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EPISODE 40: We celebrate Fletch's 40th anniversary while exploring its enduring impact on pop culture and the uncertain future of the franchise.

• Jake visits Fletch's apartment building in Santa Monica for his 50th birthday
• We share George Wendt's final message recorded days before his passing
• Greg Mottola confirms Fletch's Fortune film adaptation is dead at Miramax
• Matthew Perry's autobiography reveals Fletch fundamentally shaped his comedy style
• Kino Lorber releases special editions of Fletch and Fletch Lives with commentary mentioning our podcast
• Ace Ventura was originally conceived as "the Fletch of the 90s"
• Fletch appears on movie marquees in Stranger Things, Family Guy, Cocaine Bear, and Pet Shop Boys' "West End Girls" video
• We discover the brilliant connection between Fletch asking for a "record" while in the Records Room

Join us next week for a special episode about the cut hockey scene featuring a surprise guest.

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Four decades after Chevy Chase first donned the Lakers cap as Irwin Fletcher, we're celebrating Fletch's 40th anniversary by exploring its remarkable cultural footprint that continues to expand across generations.

In this episode, we reunite after a long break to share Jake's pilgrimage to Fletch's actual apartment building (still standing at 827 4th Street in Santa Monica) for his 50th birthday. We also unveil a bittersweet surprise: George Wendt's final recorded message, created just days before his passing. The beloved actor who portrayed Fat Sam shares memories of working with Chevy and delivers birthday wishes in his characteristically warm, humorous style.

The news isn't all celebratory, though. Director Greg Mottola confirms that plans for "Fletch's Fortune" starring Jon Hamm have been shelved by Miramax's new leadership despite positive reviews for "Confess, Fletch." We dive into Matthew Perry's autobiography, where he reveals how Fletch fundamentally shaped his comedic approach, declaring after seeing the film: "I'm going to talk that way for the rest of my life."

We explore Fletch's surprising connection to Ace Ventura, originally conceived as "the Fletch of the 90s," and track Fletch's appearances on fictional movie marquees across media from Stranger Thi

FletchCast is Your Ultimate source for everything Fletch: the books, the movies, & the latest news about our favorite journalistic reporter, Irwin M. Fletcher.

... making sure Fletch Lives forever!

Host: James "Laker Jim" Kanowitz (@webguy911)
Co-Host: Jake Parrish (@jakelparrish)
Co-Host: Robert "Big Bob" West


Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imfletchcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imfletchcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imfletchcast


P.S. Have a nice day.

Fletch & Fletch Lives are Copyright 1985, 1989 Universal Studios and distributed by MCA/Universal Pictures. The Fletch Soundtrack is Copyright MCA Records. Confess, Fletch is Copyright of Miramax with Paramount distribution. All images and sounds are the intellectual property of Universal Studios. They are used only with the intent of public appreciation of a great film and possible publicity for its place among the great comedies of our time. We imply no rights to the characters or intellectual property created by Gregory McDonald, Universal or Miramax and is used for educational purposes only.

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EPISODE 39: TOM SCOTT

His name is on the poster. His name is on the trailer. So why isn't his music in the movie?

When Grammy Award-winning musician Tom Scott ventures into Cabana One, located at Fletch Cast Studios, you know you're in for a tapestry of musical tales that threads through the heart of Hollywood's musical scene. Our conversation with this legendary composer unwraps the enigma surrounding the "Fletch" soundtrack, and we're traveling down memory lane with a man whose legacy is as rich as the tunes he's crafted. From the echos of his father's influence to the electric phenomena of performing with the Blues Brothers, Tom's journey is a testament to the soulful symphony of life, underscored by an unwavering passion for jazz.

We're shining a spotlight on the lost original score for "Fletch," which has waited almost four decades of us to discover. His name is on the poster. His name is on the trailer. But his music is not in the movie. This episode is a front-row seat to the unfiltered craft of film score magic and the enduring soundtracks that define an era. The answers to the Tom Scott/Fletch mystery unfolds before your very ears.

We get behind the scenes & discuss Tom's time as the band leader of both The Chevy Chase Show as well as the Pat Sajak Show.

So, settle in, oil up your ball bearings, and let the blend of laughter, music, stories strike a chord while the instant kinship between Tom, Laker Jim, Jake, and Big Bob resonates right up the moment the final note has played on this episode.

FOLLOW our guest TOM SCOTT:
Website: https://www.tomscottmusic.com
Podcast: https://www.tomscottmusic.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomscottjazzman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomscottjazzman/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomscottjazzman
KJAZZ Radio Show: https://www.tomscottmusic.com/radio

FletchCast is Your Ultimate source for everything Fletch: the books, the movies, & the latest news about our favorite journalistic reporter, Irwin M. Fletcher.

... making sure Fletch Lives forever!

Host: James "Laker Jim" Kanowitz (@webguy911)
Co-Host: Jake Parrish (@jakelparrish)
Co-Host: Robert "Big Bob" West


Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imfletchcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imfletchcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imfletchcast


P.S. Have a nice day.

Fletch & Fletch Lives are Copyright 1985, 1989 Universal Studios and distributed by MCA/Universal Pictures. The Fletch Soundtrack is Copyright MCA Records. Confess, Fletch is Copyright of Miramax with Paramount distribution. All images and sounds are the intellectual property of Universal Studios. They are used only with the intent of public appreciation of a great film and possible publicity for its place among the great comedies of our time. We imply no rights to the characters or intellectual property created by Gregory McDonald, Universal or Miramax and is used for educational purposes only.

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Episode 38 - Interview with Dana Wheeler-Nicholson We're cracking open the nostalgia vault in our latest episode as we're joined by the talented Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, the captivating beauty from the movie 'Fletch'. Dana pulls back the curtain on her exhilarating journey in showbiz, starting from her first foray into acting, straight through to her stellar breakthrough at a tender age of 23. With a hearty serving of laughter, Dana narrates the amusing anecdotes from the 'Fletch' set, including Chevy Chase's improvisation antics and the peculiar intermissions between takes.

As we jumped between decades, Dana transports us back to her experiences during the filming of 'The Battle of Shaker Heights' for Project Greenlight, and trust us, it's a riveting tale. We also get to hear about Dana's singing aspirations, and her pursuit of this dream at the legendary NYC nightclub, Moomba. On top of that, Dana spills the beans on her time on the sets of 'Seinfeld' and 'Friday Night Lights', and offers her perspective on how the beautiful Utah landscape has transformed over the years.

We wrap up this engaging episode by probing into Dana's thoughts on a potential Fletch Con - and we can assure you that it's a discussion you won't want to miss! We're thrilled to have been able to invite you on this journey with us and Dana, and we're certain you'll be left wanting more. So, tune in and get ready for an unforgettable conversation with Dana Wheeler-Nicholson!

FletchCast is Your Ultimate source for everything Fletch: the books, the movies, & the latest news about our favorite journalistic reporter, Irwin M. Fletcher.

... making sure Fletch Lives forever!

Host: James "Laker Jim" Kanowitz (@webguy911)
Co-Host: Jake Parrish (@jakelparrish)
Co-Host: Robert "Big Bob" West


Follow Us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imfletchcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imfletchcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imfletchcast


P.S. Have a nice day.

Fletch & Fletch Lives are Copyright 1985, 1989 Universal Studios and distributed by MCA/Universal Pictures. The Fletch Soundtrack is Copyright MCA Records. Confess, Fletch is Copyright of Miramax with Paramount distribution. All images and sounds are the intellectual property of Universal Studios. They are used only with the intent of public appreciation of a great film and possible publicity for its place among the great comedies of our time. We imply no rights to the characters or intellectual property created by Gregory McDonald, Universal or Miramax and is used for educational purposes only.