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Kael Your Idols: A New Hollywood Podcast · Jul 17, 2025 · 1 hr 28 min

ZAZ-ed up Gags: Airplane! (1980)

This week Elena and Sam tackle that spoof of spoofs- the 1980 comedic smash, Airplane! This film rewrote the existing theories of comedy from what kind of people should star in it, to how many directors it should have. Join us as we delve into the world of classic TV and film culture upon which the Zucker brothers and their friend Jim Abrahams (aka ZAZ) set their sights. And please! Do not call us “Shirley”. Topics include: Leslie Nielsen’s fame in the 90s, a disaster film renaissance, and which jokes do or don’t hold up.

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This week Elena and Sam tackle that spoof of spoofs- the 1980 comedic smash,  Airplane! This film rewrote the existing theories of comedy from what kind of people should star in it, to how many directors it should have. Join us as we delve into the world of classic TV and film culture upon which the Zucker brothers and their friend Jim Abrahams (aka ZAZ) set their sights. And please! Do not call us “Shirley”. Topics include: Leslie Nielsen’s fame in the 90s, a disaster film renaissance, and which jokes do or don’t hold up.

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