Tug of War is a simple display of strength, but is there more to it than that? Listen in to find out.
AI Summary
# Summary
In this episode, Josh and Chuck dive deep into the surprisingly complex history and competitive world of tug of war, exploring how this deceptively simple game has been played across cultures for centuries and was even an Olympic sport for 20 years. From ancient Korean and Okinawan festivals featuring massive ropes that weigh tons to the quirky rules of international competition, the hosts uncover why this rudimentary childhood game involves serious physics, strategy, and regulations about everything from rope materials to approved footwear. Whether you watched it in 1980s TV competitions or saw it dramatized in Squid Game, you'll discover there's way more to pulling on a rope than meets the eye.
American Gladiators
1988
TV-PG
★ 5.8
"aside from American Gladiators, kind of things that you could watch. — Josh mentions American Gladiators as an iconic 80s competition show similar in style to other athletic competitions of that era."
— Josh
Battle of the Network Stars
1976
★ 6.4
"Battle of the Network stars did it on TV. Do you remember the superstars? — Josh references Battle of the Network Stars as a show that featured tug-of-war competitions in the 1970s-80s."
— Josh
Fight Club
1999
2h 19m
★ 8.4
"At the time was the show Billy Crystal represented. But at least, you know, Lou Ferrigno and Daisy Duke and his team won. — Josh mentions that Billy Crystal was on the TV show Soap when he appeared on Battle of the Network Stars."
— Josh
Kung Fu Panda
2008
PG
1h 30m
★ 7.3
"He's going to go back there like Linda Hamilton. Jack Black and Kung Fu Panda. — Chuck mentions Kung Fu Panda in reference to Jack Black returning for a sequel, relating to Squid Game's protagonist returning."
— Chuck
Revenge of the Nerds
1984
1h 30m
★ 6.5
"In the case of Revenge of the Nerds, the nerds have no chance. I guess I should say spoiler alert. — Josh references Revenge of the Nerds as an example of a tug-of-war scene where the underdog nerds win by letting go of the rope."
— Josh
Saturday Night Live
1975
★ 7.0
"Do you remember the Sirenight Live spoof for that? No. Oh, I think it was Robert Smigel. — Josh mentions a Saturday Night Live spoof of a George Hutton commercial that was created by Robert Smigel."
— Josh
Squid Game
2021
TV-MA
★ 7.9
"I think I was suckered by Squid Game, which we'll talk about a little bit later, into thinking that there could be some more depth to this. — Josh mentions being influenced by Squid Game to think there was more strategy to rock-paper-scissors and tug-of-war than there actually is."
— Josh
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991
2h 17m
★ 8.1
"He's going to go back there like Linda Hamilton. Jack Black and Kung Fu Panda. Terminator two. — Chuck references Terminator 2 and Linda Hamilton in comparison to the ending of Squid Game where the protagonist returns."
— Chuck
The Dana Carvey Show
1996
★ 6.1
"Somebody used to do a documentary on Smigel. They did one on the Dana Carvey show. — Josh references The Dana Carvey Show in context of a documentary about Robert Smigel's work on that show."
— Josh
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