# The comedy Airplane! was released 30 years ago! Surely you can't be serious! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249 "2010-07-10T21:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/381 "2019-11-21T02:41:22Z")
WZAZ in Chicago,where disco lives forever! Much like this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/382 "2020-02-20T20:58:37Z")
All of the _Airplane!_ fans here will want to weigh in on this important question: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=890155](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=890155) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/383 "2020-02-22T17:25:44Z")
The ID10T poscast (then known as Nerdist) had a great episode on this film; ZAZ and Ted Hayes all participated. If for some reason the link doesn’t work, just go to that podcast in any podcast manager app and scroll down to 5/4/2012. [Episode Download link (66 MB)](https://rss.art19.com/episodes/5ae37a1c-6647-4346-a7e2-15afad5d1f7b.mp3) Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2020, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/384 "2020-02-23T05:47:34Z")
Someone in the _Blazing Saddles_ vs. _Airplane!_ thread pointed out that there’s an ice cream cone held up in the press conference scene - I’d never noticed it before, after seeing the movie a half-dozen times over the years. Take a look at 10:25 here: ["Side-by-side" comparison: Zero Hour! (1957) Vs Airplane! (1980) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-v2BHNBVCs) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/385 "2020-02-25T01:31:01Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > The ID10T poscast (then known as Nerdist) had a great episode on this film; ZAZ and Ted Hayes all participated. Psst: Robert Hays, no E. I may have said this before, but in the disco scene, the juggling was for real. ZAZ said, “You should be doing something with your hands; can you juggle?” RH went to the craft services table, got three apples (oranges?) and juggled them like a pro. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/386 "2024-02-26T19:29:10Z")
Bumped. I recently finished _Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!_ by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, with interviews with most of the cast and crew. Lots of fun - very highly recommended for anyone who loves the movie, as I do. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/387 "2024-02-27T15:55:29Z")
That’s funny- I just finished that book yesterday. I really enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/388 "2024-02-28T18:44:47Z")
Sheeeeeeeeee… er, golly! I’m glad to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/389 "2024-02-29T04:04:06Z")
Loved it! “The Nose: runs continuously” I got the DVD from the library and watched it again. I liked this short video from the two “jive” actors, especially the subtitles. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fkZdz4Vz10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fkZdz4Vz10) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/390 "2024-02-29T04:13:24Z")
Al White(the bearded one) in Back To The Future 2 > **[Al White the actor - Back to the Future 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25sslgV2QkE%2F)** ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/391 "2024-02-29T20:39:54Z")
In related news they are going to reboot _Naked Gun_ with Liam Neeson. Not as far fetched when you take into account Leslie Nielsen was originally cast in _Airplane!_ because of his drama work. Neeson also does comedy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z2Co0lvFUAo/hqdefault.jpg "LIAM NEESON | Improvisational Comedy | Life's Too Short") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Co0lvFUAo) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/392 "2024-02-29T23:14:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > In related news they are going to reboot _Naked Gun_ with Liam Neeson. Who they going to get for Nordberg? Ray Lewis? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/393 "2024-02-29T23:40:48Z")
I would go for Chris Tucker. (Great howler for the painful scenes) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/394 "2024-03-01T04:31:42Z")
Peter Lupus played Nordberg on the TV show. He’s available and only 91. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/395 "2024-03-01T15:44:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Not as far fetched when you take into account Leslie Nielsen was originally cast in _Airplane!_ because of his drama work. And he can do absurdist deadpan humor. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PL7IoRjVHJQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Ted 2 - Best Scene in Movie - Liam Neeson Buying a Box of Trix") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL7IoRjVHJQ) Some trivia from the original movie: Florence Herndon (Mrs. Brady from the Brady Bunch) was originally approached for the Barbara Billingsley role as the Jive speaking woman. She later expressed regret for turning down the role. Also, Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s role was originally going to go to Pete Rose, but he couldn’t fit filming into his schedule. Jabbar did it because they gave him the money he wanted to buy an Oriental rug. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/396 "2024-03-01T15:53:54Z")
The reboot will of course come down to writing. ZAZ are not involved. It’s being directed by Akiva Schaffer who directed the very underrated _Hot Rod_ and _Pop Star_ and he’s part of Lonely Island. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/397 "2024-03-01T17:28:11Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Who they going to get for Nordberg? Ray Lewis? My money’s on Tony Hale. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/398 "2024-03-01T18:08:15Z")
Florence **Henderson** , not Herndon. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/399 "2024-03-01T18:14:00Z")
I knew that. My autocorrect didn’t, ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-comedy-airplane-was-released-30-years-ago-surely-you-cant-be-serious/546249/400 "2024-03-01T18:15:02Z")
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