You Don't Have A Movie Without...

CADDYSHACK (1980)

Never has there been a better comedic villain than Judge Elihue Smails (Ted Knight).  Smails is a snob, a blowhard, and a golf cheat.  He’s the guy you love to hate. 

It’s easy to see how Knight’s portrayal of news anchor Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore show gave him the template for such a boorish character, and Knight takes it one step further to a more sinister place.  It’s nothing but brilliant.   In the opinion of yours truly, The Nitpicker, if you don’t have Ted Knight, you don’t have a movie.  A casting director couldn’t possibly find someone else to play this role.

From the reader and film buff, would then come the reply of, “Goodman!  With such memorable comedic talents on the screen together, are you suggesting that the likes of Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield should be re-cast?  And that Ted Knight is the glue that keeps the film together?”

Yes.  Ted Knight stays in the film.  Here’s a hypothetical casting call below with 3 replacements per role.  Add yours in the comments section.

Ty Webb (Chevy Chase) – Dean Martin, Steve Martin, Tim Matheson (fresh off Animal House)

Carl Spangler (Bill Murray) – Jerry Lewis (w/Dean Martin only), Robin Williams, John Belushi (also fresh off Animal House)

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) – Danny DeVito, Buddy Hackett, John Belushi (he’s versatile)