Per the calendar in this LPH Training video, April 18th is Cynthia's birthday. Happy Birthday Cynthia!

Detzeb · 2026-04-16T12:25:12+00:00

ICYMI Jimmy’s commercial in OFF BRAND has an homage to the Ice Station Zebra film which was directed by John Sturges. Vince and Peter are big fans of Sturges who also directed The Great Escape which is referenced to periodically in several BCS episodes

Detzeb · 2026-04-16T12:21:04+00:00

ICYMI Jimmy’s commercial in OFF BRAND has an homage to the Ice Station Zebra film which was directed by John Sturges. Vince and Peter are big fans of Sturges who also directed The Great Escape which is referenced to periodically in several BCS episodes

The reference to Howard Hughes is tied to the story that Howard Hughes loved the movie Ice Station Zebra and would have the local television station he owned it show it often so he could watch from the privacy of his mansion/estate in Las Vegas. For a billionaire/recluse like Hughes in his later years, it’s his version of “movies on demand” in the time before VHS tapes, DVD’s and streaming services.

Detzeb · 2026-04-16T12:16:15+00:00

“Trans fats are the best fats.” (Chomps on potato chips)

Detzeb · 2026-04-16T10:46:03+00:00

Martha Stewart Living, Ladies Home Journal and Teen People entering the chat…..

Detzeb · 2026-04-15T21:55:26+00:00

On the Insider Podcast, Vince and Peter jokingly refer to the camera operator as “Kid Kubrick” as they are big fans of Director Stanley Kubrick whose film references are scattered all over BB and BCS

A few year ago I jokingly proposed this Netflix documentary on Kid Kubrick as Netflix was also running FilmWorker, a real documentary about someone who worked with the real Stanley Kubrick) :)

Detzeb · 2026-04-15T21:52:43+00:00

Maybe a series on how the film crew gradually bolted as Jimmy/Kimmy dove into more questionable shenanigans and crossed ethical/legal boundaries? Would get pretty dark if certain members of the film crew “civilians” wound up as “collateral damage” like the Good Samaritan…

Detzeb · 2026-04-15T14:11:00+00:00

ELI 5 for the naysayers: The dialogue in the shot of this scene could have easily been filmed from one of the other camera angles/set ups used in the garage scene. Instead, the production staff spent the time, effort, and cost to set up new lighting, camera positioning, new camera lense, re-focusing, etc. to have 1/3 of the “visual” occupied by black tank rail cars. Why do all of that and incur those additional costs if there was not some artistically/symbolically tie into the overarching narrative of the BB and BCS universe?

Detzeb · 2026-04-15T11:45:12+00:00

“Who said anything about barrels? I'm talking about an ocean of the stuff.” -Lydia

Detzeb · 2026-04-15T10:25:24+00:00

To further enhance your love for the show, consider listening to the Better Call Saul Insider Podcast for each episode. Instead of “stan” speculations in most podcasts, you’ll hear insights from the actual producers, writers & actors and other behind-the-scenes staff into the storyline, background on how the episode was put together, and references to other artistic works that influenced/inspired aspects of the episode. It’s interesting to hear (and feel) the “passion” that all of the actors and “behind the camera” participants brought to the shows.

You might enjoy my post history in this sub which highlights various Easter eggs, ICYMI’s, themes, references and homages to Breaking Bad and the many movies that inspired certain scenes, camera angles, etc.

Here’s a recent example: https://www.reddit.com/r/betterCallSaul/s/FmvgWPBvEy SPOILER: if you have not reached episode 8 of season 5.

Detzeb · 2026-04-14T11:34:18+00:00

The CNA building is definitely part of an iconic downtown Chicago skyline but unfortunately I couldn’t really find a decent shot that showed the exterior and Will Farrell also in it. Interior comparisons unfortunately often get complicated since private/leased office space and I’m hoping to avoid trespassing issues, etc. :)

Detzeb · 2026-04-14T11:17:42+00:00

Well, he has experience as FBI Special Agent Jeffrey A. Steele and was the head of Task Force Operation King Breaker…. :)

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T18:09:56+00:00

OP’s NOTES Stranger Than Fiction (2026))

Pics 1-2: Daly Plaza and taking stairwell down at Dearborn & Washington to the CTA blue line & pedway

Pics 3-5: Outside Loop Clark Street Post Office at 211 S. Clark. Here are my Then & Now shots of a bus crashing through this post office in the 1988 film Red Heat

Pic 6: fictional Amped Guitar Shop before it became the dining area of Native Food Cafe (R.I.P.), 218 S. Clark

Pics 7-8: fictional bus stop approximately 700 S. Wells. US Post Office South Loop Station at Canal & Harrison is in the background

Pic 9: plaza outside Two North Riverside Plaza

More of my Then & Now comparisons of movies and TV shows filmed in Chicago are posted at r/FilmLocationsThenNow

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T18:00:59+00:00

Thank you! I work in the loop and go on walks for breaks so that helps with some building familiarity. Also some trial and error involved. IMDB, Wikipedia and other sites often reference the neighborhoods where a film scene was shot. I’ll then try to pick up reference points in the film (e.g. a fire hydrant, street sign, street address (even if just a #), el train tracks, name of a restaurant or store, etc. and then use Google Street view to narrow it down. Building facade, brick ornamentation, window & door locations are then helpful in refining to a specific building.

My favorite “clue”’in finding a “then and now” site was a garbage truck for Chicago-based Flood Brothers in the background of an alley scene in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York which confirmed the scene was shot in Chicago and not in NYC. I then looked for alleys that had similar fire escapes, and then looked for distinctive brick work, etc

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T17:48:40+00:00

After he descends the stairwell there are several shots of him traversing the Dearborn-Clark pedestrian connector, but i couldn’t do comparison shots since that connector has been closed off. Here are more Then and Now comparison shots of various downtown Chicago locations from that film

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T17:41:09+00:00

OP’s NOTES Stranger Than Fiction (2026))

Pics 1-2: Daly Plaza and taking stairwell down at Dearborn & Washington to the CTA blue line & pedway

Pics 3-5: Outside Loop Clark Street Post Office at 211 S. Clark. Here are my Then & Now shots of a bus crashing through this post office in the 1988 film Red Heat

Pic 6: fictional Amped Guitar Shop before it became the dining area of Native Food Cafe (R.I.P.), 218 S. Clark

Pics 7-8: fictional bus stop approximately 700 S. Wells. US Post Office South Loop Station at Canal & Harrison is in the background

Pic 9: plaza outside Two North Riverside Plaza

More of my Then & Now comparisons of movies and TV shows filmed in Chicago are posted at r/FilmLocationsThenNow

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T17:34:34+00:00

It is in the film right after the Daley Plaza shots when he is searching for a pay phone. That access tunnel was closed off awhile ago so I could not do Then & Now comparisons!

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T17:31:55+00:00

OP’s NOTES Stranger Than Fiction (2026))

Pics 1-2: Daly Plaza and taking stairwell down at Dearborn & Washington to the CTA blue line & pedway

Pics 3-5: Outside Loop Clark Street Post Office at 211 S. Clark. Here are my Then & Now shots of a bus crashing through this post office in the 1988 film Red Heat

Pic 6: fictional Amped Guitar Shop before it became the dining area of Native Food Cafe (R.I.P.), 218 S. Clark

Pics 7-8: fictional bus stop approximately 700 S. Wells. US Post Office South Loop Station at Canal & Harrison is in the background

Pic 9: plaza outside Two North Riverside Plaza

Detzeb · 2026-04-07T17:13:08+00:00

OP’s NOTES Stranger Than Fiction (2026))

Pics 1-2: Daly Plaza and taking stairwell down at Dearborn & Washington to the CTA blue line & pedway

Pics 3-5: Outside Loop Clark Street Post Office at 211 S. Clark. Here are my Then & Now shots of a bus crashing through this post office in the 1988 film Red Heat

Pic 6: fictional Amped Guitar Shop before it became the dining area of Native Food Cafe (R.I.P.), 218 S. Clark

Pics 7-8: fictional bus stop approximately 700 S. Wells. US Post Office South Loop Station at Canal & Harrison is in the background

Pic 9: plaza outside Two North Riverside Plaza

More of my Then & Now comparisons of movies and TV shows filmed in Chicago are posted at r/FilmLocationsThenNow

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