in which I can stand Chevy Chase)
2.  Groundhog Day (unlike many of these movies, which now work for me mostly on a nostalgia level, GD stands the test of time [over and over again])
3.  First half of Stripes
4.  Animal House
5.  Ghostbusters
6.  Second half of Stripes
7.  Vacation (way too much of CC)

100% agree on Chevy Chase. He's the weak link from a great SNL class.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 09:40:32 AM
For those comedy fans, Tim Wilson died of a heart attack today.  He was a regular on the Bob and Tom Show.  I'm sure you will recognize his voice.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Benny B on February 27, 2014, 09:54:42 AM
I have a sister in her mid 30's.  Apparently the big quotable movie of her generation is "Dumb and Dumber". Sad.

It could be worse... she could be in her late 20s/early 30s where the big quotable movie of the generation is "American Pie."

Although when it comes to one-liners for every occasion, you'd be hard pressed to find a movie that gives you a bigger bang for your buck than Dumb and Dumber:

"Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to the medical school? I'm supposed to be giving a lecture in 20 minutes, and my driver's a bit lost."
"Austria, huh?  Well.... g'day mate.  Let's put another shrimp on the barbie."
"Why you going to the airport? Flying somewhere?"
"It's okay... I'm a limo driver."
"Man, you are one pathetic loser. No offense."
"I don't know, Lloyd... the French are assh0les."
"No... it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing."
"You sold my dead bird to a blind kid?  Lloyd... Petey didn't even have a head."
"Kick his ass, Sea Bass!"
"They're driving an '84 Sheepdog."
"That John Denver is full of sh|t."
"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself."
"Samsonite... I was way off."
"Nah.... We've landed on the moon!!!"
"So you're telling me there's a chance."
"That's as good as money, sir. Those are IOU's."
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 10:05:36 AM
100% agree on Chevy Chase. He's the weak link from a great SNL class.

Weak link? You could not be more wrong. Chevy Chase was far and away the biggest star on the show. He was so big that he left after one season. I think most people would agree that Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner were also fantastic, but name the other three "not ready for prime time players". Most wrongfully assume Bill Murray was an original cast member. He wasn't.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: warriorchick on February 27, 2014, 10:06:30 AM
It could be worse... she could be in her late 20s/early 30s where the big quotable movie of the generation is "American Pie."

Although when it comes to one-liners for every occasion, you'd be hard pressed to find a movie that gives you a bigger bang for your buck than Dumb and Dumber:

"Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to the medical school? I'm supposed to be giving a lecture in 20 minutes, and my driver's a bit lost."
"Austria, huh?  Well.... g'day mate.  Let's put another shrimp on the barbie."
"Why you going to the airport? Flying somewhere?"
"It's okay... I'm a limo driver."
"Man, you are one pathetic loser. No offense."
"I don't know, Lloyd... the French are assh0les."
"No... it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing."
"You sold my dead bird to a blind kid?  Lloyd... Petey didn't even have a head."
"Kick his ass, Sea Bass!"
"They're driving an '84 Sheepdog."
"That John Denver is full of sh|t."
"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself."
"Samsonite... I was way off."
"Nah.... We've landed on the moon!!!"
"So you're telling me there's a chance."
"That's as good as money, sir. Those are IOU's."


It was called "Dumb and Dumber" for a reason.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: 🏀 on February 27, 2014, 10:28:13 AM
American Pie is hardly quotable.

Signed,

Late 20s Male.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 10:28:47 AM
It could be worse... she could be in her late 20s/early 30s where the big quotable movie of the generation is "American Pie."

Trying to pick one movie that is the "big" quotable movie is ridiculous. There have been a ton of movies released over the last 30+ that fit the bill. In addition to the films that have already been mentioned, I'd add The Big Lebowski, Old School, and Anchorman into the mix.

Edited post PTM's comment about American Pie. Agreed, American Pie was great at capturing the late 90s on film. Quotable, it is not.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu-rara on February 27, 2014, 10:41:41 AM
Weak link? You could not be more wrong. Chevy Chase was far and away the biggest star on the show. He was so big that he left after one season. I think most people would agree that Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner were also fantastic, but name the other three "not ready for prime time players". Most wrongfully assume Bill Murray was an original cast member. He wasn't.
Garrett Morris
Jane the Ignorant Slut
??

Added: Larraine Newman, I googled for that name.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: CTWarrior on February 27, 2014, 10:45:37 AM
Garrett Morris
Jane the Ignorant Slut
??
Jane Curtin
Laraine Newman (sp?)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu03eng on February 27, 2014, 10:46:17 AM
It was called "Dumb and Dumber" for a reason.

You're married???  What was all that one in a million talk?
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu03eng on February 27, 2014, 10:46:55 AM
American Pie is hardly quotable.

Signed,

Late 20s Male.

Co-signed early 30s male

Good movie though
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: 🏀 on February 27, 2014, 10:53:21 AM
Trying to pick one movie that is the "big" quotable movie is ridiculous. There have been a ton of movies released over the last 30+ that fit the bill. In addition to the films that have already been mentioned, I'd add The Big Lebowski, Old School, and Anchorman into the mix.

Edited post PTM's comment about American Pie. Agreed, American Pie was great at capturing the late 90s on film. Quotable, it is not.

I easily quote The Big Lebowski the most. Dumb and Dumber as well because I enjoy a nice cardigan. Anchorman, yes, but not often. Old School sparingly.

To add: I use Super Troopers a lot. Office Space. Mean Girls. Step Brothers.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: warriorchick on February 27, 2014, 11:13:09 AM
Blues Brothers.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu03eng on February 27, 2014, 11:29:10 AM
I easily quote The Big Lebowski the most. Dumb and Dumber as well because I enjoy a nice cardigan. Anchorman, yes, but not often. Old School sparingly.

To add: I use Super Troopers a lot. Office Space. Mean Girls. Step Brothers.

Dumb and Dumber, Anchorman, Old School (mostly Home Depot and Streaking conversations), Office Space, Goonies, Tommy Boy, Space Balls, and Caddyshack
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: 🏀 on February 27, 2014, 11:31:46 AM
Dumb and Dumber, Anchorman, Old School (mostly Home Depot and Streaking conversations), Office Space, Goonies, Tommy Boy, Space Balls, and Caddyshack

I didn't include the four since they span generations, but agree.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: LloydMooresLegs on February 27, 2014, 11:53:42 AM
To each his own for sure...

"I think you're all f*cked in the head. We're ten hours from the f*cking fun park and you want to bail out. Well I'll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. You're gonna have fun, and I'm gonna have fun... We're all gonna have so much f*cking fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your a$$holes! I must be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Sh!t!

It and he had their moments, no doubt
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 11:59:11 AM
Candy gram
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 12:01:15 PM
To each his own for sure...

"I think you're all f*cked in the head. We're ten hours from the f*cking fun park and you want to bail out. Well I'll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. You're gonna have fun, and I'm gonna have fun... We're all gonna have so much f*cking fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your a$$holes! I must be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Sh!t!

Well done. 

Chevy has had his moments over the years.

"Moon river....using the whole fist there doc"?

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: reinko on February 27, 2014, 12:01:35 PM
I easily quote The Big Lebowski the most. Dumb and Dumber as well because I enjoy a nice cardigan. Anchorman, yes, but not often. Old School sparingly.

To add: I use Super Troopers a lot. Office Space. Mean Girls. Step Brothers.

Weirdly, Not Another Teen Movie got a lot of run with us.

Janie's gotta gun!  Oh my God, she's gotta gun!  Get her!
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: LloydMooresLegs on February 27, 2014, 12:03:18 PM
Weak link? You could not be more wrong. Chevy Chase was far and away the biggest star on the show. He was so big that he left after one season. I think most people would agree that Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner were also fantastic, but name the other three "not ready for prime time players". Most wrongfully assume Bill Murray was an original cast member. He wasn't.

You are correct that he was the biggest star - the most well known and promoted when the show began.  And most do forget that Bill Murray replaced him when he left after one year (and that they HATED each other).  But I completely agree that he was the weak link in the sense that he was the second least funny (Garret Morris was used unfortunately for his race and not much else), he was by all accounts an a-hole and impossible to work with (and therefore not ideal for an ensemble cast) and he was extremely limited in his talents.  I can think of few "celebrated" bits that are less funny than his Gerald Ford impersonation.  I guess he was good at making silly faces.  I'll also add that he was the co-star of one of only two movies that I have walked out on in the middle of the show:  "Modern Problems" with Goldie Hawn (the other was "Author Author").

And I recognize that this is all opinion, so no worries...
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Spotcheck Billy on February 27, 2014, 12:13:01 PM
SCTV > SNL just not around as long
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 12:17:30 PM
You are correct that he was the biggest star - the most well known and promoted when the show began.  And most do forget that Bill Murray replaced him when he left after one year (and that they HATED each other).  But I completely agree that he was the weak link in the sense that he was the second least funny (Garret Morris was used unfortunately for his race and not much else), he was by all accounts an a-hole and impossible to work with (and therefore not ideal for an ensemble cast) and he was extremely limited in his talents.  I can think of few "celebrated" bits that are less funny than his Gerald Ford impersonation.  I guess he was good at making silly faces.  I'll also add that he was the co-star of one of only two movies that I have walked out on in the middle of the show:  "Modern Problems" with Goldie Hawn (the other was "Author Author").

And I recognize that this is all opinion, so no worries...

Some of his career choices have been awful (The Chevy Chase show). I will say that his talents are best displayed on film and definitely not in writing or playing nice with others. I think he did a good job with "Weekend Update" segment.

With out question, Norm Macdonald was my favorite Weekend Update host.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: reinko on February 27, 2014, 12:25:22 PM
Some of his career choices have been awful (The Chevy Chase show). I will say that his talents are best displayed on film and definitely not in writing or playing nice with others. I think he did a good job with "Weekend Update" segment.

With out question, Norm Macdonald was my favorite Weekend Update host.

His ESPY monologue is stuff of legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xad-gL6jnm0

Starts at 1:54
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 12:39:19 PM
His ESPY monologue is stuff of legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xad-gL6jnm0

Starts at 1:54

Norm is the best.

Weekend Update
http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4 (http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4)

He was a great guest on Late Night
http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0 (http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0)

The best guest on Dennis Miller
http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc (http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc)
w/ Spade: http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc (http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc)
http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0 (http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0)

He even bombed at the White House Correspondence dinner. It doesn't matter
http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY (http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY)

The best
http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc (http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Lennys Tap on February 27, 2014, 12:46:01 PM
Some of his career choices have been awful (The Chevy Chase show). I will say that his talents are best displayed on film and definitely not in writing or playing nice with others. I think he did a good job with "Weekend Update" segment.

With out question, Norm Macdonald was my favorite Weekend Update host.

Johnny Carson once said "Chevy Chase couldn't ad lib a fart after a baked bean dinner". He comes across as a prick and most of the people unfortunate enough to work with him agree. A pratfall is funny once but not much to build a career around.

Norm McDonald is the anti-Chevy. Original, hilarious, maybe even a comedic genius.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on February 27, 2014, 12:47:43 PM
Norm is the best.

Weekend Update
http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4 (http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4)

He was a great guest on Late Night
http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0 (http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0)

The best guest on Dennis Miller
http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc (http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc)
w/ Spade: http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc (http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc)
http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0 (http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0)

He even bombed at the White House Correspondence dinner. It doesn't matter
http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY (http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY)

The best
http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc (http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc)

I remember this local Norm McDonald story from Quinnipiac University spring weekend.  He was so drunk he could barely perform.

http://www.fakenews.net/archive/articles/1998_05_01_nypost.html
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 12:53:22 PM
I remember this local Norm McDonald story from Quinnipiac University spring weekend.  He was so drunk he could barely perform.

http://www.fakenews.net/archive/articles/1998_05_01_nypost.html


Norm no longer drinks, perhaps because of nights like this. I know he also had a terrible gambling addiction. Lost everything a couple of times.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Benny B on February 27, 2014, 01:12:34 PM
American Pie is hardly quotable.

Signed,

Late 20s Male.

So be it... I think I've seen at most 10 minutes of the movie, I just recall it being all the rage just after I graduated and assumed it was quotable... mea culpa. 
Incidentally, what I remember most was that when I lived in Indy, the local film festival was making a to-do about getting "Stifler's mom" as a guest/celebrity judge.

I think those of us on the tail-end of Gen X seem less focused on the generation and more on the art of comedy screenwriting... Dumb and Dumber was great, but Caddyshack, Spaceballs, Blazing Saddles, Office Space and Ace Ventura got as much - if not more - traction.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: swoopem on February 27, 2014, 01:18:56 PM
Zoolander is another very quotable movie from the early 2000s
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 27, 2014, 02:06:28 PM
100% agree on Chevy Chase. He's the weak link from a great SNL class.

Concur, Lenny. Forced, contrived, and droll. Steve Martin is in the same league.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 02:09:32 PM
His ESPY monologue is stuff of legend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xad-gL6jnm0

Starts at 1:54

Still makes me laugh
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 27, 2014, 02:15:08 PM
Still makes me laugh

Wow, I have never heard of Norm McDonald. But I remember Chris Schenkel.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 02:38:47 PM
Norm is the best.

Weekend Update
http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4 (http://youtu.be/wCPBwuQKJx4)

He was a great guest on Late Night
http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0 (http://youtu.be/lL0WayC7jW0)

The best guest on Dennis Miller
http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc (http://youtu.be/zBmIoUO7_Gc)
w/ Spade: http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc (http://youtu.be/R0d6oH5Lumc)
http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0 (http://youtu.be/VfcNg0FI1N0)

He even bombed at the White House Correspondence dinner. It doesn't matter
http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY (http://youtu.be/Fm5bjfAc1tY)

The best
http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc (http://youtu.be/PhAsrs-rxcc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaduY_sKce4
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: mu-rara on February 27, 2014, 02:59:40 PM
Wow, I have never heard of Norm McDonald. But I remember Chris Schenkel.
Dude, nobody under 50 remembers Chris Schenkel.  (Oooops, I'm over 50)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 03:01:47 PM
Wow, I have never heard of Norm McDonald. But I remember Chris Schenkel.

I remember Schenkel well....Wide World of Sports, bowling, etc.   Norm McDonald part of pop culture on SNL and beyond.  He's hilarious in his mannerisms
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 27, 2014, 03:43:06 PM
Dude, nobody under 50 remembers Chris Schenkel.  (Oooops, I'm over 50)

Precisely.

The best sportscaster from back in the day was Keith Jackson. There was something reassuring and comforting in that rich, bourbon-infused baritone.

The worst was Curt Gowdy who, unfortunately, called the Marquette-UNC Title Tilt in '77.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Archies Bat on February 27, 2014, 03:46:35 PM
Precisely.

The best sportscaster from back in the day was Keith Jackson. There was something reassuring and comforting in that rich, bourbon-infused baritone.

The worst was Curt Gowdy who, unfortunately, called the Marquette-UNC Title Tilt in '77.

And when giving a promo to lead into the next show about Mohammed Ali after the game, he could not even read the name correctly, he called him "All"
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 27, 2014, 03:50:47 PM
Precisely.

The best sportscaster from back in the day was Keith Jackson. There was something reassuring and comforting in that rich, bourbon-infused baritone.


Keith Jackson is awesome. Pat Summerall was also great. Stay tuned for Murder....She Wrote
http://deadspin.com/remembering-pat-summeralls-wonderful-murder-she-wrote-1450992513 (http://deadspin.com/remembering-pat-summeralls-wonderful-murder-she-wrote-1450992513)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on February 27, 2014, 04:04:52 PM
I remember Schenkel well....Wide World of Sports, bowling, etc.   

Either Al Michaels or Bob Costas told a Wide World of Sports story during the Olympics.  They talked about the skier taking the awful crash into the fence that they showed in the intro.  Someone caught up to the skier many many years later for an interview and he was a farmer in like Croatia and he had no idea he was famous in America for his crash and that they showed it on TV every week.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Lighthouse 84 on February 27, 2014, 07:21:11 PM
Precisely.

The best sportscaster from back in the day was Keith Jackson. There was something reassuring and comforting in that rich, bourbon-infused baritone.

The worst was Curt Gowdy who, unfortunately, called the Marquette-UNC Title Tilt in '77.
Come on.  Curt Gowdy doing the saturday afternoon game of the week with Tony Kubek was fabulous. There are far worse.

It's Stripes for me....in a clear runaway.  My homage to Harold Ramis.....

I'm going to call you by your first names, because I'd have a pretty tough time pronouncing some of your last names.

Can I take your last beer?  We'll split it!

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 27, 2014, 07:23:30 PM
Precisely.

The best sportscaster from back in the day was Keith Jackson. There was something reassuring and comforting in that rich, bourbon-infused baritone.

The worst was Curt Gowdy who, unfortunately, called the Marquette-UNC Title Tilt in '77.

Keith Jackson spoke at NACMA back in 1998 or 1999 in Reno.  One of the most entertaining speeches I had ever heard.  He was starting to slow down just a touch, said he wouldn't do many more games to be with his wife.  Ultimately he did a few, but cut back on his travel.  He was a master at his craft.

He was in an interview last year, and he still sounds good.


http://www.youtube.com/v/tNeOEHGpYyc
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 28, 2014, 01:56:32 AM
LA Times article on Ramis.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-harold-ramis-erskine-20140227,0,1069369.column#axzz2uYHWN3Hd

Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 28, 2014, 11:40:07 AM
The Second City put together a short piece on Ramis. Looks like some of the footage is from the 50th Anniversary at SC from 2009. There are some other videos on the SecondCityNetwork youtube channel. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaX5LVsxvc&feature=share&list=UUzkcuUgsMln4y_aSxhE0H-g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaX5LVsxvc&feature=share&list=UUzkcuUgsMln4y_aSxhE0H-g)
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Silkk the Shaka on February 28, 2014, 11:46:27 AM
Zoolander is another very quotable movie from the early 2000s

This and Wet Hot American Summer. Unreal writing and it gave a ton of people their big break.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Blue Horseshoe on February 28, 2014, 12:46:59 PM
This and Wet Hot American Summer. Unreal writing and it gave a ton of people their big break.

Wet Hot American Summer was really good. I do disagree that most of the cast had already gotten their breaks from other projects. The State was really the big break that got the film legs. David Wain directed it and cast members of The State and other already established actors such as Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, and Chris Meloni.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 28, 2014, 12:59:04 PM
The Second City put together a short piece on Ramis. Looks like some of the footage is from the 50th Anniversary at SC from 2009. There are some other videos on the SecondCityNetwork youtube channel. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaX5LVsxvc&feature=share&list=UUzkcuUgsMln4y_aSxhE0H-g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaX5LVsxvc&feature=share&list=UUzkcuUgsMln4y_aSxhE0H-g)

"You can never get enough of what you don't really need"

Pretty powerful
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Silkk the Shaka on February 28, 2014, 02:44:58 PM
Wet Hot American Summer was really good. I do disagree that most of the cast had already gotten their breaks from other projects. The State was really the big break that got the film legs. David Wain directed it and cast members of The State and other already established actors such as Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, and Chris Meloni.

True, but it was Paul Rudd's comedic break (he had played romantic drama leads prior and now pretty much all he does is comedies), as well as Bradley Cooper & Elizabeth Banks' first "big" roles. Also it was post UCB but pre-SNL Amy Poehler, and Jon Benjamin as the Can of Vegetables' voice pre-Archer & Bob's Burgers. So while it definitely had some already-big names, a few went on to big(ger) things from that movie.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243655/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast

Pretty stunning cast top to bottom in retrospect with a mix of established names and newcomers, though like I said the writing is what made it (Showalter & Wain from the State).


I clearly need more to do at work today.
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: Spotcheck Billy on February 28, 2014, 03:10:36 PM

I clearly need more to do at work today.

Got those TPS reports done yet?
Title: Re: Harold Ramis Dead at 69
Post by: keefe on February 28, 2014, 04:20:32 PM
"You can never get enough of what you don't really need"

Pretty powerful

American Materialism in one sentence.