Fishing With John

[phallumontis]

Finally rented the Criterion DVD of this cult classic TV show through Netflix, and I've gotta say...it's hilarious. The sense of humor is right up my alley. I especially enjoyed the episode with Jim Jarmusch...the narrator says, "The shark has only one predator...MAN" and it quickly cuts to Jim and John violently headbanging in the front seat of the car on the way to the fishing charter. Pure genius. Gotta love Tom Waits putting a fish down his pants, too.

Anyone else a fan of this short-lived show?

[BFrank]

I saw a few of them when it first aired. Some of the episodes were better than others.

[Larry L]

I also rented the DVD. Loved it! That reminds me, I need to watch Down By Law again.

[phallumontis]

Down By Law is incredible. The only other Jarmusch films I've seen are Coffee and Cigarettes and Ghost Dog, and I liked it much better than either of those. The cinematography is jaw-dropping.

[Skip Reynolds]

Yes! I love this DVD. GregH turned me on to it years ago. Wonderful dry, understated, bizarre humor. I've even given it to a few people for Birthday and Christmas gifts.

The DVD is essential, to hear the episodes with John's commentary soundtrack.


A favorite moment- the narrator saying "Gunsmoke was my favorite program."

[93curr]

Oh, my; yes.

Bought the DVD ages ago. Even the commentary tracks are fun.

Sure wish they'd do a second season.

[andy749]

I rented it also and really like it! The Jarmusch segment is my favorite, but they're all good. Funny stuff!

[vince]

I bought this on video a LONG time ago.
Last I heard, John was doing v.o. work on an animal rescue show!

[ceddy10165]

excellent DVD!

[Green Tea]

Sure wish they'd do a second season.

Probably won't happen as he has Advanced Lyme Disease.

[minerwerks]

I'm glad to see some appreciation for this show. I met indie guru John Pierson at a film festival in 1997 where he screened a segment of his program "Split Screen" that featured "Fishing With John." I think it's the Jim Jarmusch episode where one of them is holding a piece of cheese over the edge of a boat to attract a shark while the other is poised with a gun. This image struck me as particularly funny at the time. I was able to get a VHS of the Willem Dafoe and Matt Dillon episodes from Pierson, which inspired me to create a t-shirt with the phrase "These are real men, doing real things" on the back. Pierson actually requested I make one for Lurie himself! Strangely enough, years later, I had an image of the shirt on my website and Lurie's company emailed me to stop selling the shirts. I wrote back pointing out that the website explicity stated that only four of the shirts even existed.

[scotto]

Down By Law is incredible. The only other Jarmusch films I've seen are Coffee and Cigarettes and Ghost Dog, and I liked it much better than either of those. The cinematography is jaw-dropping.

Anyone who's a music fan also needs to see Jarmusch's "Mystery Train."

[vince]

Anyone who's a music fan also needs to see Jarmusch's "Mystery Train."

Wonderful, wonderful film!

[Rosskolnikov]

The best moment, I think, is when Tom Waits puts the fish down his shorts, and narrator follows with a dry "Oh my God . . ." Hilarious. You can almost hear the face palm.

[jsayers]

This was an "early days" dvd purchase for me - it's still in print?

I need to watch this again, it's been a while. :laugh:

Agree on Mystery Train, too - great movie.

[aaronfirebrand]

I became a great fan of both John Lurie and Jim Jarmusch with Stranger Than Paradise. If you like John and Jim, STP is a must-see.

Fishing with John had some great moments. I think Lurie is a very underrated actor, and I'm sorry to learn that he's ill.



:wave:

[fadingcaptain]

I became a great fan of both John Lurie and Jim Jarmusch with Stranger Than Paradise. If you like John and Jim, STP is a must.

Love STP. :cheers:

[Michael]

a treasure in my collection as well!

[hutlock]

I remember watching this show in college with my old roomie who was really into that whole Lounge Lizards/NYC scene. Bought that Criterion DVD the minute I knew it existed. Love this show to pieces. So awesome.

[SimonSaysCake]

I remember watching this show in college with my old roomie who was really into that whole Lounge Lizards/NYC scene.

Some of us still are :shh:

-s1m0n-

[hutlock]

Some of us still are :shh:

-s1m0n-

With good reason! It's great stuff... that roomie really helped me gain an appreciation for that scene. I think I actually like it more now than I did then!

[inperson]

And I quote,

"The Fishermen awake, their bodies covered in sores and boners."

[fadingcaptain]

And I quote,

"The Fishermen awake, their bodies covered in sores and boners."

:laugh:

Oh man, I have to re-watch the whole series.....

[Rosskolnikov]

"Real men . . . doing real things."

[jdrueke]

Two lines my wife and I quote all the time:

"These are horses."
"I think this is John's best show."

My wife and I fell in love with the show when it aired and we purchased the DVD right away. Love the off-the-wall yet dry humor. It's a great litmus test for peoples' tastes. We were watching the DVD with a couple of friends and one of them loved it while the other HATED it. Yes, all-caps HATED it.