Production note Fletch was adapted from Gregory McDonald’s novel after a long development process.
Production note Michael Douglas helped produce the film and got it made after many studio rejections.
Production note The movie cost about $8 million and made about $59 million, plus substantial video rental and cable revenue.
Production note Chevy Chase had a near-death electrical accident on Modern Problems.
Production note Chevy hosted the Oscars in the 1980s, including one year with Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan.
Production note The film’s set of aliases includes Ted Nugent, Dr. Rosenpenis, Mr. Poon, Igor Stravinsky, and others.
Production note The house used for Alan Stanwyck is said to be the same one seen in The Godfather with the horse head scene.
Production note An early poster run showed a hockey-player disguise that never made the final cut.
Production note A cut fantasy scene would have had Tommy Lasorda pulling Fletch from a World Series pitching outing.
Production note The hosts suggest Fletch became a staple of cable TV because of its short runtime and scene density.
SNL / Weekend Update Used to explain Chevy Chase’s breakout and comic persona.
Caddyshack Cited as the closest pre-Fletch expression of Chase’s ideal comic persona.
Vacation Discussed as the comeback vehicle that helped Chase find another comic mode.
Under the Rainbow Mentioned as one of Chase’s early 80s misfires.
Modern Problems Cited as a disastrous project during Chase’s downturn.
Deal of the Century Mentioned as part of Chase’s odd early-80s run.
Three Amigos Used as one of Chase’s mid-80s successes.
The Big Sleep Referenced in a discussion of noir plots and Ebert’s expectations.
Night Shift Brought up as another 80s wiseass comedy and a potential Rewatchables pick.
A League of Their Own Suggested as Geena Davis’s apex-role comparison.
The Saint Debated at length as a stylized, underappreciated analog to Fletch.
Dead Calm Referenced in a Philip Noyce comparison during The Saint discussion.
Airplane Used as a comparison for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s screen career.
Beverly Hills Cop Used to explain the music and tone that helped Fletch age well.
Animal House Used for a Tim Matheson/Chase symmetry point.
