Episode Details

Airplane! hit theaters in 1980 and reshaped comedy for Gen X. It was a clear break from the more earnest films of the ’70s and set the tone for how parody and absurdist humor would play out for decades. By casting serious actors like Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges & Robert Stack to deliver nonsense with total sincerity, the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team created a template that influenced everything from The Naked Gun and Hot Shots! to the joke-a-minute rhythm of The Simpsons, 30 Rock, and Community. It wasn’t just a hit movie; it changed the way comedy looked and sounded going forward.

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Summary

Airplane” Comedy Podcast Discussion

In this episode of Zen Top Parenting, hosts Todd and Kathy Adams discuss their decision to focus on the classic comedy film “Airplane” for their latest podcast, choosing it over other contemporary pop culture topics. They introduce new podcast categories, including jokes that went over their heads as children and a game called “Two Truths and One Lie” about the movie. Todd shares his “lukewarm” take on “Airplane” as the best comedy ever, reflecting on how childhood experiences shape one’s appreciation of humor.

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