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ONE FOR THE ZIPPER: LESLIE NEILSEN 1926-2010

post #1 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:20am
Thread Starter 
A Canadian has passed. Away.

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post #2 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:24am
I before E!
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post #3 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:24am
A short, but no less great, bit of insight about the man's career and how it came to be. Thanks.
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post #4 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:31am
"I'd known her for years. We used to go to all the police functions together. Ah, how I loved her, but she had her music. I think she had her music. She'd hang out with the Chicago Male Chorus and Symphony. I don't recall her playing an instrument or being able to carry a tune. Yet she was on the road 300 days of the year. In fact, I bought her a harp for Christmas. She asked me what it was."

Perfect delivery, a comedy icon for me growing up. Thanks for all the laughs Leslie.
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post #5 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7 View Post
I before E!
FIXED!
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post #6 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:32am
Yeah sorry to post in here about a typo when I had yet to read the article. Good stuff Andre, reminds me I need to get that Police Squad! set.

Was Nielsen happy he got typecast by the ZAZ stuff? I was always curious about that. Sure it brought him much fame, but could he ever do a serious role again and have the audience buy it?
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post #7 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:34am
As a working actor, I'm sure that he was happy to have steady work, and larger paychecks. Any time he would talk about his work, I think he had had enough lean years to know what a gift he got.

As per spell checking, etc. I was trying to crank this out, and I take no offense at a second eye on this stuff. As long as it's not followed with "and you're a jerkwad"
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post #8 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:39am
As a little kid I loved the Naked Gun movies, and was actually quite shocked to see Nielsen as the Captain in Forbidden Planet and to learn that he was originally a dramatic actor. Though I haven't seen much of his output as of late it's still sad that he's gone. He killed in those ZAZ films.
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post #9 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:40am
Sad news, he was so great in those comedic roles, I just hope no one ever did call him Shirley.
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post #10 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:47am
I dunno about The Naked Gun films not ageing as well as the Airplane! flicks. In both cases the sequels are well and truly lesser beasts to the originals. The first Airplane! is a perfect comedy, but I have to say that the original Naked Gun really is neck and neck with it for solid non-stop comedy in my opinion...

"The attempt on Nordberg's life left me shaken and disturbed, and all the questions kept coming up over and over again, like bubbles in a case of club soda. Who was this character in the hospital? And why was he trying to kill Nordberg? And for whom? Did Ludwig lie to me? I didn't have any proof, but somehow, I didn't entirely trust him either. Why was the 'I Luv You' not listed in Ludwig's records? And if it was, did he know about it? And if he didn't, who did? And where the hell was I?"




"Oh say can you see,
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hail
In the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose bright stripes and broad stars
In the perilous night
For the ramparts we watched
uh, da-da-da-da-da-daaaa.
And the rocket's red glare
Lots of bombs in the air
Gave proof to the night
That we still had our flag.
Oh say does that flag banner wave
Over a-a-all that's free
And the home of the land
And the land of the free..."
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post #11 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:55am
Surely this can't be serious!



Comic Legend
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post #12 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:06am
"Is this some sort of bust?"

"Yes, very impressive."
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post #13 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:33am

Sad, sad news

I bought the (vinyl!) soundtrack to Airplane! (which was totally dialogue from the film) and played it to death. That, Police Squad and Naked Gun are still the quintessence of comedy for me.

ON a side note; Why does anyone still die from the flu?
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post #14 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:42am
Ditto what Rain Dog said. I fell in love with the first NAKED GUN flick when I was around 9 years old, & I still laugh my ass off whenever I revisit it. Not as big on the sequels, but man, the first one is straight up comedy gold.

This is shitty news, but he had a good run if he made it to 84. RIP, sir.
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post #15 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:29am
I've never seen Police Squad! That clip of all the epilogues from the episodes were hilarious. Just my type of humor. I didn't even realize what was going on till the 2nd one. I can also definitely think of a moment or two during Spaced when Simon Pegg and Nick Frost would strike a freeze-frame pose of happiness.

Now I have some idea of what may have inspired Edgar Wright.
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post #16 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:31am
Man, like most people I've loved Leslie Nielsen to death ever since seeing Airplane about a million times as a kid, so this is a real bummer, even though he was 84.

Definitely going to have to do a Police Squad marathon (can we consider a three-hour thing a marathon?) this weekend.
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post #17 of 61
11/29/10 at 4:47am
I was 6 when my Dad introduced me to the first Naked Gun via the VHS tape he had bought, and I instantly loved the great comedy that Leslie Nielsen did in it. I fell over laughing so many times. Glad that after that, I got to see 2 1/2 and 33 1/3 in the theater when they came out.

Much like George Kennedy in the Naked Gun films, it wasn't until much later that I learned that Leslie Nielsen played his fair share of vile villains during his career. Most notably his role in Creepshow.
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post #18 of 61
11/29/10 at 4:53am
I have to say part of the reason I wrote this was to get more people interested in POLICE SQUAD, so I'm happy if people go watch it. I like the NAKED GUN films, though the series is retroactively hurt by OJ Simpson, and it doesn't have the focus of their earlier films, but POLICE SQUAD is masterful, and as funny - pound for pound - as anything else ZAZ has done.
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post #19 of 61
11/29/10 at 4:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) View Post
Much like George Kennedy in the Naked Gun films, it wasn't until much later that I learned that Leslie Nielsen played his fair share of vile villains during his career. Most notably his role in Creepshow.
Fond memories of an actor who could really sell it. RIP
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post #20 of 61
11/29/10 at 5:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte View Post
I have to say part of the reason I wrote this was to get more people interested in POLICE SQUAD, so I'm happy if people go watch it. I like the NAKED GUN films, though the series is retroactively hurt by OJ Simpson, and it doesn't have the focus of their earlier films, but POLICE SQUAD is masterful, and as funny - pound for pound - as anything else ZAZ has done.
I dunno, I get some kind of sadistic glee out of OJ getting murdered as hell in the opening of the first one. Although the fact that he survives is now way more darkly humorous than it was before.
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post #21 of 61
11/29/10 at 5:46am
Thanks for that Dre. Loved Leslie and those Naked Gun films sad to see him pass on.

Great piece.
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post #22 of 61
11/29/10 at 6:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte View Post
I have to say part of the reason I wrote this was to get more people interested in POLICE SQUAD, so I'm happy if people go watch it. I like the NAKED GUN films, though the series is retroactively hurt by OJ Simpson, and it doesn't have the focus of their earlier films, but POLICE SQUAD is masterful, and as funny - pound for pound - as anything else ZAZ has done.
Indeed. In my mind Police Squad! is only behind Airplane! and Top Secret! in ZAZ's work. And with Top Secret! its neck and neck.
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post #23 of 61
11/29/10 at 6:32am
I hope he comes back to haunt Seltzer and Friedberg.
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post #24 of 61
11/29/10 at 6:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andre Dellamorte View Post
POLICE SQUAD is masterful, and as funny - pound for pound - as anything else ZAZ has done.
Yes it is. I was crushed when ABC canceled it after only six episodes. I came to the conclusion that POLICE SQUAD! IN COLOR was simply too damn good for television. I'm gonna have to watch all of those episodes sometime this week.

Something To Tide You Over has always been my favorite segment of CREEPSHOW, and that was primarily because of Leslie.

I'd almost forgotten about this crazy slice of Nielsen.

ETA: Great read, Dre. Thanks for writing it.
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post #25 of 61
11/29/10 at 6:39am
Great epilogue Dre.

I'll go freeze in a fake laugh pose for 30 seconds, in his honor.
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post #26 of 61
11/29/10 at 6:46am
Drebin: Well, when I see five weirdos, dressed in togas, stabbing a man in the middle of the park in full view of a hundred people, I shoot the bastards, that's *my* policy!

Mayor: That was a Shakespeare-In-The-Park production of 'Julius Caesar,' you moron! You killed five actors! Good ones!
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post #27 of 61
11/29/10 at 7:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post
ON a side note; Why does anyone still die from the flu?
Apparently he passed away from pneumonia in hospital (it's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now)

He was so great in recent dreck like Superhero Movie and the later Scary Movies that I kind of wish he had one great last hurrah in a film worthy of his talents. And his ZAZ work will of course go down as classic.

Also, I wouldn't say that POLICE SQUAD! ...IN COLOR made a larger impression in the UK (he's much better known here for his movie work). I'd imagine it's just a case of talented comedy folk watching great comedy.
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post #28 of 61
11/29/10 at 7:13am
That's fair, though I would say the influence of it is felt more in the UK.
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post #29 of 61
11/29/10 at 7:44am
Police Squad always fit in quite well on UK TV because so many of our comedy shows only run for 6 episode a series anyway. That was actually probably the perfect number of episodes for it to do its thing without running out of steam.

Anyway, sad news. Not only was he the king of deadpan comedy in the 80's, the guy starred in Forbidden Fucking Planet.
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post #30 of 61
11/29/10 at 7:54am
Man this is some crappy news to wake up to. I've always been a huge of fan of his comedic stuff. hell I even saw Spy Hard in theaters as a kid. He was always a treat to watch no matter what he was in. That was a great write up Dre, thanks for reminding me I really need to catch up on Police Squad! very quickly.

I just want to say Rest in Peace Leslie Nielsen, we're all counting on you.
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post #31 of 61
11/29/10 at 8:01am
Superhero Movie wasn't bad as a lot people thought. And Leslie Nielson was one of the best things in it.

Rest in peace, Leslie. You'll be missed.
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post #32 of 61
11/29/10 at 8:58am
A great loss to deadpan comedy.
I was exposed to him first on Due South, then soon after saw The Naked Gun. Been a fan ever since. RIP.
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post #33 of 61
11/29/10 at 10:37am
I remember literally falling out my seat crying with laughing at the scene in the Naked Gun where Nordberg goes crashing down the steps at the baseball game. It wasn't just a reaction to the scene but to the aggregate of comedy gold that had gone before it. It was a release, and as cathartic a moment as I can remember in cinema, the like of which I have only experienced on one other occasion and the only one I've experienced with a comedy.

For his essential contribution to that moment alone, a glass is raised. Thanks, Les.
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post #34 of 61
11/29/10 at 10:57am
Well, I guess 84 years is a pretty good run. Godspeed, sir. You will be missed.
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post #35 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:00pm
I don't care much for the sequels, but I think the original NAKED GUN is actually better than AIRPLANE and TOP SECRET. Hard to go wrong with any of them, though. Leslie will be missed.
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post #36 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:43pm
Even the sequels had their moments, though. The "Strongest Thing You Got"/Black Russian gags are probably my favorite one-two punch in the series. Most of that's just Nielsen's reaction to the first guy.
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post #37 of 61
11/29/10 at 12:52pm
RIP Mr Neilsen. You made me laugh, which is more than the vast majority of human beings to have ever lived can claim

PS I will try to forget about AMERICAN CAROL!

EDIT: How the heck is pneumonia killing people? It got my grandfather, now this person. It seems like something that should be fairly easy to defeat in an age where Dick Cheney is alive but has no pulse
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post #38 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Allen View Post
Also, I wouldn't say that POLICE SQUAD! ...IN COLOR made a larger impression in the UK (he's much better known here for his movie work). I'd imagine it's just a case of talented comedy folk watching great comedy.
The show was late 80s/BBC2 appointment TV for me. One of those shows like Red Dwarf that would completely dominate discussion with mates at school the next day. I would say it definitely made an impression on youngsters I knew who were hungry for funny, and Serafinowicz, Wright and other UK comedy types of a certain age being fans is no surprise.
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post #39 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:41pm
He was a genuine master when it came to delivery. For years I thought Police Squad was the funniest thing ever on television. It's still magic.
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post #40 of 61
11/29/10 at 1:51pm
I don't think the sequels aged very well, and seeing OJ in the original is just...weird.

Still, this gets me on the floor laughing every damn time:
Vincent Ludwig: Inspector Drebin, welcome.
Frank Drebin: The feeling is mutual.
Vincent Ludwig: Nice to...meet you too
[Offers Drebin some cigars] Cuban?
Frank Drebin: Err, no, Dutch-Irish, my father was from Wales.
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post #41 of 61
11/29/10 at 2:02pm
I remember reading in an old issue of Shock Cinema about a mid-60s TV pilot Nielsen was in where he played a Lovecraftian investigator. That'd be something to see. I'll check the title.

I appreciated how he did his part to support Canadian work late in his career, a la Due South and Men With Brooms.
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post #42 of 61
11/29/10 at 2:06pm
Not a lot to add, beyond the fact that a childhood wasted on prime-time TV in the day of the Big Three networks gave me an excellent grounding in the characters Nielsen was parodying once he hooked up with ZAZ, making me the perfect audience for Airplane! and Police Squad!.

Among other things, Nielsen was the bad guy in the two-part Man From Uncle "Seven Wonders Of the World Affair" that served as the bittersweet swan song to one of my alltime favorite series.
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post #43 of 61
11/29/10 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subotai View Post
I remember reading in an old issue of Shock Cinema about a mid-60s TV pilot Nielsen was in where he played a Lovecraftian investigator. That'd be something to see. I'll check the title.
Probably this one:



Evidently, "Dark Intruder" was a failed TV pilot that got released theatrically (to no better result).
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post #44 of 61
11/29/10 at 2:48pm
the director of Empire bit it, too.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/rip-i...strikes,48329/
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post #45 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeb View Post
Probably this one:



Evidently, "Dark Intruder" was a failed TV pilot that got released theatrically (to no better result).
That's it. Like to see it sometime.
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post #46 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:32pm


More proof of Neilsen's humble badassery.
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post #47 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:36pm
My girlfriend knows him as Mr Magoo*, but I know him as a comedic legend of Airplane, Police Squad and the Naked Gun. Will be missed.


(*I am going to correct this)

Oh and pneumonia is no joke. His age might of made it harder to fight, but fluid in your lungs is a bitch to combat. Even with antibiotics, you still have a person who is having trouble to breath.
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post #48 of 61
11/29/10 at 3:44pm
Pneumonia is known as "The old man's friend". It's a peaceful way to go, from what I understand; one just basically falls asleep. If I'm that old and get sick with pneumonia, I say let it run its course.

But let's not forget the great man, shall we?
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post #49 of 61
11/29/10 at 4:08pm
Never saw this before. Just spent five minutes cracking up.
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post #50 of 61
11/29/10 at 4:10pm
Gunderson: Who are you and how did you get in here?
Drebin: I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.

I can't do much other than echo the many comments left before me. It's nice to know he left with so many fans. Nielsen really did shape my comedy worldview from Airplane! onwards. I even endured 2001: A Space Travesty for this man and still bore him no ill will. I introduced my girlfriend to The Naked Gun only this weekend only to look up and see his face on the news two days later, weird timing. Hopefully we can watch the sequel tonight as a fitting sendoff.

Edited to add: Dammit Tzu, still, good to see we're on the same wavelength.
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