The greatest event in television history!
October 12, 2012 1:19 PM   Subscribe

This is the Greatest Event in Television History (SLYT). Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, and Paul Rudd re-create the opening credits to "Simon and Simon." Jeff Probst gives it a proper dramatic (and hilarious) introduction.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl (82 comments total) 36 users marked this as a favorite
 
RIP Jon Hamm.
posted by tittergrrl at 1:20 PM on October 12, 2012 [9 favorites]


Saw this last night, watched it in the background while doing other things on the laptop, was nonplussed.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:24 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


argh the fucking truck bumper doesn't match the original these idiots should just go home and eat shit how hard is it to do this shit right you fucklords

christ it's like they didn't even read the part of the wikipedia article that talks about the bumper fucking fuck
posted by Copronymus at 1:31 PM on October 12, 2012 [25 favorites]


I had no idea Jeff Probst could be funny.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:34 PM on October 12, 2012


I don't care what you people say, I got to see Jon Hamm in his underwear. Life is good.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:35 PM on October 12, 2012 [6 favorites]


Was it worth thirty-two million dollars and John Hamm's life?

DEFINITELY.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:39 PM on October 12, 2012 [6 favorites]


I am not sure what to think of this, or why I just spent 45 seconds laughing so hard I was wheezing, but there you go.
posted by FritoKAL at 1:40 PM on October 12, 2012


That was just like a bad SNL skit--it just kept going and going and seemed like it was never going to end. The only reason I watched the whole thing because I was on the phone on hold waiting for a government office to pick up.

Cute idea, but badly in need of a fast-cut video editor, although I did like the final recreation.
posted by sardonyx at 1:42 PM on October 12, 2012


As someone who grew up watching Simon & Simon and had pretty much accepted that I'd never hear that opening theme song ever again, thank you. That was an amazing trip back into bad television history. Loved it.
posted by Fizz at 1:42 PM on October 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


Ben, you're supposed to be working on that congressional campaign. Stop goofing off with Bobby Newport and Jennifer Barclay and Tammy 2!
posted by kmz at 1:44 PM on October 12, 2012 [6 favorites]


Is that Kathryn Hahn as Greta Strauss?
posted by Talez at 1:44 PM on October 12, 2012


Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, and Paul Rudd?

I'll be in my bunk.
posted by maryr at 1:45 PM on October 12, 2012 [10 favorites]


Oh there are credits. Woot it is her.
posted by Talez at 1:48 PM on October 12, 2012


Was this in Hollywood?
posted by The Deej at 1:48 PM on October 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


If you were gonna spend that kind of scratch, why on earth wouldn't you re-do Riptide?
posted by steef at 1:50 PM on October 12, 2012 [8 favorites]


Years and years ago, me and a friend tracked down the Simon & Simon theme online (pre-YouTube, wasn't as easy as you think) after drunkenly going through our vague recollections of the show most of which related to Gerald McRaney's mustache. Ever since then, I've been wondering how long it would take for the cycle of nostalgia slash ironic appreciation would take to swing around to Simon And Simon. That day has arrived.
posted by mediocre at 1:54 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


No, Jake And The Fatman with Alec Baldwin and Steven Seagal! Then Baldwin could come back and do Riptide.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:54 PM on October 12, 2012


Thank goodness this was on YouTube, where I could skip the endless, self-congratulatory, "aren't we going to be funny?" setup and just get to the recreation of the credits, which was great.
posted by xingcat at 1:55 PM on October 12, 2012


The setup wasn't self-congratulatory. It was funny in itself.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 1:57 PM on October 12, 2012 [10 favorites]


I think a Mannix opening credits would be great, done by Mr. Bean.
posted by surplus at 2:00 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


Yeah, it was a parody of self-congratulatory and behind-the-scenes tropes and such.
posted by stebulus at 2:00 PM on October 12, 2012


why on earth wouldn't you re-do Riptide ?

I always like riptide better cuz it had a robot.

Goddman, show intros were interminable back then. To think I watched the Riptide into every week and never got bored. Just now I watched till I saw the robot and the nerd and was already ready to watch something else.

Also, Paul Rudd is so good at comedy it is amazing he ever tried to be a leading man.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:00 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


Semen and Semen??
posted by incandissonance at 2:00 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]




It just struck me that I can think of four scripted shows shot in San Diego, and all of them are private investigator dramas:

Simon and Simon
Veronica Mars
Terriers
Renegade

Does the police force have some sort of shoddy reputation or something?
posted by LionIndex at 2:08 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


Side by side comparison. Couldn't get the audio synched perfectly though. The remake would appear to be of the latter era Simon And Simon credits.

EDIT: Curses! One upped by shakespeherian.
posted by mediocre at 2:09 PM on October 12, 2012


Does the police force have some sort of shoddy reputation or something?

They're pretty awful, in my experience.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:10 PM on October 12, 2012


"I always like riptide better cuz it had a robot."

This is true. But you've gotta give the special effects guys at least a year to build the robot, maybe track down the original electrical engineers, redo the blueprints, stuff like that. That's why Riptide needs to be the climax.
posted by Kevin Street at 2:13 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


Theme song performed by G.E. Smith and The Saturday Night Live Band.
posted by i_have_a_computer at 2:15 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


This is true. But you've gotta give the special effects guys at least a year to build the robot,

I was thinking CGI for the robot. That would only take 6-8 months. You are right, It should be done correctly with as perfect a replica was we can create. Anything less is an insult to the spirit of Riptide.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:17 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


Yeah, that was pretty exact.

And I had no idea Adam Scott was on Parks and Rec. I've only seen a couple episodes of it (season 2) and it was horribly unfunny. Gotta be Scott's only misstep so far. Terrific actor.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 2:19 PM on October 12, 2012


It annoys me that some people are automatically assuming this show was bad. It was actually pretty decent, mostly because of good comedic chemistry between the two leads.

I guess it's unavoidable, but I get really tired of all the things I used to like getting picked up by other people and turned into irony-laden, mean-spirited pieces of 'humor'.
posted by KHAAAN! at 2:24 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


But it's not really making fun of Simon And Simon, it's more about how Hollywood is driven to eat itself and make a spectacle out of the meal.
posted by Kevin Street at 2:30 PM on October 12, 2012 [11 favorites]


Parks and Rec is the best show on Network TV. Fuck Community, that show is bullshit compared to Parks and Rec. Anyone can be all like "ooohhhh I'm going to subvert the expectations of a single camera television comedy, winkingly reference tv tropes as the least in in-jokes ever, and knowlingly poke fun at ourselves and our audience in a tacit agreement that we are all way too cool for sitcoms". If there is such a thing as a return to the roots of single camera tv comedy, which there isn't, Parks and Rec is it. It is less a subversion that a exploration of the traditional confines of TV comedy.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:31 PM on October 12, 2012 [7 favorites]


I was afraid they were overselling it, with that title.

They weren't.

And yep Jeff Probst is indeed a pretty funny (and intelligent) guy.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:32 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


Are you kidding me? Adam Scott as Ben has been an absolutely fantastic role.

The problem with the Daniels/Schur mockumentary style is that they start incredibly slow. I was about ready to write off the US version of "The Office" based on the first season's shot-for-shot remake of Office UK and the first half of Season 2. Then the show let Carell be the character it needed to be, it really hit its stride in seasons 3, 4 and 5 and I was hooked.

Parks and Rec suffered from the same problem. Season 1 was absolutely terrible. Most of the great characters were underused, Leslie was insufferably naive and obnoxiously chirpy while Paul Schneider as Mark was a twit of a leading man. Now that the show has got into the rhythm, the dynamics of the group are well established, the characters have been fleshed out it's a fantastic show. Leslie is more savvy and dare I say normal; she's less of a paragon than before. Ann is less of an awkward outsider looking into the crazy nut world while Ron has diverged from his pure libertarian schtick and let his fondness and respect for Leslie show through more rather than always treating her as a source of annoyance and contempt like in the first season.

I seriously think that they should just shitcan the first 30 episodes of the next show Daniels and Schur come up with and start airing it from there.
posted by Talez at 2:32 PM on October 12, 2012 [4 favorites]


Fuck Community

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Let's not say things we can't take back. You don't want to be the AT&T of people.
posted by Talez at 2:32 PM on October 12, 2012 [10 favorites]


Oh my god now I want to go roll around in all the shows of my childhood. Hunter, Jake and the Fatman, Simon and Simon, Remington Steele, Moonlighting, Quantum Leap, The Dukes of Hazzard.

I'm not counting MacGyver, because we never parted ways. Still the first fandom of my heart.
posted by PussKillian at 2:34 PM on October 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


What about the A-Team?
posted by Talez at 2:34 PM on October 12, 2012


Ok. I apologize for saying fuck community. They just got on my nerves the 5th time they did a ken burns pillow fort episode.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:35 PM on October 12, 2012


I'm amused and intrigued. What were the second, third, fourth and fifth Ken Burns style pillow fort episodes?
posted by Talez at 2:36 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


And I had no idea Adam Scott was on Parks and Rec. I've only seen a couple episodes of it (season 2) and it was horribly unfunny. Gotta be Scott's only misstep so far.

Your opinions are wrong and you should feel bad.

(If you had said Season 1 I would have given you a pass. Season 2 P&R is already genius.)
posted by kmz at 2:38 PM on October 12, 2012 [7 favorites]


Riptide! I totally forgot about that show. After watching that I'm not sure why the 80s didn't have a show with a big van that transforms into a helicopter.

Simon and Simon re-shoots only work for me if one of the Simons (Gerard McCraney) looks a little bit like my Dad.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:42 PM on October 12, 2012


Fail...they fucked up the Power Wagon! :(
posted by Mojojojo at 2:43 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


I'm amused and intrigued. What were the second, third, fourth and fifth Ken Burns style pillow fort episodes?

Ok There were only 2, It just seemed like 5. I retract some of my hate for Community.

They should really do an old-school crossover, like the time Boss Hogg tried to buy Alice's diner, episode where Tom Haverford and Jean-Ralphio hang out with Magnitude.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:46 PM on October 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


I went to a Knight Rider 30th Anniversary convention last weekend. So, there's that.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:46 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


I'm amused and intrigued. What were the second, third, fourth and fifth Ken Burns style pillow fort episodes?

SPOILER ALERT
You haven't seen seasons 4 through 6 or the movie, have you?
posted by arto at 2:47 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


.
posted by robcorr at 2:50 PM on October 12, 2012


where Tom Haverford and Jean-Ralphio hang out with Magnitude.

Against my will, my brain just screamed "Pop! Pop!"
posted by ColdChef at 2:58 PM on October 12, 2012 [6 favorites]


Ok There were only 2, It just seemed like 5. I retract some of my hate for Community.

Two? The only one I know of is S03E14. Which is the other?
posted by Talez at 3:31 PM on October 12, 2012


After watching that I'm not sure why the 80s didn't have a show with a big van that transforms into a helicopter.

They kind of did.
posted by LionIndex at 3:31 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


ADAM SCOTT
is
ANGELA LANSBURY
as
JESSICA FLETCHER
in
MURDER SHE WROTE 2020

posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:31 PM on October 12, 2012 [6 favorites]


Two? The only one I know of is S03E14. Which is the other?

Are you trying to tell me I saw the same episode at least twice and thought it was different episodes? Perhaps I underestimated Community.

There are still three paintball episodes right?
posted by Ad hominem at 3:56 PM on October 12, 2012


You're thinking of the blanket fort episode, which was obviously totally unlike the pillow fort episode.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:59 PM on October 12, 2012 [4 favorites]


WE are through the looking glass here people. Black is white and down is up.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:02 PM on October 12, 2012


There are still three paintball episodes right?

Two. Heh. They didn't do a third season Paintball doing the 8-bit and Chang episodes instead.
posted by Talez at 4:43 PM on October 12, 2012


The Greatest Event in Television History is, of course, the 2-part Simon & Simon / Magnum P.I. crossover.

But I liked this. A lot.

Also, whenever Jon Hamm (RIP) was concealing his eyes under that big ole cowboy hat, he looked perfect.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 4:56 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


Could have been edited a bit tighter, funny joke that drags on does tend to drag on. And that little front end loader needed a bit more art direction, nothing that another couple mil could clean up.
posted by sammyo at 5:36 PM on October 12, 2012


The promos for this were almost more funny than the payoff. They actually ran real time countdowns as bumps for a solid week. posted by ob1quixote at 5:46 PM on October 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


So weird that Adam Scott and Jon Hamm are only two years apart - Scott looks so much younger throughout the video. It's like Jon Hamm was born 35.
posted by sweetkid at 6:04 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


The weird thing is that I know Simon & Simon better than Paul Rudd, Adam Scott OR Jon Hamm.

But it was all good.
posted by DU at 6:25 PM on October 12, 2012


Scott looks so much younger throughout the video.

I like to call it Jason Bateman syndrome. Because that dude's going to look late 30s until the day he dies.
posted by Talez at 6:32 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


I always had to play as A.J. of Simon and Simon, Peter Chris of Kiss, and Robin to the Batman....

-said every little brother of Generation TV
posted by vozworth at 7:06 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


Just be glad you're not little brother of Generation Internet Slashfic.
posted by jenkinsEar at 7:32 PM on October 12, 2012


Oh my goodness, I'd completely forgotten about that crush I had on A.J.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:03 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


Gerald McRaney had more charisma in half his mustache than Jon Hamm could ever dream of. I'm sorry but that shit is true and you needed to hear it. Anyone can look good in a fucking suit holding a liquor drink, but has Jon Hamm ever in his life looked a tenth as awesome as this? Sorry, I like Jon Hamm. Seems like a nice guy. Does interesting and funny things. Enjoyable on screen. But some people got it and some people don't and Gerald McRaney brings the fucking heat.
posted by ND¢ at 8:05 PM on October 12, 2012 [5 favorites]


I can say without hyperbole that the Simon & Simon opening is the greatest opening of a TV series in the history of civilization.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:15 PM on October 12, 2012


There are 3 Community episodes featuring pillow/blanket forts - S02E09, S03E13, S03E14. Only the last of those is Ken Burns-style.

There are 3 Community episodes featuring paintball - S01E23, S02E23, S02E24.
posted by MUD at 9:19 PM on October 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


GET YER FANCY NEW MILLENIUM TV OUT OF OUR THREAD

fine tv that it is
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:20 PM on October 12, 2012


Two. Heh.

Three. There was one in the first season and two in the second.
posted by kenko at 10:23 PM on October 12, 2012


The second was a two parter. It's not a third return to the well.
posted by Talez at 11:02 PM on October 12, 2012


All I'm getting from this thread in regards to the Parks & Rec and Gerald McRaney love is that some people cannot love something without hating something else.
posted by Dagobert at 11:03 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


I can say without hyperbole that the Simon & Simon opening is the greatest opening of a TV series in the history of civilization.

I object! If it please the court, exhibit A: Chico and the Man.
posted by billyfleetwood at 11:26 PM on October 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


I want to see a remake of the opening to The Equalizer. Screw San Diego, gritty NYC all the way.

Somebody did an HD telecine from the original film and Universal HD played it regularly some years back. It looked almost uncannily good.
posted by wierdo at 12:23 AM on October 13, 2012 [2 favorites]


All I'm getting from this thread in regards to the Parks & Rec and Gerald McRaney love is that some people cannot love something without hating something else

Nah, I don't hate community. As a matter of fact I started watching Parks and Rec only because it was on after Community. The first season of Parks and Rec really was terrible.
posted by Ad hominem at 2:57 AM on October 13, 2012


All I'm getting from this thread in regards to the Parks & Rec and Gerald McRaney love is that some people cannot love something without hating something else.

I love Community, Parks and Rec, and this video. Sadly I've never seen Simon & Simon.
posted by gregoryg at 4:36 AM on October 13, 2012


As far as infodump-style opening credits go, it's hard to beat Holmes & Yoyo.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:21 AM on October 13, 2012 [5 favorites]


> I object! If it please the court, exhibit A: Chico and the Man

No! At least not for someone my age. Because those credits always meant that an unfunny and confusing show was coming up next.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:23 AM on October 13, 2012 [1 favorite]


I went to a Knight Rider 30th Anniversary convention last weekend. So, there's that.

God damn Hollywood is a weird place.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:37 AM on October 13, 2012 [1 favorite]


The corpse in the library: As far as infodump-style opening credits go, it's hard to beat Holmes & Yoyo.
God damn Hollywood is a weird place.
posted by ob1quixote at 8:42 AM on October 13, 2012


Is the next step Jon Hamm remaking Major Dad? 'Cause I would watch that.

...For about 3 minutes and then it would start creeping me out. But still.
posted by maryr at 8:59 AM on October 14, 2012


That indeed was an event. Personally, I used to love me some Fall Guy
posted by P.o.B. at 7:03 PM on October 14, 2012


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