31 Alan Alda Never Missed MASH
For the entire 11-year run of M*A*S*H, Alan Alda was the only actor to appear in all 251 episodes of the long-running series. While the show filmed in Los Angeles, he commuted every weekend to his home in New Jersey, where his wife and daughters lived. He kept up that routine for the full run of the show because he did not know how long the series would last.
32 Sean Connery Nearly Attacked Cameraman
On the 1974 film Zardoz, Sean Connery snapped after a cameraman accidentally opened the camera and exposed a full day’s worth of film. That day’s shoot involved Connery in heavy makeup, which he already hated wearing. When he realized the footage was ruined and he would have to redo it all, he became so furious that it took three grips to restrain him from attacking the cameraman.
33 Robert Mitchums Silk Promise Proposal
Actor Robert Mitchum proposed to his wife by telling her, “Stick with me, kid, and you’ll be farting through silk.” She accepted, and the marriage that began with that blunt offer lasted 57 years.
34 Dan Aykroyd Quirks Inspired Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd has Tourette’s and Asperger’s and was born with webbed toes and two different colored eyes. As he grew up, he developed strong obsessions with law enforcement and ghosts. Those obsessions later led to the idea for Ghostbusters, where he built a story around the things that had fascinated him for years.
35 Dog The Bounty Hunter Bailed
In 2011, police arrested Nicolas Cage in New Orleans on charges that included public intoxication. A fan who worked as a bail bondsman stepped in to post his bond. That fan was Duane “Dog” Chapman, better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter.
36 Will Smith Turned Down Django
The role of Django was originally written for Will Smith, but he turned it down. As he considered the part, he decided not to take it because he felt he would not be the lead actor.
37 Steve Carell Predicted Offices Legacy
In 2004, while shooting the pilot for The Office, Steve Carell gave a small toast at lunch to the cast and crew. He told them, “You know, guys, this is probably going to be the job that we’re known for the rest of our lives.” The Office premiered on TV in 2005, one year after that pilot lunch toast.
Latest FactRepublic Video:
15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History
38 Danny DeVitos Fairbanks Disease Stature
Danny DeVito stands 4 ft 10 in tall, and his short stature results from Fairbank’s disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth.
39 Voldemort Nephew Played Young Riddle
In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the actor who plays 11-year-old Voldemort, a.k.a. Tom Riddle, is actually the nephew of Ralph Fiennes.
40 McConaughey Rejected 14.5 Million Offer
Matthew McConaughey turned down a $14.5 million film offer and took a hiatus so he could pivot his acting career away from romantic comedies. The decision came after he searched himself online and saw that he was known largely as a “rom-com shirtless guy.” Realizing that his image hindered his hiring in other genres, he declined the offer to avoid perpetuating the stereotype.
RE: Fact #22 (Jared Leto Tried Stopping Joker) – Sure thing, but makeup really doesn’t replace actually acting.
Hey, Queen Amidala says hi.
Honestly, it’s not all on Natalie Portman—she had already proven herself in *Leon* when she was only 13.
I’m not saying he’s a terrible actor; he nailed that over‑the‑top cringe lord role, but the film itself was just a campy, cringey mess.
I actually thought his take on the film worked pretty well. The movie’s all about a crew of villains who’re meant to be intriguing, so when you get a side‑character who’s also bad but not the magnetic, complex type, it feels expected. Leto just got mad because he wasn’t given a chance to flesh out the role; he totally misread what was going on and was blinded by the Ledger/Badman hype.
I liked how he played the Joker, even though he was only on screen for about four minutes in that film. And honestly, that movie sucked. The villain just had too much power—such a common mistake.
RE: Fact #44 (Tobey Maguire Ran Underground Poker) – It just makes them look douchey, and if you read the claims maguire was getting nuts about not even being top‑3 billing, both sides seem like they’re lying. To me, he obviously wanted to cash in, dicaprio obviously didn’t want to ruin his “romance boy” persona. Maguire just sounds like the character he is in the movie, so yeah.
RE: Fact #46 (Rami Malek Whisper Coached Hacking) – I’ve been a Unix admin, a network pen‑tester, and a senior sysadmin for years, so I’m usually shocked by the legit tools and commands that pop up in the show.
Being a DIY electrician at home, I really had no clue what was going on.
As a forklift operator, I just hooked Linux onto my reach truck and can pull pallets out of the matrix now. No idea what to do with digital pallets yet, but I’ll sort that out after a few YouTube videos.
RE: Fact #17 (John Leguizamo Chose Luigi Instead) – I know it sounds kinda silly, but I totally remember him as Luigi next to Bob Hoskins’ Mario. I honestly have no clue who played Tom Hanks’ partner though.
Looking back, it does sound kinda wild, but Philadelphia was a huge dramatic step for Tom Hanks. Before that, everyone knew him as a comedy guy from films like Big or A League of Their Own. Nobody could’ve guessed he’d soon win two Oscars in a row for best actor. And Super Mario Brothers? That was a big franchise movie with double the budget. So, on paper, playing Luigi probably looked like a smarter career move back then.
You are totally right, and get this: Sleepless in Seattle and Philadelphia both hit theaters in ’93, then Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 followed in ’94. What an amazing few years that was for him.
I’ve definitely seen Mario Bros, but I haven’t watched Philadelphia, so…
Man, you’re missing out, it’s such a blast! I mean, who wouldn’t want to watch some poor dude slowly die from AIDS, right?
RE: Fact #2 (Chris Pratt Discovered Waiting Tables) –
Rae Dawn Chong was the director
RE: Fact #43 (Dave Chappelle Walked From Millions) – So back in June 2004, Chappelle got fed up and walked off the stage after he started shouting at everyone for constantly yelling “I’m Rick James, bitch!” – that whole line had turned into a meme from his hit “Rick James” sketch. A few minutes later he came back and just said, “The show is ruining my life.” He complained about being on the road 20 hours a day and how the show’s popularity was getting in the way of what mattered most to him: doing stand‑up. Then he told the crowd, “You know why my show is good? ’Cause the network thinks you’re not smart enough for what I’m doing, so every day I have to fight for you. I tell them how smart you are. Turns out I was wrong – you people are stupid.” Ouch.
RE: Fact #37 (Steve Carell Predicted Offices Legacy) – Honestly, Steve Carell could’ve done so much more than just that one character. I can totally picture a person who’s never even seen the fact still knowing who he is.
Everyone already knew him from The Daily Show, back when it was actually good.
RE: Fact #24 (Batman Returns Penguins Got Refrigeration) – The real penguins had their own dressing rooms on set. Working with them was a lot tougher than it looked, and the sets were kept way too cold for us humans. “I’m the kind of guy who loves being on set,” DeVito says, “but it was cold as sh*t because we had real penguins and they had to keep the water really cold. They had these massive air conditioners.” He added that he was the only one comfortable—he’d been wrapped in pounds of face prosthetics, body padding, and a heavy coat.
Animal lovers can breathe easy about how DeVito’s feathered co‑stars were treated. “They had their own area on the studio lot with a swimming pool and refrigerated dressing rooms,” recalls Walken, who played the sinister industrialist Max Shreck. Like human actors, some penguins were friendlier than others. “There were three different kinds of Penguins,” Walken explains. “The big ones, the Emperors, were very docile and sweet. They’d walk up to you and you could pet them like a cat. Then there was a middle size that were a little more active. The smallest ones were very busy and aggressive; they’d give you a peck.”
DeVito was so committed he never broke character on set. “Once he was in that costume, he was the Penguin,” Walken says. “He was always in character, using the menacing voice. I saw Danny after the movie, never during production.” For DeVito, the Penguin role sticks with him even today—quite literally. “When I met with Tim, he gave me a painting of this little creature on a yellow ball with red and white stripes,” the star says. “The caption is ‘My name is Jimmy, but my friends call me the hideous penguin boy.’ I’m staring at it right now. I carry it around with me wherever I go.”
He’s always pulling a penguin out of his acting toolbox. I don’t know if he’s ever talked about it, but a good chunk of Frank Reynolds’ vibe and mannerisms seem straight up lifted from that penguin character. Things like his hair‑madness over the flu or eating trash in the wrestling episode come to mind. Just saying, it’s a sunny Philadelphia thing.
RE: Fact #6 (Ahmed Best Jar Jar Backlash) – Wow, I just learned a real person actually played Jar Jar Binks. I always figured it was just some kind of computer-generated puppet trick.
You could kind of call it computer-generated puppetry. It was like a very early blend of performance capture.
The actor filmed his scenes while wearing a full rubber suit. At first, they only planned to use CGI for his face, but the effects studio ILM decided it was less expensive and easier to create the whole character using computer graphics instead of trying to make the face match his body movements. There’s a lot more on this in The Beginning.
RE: Fact #23 (John Travolta Parks Jet Home) – Travolta might be a weird dude, but he did something pretty cool for my dad back in 1978. My dad was working as a valet in Beverly Hills while at UCLA. He ended up at this fancy after‑party for Saturday Night Fever and when John Travolta showed up, he asked the guys—my dad and his friends—how their night was going and if they were hungry. They, being twenty‑something dudes, said “yeah.” Travolta replied, “no problem, I’ll be right back,” and vanished up the long driveway to the party.
A few minutes later, a guy runs down that same drive with an entire table in one hand like a waiter, gets closer, and they realize it’s Travolta. He’s brought them a whole table of food from the party—just grabbed it and hauled it over. Then he chatted with my dad and the others about life and their plans after college and tipped each of them something obscene like $500. At the time, he was one of the biggest stars in the world, so it would be like if Harry Styles did that today.
I know he has a lot of gross stories and was a big Scientologist, but at least he was really nice to my dad over 40 years ago. Edit: judging by the responses, Harry Styles and who he is seem to be the most fascinating take‑away from this story. Guys, I made him up. How’s that not obvious? I based him off the phenomenally unsuccessful nobody Harold Fashions from the Australian girl group Two Instructions. Should’ve put an /s—my bad.
Your dad was probably pretty adorable.
Hey, is Harry Styles really an A‑list star? And that story was awesome!
Just picture Harry Styles staring at this question on his laptop, totally freaking out.
RE: Fact #11 (William Shatner Star Trek Tinnitus) – i got tinnitus from not wearing hearing protection when i was shooting or working on engines and stuff. just saying it sucks and makes me wanna give up. dont take your hearing for granted cuz once its gone its gone for good
RE: Fact #31 (Alan Alda Never Missed MASH) – Back in ’56 at Fordham, he ran into Arlene Weiss who was studying at Hunter College. They hit it off right away at a friend’s dinner party—when a rum cake slipped onto the floor, they were the only two people who didn’t think twice before grabbing a bite. A year after graduation, on March 15, they tied the knot. They’re parents to three daughters—Eve, Elizabeth and Beatrice—and now have eight grandchildren, two of whom are chasing acting careers. That’s one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read.
Alan Alda feels like a classic Norman Rockwell painting that’s suddenly alive, and if anyone ever throws something awful at his past I’ll just fall apart.
RE: Fact #32 (Sean Connery Nearly Attacked Cameraman) – Did it take a bunch of people to keep him away from the costume designer?
No way, he just showed up ready to roll.
RE: Fact #33 (Robert Mitchums Silk Promise Proposal) – Like I told my future wife: stay with me, kid, and you’ll be in deep shit.
Oh man, this hit me straight in the feels. It pulled up that night when my ex decided to pop the question right after he just…you know, had a random mishap in front of us downtown. Can’t believe I’m remembering that.
RE: Fact #36 (Will Smith Turned Down Django) – And he even declined The Matrix.
He says yeah to fifteen average movies.
Yeah, we’re all in a better place because of it.
He was saying that even though he doesn’t love *Wild Wild West*, turning down *The Matrix* probably turned out to be a good thing for the franchise.
So yeah, didn’t they have Val Kilmer slated to be Morpheus if Will Smith were playing Neo?
You’re saying that, yet we don’t have a catchy Wild Wild West‑style track.
RE: Fact #45 (Trading Places Recast After Pryor) – Richard Pryor had a heart attack, and then I did too. He went to rehab, so did I. He set himself on fire…I thought, “Forget it—I’m just gonna have another heart attack.” – George Carlin
Those two are hands down the top two in standup comedy—I can’t even tell which is number one and which is number two.
So back when Richard Pryor had that free‑base mishap, it was around the same time Michael Jackson slipped on a commercial shoot. That’s where the joke came from: “What’s the difference between Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson?” One got burned by coke, the other by Pepsi.
Those two were totally awesome stand‑up philosophers in their time.
I think you could argue that each of them is the best ever; in my opinion, they’re both top-notch.
RE: Fact #50 (Shatner Sabotaged Leonard Nimoys Bicycle) – I found this blooper on youtube where Leonard Nimoy as Spock walks to the Enterprise’s turbolift, the door whooshes open and—boom—a bicycle is there! He just breaks into a huge grin and yells, “MY BIKE!”
Things that could get Spock to show emotion include getting hot, realizing he didn’t actually kill Kirk, or a bicycle.
Things that could get Spock showing some feelings—like watching those musical plants in the pilot.
I’d love to check that out—does anyone have a link?
All I found was them talking about it in a Q&A.
RE: Fact #23 (John Travolta Parks Jet Home) – It’s kind of weird to see this pop up right after Scientologist Danny Masterson is arrested for rape.
It’s not that weird once you think about how the brain works. Materson goes to Scientology, Scientology jumps to Travolta, Travolta triggers a cool fact about him, and that fact can earn some sweet PR on factrepublic.
It’s not even that weird once you think about how hard the “church” works to bend public opinion.
RE: Fact #44 (Tobey Maguire Ran Underground Poker) – I remember seeing a photo from about 15 years ago of Maguire, DiCaprio and a few other actors sitting around a table playing poker in a hotel room, all wearing robes, and Maguire’s co‑k just hanging out. Does anyone still have that pic?
RE: Fact #34 (Dan Aykroyd Quirks Inspired Ghostbusters) – And don’t forget that weird, cone‑shaped head.
RE: Fact #3 (James McAvoy Burned Oblivion Disc) – when a celeb does something its cool but when your roommate does the same thing its kinda crazy
my cousin trashed his ps2 in college cuz it was messing with his grades and now hes doing pretty well for himself so i guess it was a good call
wouldnt selling it have been a better idea
RE: Fact #13 (Bill Nye Quit Boeing) – That science guy thing he does, I think it actually started as a sketch on some TV show. He’d just do funny science stuff he remembered from when he was in college or high school.
It was called ‘Almost Live’, a sketch comedy show out of Seattle. He also played this superhero character there, Speed Walker, who always followed the official speed walking rules.
Hold on… so he’s not actually a proper Science Guy? Just some comedian then?!
He’s got a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, though. So yeah, he’s kinda a science guy. And just to be super clear, engineering is absolutely a type of science. Bill Nye is an educated scientist; he doesn’t have to publish studies or do research to be a great teacher and a Science Guy. He really is one.
Were you not paying attention to the part about him working for Boeing?
RE: Fact #18 (Bob Odenkirk Trained At Cinnabon) – That’s real dedication. But who wouldn’t want to just make cinnamon rolls all day as their actual job, right?
After a couple of days, the smell alone would make that job pure misery. Just the smell!
When they say ‘fully trained,’ that probably just means a super quick 30-minute lesson from an official Cinnabon worker.
RE: Fact #20 (Shatners Contract Won Him Director) – Honestly, even though it’s kinda lame, that line about “why does God need a starship” is still one of my favorites.
I don’t want you to take my pain away. I need it, I want it—it’s what makes me who I am.
I’ve got this ship down pat, you could say it’s like the back of my hand. *BONG*
“Damn it Bones, you’re a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can’t just vanish with a magic wand. They’re the stuff we carry around, the parts that shape us. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don’t want my pain gone—I need it.” That one was always one of my favorites.
RE: Fact #9 (Linda Hamilton Elevator Shotgun Injury) – The fact’s heading painted Arnold as a real as*hole. It implied he fired the gun when she had no ear protection. But actually, in her interview, she mentioned just forgetting her earplugs for the scene.
RE: Fact #35 (Dog The Bounty Hunter Bailed) – I don’t get why they had him get a bondsman—he could have just paid for his own bond.
Usually you can’t pay your own bond – someone else has to do that and sign off as responsible. There are tons of people in jail for things like public drinking who only need about $100 bail, have the cash but no one to post it for them.
RE: Fact #2 (Chris Pratt Discovered Waiting Tables) – Just found out today that Bubba Gump Shrimp is an actual restaurant chain!
The Galveston spot is absolutely awful. You go into the gift shop and some dude screams ‘ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR MINIMUM!’ at you! And let’s be real, it’s Galveston, which is just gross anyway.
The one in Maui used to be the b*mb, I remember it being amazing when I was a kid. But I just went back recently, and the people working there looked like the same ones from when I was thirteen, just older and kind of down. And the food was terrible. Such a bummer, honestly.
The restaurant actually got its name from the movie, not the other way around, in case you were wondering.
RE: Fact #16 (Bruno Crashed Onto Eminems Lap) – i had watched that live and I couldn’t believe it. Honestly thought it was an accident.
I’m just so impressed with how they managed to fly him through that huge crowd and then land him perfectly like that on Eminem. His fu*king pissed-off “are you serious?” expression, with his face right between Bruno’s b*ttcheeks, was pure comedy gold.
Someone must’ve really mastered the claw machine game.
I’d bet they had to practice this at least once to get the timing and placement just right. So the big question is, how many times did Em actually have SBC’s a*s in his face before the real deal?
Getting people to fly like that is a huge deal in the entertainment industry. It’s something they plan way ahead of time, practicing it over and over. Every single part of it was carefully choreographed.
RE: Fact #14 (De Niro Bar Money Outburst) – Man, it just hurts my heart to watch a true legend, someone who nailed roles in Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Casino, also end up in stuff like Meet the Parents, Analyse This, or The Big Wedding. Oh, and I definitely mean The Godfather Part II, Heat, and Wag the Dog are in that top tier too! Okay, okay, maybe Meet the Parents and Analyze This weren’t so awful, but the sequels? Those truly left a bad taste, you know? Like, eugh.
Did you completely forget about that cinematic gem, Dirty Grandpa?
Don’t forget The Family, either. And Meet the Parents 2 and 3. Grudge Match, The Intern, and Last Vegas too. Seems like that’s pretty much 90% of his recent films.
Analyze This was actually pretty decent. Billy Crystal was fantastic in it! Seriously, don’t just sh*t on the guy because he decided to do a comedy.
Yeah, totally agree. I really enjoy both of those movies, I’ve seen them tons of times. I definitely don’t lump them in with the garbage he’s been putting out lately.
The first Analyze This movie was actually great, mostly because it was De Niro doing something silly and unexpected. We just didn’t realize back then that it was only the beginning of things to come.
That’s a good point.
RE: Fact #12 (Clint Eastwood Refused James Bond) – Just picture James Bond speaking with an American accent…
RE: Fact #12 (Clint Eastwood Refused James Bond) – It’s pretty wild they would offer Bond to an American actor. Then again, so many American superhero characters are played by British and Australian folks. If an Englishman like Henry Cavill can play an American icon like Superman, I guess it wouldn’t be too weird for an American to take on a British legend like Bond.
RE: Fact #3 (James McAvoy Burned Oblivion Disc) – skyrim must have fu*ked with him
i was obsessed with morrowind and the sequels just made me sound like a snob
i agree morrowind was the best and the others just didnt have the same magic
i started with oblivion and thats still my favorite game in the series i tried morrowind but couldnt get into it
RE: Fact #10 (Peter OToole Father Of Sponge) – Funny, in the very same interview, Peter O’Toole admitted he was pretty sloshed for that Aqaba charge scene, completely terrified of getting tossed from his camel. Omar Sharif said the same thing, actually. Sharif also had a similar little story about being quite anxious to nail the well scene perfectly, seeing as it was the big intro for his character. So, the night before filming, he and a couple of the crew went out to the well to practice everything. Sharif noticed his rifle, which was just slung over his shoulder, would swing wildly when he pulled up the rope for water. To make it look super smooth, like he’d done it a thousand times, he just had the sling temporarily sewn to his clothes.
That Aqaba charge had zero CGI. Seriously, you gotta watch this movie. If it ever hits the big screen again, absolutely go see it.
It’s amazing how effective cavalry charges could be during the First World War, especially in the Middle East. The Australian Light Horse brigade was given the job of capturing Beersheba. The Anzac and British troops were way out in the desert, and if they didn’t grab that town and its well, they weren’t going to make it. But the Ottomans had it really dug in with machineguns and artillery. The British and Canadians tried a bunch of times, taking massive casualties, so they sent in the Light Horse. Now, the Australian Light Horse was really just mounted infantry, meaning they’d ride to the fight, then get off their horses to attack. But for this particular battle, they decided to just charge in on horseback. Something like 600 guys charged, and they only lost about 30 men. The Ottomans just couldn’t adjust their weapon sights fast enough, so as the horses came at their lines, the shots mostly went over their heads. What’s even crazier is they had to charge with bayonets in hand since they couldn’t actually fire their rifles from horseback.
My wife’s great uncle ended up in the same hotel as Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole, and apparently, those two used to grab drinks together all the time. My great uncle-in-law had these little crystal glasses he was supposed to give out to clients as gifts. So, one evening, O’Toole and Sharif really tied one on and just started chucking all his crystal glasses, smashing them everywhere. I kept trying to get him to claim that was the beginning of the legendary O’Toole-O’Leary rivalry, mostly because I thought it sounded like the most Irish story ever. Apparently, he was totally cool with it, and his bosses just sent him replacement gifts, because getting wasted and breaking sh*t is, indeed, the most Irish thing ever.
RE: Fact #1 (Bruce Willis Passed On Ghost) – Hey, just so we’re clear, Bruce Willis didn’t exactly pick ‘The Sixth Sense’ because he suddenly had some big revelation or anything. He was actually forced into it. See, Willis had poured a ton of his own cash into a film project that just totally fell apart. We’re talking a lot of money, like a huge sum with eight digits, and the first one wasn’t a one. Disney stepped in and bought that whole production, which basically cleared his debt and even gave him some profit. But the catch was, they got to make him do three films for them. That’s why you see him in ‘Armageddon’, ‘The Sixth Sense’, and ‘The Kid’. It’s pretty wild that those mandated movies ended up being some of his biggest hits ever, especially since following his own creative dream almost put him in the poorhouse. I guess that explains why he’s barely done any really serious acting since then – folks just aren’t looking for that from him.
Oh wow, that’s really cool info. Appreciate you sharing it!
RE: Fact #11 (William Shatner Star Trek Tinnitus) – i went for a hearing test and yeah it didnt go great. the audiologist told me i got tinnitus and asked if id been to a tinnitus clinic. i said no and they were like we should get you seen by someone. i told them its annoying but i just ignore it most of the time. they said the clinic just teaches you to ignore it anyway so
i found out my ringing wasn’t normal when i got a hearing test around 30. i told them i couldnt hear the tone cuz of the ringing in my ears and they just stared at me. then they said no thats not normal
RE: Fact #49 (Hugh Jackman Stabbed Mystique Stuntwoman) – Hugh’s wife actually gets to say that a lot more often.
RE: Fact #45 (Trading Places Recast After Pryor) – I love how that story about Pryor isn’t even the strangest thing in his life. Later he joked about it—he lit a match on stage and told the crowd they could laugh because he knows what they’re thinking: “Oh, there goes Rich, running down the street.”
He also talked about that incident years later and said, “I found out that when you set yourself on fire and sprint down the street, people actually make way for you.”
RE: Fact #14 (De Niro Bar Money Outburst) – They must have been thinking of Bad Grandpa, not Dirty Grandpa.
Just watching the trailer, I immediately knew in my gut that it was going to be a totally crappy film.
Watching him put suntan lotion on Aubrey Plaza’s chest, making it look like ejaculate, I honestly felt that scene was just beneath both of them.
If you hated that, definitely skip The To Do List. So many talented actors are in that one, but it’s just such a terrible film. Aubrey Plaza literally eats sh*t in it, no joke.
RE: Fact #22 (Jared Leto Tried Stopping Joker) – Just like how people didn’t like his take on the Joker, nobody’s into that effort either—they’re glad the story’s going in the way it is now.
I’m not really into him, but if I remember correctly the only thing he did in that movie was some wacky romance stuff with Harley. He didn’t get much of a chance to show anything.
RE: Fact #28 (Jamie Foxx Rode Own Horse) – Wow, Jamie Foxx is super Texas‑style!
Owning and riding horses is a pretty expensive hobby; if you’re doing it, you’re basically either broke or super wealthy.
When cars first hit the road, riding horses was basically a pastime of the poorer folks. Today it’s more of a luxury for the wealthy.
RE: Fact #39 (Voldemort Nephew Played Young Riddle) – I’ve always been curious whether they did it just to make the characters’ faces look alike.
RE: Fact #6 (Ahmed Best Jar Jar Backlash) – Aw, I feel bad for Ahmed. We really don’t dislike you, man.
RE: Fact #40 (McConaughey Rejected 14.5 Million Offer) – Sure thing. When I was a kid or teen, I never saw him as anything more than a charming rom‑com type. By the time I hit 20, he had become one of the most talented and accomplished working actors around. Brilliant actor.
You should watch U‑571. It came out in 2001—just around the start of his rom‑com phase—and it’s a really underrated movie. Also, that dragon film comes to mind now.
RE: Fact #39 (Voldemort Nephew Played Young Riddle) – So, you know the guy who played Tom Riddle Jr.—he’s actually the son of the actor that plays Stannis in Game of Thrones.
RE: Fact #24 (Batman Returns Penguins Got Refrigeration) – They were so thrilled and relaxed because the conditions for the penguins were just right, that they actually started breeding and laying eggs. That only happens when penguins are genuinely happy and comfortable.
I’m overjoyed—just picture showing up at the studio every day to work on Batman Returns and finding cheerful little penguin families around every corner.
RE: Fact #5 (Heath Ledger Joker Stuns Caine) – Caine probably didn’t even bother learning Ledger’s lines, I bet.
It might actually surprise you, but world-class actors like him pretty much always have the entire script memorized. I mean, every single stage direction too.
On the other hand, some actors actually prefer not knowing anything extra. That way, they can get into their character more organically. Bob Odenkirk, especially in Better Call Saul, comes to mind for that.
Caine apparently picks his roles by just reading the first page of the script, then flipping to the very last. If his character has lines on both, he’ll simply say ‘I’ll take the bloody film.’ Basically, to get him involved, all you need to do is let his character make it to the end of the movie.
Didn’t he agree to do some terrible movie sequel just because the script mentioned they’d be filming it in Barbados?
RE: Fact #4 (Pacino And De Niro Fatherhood) – Al Pacino’s mom is also on here, she’s the youngest listed at just 29. But wow, hats off to Erramatti Mangamma, who had a baby at 73. She actually holds the record for the oldest woman to ever give birth! And believe it or not, it was twins!
I sure hope no one ever tops that age. A kid doesn’t deserve parents that old. When you have children, you really should plan to raise them and stick around for many years. Sure, things don’t always go as planned, but you absolutely shouldn’t be terminally ill or very old and consciously decide to have a baby.
RE: Fact #40 (McConaughey Rejected 14.5 Million Offer) – McConaughey said he had to take a break from his career to make the switch. He found out on Google that people mainly saw him as a “rom‑com shirtless guy.” He wasn’t embarrassed by that because it paid the bills, but it kept him off projects in other genres. So he went back to Texas and told his agents, “I’m not doing those anymore,” and then spent 20 months with no work. A few months into the hiatus he got an offer for $8 million, which he turned down. The studio later raised it to $14.5 million, but McConaughey stayed firm and didn’t take the role. He said, “I cried when I made that decision. I even thought about changing careers. At the time, Hollywood finally got the message.” He joked that the script seemed “much better written” after the hefty offer, yet it wasn’t enough to pull him back. The movie never moved forward without him and was never made. Still, his choice paid off. In the years that followed he landed leading roles in major dramas and won an Oscar for Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014. That same year he also earned two Emmy nominations for his work on HBO’s True Detective.
The first season of True Detective was totally something else.
I think that’s the best TV season I’ve ever seen.
The other seasons kinda disappointed me, but at least this one is still going strong.
Honestly, I’m actually glad for him.
RE: Fact #43 (Dave Chappelle Walked From Millions) – From what I gather, he had a deal with the studio that gave him 10% of all the show’s profits. The show pulled in $500 million, so that meant $50 million owed to him. But they told him, “We’ll pay you $10 million, and if you sue we’ll make sure you get nothing.” So he just walked away.
RE: Fact #46 (Rami Malek Whisper Coached Hacking) – And those were all solid hacks
I was totally wowed when he actually wrote a regex to grab IP addresses.
Honestly, the craziest thing about that show was doing regex from scratch—no sample code or online references at all.
I heard they had to dial back the technical stuff a bit so folks wouldn’t pick up any real‑life hacking ideas.
Programmer here—this whole thing is just a load of bullshit. No one can learn to hack from flashes of pseudo code. It feels like an urban myth that got twisted, kind of like how Breaking Bad never actually taught people how to make meth. And sure, it’s better than the Hollywood swordfish hacks, but even Mr. Robot mixes in some of those unrealistic bits and just gives it a slightly more believable veneer. The most realistic hack they showed didn’t involve computers at all; it was when he talked down to the middle manager, broke his spirit, and used that to get system access. That’s what most “hacking” really boils down to—social engineering.
RE: Fact #14 (De Niro Bar Money Outburst) – I really don’t get why money would be a problem for him, even if he quit acting entirely. That guy owns so many restaurants and hotels, plus it seems like half the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Take George Clooney, for instance; he just sold his tequila business for a billion bucks. Now he barely shows up in any sh*tty films because he doesn’t have to anymore. Yeah, some folks say restaurants are a risky bet, but the last I checked, Nobu was one of the world’s best, booked solid months ahead with famous people and everything. Still, who knows, right?
RE: Fact #12 (Clint Eastwood Refused James Bond) – Meryl Streep shared this story about working with Clint Eastwood on Bridges of Madison County. They played these star-crossed lovers, and during one really emotional moment, Eastwood actually started crying for real. Streep later said most actors would have shoved their face right into the camera, trying to win an Oscar. But Clint, he turned away and hid his face. She was totally blown away. After the scene, she asked him why he kept his tears hidden. Clint told her, ‘I know my fans. They don’t want to see me cry.’ That’s such an incredible amount of self-awareness. I think him realizing Bond wasn’t the right fit for him totally comes from that same kind of insight. Just a side note, I found an interview clip with Meryl Streep that’s similar to what I remembered. She doesn’t mention him crying in that specific one, so it might be a case of finding a different interview with a similar answer. I’m guessing I saw another version, maybe on a DVD extra or something. There’s even a scene where Eastwood subtly turns away from the camera. It’s got a quiet power to it.
He was also considered for the lead role in John Irving’s Cider House Rules. The studio actually wanted him as Dr. Wilbur Lurch over Michael Caine. But Eastwood called Irving one night and reportedly said, ‘John, I’m just not a doctor type. Give that part to Michael instead.’
Everyone’s got to know their own limits.
RE: Fact #45 (Trading Places Recast After Pryor) – I can’t watch that movie unless it’s with someone else who’s also playing Winthrope, like Aykroyd.
“Oh, so he actually ended up in Haaavaaard…” Wilder would’ve worked, but it’d feel completely different.
Yeah, that’s exactly it. Wilder was a solid actor, but he looked pretty meek or gentle in this one. He and Pryor were the go‑to black/white buddies of that era, yet looking back with 20/20 hindsight, they just seemed too old for this film. Aykroyd’s fresh face, unbothered vibe, tight jaw, entitled air, and pomposity nailed the yuppie stereotype of the day.
I’m sure a handful of actors could’ve done a great job with it, but Gene Wilder probably wouldn’t make the cut. Think of it like *Shrek* – Chris Farley had his fun characters, but I don’t think he’d have succeeded with Shrek.
The stuff that’s been released with Farley doing the Shrek voice just doesn’t work; it feels bland. Myers using a Scottish accent was inspired and, for me, is a big reason why those films hit so hard.
RE: Fact #31 (Alan Alda Never Missed MASH) – You think he’d eventually realize it’s actually pretty steady once you’re over the learning curve?
RE: Fact #4 (Pacino And De Niro Fatherhood) – It feels like one minute your dad is looking after you, then suddenly you’re looking after him, with hardly any time in between.
This just feels sad. My own dad was older, and I ended up caring for him when I was barely 30. It’s hard to imagine these kids might be visiting their father in a nursing home before they even turn ten.
RE: Fact #19 (Shatners Nightmare At 20000 Prank) – I think Shatner back in the ’60s was totally living his dream.
RE: Fact #13 (Bill Nye Quit Boeing) – He’s reportedly worth about eight million dollars now, according to a quick search. So I guess that whole thing worked out pretty well for him.
RE: Fact #25 (Richard Pryor Raised In Brothel) – Did he actually let his grandma sell his mom? What the heck?
Marie Carter was his dad’s mom—so she’d be his grandma. His grandfather was named Buck Carter Pryor, and he ran the brothel that Marie owned. He even got one of the girls pregnant.
Whoa, that really clarifies everything.
I’ve heard stories like that before. When I lived in a shelter, I took a ride with a transport company and the driver mentioned his “friend” was taken to a prostitute’s house. He ended up meeting her daughter, who also had a child of her own. It was a wild story and kind of sad.
RE: Fact #41 (Matt Damon Refused Bourne Shooter) – I’m a huge fan of the trilogy, so I didn’t think the game was terrible, but it really feels like its era—so many quick‑time events. A Detective Bourne game would have been amazing, though.
Man, I’m so glad quicktime events are over. JFC, when the cutscene starts and you put your controller down to grab a drink, chat with someone, or just enjoy the cinematics, suddenly one guy pops up like a glitching robot right in the middle of everything and a button appears on screen. F—no thanks, it was never good or fun.
Maybe a game where you’re chasing Bourne, piecing together clues to figure out where he’s going and what he’s doing. Halfway through you realize you’re actually the bad guy, so you have to run and hide somewhere, covering your tracks until you finally run into Bourne and he shoots you in the head.
RE: Fact #48 (Bryan Cranston Mocked Toy Petition) – I’m not a Florida woman, but selling kids those pretend plastic bags full of meth still feels off, even to me.
If those pretend‑meth toys are actually making kids try real meth, then maybe it’s time to look at all the toy guns we’re handing out…
Hey, does anyone else remember those candy cigarettes that came in a tiny box that looked just like a real cigarette pack? They were chalk‑like sticks shaped like cigarettes.
RE: Fact #3 (James McAvoy Burned Oblivion Disc) – did he at least keep his saved game
he just downloaded a patch so you dont need the disc anymore thats old news tho
i used to play wow and had a high level character someone offered me 800 bucks for it but i didnt sell it cuz i thought id play again someday
thats a good question actually
i bet 20 bucks he was playing as a female breton
RE: Fact #17 (John Leguizamo Chose Luigi Instead) – They totally should’ve made a crossover film, mixing Philadelphia with Super Mario Bros, and just called it ‘Super Smash Bros’.
RE: Fact #7 (Rami Malek Studied Live Aid) – Maybe he only wanted to see it five hundred times, but then YouTube’s algorithm just kept showing him the same stuff.
Seriously! How come my recommendations are packed with clips I’ve already seen? What the fu*k?
I get so nervous clicking on stuff over on YouTube. I genuinely avoid so many videos since I’m afraid it’ll mess with my suggestions. Just curious about one little Top Gear clip? Next thing you know, your feed’s full of five more Top Gear bits and a whole bunch of mechanic channels. My TV, though, I’m not logged in on there, and the suggestions are amazing, just deep-dive video game analyses and old history films. I won’t even look anything up on that now, terrified it’ll stop this perfect stream of suggestions I’m getting.
RE: Fact #21 (Paul Newman Inspired Newman Day) – Honestly, that doesn’t sound like such a huge deal. Am I just a hardcore drinker or what?
In twenty‑four hours it should be fine. I did the math and American beer cans are 355 ml, which is exactly fifteen pints. That’s double what people usually think of as “a couple of pints,” but that’s normally spread over about four to five hours.
It’s about 42 units of alcohol – doable in 24 hours if you’re aiming for 24 pints in a day. That’s definitely a challenge.
RE: Fact #32 (Sean Connery Nearly Attacked Cameraman) – You totally undersold it with that fact. They’d already done a redo once because the lab scratched the film. Then after the first reshoot, the assistant camera loader slipped and exposed the film to light, and Connery got so mad he actually attacked the guy who messed up.
RE: Fact #41 (Matt Damon Refused Bourne Shooter) – You’re kidding—there really was a Bourne Conspiracy video game?
It was pretty good, honestly. I’d give it a solid seven out of ten.
RE: Fact #16 (Bruno Crashed Onto Eminems Lap) – Eminem is absolutely fantastic at acting all confused and annoyed, even when he’s completely in on the joke. That “Only in Monroe” interview with Stephen Colbert was just hilarious.
RE: Fact #2 (Chris Pratt Discovered Waiting Tables) – Gotta be real here. Chris Pratt isn’t really acting, he’s just kinda being Chris Pratt. It’s like Sean Connery or Arnold Schwarzenegger, he’ll nail it if the part fits his style. And hey, he’s crushed it with those roles so far.
Nah, I don’t think so. Acting means stepping into someone else’s shoes and feeling what they go through for the story. Sure, he’s totally been typecast, but seriously, Andy Dwyer versus the guy from Jurassic World? Those are different people. Even when he plays similar types, he still acts them pretty well. Honestly, most actors just play the same kind of part repeatedly. It’s only the ‘character actors’ who really branch out. Plus, his comedic timing is absolutely brilliant.
So, you think Pratt actually felt the emotional journey of ‘what if I trained raptors’ or ‘what if my parents were gods’? Come on, no way. And that whole ‘comedic timing is gold’ thing? That’s just him being him, not an act. That’s why folks like him, because he’s naturally funny and lovable. He’s not putting that on. The funny thing is, Andy Dwyer is probably his most real, well-developed character because it’s basically just Chris Pratt. When he’s Starlord or anyone else, it’s pretty clear he’s not really nailing the acting. It just feels like Andy Dwyer trying to play a role.
RE: Fact #35 (Dog The Bounty Hunter Bailed) – I’m telling you, that bail‑bonds guy was actually Emilio Estevez—yeah, the one from *Mighty Ducks*!
RE: Fact #8 (Harrison Ford Fooled By Puppeteer) – ive heard a different version of this story, the puppeteer who voiced Salacious Crumb would call Carrie Fisher some pretty bad names while performing to get her attention, thats what led to Ford speaking up, the article mentions some other stuff too but not this part
that changes things a lot
RE: Fact #27 (Jonah Hill Onscreen Swearing Record) – Honestly, I can’t believe that out of every film he’s ever done, “Django Unchained” is probably the only one where he never swore at all.
RE: Fact #26 (Steve Carell Backed WGA Strike) – The writers’ strike pushed *The Apprentice* into primetime, solidifying Donald Trump’s image for people all over the U.S., which probably helped him gain the name‑recognition and voter backing he needed in 2016.
The strike ended up causing the rebrand to Celebrity Apprentice, but the first couple seasons of The Apprentice from 2003‑05 were way more popular and had nothing to do with that 2008 strike. The very first season of the original show almost tripled the ratings of the first Celebrity Apprentice season, and that early buzz was a lot more influential in making Trump famous and a household name.
RE: Fact #19 (Shatners Nightmare At 20000 Prank) – Never knew Richard Donner had directed that episode.
Sure thing. That’s what caught my eye most in that fact.
RE: Fact #30 (Stallones Rocky Turtles Still Alive) – Turtles and parrots are the kind of pets that deserve a free estate‑planning voucher.
RE: Fact #44 (Tobey Maguire Ran Underground Poker) – I was about to say, “Yeah that’s exactly what Molly’s Game is about,” but then I clicked the link and saw it’s really just about Molly’s Game.
I think I remember seeing a footnote about that in the book, but it’s been ages since I last read it.
RE: Fact #25 (Richard Pryor Raised In Brothel) – He had a messed‑up life, which is what funny folks usually end up with.
RE: Fact #42 (LOTR Stars Saw 9/11) – That would really make my a*shole pucker.
RE: Fact #5 (Heath Ledger Joker Stuns Caine) – Seriously, that’s the best superhero movie ever. Nothing else even comes close. Plus, every actor absolutely crushed their role, it was unbelievable.
It’s kinda interesting how the current Batman movies are going through exactly what Spider-Man dealt with, like, five years ago. It really feels like a struggle between nostalgic memory and what’s actually better. But I genuinely think Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Christian Bale’s Batman are the absolute best we’ll ever see.
RE: Fact #48 (Bryan Cranston Mocked Toy Petition) – A day before that, the store defended the toys by pointing out the packaging says “15+” and that they’re shelved in the adult action‑figure aisle. A lot of figures are aimed at collectors, so I can’t see why a Breaking Bad set would be more offensive than other adult‑themed ones. My local Target even puts its adult collection—NECA figures from Aliens, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Child’s Play, Friday the 13th, and the like—right next to kids’ picture books.