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Going Hollywood - Movies and Television from the Golden Age to TodayAuthor: Brad Shreve & Tony Maietta
Will you side with the expert or the enthusiast? Film historian Tony Maietta and movie lover Brad Shreve dive into the best of cinema and TV, from Hollywoods Golden Age to todays biggest hits. They share insights, debate favorites, and occasionally clashbut always keep it entertaining. Theyll take you behind the scenes and in front of the camera, bringing back your favorite memories along the way. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Film History, TV & Film, Visual Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Guess We Picked The Wrong Week To Talk About “Airplane!” (1980)
Episode 2
Tuesday, 31 March, 2026
It’s our third season, and we’ve decided that it’s time to take a more serious approach to appreciating the art of film, film history, and the craft of filmmaking.April Fools! It’s “Airplane!” (1980)An airliner full of passengers gets hit with food poisoning, the crew goes down, and the only hope is a washed-up pilot with a bruised past. That plot sounds like a straight disaster thriller and that’s exactly why “Airplane!” works: it uses a perfectly serious skeleton and then fires jokes at you so fast you barely have time to breathe.We dig into how Zucker, Abrams and Zucker built the movie on the bones of “Zero Hour” (1957), lifting the structure, character names, and even bits of dialogue, then twisting it into one of the most influential spoof comedies ever made. We also talk about the behind-the-scenes choices that matter more than any single gag: a lean budget, a tight shoot, and the decision to cast dramatic heavyweights like Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Peter Graves and Lloyd Bridges. Their deadpan commitment is the engine, turning every absurd line into a straight-faced “emergency,” which makes the humor hit harder.Not every moment lands the same way in 2026, and we don’t dodge that. We get into what still feels timeless, what depends on older pop culture references, and what now plays as uncomfortable, especially the jokes audiences are less willing to laugh off today. Along the way, we trade favorite bits, debate the few sequences that run too long, and zoom out to Airplane’s legacy in film history, including how it sets the template for later parody hits like “The Naked Gun” series .If you love classic comedy, Hollywood behind-the-scenes stories, and film analysis that still feels like hanging out with movie friends, hit follow, share the show, and leave a review wherever you listen.Check out Brad's YouTube channel about life in Spain on Our Chosen Spanish Life. Text us & We'll Respond on an Episode Links to Tony's website, and Brad's website at www.goinghollywoodpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @goinghollywoodpodTo watch "The True Story of the Barrymores," go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CZTHYN6D/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rTo watch Tony's WIRED video "Tech Support: Old Hollywood" go to https://youtu.be/6hxXfxhQSz0?si=TO4Xv6q87XhBnqDTReach us at goinghollywoodpodcast@gmail.comListen to our Going Hollywood Playlist on Spotify.
