# I don't understand why Bobcat Goldthwait ever had a film career **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061 "2013-09-17T16:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/1 "2013-09-17T16:02:12Z")
Over the past couple of nights I watched “Scrooged” which has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies and one of my favorite Scrooge renditions. As I watched, I reflected that Bobcat Goldthwait nearly ruins the movie with his role in it. That voice is so _annoying_. It’s not funny, it’s grating and horrible. Why did he he ever have a film career when so many better actors are getting passed over constantly? Do people really like him? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/2 "2013-09-17T16:05:51Z")
I’ve often wondered the same thing myself. He uses that same character & voice in his standup, which isn’t much better. It’s like Stephen Wright. I used to think he was hilarious. I didn’t care for that dead-voice vocal style, but it really worked delivering that kind of joke. Now, I see old footage and think, “Did I ever think that was funny? Why?” But yeah. Bobcat Goldthwait = nails on a chalkboard. Possibly the only comedian/actor I find more annoying is Gilbert Gottfried. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/3 "2013-09-17T16:08:09Z")
Try [this scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfyAvHc6j6M) from “Blow”, with Paul Reubens and Johnny Depp (audio NSFW). Great acting from all three of them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/4 "2013-09-17T16:11:24Z")
There’s only one Bobcat, and I like him. Just like Sam Kinison. Don’t ask me to explain, and I totally get why people wouldn’t appreciate either man’s humor. Now Carrot Top? He could die in a fire as far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/5 "2013-09-17T16:11:56Z")
He has a long career in voice work. Nice work if you can get it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/6 "2013-09-17T16:26:20Z")
Well, he mostly did really, really bad movies, so it’s hard to defend his film career. I don’t really blame him for that, though - i don’t think he had a lot of creative control for those movies. _Shakes the Clown_ was brilliant, though, and I liked him in _Scrooged_. I find the scratchy voice and rising mania to be endearing. Kind of like Charlie Day from _Always Sunny in Philadelphia_. Great stand up, too. He’s one of my favorite panelists on _Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me_. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/7 "2013-09-17T16:29:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Great stand up, too. He’s one of my favorite panelists on _Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me_. Mine too, although this is partially because he _doesn’t_ use his stage voice when he’s doing “Wait, Wait.” He’s a genuinely funny guy, and usually pretty hilarious on the show. When I heard he was going to be a panelist, I was worried, because I find his stage voice seriously grating, but he’s turned out to be fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/8 "2013-09-17T16:47:53Z")
He’s a much better writer and director. Ever see “World’s Greatest Dad”? Good dark comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/9 "2013-09-17T17:23:52Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Well, he mostly did really, really bad movies, so it’s hard to defend his film career. There’s a quote from him on his IMDB entry, in reference to an unspecified movie: “That movie looks so bad, I can’t believe I wasn’t in it.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/10 "2013-09-17T17:33:27Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > That voice is so _annoying_. It’s not funny, it’s grating and horrible. As per his stand-up act, you’re saying you hate Grover. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/11 "2013-09-17T17:40:30Z")
He did an interview on the WTF podcast. He explained that he was cast in the Police Academy movies and all of his subsequent roles because the filmmakers wanted to use his "screeching"stand-up persona, not because anybody wanted to give him freedom of acting choices, so he obliged. Great anecdotes about his times opening gigs for Nirvana too. Apparently he’s a fairly prominent director nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/12 "2013-09-17T17:45:19Z")
I guess I’m one of those people who finds him funny. I mean, you can only use him with that voice in certain kinds of movies… but in those kinds of movies, I think he adds a little something. There are plenty of other comedians who get locked into using their stage personae in their movie appearances. (Honestly, given the way people like Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg slowly ceased to be capable of funny, maybe comedians are better off when stuck in a stage persona.) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/13 "2013-09-17T17:57:35Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Mine too, although this is partially because he _doesn’t_ use his stage voice when he’s doing “Wait, Wait.” He’s a genuinely funny guy, and usually pretty hilarious on the show. When I heard he was going to be a panelist, I was worried, because I find his stage voice seriously grating, but he’s turned out to be fantastic. He talked on the _Nerdist_ podcast about how he doesn’t really know how to do that voice anymore. People will ask him to do it, and he can’t remember how it’s supposed to sound. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/14 "2013-09-17T17:57:42Z")
I liked his PSA after the incident on Leno. “Remember, kids, if you’re ever on a talk show… don’t set it on fire!” [Star swoosh!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3rhQc666Sg) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/15 "2013-09-17T17:59:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > There’s only one Bobcat, and I like him. Just like Sam Kinison. [_ahem_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG_L3OiNwTs) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/16 "2013-09-17T18:01:10Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > [_ahem_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG_L3OiNwTs) 😃 That’s gotta be the interview where Bobcat says he’s glad Sam is dead because people confused the two, right?😃 Gotta be. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/17 "2013-09-17T18:20:16Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Great anecdotes about his times opening gigs for Nirvana too. Apparently he’s a fairly prominent director nowadays. I’ve enjoyed all the movies he’s directed–all deeply dark comedies. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/18 "2013-09-17T18:21:22Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > There’s a quote from him on his IMDB entry, in reference to an unspecified movie: “That movie looks so bad, I can’t believe I wasn’t in it.” > [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > He did an interview on the WTF podcast. He explained that he was cast in the Police Academy movies and all of his subsequent roles because the filmmakers wanted to use his "screeching"stand-up persona, not because anybody wanted to give him freedom of acting choices, so he obliged. I saw him do an interview once where he was talking about his work on the Police Academy movies. He said something like, “I wasn’t in the first one - you know, the good one. I was in the sequel and people said, ‘that’s cool - it’s good exposure for his career.’ And then I did the third one and people said, ‘well…maybe his mother needs an operation.’ And then I did the fourth one and people ‘okay now he’s just a whore.’” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/19 "2013-09-17T18:36:51Z")
I saw him on program, maybe the “Tonight” show with his father (or a man acting as his father), doing some kind of, uh, “pet tricks?” That is, his father was doing the tricks (like walking thru a hoop). Kinda strange. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061/20 "2013-09-17T18:42:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I saw him do an interview once where he was talking about his work on the Police Academy movies. He said something like, “I wasn’t in the first one - you know, the good one. I was in the sequel and people said, ‘that’s cool - it’s good exposure for his career.’ And then I did the third one and people said, ‘well…maybe his mother needs an operation.’ And then I did the fourth one and people ‘okay now he’s just a whore.’” This reminds me of when people asked Sigourney Weaver why she did Alien 4. She responded, “Well, they drove a dump truck full of money up to my house. I’m only human.” Something like that anyway. I’ll check out World’s Greatest Dad, if you guys think it is worth it. I do like dark comedy. I don’t know what Wait, Wait, don’t tell me is - a talk show? A contest? A game show? And I will try that scene from Blow that was linked to in youtube. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-why-bobcat-goldthwait-ever-had-a-film-career/669061.md?page=2)