Other comedians cry on the inside, but Rodney Dangerfield built his entire act around his sad life. Get to know this legendary comic who was nearing 50 when he got his break.
AI Summary
Josh and Chuck take their show on the road to the LA Podcast Festival to explore the fascinating and surprisingly tragic life of comedian Rodney Dangerfield. From his brutal childhood and decades of struggle to his eventual breakthrough at age 41, they dive into how the king of "no respect" transformed genuine pain into comedy gold. The episode covers his iconic career highlights, from Ed Sullivan appearances to blockbuster movies like Caddyshack and Back to School, while revealing the real man behind the sweaty, tie-tugging persona who genuinely got very little respect even after becoming famous.
Movies Discussed
A Clockwork Orange
"Was Rodney McDowell in Clockwork Orange or Malcolm McDowell? — Josh gets confused about which actor appeared in this Stanley Kubrick film while discussing Academy membership."
— Josh
Back to School
"I've talked to at least a couple of people who have not seen Back to School — Josh mentions this Rodney Dangerfield film as an example of how the comedian is becoming underappreciated."
— Josh
Caddyshack
"But his huge, huge breakthrough came in Caddyshack — Chuck explains this was Dangerfield's breakthrough film role that made him a movie star."
— Chuck
Dirty Dancing
"Have you guys ever seen Iron Man Meets Dirty Dancing that match up? — Josh mentions a YouTube video mashup and compares Catskills resorts to the setting of this film."
— Josh
Easy Money
"And then in 1983, he wrote a movie called Easy Money — Josh discusses this Rodney Dangerfield movie that he wrote and starred in."
— Josh
Hey Dude
"David Lasher and Christine Taylor, stars of the cult classic show, Hey Dude — Referenced in the podcast ad at the beginning as a 90s TV show being discussed on another podcast."
Iron Man
"Have you guys ever seen Iron Man Meets Dirty Dancing that match up? — Josh mentions a YouTube video mashup that combines these two films."
— Josh
Natural Born Killers
"Mr. Oliver Stone called him up one day and said, I have this role for you in a movie called Natural Born Killers — Josh discusses Dangerfield's dramatic role in this Oliver Stone film where he played a disturbing character."
— Josh
Planet of the Apes
"Rodney McDowell was. He was in Planet of the Apes — Chuck clarifies which films Rodney McDowell appeared in versus Malcolm McDowell."
— Chuck
Platoon
"It was behind Top Gun, Platoon, Karate Kid 2, Star Trek 4 — Josh lists the movies that outgrossed Back to School at the box office in 1986."
— Josh
Rover Dangerfield
"he produced and wrote the movie Rover Dangerfield, the animated classic about a dog who gets no respect — Josh mentions this animated film that Dangerfield produced and wrote about a dog character."
— Josh
Saturday Night Live
"He hosted Serenity Live in 1980 — Josh mentions that Dangerfield hosted Saturday Night Live in 1980 when he was around 60 years old."
— Josh
Serial
"Says, I listened to podcasts before Serial — Josh reads text from an audience member's shirt that references the popular podcast/documentary series."
— Josh
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
"It was behind Top Gun, Platoon, Karate Kid 2, Star Trek 4 — Josh lists the movies that outgrossed Back to School at the box office in 1986."
— Josh
The Karate Kid Part II
"It was behind Top Gun, Platoon, Karate Kid 2, Star Trek 4 — Josh lists the movies that outgrossed Back to School at the box office in 1986."
— Josh
The Killing
"He was actually cast first by Stanley Kubrick in 1956 for the movie The Killer — Chuck discusses Dangerfield's early film role in this Stanley Kubrick movie where he played 'Onlooker'."
— Chuck
The Projectionist
"And then he was in another movie. What was that I'm going to call The Projectionist? — Josh mentions another early Dangerfield film role where he played a movie projectionist boss."
— Josh
The Scout
"a shocking amount, mentioned that he was well known for his role in the scout. He wasn't in the scout — Chuck clarifies that despite many obituaries claiming otherwise, Dangerfield was not actually in this film."
— Chuck
The Simpsons
"He was on The Simpsons, I think, a couple of times — Chuck mentions Dangerfield's appearances on the animated series playing Mr. Burns' illegitimate son."
— Chuck
Too Close for Comfort
"you can watch too close for comfort and get just as much as you want — Josh dismisses Ted Knight's performance in Caddyshack by comparing it to this TV show."
— Josh
Top Gun
"It was behind Top Gun, Platoon, Karate Kid 2, Star Trek 4 — Josh lists the movies that outgrossed Back to School at the box office in 1986."
— Josh
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