As a British viewer (and listener) I can assure you that the guy who played drop dead Fred had a long varied and illustrious career in the U.K. ladies and gentlemen I give you Rik Mayall. He was one of the vanguard of the alternative comedy scene of the 80s and 90s. With his friend Ade Edmundson he starred and wrote both The Young Ones and Bottom, both anarchic sitcoms featuring violence and surreality unlike any seen before. He also featured in the ensemble productions of the comic strip, along side folks like Keith Allen and French and Saunders. He appeared in Black adder as the oversexed and irresistible Flashart. He did drama too and was acting right up to his untimely death by heart attack (his second death following a 5 day coma; the result of a quad bike accident- “2 days better then Jesus”) I loved this man and I still get sad when I remember he’s not around any more. RIP Rik xx
I’m a bit surprised as well. The Young Ones was shown relentlessly on Comedy Central during the 90’s here in the US, and I watched the entire run of Blackadder on Netflix around 15 years ago.
One of the greatest lost opportunities ever was that he was supposed to be Peeves the Poltergeist in the Harry Potter movies... he would have been the best part of the series. ☺ RIP to one of the lost GOATs,
I love this wholesome content! I was an original Patreon supporter and stopped podcasts at the beginning of COVID. I've been gradually returning to the things that lifted me up instead of giving me a daily existential crisis. Thank you, guys!
oh, man. It's great to see you guys again. I miss your regular content on Cracked. The folks that that are doing vids again on Cracked are fine, but Jack OB's hand-picked staff was special and mostly exceptional.
I had heard of this movie but never watched it growing up. Glad to say, I took a break around three minutes into Dan's retelling to close this gap in movie knowledge. What a fun, weird movie! My son and I both sat there, mouths open, frequently wondering aloud "What even IS this movie?!?", and had a grand time. I just now returned to finish the podcast and am delighted to know that not only was I right in putting this one in the Banger column but that you two gave voice to most of my internal discussion regarding this film. I got to have fun rewatching this through your eyes while also finishing some data entry, lol. Thanks, guys!
I am so glad you two revisited this movie. I saw Drop Dead Fred when I was a kid with my mom, shortly after my folks divorced. It was the first movie I got to the end of and didn't know how I felt about it. I was young enough to appreciate the slapstick, old enough to appreciate there was more going on, yet too young to fully appreciate it. But it stuck with me. I've recalled scenes from the movie throughout my life, especially when people used the expression "drop dead". But I've never thought to watch it again. But after this, I just might.
I don't know what kind of bizarro world we're living in where this pair of human-pop-culture-encyclopedias have a blindspot the size of Rik Mayall, but I really enjoyed this episode in any case. Bonus: you get a chance to discover more of Rik in Bottom, The Young Ones, and Blackadder - all dangerous British TV bangers themselves! Theme song is an undeniably incredible too, thanks ME REX
Yes!! I loved Drop Dead Fred as a kid and growing up. It amazes me both how few and how many people know about and/or have seen this movie. Like it feels like a fever dream of a movie that you’re not quite sure is real and it’s obscure enough that it’s not a major part of pop culture but it’s known enough that it keeps popping up in random podcasts and communities from time to time lol
Did I listen to this on the podcast yesterday and then watch it here today? Yes. Yes I did. Had to *see* their reactions to this banger from my childhood.
I'm so glad you two are doing this. I have been watching you both since the old days and I think you are both charming and smart, but not so much that I am going to switch platforms and seek out your podcasts. Thank you for giving us really lazy true fans this fantastic option.❤
Awesome fun episode. I've never seen Drop Dead Fred, so always great to find out there's a movie I haven't seen that I might enjoy. I loved Phoebe Cates in the Gremlins movies but I don't know if I've seen her in anything else. Really great to see you in video format!
The former Cracked team are the only people where I feel like if I saw them out in the world, I might have to remind myself that we aren’t actually old friends and not to act weird- just tell them I’m a big fan/supporter of their work and then leave them alone. I swear the rest of the time I know the people in the TV or in my podcast aren’t my friends. I’m just so pleased to see them doing new things and having successes since the Cracked days.
I'm surprised they didn't bring up the deep and dark meanings/metaphors/theme throughout the movie. I guess I was expecting them to 'cracked after hours' this movie and nerd out more about it since they liked it, and I loved it as well. Besides some problematic parts, it still held up I think for me as well, and I got more of the mental health aspect and adult theme of the movie which made me like it more. It makes me think Carrie Fisher picked doing this one for a good reason.
I was raised on British comedy even as an American, and MTV broadcasting The Young Ones in the 80s was a huge part of that. Drop Dead Fred was a huge big deal because it was almost really like introducing my secret friend to fellow Americans. The movie deserved better. If you look further into Rik Mayall's career, you won't regret it.
Sometimes when I remember watching Drop Dead Fred as a child, it feels like a fever dream. It really is a weird and off-putting film. But still, my brother and I must have watched it like 100 times.
He was gonna surprise us. He slipped and broke his neck. He died instantly. And that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus. - I love Phoebe Cates acting choices. edit: @39:17 😅 I swear I addedd this quote in the first minute of the video.
totally agree! When my mom was out of town for work my dad rented evil dead, robocop, the hounds of the Baskervilles and I was like 7. Fast times and Revenge of the Nerds at 10 set me up for a weird puberty journey.
oh. So the other two movies, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Better Off Dead, are actually good bangers. Recently, re-watched Drop Dead Fred, because of the HDTGM podcast, that movie is just bonkers. Still shit does not age well.
i saw drop dead fred in the theater with my family when i was 9. i'd grown up watching the young ones and the movie was shot in my city, minneapolis! for those reasons and many more, it was definitely a favorite movie of mine from childhood.
Even when Fred and adult Elizabeth are interacting though, up until that little kiss at the end, it feels very child-like to me. He still talks to her and gets in her face the exact same way he did when she was little. I dunno I just never got creeped out by that, and kiss at the end always just felt like kissing her childhood innocence goodbye in a way, so it never seemed weird or gross to me.
I remember going to the video store as a kid (yes, I'm old) and I so wanted to rent Drop Dead Fred but my parents wouldn't let me. Same with Cool World. Good to know I can still revisit at least one of those as an adult.
As a child I would get drop dead Fred and Beetlejuice mixed up. The only reason I don’t still is because I love the Beetlejuice musical. If it wasn’t for that I’d still be get them mixed up today.
As a British viewer (and listener) I can assure you that the guy who played drop dead Fred had a long varied and illustrious career in the U.K. ladies and gentlemen I give you Rik Mayall. He was one of the vanguard of the alternative comedy scene of the 80s and 90s. With his friend Ade Edmundson he starred and wrote both The Young Ones and Bottom, both anarchic sitcoms featuring violence and surreality unlike any seen before. He also featured in the ensemble productions of the comic strip, along side folks like Keith Allen and French and Saunders. He appeared in Black adder as the oversexed and irresistible Flashart. He did drama too and was acting right up to his untimely death by heart attack (his second death following a 5 day coma; the result of a quad bike accident- “2 days better then Jesus”)
I loved this man and I still get sad when I remember he’s not around any more. RIP Rik xx
As an American I loved The Young Ones. That whole group was utter amazing. Rik not being around anymore is very depressing.
Haha yep, fellow Brit here, surprised to hear they didn’t know of him already. I forget about how much of our media doesn’t make it across the pond
I grew up on "Bottom" and am shocked these, otherwise cool an couth guys, were unfamiliar with Mayall's work.
So uncouth.
I’m a bit surprised as well. The Young Ones was shown relentlessly on Comedy Central during the 90’s here in the US, and I watched the entire run of Blackadder on Netflix around 15 years ago.
One of the greatest lost opportunities ever was that he was supposed to be Peeves the Poltergeist in the Harry Potter movies... he would have been the best part of the series. ☺ RIP to one of the lost GOATs,
I love this wholesome content! I was an original Patreon supporter and stopped podcasts at the beginning of COVID. I've been gradually returning to the things that lifted me up instead of giving me a daily existential crisis. Thank you, guys!
oh, man. It's great to see you guys again.
I miss your regular content on Cracked. The folks that that are doing vids again on Cracked are fine, but Jack OB's hand-picked staff was special and mostly exceptional.
The fact that DOB somehow circled everything back to the Gremlins OPCD makes this entire podcast so much better
I had heard of this movie but never watched it growing up. Glad to say, I took a break around three minutes into Dan's retelling to close this gap in movie knowledge. What a fun, weird movie! My son and I both sat there, mouths open, frequently wondering aloud "What even IS this movie?!?", and had a grand time. I just now returned to finish the podcast and am delighted to know that not only was I right in putting this one in the Banger column but that you two gave voice to most of my internal discussion regarding this film. I got to have fun rewatching this through your eyes while also finishing some data entry, lol. Thanks, guys!
Love these Dangerous Bangers episodes.
I am so glad you two revisited this movie. I saw Drop Dead Fred when I was a kid with my mom, shortly after my folks divorced. It was the first movie I got to the end of and didn't know how I felt about it. I was young enough to appreciate the slapstick, old enough to appreciate there was more going on, yet too young to fully appreciate it. But it stuck with me. I've recalled scenes from the movie throughout my life, especially when people used the expression "drop dead". But I've never thought to watch it again. But after this, I just might.
I don't know what kind of bizarro world we're living in where this pair of human-pop-culture-encyclopedias have a blindspot the size of Rik Mayall, but I really enjoyed this episode in any case.
Bonus: you get a chance to discover more of Rik in Bottom, The Young Ones, and Blackadder - all dangerous British TV bangers themselves!
Theme song is an undeniably incredible too, thanks ME REX
Came here to harangue them thus, well done.
That was one of my favorites growing up as well! My cousin and I watched it tons of times as kids back in the 90's.
Yes!! I loved Drop Dead Fred as a kid and growing up. It amazes me both how few and how many people know about and/or have seen this movie. Like it feels like a fever dream of a movie that you’re not quite sure is real and it’s obscure enough that it’s not a major part of pop culture but it’s known enough that it keeps popping up in random podcasts and communities from time to time lol
Hope you guys keep making more of these episodes!
Did I listen to this on the podcast yesterday and then watch it here today?
Yes. Yes I did.
Had to *see* their reactions to this banger from my childhood.
I had Drop Dead Fred on VHS and watched it all the time as a kid
Wait, was that laughter at the end from business daddy, Bacon?! I’ve missed his laughing at the boys! ❤
Keep up the great work guys!
Flashart! I knew I knew him from somewhere! Requiem pace, lovey. Woof!
I'm so glad you two are doing this. I have been watching you both since the old days and I think you are both charming and smart, but not so much that I am going to switch platforms
and seek out your podcasts. Thank you for giving us really lazy true fans this fantastic option.❤
So happy we get to see your faces again 👏👏 great content, as always, only now we get it in video form much to the dismay of the hosts lol
Awesome fun episode. I've never seen Drop Dead Fred, so always great to find out there's a movie I haven't seen that I might enjoy. I loved Phoebe Cates in the Gremlins movies but I don't know if I've seen her in anything else. Really great to see you in video format!
The former Cracked team are the only people where I feel like if I saw them out in the world, I might have to remind myself that we aren’t actually old friends and not to act weird- just tell them I’m a big fan/supporter of their work and then leave them alone.
I swear the rest of the time I know the people in the TV or in my podcast aren’t my friends. I’m just so pleased to see them doing new things and having successes since the Cracked days.
6:26 Your gonna have to start editing in some clips Gabe lol
Loved it - great episode!!!
I'm surprised they didn't bring up the deep and dark meanings/metaphors/theme throughout the movie. I guess I was expecting them to 'cracked after hours' this movie and nerd out more about it since they liked it, and I loved it as well. Besides some problematic parts, it still held up I think for me as well, and I got more of the mental health aspect and adult theme of the movie which made me like it more. It makes me think Carrie Fisher picked doing this one for a good reason.
One of Simon Peggs first films was Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson's Guest House Paradiso.
I was raised on British comedy even as an American, and MTV broadcasting The Young Ones in the 80s was a huge part of that. Drop Dead Fred was a huge big deal because it was almost really like introducing my secret friend to fellow Americans. The movie deserved better. If you look further into Rik Mayall's career, you won't regret it.
Great movie!
Sometimes when I remember watching Drop Dead Fred as a child, it feels like a fever dream. It really is a weird and off-putting film. But still, my brother and I must have watched it like 100 times.
I love Drop Dead Fred... Filmed in my hometown, my friends and I kept trying to track down Rik Mayall when he was in town, never saw him.
We miss you, Rik. Man, this film really needs to be redone, it's a good movie that just wasn't executed right the first time around.
He was gonna surprise us. He slipped and broke his neck. He died instantly. And that's how I found out there was no Santa Claus. - I love Phoebe Cates acting choices.
edit: @39:17 😅 I swear I addedd this quote in the first minute of the video.
A force of nature like Rik Mayall cannot be summed up by Wikipedia :O
totally agree! When my mom was out of town for work my dad rented evil dead, robocop, the hounds of the Baskervilles and I was like 7. Fast times and Revenge of the Nerds at 10 set me up for a weird puberty journey.
When the hell did this happen and why wasn’t I notified?
oh. So the other two movies, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Better Off Dead, are actually good bangers. Recently, re-watched Drop Dead Fred, because of the HDTGM podcast, that movie is just bonkers. Still shit does not age well.
This movie is awesome and always has been.
i saw drop dead fred in the theater with my family when i was 9. i'd grown up watching the young ones and the movie was shot in my city, minneapolis! for those reasons and many more, it was definitely a favorite movie of mine from childhood.
Even when Fred and adult Elizabeth are interacting though, up until that little kiss at the end, it feels very child-like to me. He still talks to her and gets in her face the exact same way he did when she was little. I dunno I just never got creeped out by that, and kiss at the end always just felt like kissing her childhood innocence goodbye in a way, so it never seemed weird or gross to me.
I remember going to the video store as a kid (yes, I'm old) and I so wanted to rent Drop Dead Fred but my parents wouldn't let me. Same with Cool World. Good to know I can still revisit at least one of those as an adult.
thank you for saving me from watching this movie. but now it sounds kinda endearing lol
Gg. For the engagement
The bonkers Santa story has a great callback in Gremlins 2 (which I like more than the first)
Quick quick question... jk its a comment
This movie is the source of a schism in how did this get made. Years later fans still argue about whether or not Fred is real.
genuinely a bit upset when I realised you guys don't really know Rik Mayall
As a child I would get drop dead Fred and Beetlejuice mixed up. The only reason I don’t still is because I love the Beetlejuice musical. If it wasn’t for that I’d still be get them mixed up today.
mindless engagement tbn